Chapter 6

10:54am Black Estate

Golden gates stood tall guarding the beautiful estate, embedded on the huge 10 feet gates was a huge sign written in gold letters that spelt "Black Estate". The limousine drove through the huge gates, followed by two black cars, revealing a huge mansion and estate.  As the limousine drove in fully into the compound, it past a huge fountain that stood in front of the mansion,  completing the whole compound. As the limousine stopped, one of the guards came to the passenger side of the car, opening it , shoes first,  Leonard stepped out of the car, with a frown.  

The journey had taken a longer time due to the long route they had taken, Melissa was called several times by Justin  already.  Leonard couldn't blame him he was scared, but he was sure to reprimand him on his cowardice when he gets there, he was always so scared of big decisions. Leonard always thought if he was worthy of the position or not, he had always preferred Melissa, she was more competent, but the board had disagreed, so he left her as his P.A. Leonard had seen that Joseph was getting too scared about the situation so he asked Vincent to send for a car ,  which transported  Melissa to the Office. She would know how to hold them off till he got there.

The whole ride was 1 hour long, it was quite exhausting for Leonard . He kept himself busy with his thoughts as his mind trailed off to the pretty girl in the black dress. Something about her surely caught his eyes, maybe it was her smile or the way her eyes sparkled when she laughed or her young girl charm, he couldn't pinpoint it, but something about that girl had become etched in his mind, and he was desperate to see her again. He was sad that he couldn't get her name, it would have been easier if he knew her name. Just the thought of her made the Journey short and he only came back to his senses temporarily when the car came to a halt and the door opened. 

He came out of the car as all the Guards greeted him. "Welcome Mr Black". 

"Thank You". Was his short reply as he began climbing the stairs leading to the main door of the house with three guards following him. He reached the top stair before turning back to face the three guards. 

"Tell Vincent to not park the car at the garage, I would be down in exactly thirty minutes ." He said to the last guard on the stair who nodded to him before heading towards an already speeding car. Leonard ventured into the house as the main door was opened to reveal two maids dressed in black and white outfits, greeting him as he entered. 

"Where is my Mother Derrière?" He asked the Taller maid as they walked into the huge sitting room.

 "She is in her study Sir". The maid said to him before he dismissed her. 

He arrived the huge study in no time, it was his mother's sanctuary and her favourite place to be, she liked reading a lot, a trait she passed on to his sister Loren, who was also her favorite child, and his favorite sister too, his other siblings Juliet and Julius who were twins, were too busy being favorites to their dad to care, though he loved them so much too. 

The study was big with huge stacks of books covering the four corners of the room, it was a library and an  office. The office was situated  in the middle of the room, with books surrounding it, it was just as he remembered it, Boring And bookish, he wasn't really a fan of reading as he wasn't all that good in school compared to his sister. He asked the three studs to wait outside for him while he went inside, making himself comfortable in the office he awaited his mums arrival, knowing her she was probably stuffing her face in a book. He waited patiently knowing she was already aware of his arrival and there was no need for a fuss. 

“ I thought you wouldn’t come, Son”. A small velvety voice spoke up from the left side of the study. His mother, Mrs Black sauntered into the room, dressed in white from head to toe, her elegance was always profound, a trait she got from her grandmother who had been a duchess. She dropped her book on the table before sitting down on a couch opposite Leonard. 

“I wasn’t given a choice”. Leonard said sternly. 

“Don’t say that Son”. She smile reaching for his hands. 

"Don't touch me again mother". He flinched at the contact, a frown covering his face. 

“Oh, I’m sorry”. Her face dropped. 

“Why did you call for me?”. Leonard asked checking his watch.

“Firstly Cara , asked about you again”. She crossed her legs, resting her back on the armchair.

“Cara?, if  that is the reason why you called me, I’m disappointed”. His face turned rigid. Of all the things his mother could talk about she chose to match make him with Cara. That shouldn’t even be a topic at all.

“Leonard, Her parents visited yesterday and they proposed the idea yet again, you should give it a chance Leo”. She pleaded, sitting up. 

"Stop okay!!, Stop!!,  You know my preferences, and Cara doesn't fit that , you of all people should know that, You keep encouraging her". He said getting a bit serious, he wasn't lying though,  Cara was too forward, he liked his girls meek. 

"Preferences that are not healthy to you or the girl". His mother said  now more serious, he wasn't having it though. 

