The Space Between

Chapter 34; All Abort!!

*Flashback starts*
Xavier watched in awe on the clouds they were floating upon. He was excited about the trip with his big brother. His  hands slightly touched the cold glass as he blew a breath to draw a foggy shape on its surface. A very rough illustrationof a baby elephant. "Excited for this trip, little brother ?" Klaus said without looking up from the laptop screen.

Xavier nodded, smiling a boyish grin. He loved trips just as long as they were with his brother because he let him do whatever he wanted. A question suddenly came forth in Xavier's head as he saw his brother working on his laptop.

He was sat just across from him. Leaning forward, he spoke.
"Klaus, you never told in detail what the plan you had about the company?"
Klaus looked up and smirked, teasing his brother.
"Why should I tell you? So you can steal my idea?"
Xavier waved him off, leaning back on the seat again.
"No. You know I have no interest in being part of the company. "
"I know.." Klaus said, shrugging his shoulders. "So...?" Xavier prompted, looking at him patiently. 
"I have nothing."
"What?" Xavier asked, surprised
"But you always said - "
"I do, but it's not something grand. I just want to change the atmosphere of the company. Want to actually make people love working there, you know.."
"Yeah, how about you plant a garden there while you're at it?" Xavier said, giving his brother a deadpan look. Klaus furrowed his eyebrows.
"Hey..what's the problem here? " He asked
Xavier sighed. "I just believe more in the theory that people work better under pressure. Not torturous pressure, just enough fear to get them efficient. Besides, it's not like they do the company favour. They get pretty salaries for it. "
Klaus nodded, understanding his brother's point of view.
"First of all. I am impressed to know that you know something about the company even if it's money and second of all, brother, one day in life you are going to realise that with everything going wrong in the world. Just making things right in your circle can be the best contribution   you can make to humanity. "
"Yeah, whatever. That's lame " Xavier said, rolling his eyes and taking out his phone. Klaus shook his head at his brother's tactics and got back to the assignment at hand. He knew that his brother had heard his every word
*Flashback ends*

Xavier thought of how far he had come from that thoughtless teenage boy to a man who only took calculated risks. One incident that proved it was the disturbance in their London branch of the company and how he handled it. The old Xavier would have just fired them on the spot and showed them who's the boss. But the Xavier of today knew to get through them for the sake of his company. His thoughts were interrupted, however, when a smiling Francis came to sit in front of him. Bored, Xavier's tired eyes fell on him as he made himself comfortable on the seat.
"Hello, cuz." The man spoke as if immensely happy to see a familiar face.
Xavier didn't need to ask him what he was doing here or how they were on the same flight since he could already tell he was here to ruin the conference. So he tried to talk him out of it instead.  Francis called the air hostess over as he ordered for them an exquisite drink. Xavier watched his every move and the odd excitement radiating off him. When the drinks came, he didn't touch the glass but spoke instead. 
"What do you want now, Francis? Aren't you tired of running around like a lost puppy? Have some dignity as a Smith"
Fracis's poisonous smile wavered, and his eyes formed into slits.
"I won't give up just yet. Not when I have two of your major weaknesses at the palm of my hand. "
Xavier observed him and realised. The man was not on the brik of his sanity. He had completely lost it. The crazed look in his eyes was devoid of his own troubles.
"You have always known them. I'm not scared. Besides, why don't you put the same enthusiasm in your work. I heard your investors are pulling out, and your company is failing terribly. "
Fracis laughed a sudden laugh like he had heard the greatest joke of all time.
"You think I care about that? All I have ever wanted is Smith's Raise, and I'm going to get it without you in it. "
Xavier tried once again. He might have hated his cousin, but the complete absence of fear in his eyes was not normal. He was acting like an obsessive freak out on loose.
"Look, man, I know we don't like each other, but you have to take ahold of yourself. That company and its employees have a lot of potential. You can't just let it go. "
Fracis leaned in, and Xavier's jaw tightened at his smile. He really had lost all the ability to listen.
"Nice try. Trying to sound like you care, but you don't give a damn about anyone but yourself. I feel bad for the ones you love, for they are going to bear the consequences for YOUR ACTIONS"
With that said, Francis stood up, buttoned his coat, and went back to his seat. Xavier jaw didn't relax, and for once, he wished he had taken his private jet instead.