Naledi (The Moon)

Chapter 6

Luca's POV

I hadn't seen my supposed father since the eve of my ninth birthday. That's twelve years ago. He had disappeared from the face of the earth and my life along with it. I barely knew the man. He was a ghost. A shadow hidden under the mountain of cheques, I've been receiving monthly ever since. It wounded me at first, he was my father and yet he wanted nothing to do with me. I am ashamed to say that I had hoped that he'd eventually turn up, at least to the burial or the memorial of his father. However he had stayed away. "Give him some grace, Lucas. Your father, is a peculiar man. Lord knows, how much I mourn my sweet, kind, thoughtful son who had the heart of a saint." My late grandfather's voice echoed in my memory as I gazed upon the stranger in my living room.

Hands tucked into his posh striped navy blue suit pocket, he focused his attention to the peaking city, coated under the thick fog as it began to dissipate. He slowly inhaled the clean, fresh air. He appeared pensive, lost between time and space. I moved closer, to maybe get a unhindered view. I barely knew this man, let alone recalled how he looked. My grandmother once said, that I was the spitting image of him when he was my age.

Unmindful towards my steps, I kicked and tripped over the ottoman. Ow! My newly found clumsiness commanded his attention. Displeased, and heedless he ignored me on the ground. "Still so easily distracted, Lucas?" His voice mechanical, lacking emotion, sympathy as it filled the vast room around us. Dumbstruck at the fact he recalled my name, I shook my head. I slowly got up and witnessed as he helped himself to the coffee that Chef Masha had prepared for me along with breakfast. I shouldn't be alarmed, this was his place after all. Yet he looked so out of place whilst searching for the sugar.

Although, I was amused at his struggle. He wasn't welcome here. He had managed to stay away all this time, why pop up now? I had enough issues of my own to care to his uninvited intrusion. "What are you doing here?" Resent, clearly evident in my voice. That earned me a quick sharp, cold glance from him. "Is this not my place? Or have you forgotten?" He sardonically responded evidently lost under the absurdity, "This place is much yours as your lack of knowledge of the sugar placed on your left." Embarrassed, he let out a strained chuckle. "I see you're spending too much time with females, you've even picked up on their innate and distasteful cheekiness." He retorted quickly.
"On the contrary, Joseph. I think you've mistaken females with the 'servants'. You know? My actual family?" I rolled my eyes. I was now annoyed and agitated. "So, I'll ask you once again. What do you want? Why are you here?" My patience running thin, I steadied myself against the warm floors.

Chef Masha must've turned on the floor heaters, heedful of the cold seeping through the windows and my habit of walking barefoot in the mornings for my breakfast which he was so leisurely, helping himself to. "I have a business proposal for you." He uttered after he swallowed the pork sausage. He continued to eat, as he stabbed the egg, cutting a piece of the rye bread and bacon. "I have a new establishment opening that I want you to attend as my proxy, seeing that I won't be available." He stuffed the food in his mouth in one attempt. Clearly careless to my perplexity and wonder. "Why start something, if you can't show up for it when the time comes?" He immediately stopped eating, probably picking up on the double entendre of my question. I hadn't realised what my words had meant till I saw him appear wounded for a millisecond before he continued to sip the coffee.

"That's where you come along, Lucas. You're capable and grown now. You can finally be put to proper use than rummaging your way throughout the skirts of Gauteng or whatever it is, you do with your time." His disgust and ridicule so loud in his tone. A sharp pang twisted and turned in my chest. Igniting a feeling, I hadn't expected to feel or receive from this wretched man. "Do you even know my age? What I study?! Or the people that work for you in said establishments, that you keep on leaving unattended?" I palmed my fist. Rage liquified at my core, wanting release.
He paused. "Should I?" He chuckled impassively. "Anyway, it's in the upcoming week and I need you to go, well dressed of course to represent my company." His words emphasised around, the 'my' as if I was unaware of his power and wealth. "No. My answer is no. I do not wish to be associated with the likes of you and your company."

He wiped his mouth slowly, pondering on his next thought. He took a couple of steps till he was standing in front of me. I definitely had his height, as he glared deep into my eyes. His eyes, destitute and icy to the core as his mouth rested on a smirk. "It's funny, how you thought you had a choice son. You forget, that I'm the reason you're here. I'm the reason behind your affluence and living style. I'm the reason, you've had all you've desired upon your summon since birth." He looked me down imperiously.

"If you were looking for a pay back. You might as well, take it all way. I never wanted it nor needed it, anyway." I mirrored his guise, as we both squared up to each other as if partaking in a duel, while we awaited for the signal to shoot said opponent. We glared at each other. That's when I saw, something I've been afraid to acknowledge, here it was starring at me in my face. My future, to who I'd become if I resumed in my ways that roused contempt, revolt, and hate in my wake. His lack of propriety, sincerity, compassion nor respect for anyone other than himself and his wealth had created an impenetrable, headstrong unfeeling monster.

I wonder, what actions had transpired to give birth to such. Was he as vile, cold towards my mother. Did he even love her? Or care or wonder of her absence?

"Oh, you naïve, stupid boy. You think you'd survive out there, in the real world, without my money to get you by? This is all you've known and word on the street, you don't have much or any friends so who do you think will take you in, should you choose to abandon all of this?" He motioned his outstretched arms to our surroundings as his pernicious words cut deep, leaving me silent. He was right. This was all I knew. I was doing my final year in varsity, barely adept in my talent let alone employable without a certificate or proper references. And with my reputation, no one would even bat an eyelash to come to my aid. I was his bitch and he knew it as he revelled in my helplessness. "Oh, and one more thing, should you still choose to defy me. And not do anything I expect of you from herein going fourth, your supposed "family" will soon be jobless and hungry, all because you wanted to make a point against daddy." He concluded.
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