Chapter Nine

After a moment of rest from her journey, Madame Claudia found herself with her son in the garden. She knew that the only place Alexander would be in the house if not in his room was the garden. She gave him a warm hug which Alexander reciprocated. He had missed his mother. They both sat down.

"I thought you would come outside to welcome me, Alex" Claudia started.

"I just wanted an alone time for a while and I know that Dad and Sophia would be there to welcome you" Alexander replied.

"But they are not you. I would have loved it if my son was there" Claudia said.

"Do you want to make this an issue now, mum?" Alexander asked, knowing his perfectionist mother.

"No, son" Claudia quickly defended. "I'm not and I won't" she smiled at him, "I'm so happy to see you son. It's been a month"

"I missed you too mum" Alexander said and leaned on her. "Dad is too hot headed and I just avoided him as much as I could"

Madame Claudia place her comforting hand on Alexander's face, "Just bear with him. He doesn't know yet how to handle matters with you. I'll talk to him. I'm back now, don't you worry" She said.

"I love you mum" Alexander said.

"I love you more, my Alex" Claudia said.

There was a moment of silence as the Cool breeze blew softly, as a wind in calm meditation.

"So, Alex, tell me" Claudia started.

"Hmmm" came his soft answer.

"How are things with you and Sophia?" Claudia asked.

Alexander sat up straight, "it's going normal" he replied.

"Just normal" Claudia raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, how else should it go?" He asked.

"She is your betrothed, soon to be your wife. Your relationship cannot just be normal" Claudia said.

"Well, it is normal like every other normal relationship" Alexander said, not liking the topic of discussion.

"Alright" Claudia sighed, "How would you see your wedding to Sophia happening this year?" She asked, supressing a smile.

"This year?" Alexander was alarmed.

"Why?" Claudia asked, "What's wrong?"

"This year is a big no no" Alexander said, shifting on the chair.

"Why not? You're eventually going to marry her someday, why not now?" she asked.

"I'm not ready for it yet. I need more time" Alexander replied.

"More time for what, Alex? You don't have that much time. We need you to settle down, get married to Sophia and start up with handling the business." Claudia spoke with concern.

Alexander sighed and stood up being uncomfortable.

"Son, you cannot run away from this. You are the only one left to take over after us and we need you to step up. Enough of this your fun lifestyle. You've enjoyed it long enough. It's time to take life serious" Claudia added.

"Mum, I understand that you want the best for me but trust me, rushing me into marriage right now isn't the best for me. I'm not emotionally ready to settle down" Alexander said to her.

"How much more time do you need?" Claudia stood up.

"I don't know. But please, till I'm ready I don't want anyone forcing marriage or any sort of responsibility on me right now." He turned to her, "You and dad are still vibrant enough to run the business for a long time. Just allow me be".

"Alex...." Claudia wanted to press but Alexander cut in.

"Mum please"

"Fine" Claudia gave in. There was no point forcing everything on him in that single moment. There would be other opportunities.

Claudia had already made up her mind, that Alexander would get married that year and begin work with his father. It was time for him to straighten up his life. With Alexander's refusal, it would be a very difficult task for her to undergo but she still saw it feasible. Just a careful manipulation and Alexander would tie the knot with Sophia and begin handling the business before the year would be over.

Dinner started off well with the Grandes that night. Claudia briefly narrated her business trip to China, which Alexander did not take to heart. Nothing about the family's business excited him. All his interest was gone and it worried his parents a lot. He was the only child and if he is incapable of handling everything after they retire, all their hard work and legacy will be thrown away.

"Alexander" Felix began after Claudia had finished her story.

"Yes Dad" he replied.

"When have you decided to join me run the business?" Felix asked him.

"Where is this coming from?" Alexander showed surprise.

"Why are you asking that? You do know that you're the one to take over from me, don't you?" Felix asked.

"Yes, Alex, and the soon you start, the better" Claudia chipped in.

"Have you both decided to gang up on me today?" Alexander expressed displeasure.

"No son. This is a very important matter that you're joking with. You need to rise up to your responsibilities. You are our only child left, so you are to handle everything" Claudia said.

"Listen both of you" Alexander dropped his cutleries on his plate, "I don't want to be pressured about this business thing, okay? I believe I have a whole life ahead of me to handle the family's business but not now. I'm still very young and I want to enjoy my life" he said.

"You don't have any 'whole life' ahead of you" Felix was angry but controlled his temper, "You are practically wasting your life on drink and women and you call that enjoyment. Alexander Grande what is the matter with you?"

"You are the matter with me" Alexander spoke harshly, "Get off my case" he yelled.

"Don't you dare raise your voice at me, I'm your father" Felix returned in same manner.

