Luciano’s leg was shaking as he walked into the walked into the exquisite, luxury sitting room in the administration building of the school.
At some point he felt his legs could no longer carry him but he trudged forward.
He needs to be done with this and go.
Immediately he stepped into the room, he saw him immediately.
He was hard not to notice.
Larger than life itself.
His aura sucked out every air in the room.
Sprawled across the largest sofa in the room was Mario Anderson.
His white beard twitched in mischievousness.
His face carries trace of handsomeness in his youth.
His bright white eyes shone with years of shrewdness that came from conquering empires, taking down rivals, handling difficult clients, building conglomerates from nothing, burning some down, getting what he wants.
But in all these no of them to is be compared to his son who was now standing before him, staring at him as if he is his biggest enemy (or maybe he is).
None of his tactics and strategies he uses in his line of business could be applied to this his son, who is proving a hard nut to crack especially since the death of his mother.
“Not even a kind word for your father.” He stood up immediately he saw Luciano Walk into the room.
“What do you want?” Luciano snapped at him.
“Chill son you don’t want outsiders to know of our cat and rat relationship.”
“I don’t care.”
Mario paused for a while trying to determine how best to approach his seething son.
“How have you been?”
“I would have been much better if you would stop meddling in my life.”
“You know I only want the best for you, son.”
“You only want the best for yourself Mario.”
Now that he said it, Mario’s facial expression changed.
His eyes felled and his mouth sagged.
He appeared hurt.
Anyone seeing him one will take pity on him and berate Luciano for being an unfilial son.
He can read him like a book that is why his most of antics gets under his skin.
“Luc, I will give you the chance to apologize not now but in the nearest future.”
“So what do you want.” Luciano asked irritation pooling on his face.
Mario placed a hand on his shoulder, Luciano flinched.
“I want to know how you have been doing my son, is it a crime for a father to care about his son.”
“You mean you want to know whether your puppet mechanism and manipulation is working, yes it is working perfectly.”
That was when Mario lost it.
His hands flew and connected with Luciano’s check.
“You won’t disrespect me, I am your father.”
Luciano’s left eye twitched, he closed his fist.
He was burning where he was slapped but he did not show it.
“I don’t care. I have done everything you want me to do. I played hockey because you wanted me to, yet you won’t cease interfering In my life. You even brought a rival from a remote village in other to prove my worth.”
“Don’t look down on that boy Luciano. He is talented.” Mario then dropped his voice to a considerable tone and said.
“There is an important tournament coming up, he will play a crucial role in the team and also to the you.”
Luciano gave him a questioning look, Mario grinned because he has finally got his attention.
“If you outperform the boy during this tournament, you will be finally free to do whatever ever you want to do. You can decides to play hockey or not, with my full support of course.”
“You are talking as if you ever keep your promises. That was the same thing you said to mom.”
A certain darkness passed over Mario’s expression but he quickly dissipated it.
“Son you keep doubting me, I will make everything right this time.”
“Till then Mario, let’s see whether you will do what you said.” Luciano then stormed out of the room.
When he came out, he meet Coach Ferdinand standing by the door.
He flinched because he was not expecting to see him.
From the expression on Coach Ferdinand’s face he has been listening to the conversations between father and son.
Luciano and Mario’s chaotic relationship was not lost on the top officials of the school.
Each time Mario visits the school they all held their breath hoping that at least a chair would not be broken and a glass would not be shattered.
They regarded each other briefly before going on their own ways.
Coach Ferdinand went inside the sitting room to meet Mario Anderson while Luciano left for his dorm room.
The morning sun rose early over Vesperridge Academy.
Currently now it is casting it’s silver streaks through the window on the beddings and lockers in Roman’s room.
It was a slow morning the type that the type that makes you think the morning lasted for more than eight hours.
Roman was polishing his shoes while Johnny was seating on his bed reading a strange book.
A monotou silence stretched between them.
After a while Johnny stood up to leave but before he gets to the door Roman called him.
“Hey Johnny.”
Johnny stopped in his steps but he did not turn neither did he move.
“Johnny!” Roman called out again.
“Why are you always stopping me.” Johnny snapped at him.
Roman dropped his shoes aside and said.
“Do you have vespers point.”
Johnny shoulder stiffened, he turned his head but not fully.
“What are you asking me?”
“Vespers points, can you lend me some.”
“Oh you are asking me for money now.”
“I am going to pay you back, I promise.”
“What are about your billionaire heir Suger boy.”
“Who is that?”
“Who else, Luciano of course.”
“I won’t ask him.”
“Why won’t you?”
“It’s a personal issue.”
“What do you need my Vespers for?”
“It’s also personal.”
Johnny regarded him for some time.
Then he wringed out a silver ring from his pocket and threw it to Roman.
“Don’t misuse my points.”