"Don't start, I'm sure I wasn't called here to be ridiculed?". He was getting angry, his hands were balled in fists and his mother noticed it, trying to ease the serious air she decided to Change the topic.

"Your Dad is in Paris again for another vacation, the seventh one this year, and Loren doesn't call anymore, She seems serious of not wanting to involve with us after what happened last Christmas ." Leonard scoffed, his mum was trying to change the topic, to a topic he didn't care nor wanted to speak about. 

"Lassard stopped being my father, 23 years ago". He said through gritted teeth. 

"Don't say that Leo". 

"Why was I called here mother, I'm sure it was not to talk about my irresponsible father, or my strained relationship with the both of you". He said looking at her dead in the eyes, he wasn't up for her tricks this time. She was looking for a way to keep him here longer but it was not going to work. 

"You still have a sharp tongue Leonard". Mrs Black said smiling, a small strained smile.

"Why was my presence requested? You can't make me come here from an important audition waisting my precious time, you have two minutes to tell me why you requested my presence". His fists were still balled as he continued staring at his mother unfazed by her humor. 

"Your doctor called, he said you no longer come to the hospital, I'm worried about you-". 

"I am Okay". He said quietly, his hands squeezing the more.

"Yeah sure you are, Christmas was only a few weeks ago, no one with your condition heals that fast, Leo!, You think I don't know about your bad habits Leo!!!!!, You are certainly not okay!!, And Meredith?". She raised her voice a little not having his lies. Leonard's hands were already too tight that they turned pale white, his mind was racing he needed to release the anger so he threw the vase on his side to the wall, causing his mother to jump up in fear, he looked at her dead in the eyes before screaming at her. 

"Mother!!!, Meredith is never to be mentioned, you of all people should know that!!". He was shaking, his heart was racing, his suit was soaked with his sweat all he could see was red, and his mother was not helping by aggravating him further.

"This just shows you aren't okay Leo, you're only getting worse, you need to visit the hospital Leo, I'm worried for you". Leonard laughed at his mum.

"I should have known a meeting with you was too good to be true, I was actually happy to come see you, for the first time, but I'm as usual, disappointed". He said harshly,  walking towards the door, his mother stops him halting his steps, he turned to look at her and he could see the hurt in her eyes, but he couldn't care less anymore, he hated being questioned for his actions and his mother always did that. 

"This audition you're having is just a facade, I know you too well to know that, you're looking for a consolation, a new price, that just shows you aren't over her, you need therapy Leonard."

"It's Mr Black to you Mother!!, and you don't know me, you never did, so don't act like you do". He said sternly not looking at her she smiled at him knowing he was deliberately trying to avoid the topic.

"Well I do know you, I am your mother".

"Well look who finally decided to take on her role, Mother!, You weren't much of a mother to me while I was growing up so don't act like you are now!!". He said mockingly to a now crying Mrs Black, he wasn't fazed by her tears , he was far too gone for that.

"Leo!!, don't say that, I did the best I could."

"Well your best wasn't enough was it?, look at how I turned out, did I turn out well?". He countered breaking the weak Mrs Black further. 

"I'm a deranged man, with emotional problem, and I don't smile anymore, I'm a mess and it is all your fault". He pointed directly at her unfazed.

"Leo, Please?". She tried holding on to him but he kept walking further towards the door, when he reached the door he pulled. her hands away from his. 

"Don't call me except it's an emergency, I'm a busy man, And let me worry about my health while you worry about your books, diamonds and failed family. Put your self together so you don't flop your perfect family facade." He said calmly before walking out of the house and the building, not missing the defeated look on her eyes as she knelt on the ground crying. 

Leonard spent no time in reaching his limo, his body was in a turmoil as his mind kept racing, he had to take his pills, and he needed to take them now. As soon as he sighted the car he rushed inside instructing Vincent to start driving as he reached for the pill in in suit, taking four as prescribed to calm him down, his eyes were turning and the only thing he could see was pitch black, he was shaking and needed to release the tension, he told Vincent to stop the car , which he did as he came out of it to meet a tarred road, they were still at the estates lonely road belonging to the family, he was glad for the privacy but didn't think much to it. Stumbling outside the car, barely able to stand on his own feet, he knelt on the tarred road as he began punching the ground. Hit after hit he felt the tension reducing and the effects of the drug kicking in, he was dizzy, his eyes were spinning and the only thing he could remember were his bloody hands and a screaming Vincent before passing out. 

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