The table became hot suddenly and Sophia just watched without having a word to chip in.

"Can't you take a proper look at your life?" Felix threw at Alexander, "Can't you see how useless you're turning it to be? I thought I had raised a responsible person"

"Well you didn't do it well" Alexander threw back.

"That is enough" Claudia got their attention.

"No, Claudia" it was Felix, "this boy need to know and understand that his behaviour and action doesn't affect him alone. We're all involved too, the business is involved. He is ruining us. He is ruining all out hard work" Felix was very upset.

Alexander's change in behaviour had begun to affect the business's foundation. Sometimes, business deals do not go through because of his son's I'll conducts making the headlines, and if Alexander does not stop, he would lose a lot of investors.

Felix, still angry turned to Alexander, "You were not like this before, Alex. You and your brother..." Something stung Alexander in his heart as his father made mention of his brother, ".....both of you were special gifts to us. But suddenly, you just changed, after his death, why? Alexander, why?" Felix asked.

Alexander kept mute. Claudia understood that his brother's death still affected him. They both shared a special bond while he was still alive. She could remember that Andre's death tore Alexander apart. Alexander had locked himself up for weeks and when he finally came out he confided in no one, despite Claudia's attempt to comfort him.

"Do you think I don't think about him, or your mother doesn't think about him?" Felix continued, "He was our son and we were deeply pained to see him leave us like that. It tore us apart but we had to get out acts together and move on. Alexander, you need to do the same. This your new way of life isn't going to bring him back and trust me it won't help you forget him. And I'm certain that he wouldn't want you to be like this"

Felix took a pause, staring at Alexander who was still mute.

"You and Andre had great plans for the business and here you are ruining it because you feel pained. You're current actions are hurting your brother in his grave and if you're truly hurt by his death and you really love him, you'd stop this and begin to take your responsibility" Felix said and was about to say more when Claudia stopped him.

She saw how Alexander was getting affected by what his father said.

"It's enough" Claudia told Felix and he heeded, still distressed.

Alexander stayed that way for a few seconds then hurriedly dashed out of the dinning, straight to his room. Sophia followed him immediately.

His parents did not understand a thing. They don't really know how he felt or what had happened that fateful day. He, Alexander was there. He knew what had happened and how it had happened. His brother died a careless death before his very eyes, in his arms. That episode still taunted him. It gave him sleepless nights. He lives his every day in pain and deep agony and going out for drinks and a nice time with people help him out. How was he going to run a company with those things flooding his mind.

Alexander entered his room and slammed the door hard in anger. Sophia soon opened the door after him.

"Alex, it's okay. Calm down" She spoke softly.

"I can't." He turned to her with red eyes. ,"I can't calm down. That man, my father..." he pointed towards the closed door, "...just speaks without any consideration. He doesn't know how I'm feeling and he dare talks to me about forgetting and moving on, comparing himself with me" he started packing agitatedly.

"Alex, it's okay" Sophia walked up to him and held him. "I'm here for you. You'll get through this"

Alexander hugged her tight and she ran her comforting hand on his head, "I don't think so, Sophie. Every day the feeling gets worse" he was now emotional. "You were there, you saw everything that had happened. So you can understand when I say that I'm haunted by it. Andre comes to me every time and points me a murderer"

"You're no murderer, Alex. It's just a display of your imaginations coming to you. We both know that Andre's death was an accident, an accident that we both couldn't control. You didn't kill him. Get this out of your head and you'll be fine" Sophia said.

"It's not that easy, Sophie, it's not. It doesn't work, no matter how hard I try." He said.

"Oh Alex, poor Alex. I know everything will be okay. Eventually, everything will be okay" Sophia comforted.

That night, after giving Bella her last tedious work for the day, Alexander found it difficult to sleep. He tossed and turned on his bed but sleep could not come. He ordered for milk and drank but his eyes shone so bright. His father's words repeatedly echoing in his ears. The nightmares became stronger and this time, it came as visions and not just dreams. He stood up from the bed and paced round the room. After a minute of disturbed pacing, he reached to this bedside drawer and brought out a container of sleeping pills, he carelessly threw few tablets in his mouth and moved them to his stomach with the water, which was always on the bedside table. He ran his hand through his silky hair and rubbed his face them threw himself back on the bed, facing the ceiling, waiting for sleep. He blinked countlessly, and after sometime, he felt his eye lids closing and finally drifted off to sleep.

He had not slept for more than thirty minutes when his dreadful nightmare woke him up again. He groaned hard and screamed as he sat up on his bed, sweating. That was it! Frustrated, he stood up and got dressed, he was going out that night too ease himself of the torment.