CHAPTER 37

 “It’s something serious…and I really need you to answer me honestly…” Alec said with a serious expression “It’s about my dad’s company”

Patrick’s smile faded away “What do you need to know Alec?” he said in a serious tone.

Alec sat up straight and kept both his hands on the table, “I want to know what happened to the company…”

Patrick took a deep breath and then inhaled. He clenched his fists and looked at Alec.

“Alec I don’t think you need to know anything about this…”

“I need to know…and you need to be honest with me…”

“Alec but I don’t think you are supposed to know this…I’ not supposed to tell anyone about this…”

“You don’t have to tell anyone that you told me anything” Alec said folding his arms.

Patrick sighed and closed his eyes for a few seconds “okay fine…I’ll tell you”

Alec nodded.

“You know that after your dad left y’all he spent about 3 to 4 years to build his company…”

“Hmm…I’ve heard about it from mom”

“During the 4 years, he worked really hard Alec…all by himself, I was there to help, but he did most of his work alone and of course he was a success…then when things were stable enough and the business started to grow, there were many people who wanted to invest in the business, we were so excited and we opened our doors to all the investors…that’s when your father met Valentine…” Patrick sighed

“I never trusted that man…but your dad trusted him…he started to trust him more than me…I had told him a million times to not trust him but he never listened to me…” he looked at Alec with eyes filled with pain. Few years passed and everything was going so well, Valentine became a partner of the business…we received so many contracts…but then it happened…”

“What happened??” Alec asked.

Patrick sighed once more “Robert was not the Robert that I used to know…The thing I told your dad about…actually happened, Valentine had tricked your dad to deposit all the security money and a whole part of his shares in a blacklisted company…of course Robert didn’t know anything about the company being black listed because he trusted Valentine so much…and I never knew about this deal until your dad came to me one night saying that he lost everything…”

Alec’s eyes widened, he didn’t know what to say, he didn’t know what he was feeling at that moment. He was just lost for words.

Patrick looked at Alec and then continued “that time when he lost the money was the time we signed the biggest contract that we’ve ever signed…but when they found out that Robert lost everything and he was losing all his shares…the company broke off the contract right then and there…” he paused and looked at Alec “that happened 2 years ago and can you guess what that company was?” 

“Don’t tell me it was…” Alec trailed off his eyes widened.

“Yes Alec it was…I know Mr. Bane was helpless too…he couldn’t let his company fall apart because of our company…so he broke the contract off…I don’t blame him…he helped us a lot for some time…and he is helping us right now too…”

“So what happened after that?”

“After Mr. Bane stopped the contract from happening we lost quiet a lot…and on top of that your father had to pay salaries for employees…he had to make up his mind to remove most of the employees and keep only a few of the oldest ones…after about 1 and a half months Valentine suddenly left the company…when he left he took away all his shares and our company was in the verge of bankruptcy…but I had a few plans in mind which I wanted to try so Robert and I did a few projects in order to save the company…then he got to know that Mr. Bane was in an accident and he came back to New York…”

“He was in touch with Asmodeus?”

“From time to time yes…they talked to each other…”

“So Asmodeus knew who I was?” 

“No Alec…don’t get this wrong…Asmodeus never knew your father had a son…they never talked about their personal lives…everything was business related…he only got to know that you are Robert Lightwood’s son when Robert came back few weeks ago and went to meet him…When he did go there…he already knew your relationship with Magnus…”

“So he…” Alec tried to say but was stopped midway

“Alec…I know what you are thinking…don’t misunderstand your dad…he never came for Magnus’s money or anything…Mr. Bane was helpful and offered to help him a long time ago…so recently he called Robert and asked him to visit him…that’s why he came back to New York…before he went to meet Asmodeus, he came to see you and he met Magnus…”

“He met Magnus?”

“Hmm…on Christmas eve as I remember…I was in the car waiting for Robert and he told me he met your fiancé…at the time I didn’t know that it was Magnus…but your father knew right away that he was Mr. Bane’s son…”

Alec was now confused. He had mixed feelings. He didn’t know how to respond.

“That’s what happened…now that you know…please don’t keep any misunderstanding about your dad…I’m not telling you to forgive him…I would never forgive him for leaving you…but try to understand him Alec…he has been through a lot…”

Alec just stared at him.

“I’ll get going Alec…it’s getting late now…” he said standing up. “Alec remember your dad loves you and your sibling so much…” he said patting Alec’s shoulder.

Alec didn’t have a reaction he just looked at Patrick with plain expressions.