Chapter Two: "Put in check"

It was already 11:30pm.When Ken returned home from the club, laughing as he staggered in with one of his many girlfriends.She was tipsy, still clinging to his arm while they kissed and played like teenagers.Ken fumbled for the light switch, still holding her waist when the room suddenly lit up…and froze 

Sitting on his blue favourite couch, with an unreadable face,was his father,Mr. Walter

Ken's face tightened,he hadn't expected the old man to still be awake.

He gently tapped and whispered to the girl.”Go upstairs.l will join you soon.”

The girl didn't say a word,just giggled and climed the stairs, wiggling her hips.Ken stood there,unsure of what to say.

His father slowly stood up.”Ken,why are you like this?. I'm tired of your numerous apologies without any change.Why do you want to ruin your life ,and bring shame to this family?

Ken looked down.”l didn't know you were still awake,Dad. I'm sorry.

His father's voice was low,worn out.Since your mother died ten years ago,l have tried to be both a father and a mother to you.I have done everything to guide you.But this…reckless and careless behaviour.”This isn't the son your mother and l hoped to raise”.

ken sighed slowly and nodded.” l understand.l really do.”

“Do you ?” his father asked,eyes hard.”Because you keep living like none of this matters,you act like life is just all about parties,club and women

Ken didn't respond.

“Go and think about your life” his father added.”Before you ruin everything”.

The next day at work,ken was still drowsy from the previous night.He sat at his soft,grey mesh desk going through documents when a young man of about mid thirties,tall with bald hair knocked and entered without waiting.

“Good morning sir,l came to get a file for processing”the young man said.

Ken looked up slowly.”who are you”

“I'm your new secretary,Mr.walter your father…employed me yesterday .

Ken raised an eyebrow, confused and annoyed.”my father hired you without discussing with me first”?

The guy forced smile.”yes,sir”.

Ken dropped the file and angrily left his office,and move towards his father's office.

He entered his father's office without knocking “Dad.He shouted,why are you frustrating me”?

His father looked up calmly.”How am l frustrating you?”

“You went and hired a new secretary for me without consulting me”

Why did you sacked my previous secretary,she was deligent and good with her work

Are you pained because l sacked her or because she was one of your numerous girlfriends, you know you shouldn't mix business with pleasure,that is pure unprofessional .

Ken frowned.

His father reclined.” I thought you came here for the document I sent through mark your new secretary so we could discuss it”.

Ken crossed his arms.”Yes , that is why l came”

His father nodded.That is what l love about you, you are efficient.You have been working hard,you are intelligent,and l notice your efforts to push the company forward.But you need to work on yourself .

Ken frowned deeply.”I'm operating on my optimum level.I don't think l have anything to work on.

“No, son.You need to stop being nonchalant and be serious .

“You are not getting any younger,ken” his father said, arms folded firmly across his chest.”lt is time to settle down,get married, have children and start living responsibly.Enough of this womanizing.

Ken only giggled quietly,not because he find it funny,but because it was the same script,just a different day.

“Dad”, he said, shaking his head.”We have talked about this before.I'm not the type that loves.l don't believe in love.

His father frowning intensely.”What do you mean by you don't believe in love?. You ata man, not a machine.Every man needs a partner.You can't keep changing women like they are disposable or trash.One day,you will look around and realise you have nothing but emptiness .

Ken leaned back on the chair, letting out a deep sigh.That is the thing. l have seen what love does, people don't really love,Dad . Everyone is just using each other for something.Nobody is genuine.Love is just a scam, dressed in emotions .

He glanced at the portrait frame hang on the wall…the one of him and his late twin brother, Kingsley.That was all the prof he needed.

“Kingsley believed in love”ken said,his voice calm now,more personal.”He gave his all to that girl.He trusted her with everything.His heart, his time,his future….she smiled in his face and broke him behind his back.

His father was silent now, listening.

“She left him for someone with more money ,with a bigger car,a louder name.And he couldn't survive it”. Ken's voice cracked a little,But he quickly masked it with a dry laugh . “I. watched my own brother lose himself.He gave his best and got betrayed.That kind of pain…it never left me.

His father walked slowly towards him, placing a hand gently on his shoulder.”Son,not every woman is like her.I know Kingsley death hurt you deeply.You deserve your own chance at love.A real one.And that wont happen if you keep running.

Ken stared blankly, the weight of his father's words pressing on his heart. He didn't like the truth in them but admitting it felt like betraying the memory of his late brother .

“I'm not wasting my life”,Ken muttered standing up from his chair.”I just have standards,l won't invest my emotions into someone only to be played.I will rather keep things clean.No feelings no expectations,no disappointment,no commitment .

“You think that is life”,his father asked,his tone softer now.”You think jumping from one woman to another, never letting anyone close …is that really living .

Ken didn't reply.His phone buzzed on the table, breaking the thick silence.

Lisa

He blinked, remembering her birthday.

He had promised to call,he sighed heavily.