Moving On
Chapter 15 Moving on
GRACE’S HOME, BEVERLY HILLS.
Leo drove through the fancy streets of Beverly Hills lost in his thoughts. If he wasn’t too cautious he would have probably rammed into a tree because of how far his mind was. All through the night he couldn’t sleep. One of the reasons why he had chosen to visit his mother the moment he got up from the bed.
He had practically dug a sleep depriving hole for himself when he chose to visit Darby. Her face kept haunting him, she looked more beautiful and he would have love to cup her face in his palms and kiss the living daylights out of her. But the most bothersome part of the entire issue is her bold denial of the child he had seen. To be sure he wasn’t imagining things, he had gone to get a copy of the FORBES magazine she was featured in. Her family had been briefly discussed and a picture of Darby and her son, named Sinclair was right there. And it felt like he was seeing a younger version of himself. To keep his senses in check, he chose to affirm the picture with his mother.
When he parked his car and entered the building, she wasn’t in the main house. Grace was by the poolside with her socialite friends who enjoy living every second of their life. Being a most sorted celebrity stylist in the history of Hollywood has earned his mother a lot of fame and wealth. Her failing health five years back had almost dimmed her light, but being the fortunate one she bounced back in no time.
Using his palm to shield his eyes from feasting on one of the naked ladies, Leo called out to his mother. “Hey mom!”
Turning around to look at her son, a mischievous giggle escaped her lips when she saw him. “Welcome, baby. You can go in, I will catch up with you later.” She said, laughing at him with her friends.
Kissing his teeth, he returned to the living room and walked to the fireplace where some of his childhood pictures were placed. Looking through all of them he couldn’t find the one with where he was at the exact same age as Sinclair was. Making his way to his mother’s bedroom upstairs, Leo yelled out in horror when he opened the door. A stark naked man walked out of the bathroom. Not only does he look hefty, signs that he visits the gym a bit too often and he also looks young.
“Hey, man. You must be Grace’s son. Nice to meet you.” The stranger smiled widely, cleaning his ear with the towel he had in his hand.
Cursing under his breath, Leo slammed the door shut and went back to the living room. Walking towards the mini bar, he rummaged through her wine rack and grabbed a Scottish whiskey. That seems like the only thing that can calm him down and prevent his burning rage to bring the building down to ashes.
Just when he poured himself a glass, the obvious play toy walked down the stairs towards him with a wide grin. “I see you know your drinks. Care if I join you?”
Clenching his fist, Leo scoffed. “The last I checked mister, I didn’t exactly ask for your name which means I don’t give two fucks about you. And now if you know what is good for you, you will get the fuck out of this house right now. It’s taking every drop of blood in me to not pounce on you right this minute. If you love yourself enough, you will leave this minute.” He growled.
“Don’t speak to my guest like that, Leo.” His mother rebuked as she walked in. “Sorry for my son’s awful behavior, Tommy. He must have woke up on the wrong side of the bed. You can go back upstairs if you want or go for a ride.” She offered, caressing her young lover’s face with her manicured fingers.
Tommy snorted at Leo. “I will go for the ride. You should talk some sense to him, baby. Just because he is a big shot doesn’t mean he possess the right to talk to me whichever way he chooses.” He mumbled storming off.
Leo huffed in disbelief. “Really mom? Is this what you do now?”
She gave him a stern look. “Don’t try to give me lectures young man. I am not your child.”
He dropped the glass in his hand, taking few steps towards her. “Oh, I see. So, because you are not my child I can’t tell you that you are acting like a child? Do you even know how embarrassing this is? If you want love, how about you find an actual one and not a gigolo.”
Grace kissed her teeth. “I lost faith in love a long time ago.”
“Was that why you made me engage Chloe despite knowing I do not really love her?” He gritted.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.
“Love is just a fantasy, baby. You and Chloe are the perfect couple. And that’s it, do you know how much stance you have against your stepmother and sister now? Your father’s company is solely yours to control with such influence. Your engagement to her made Chloe’s father pour in a large amount of money to buy shares and that would keep the entire family on your side. That is most important.” She mused, sitting on the bar stool to pour herself a drink.
Leo looked confused as he stood still wondering if his mother is in her right mind. Some of her actions makes him wonder if she has always been like that or it’s a recent phenomenon. “Where you always like this, mom?” He inquired in a shaky breath, his facial expression held pain in it.
“Your father betrayed my love for him. He ignored the pain and sweat I poured into that company and our marriage. Your father didn’t blink twice before he went ahead to end what we shared and marry someone else. I became a different person after that and I don’t feel sorry for it.”
“Mom, Scarlett will be eighteen in a few month. That’s how long it has been since you both went apart, shouldn’t you move on appropriately now?”
She snickered. “What does this look like to you? Do you have another definition of moving on? I really don’t want to have this discussion with you, Leo. It’s a Sunday morning, probably go to a church and pray or whatever it is that will get you off my radar.”
He shut his eyes tightly. “I shouldn’t have come here. You have pushed me into making a lot of painful decisions. But I don’t think I can hold back anymore, do whatever pleases you.”
“Baby.” Grace called after him, but he wasn’t listening and slammed the door behind him angrily.
Leo talked to himself angrily as he made his way to the car. Leo cursed and slapped hard at the car door. He wished hard that there was something for him to punch. Was this karma or some sort? It’s almost like he hasn’t felt real happiness in a long while. He couldn’t tell if what he had done to Darby five years back was the reason for his tumbling life.
Getting into his car, he turned on the ignition and got on the road driving off without caution.