Starlight and Secrets

Chapter 3

"Cassian, where were you last night?" his father asked red with anger.

“I had something to do, father," he replied simply.

“More important than the gala for the merger?” Richard asked, looking annoyed and confused at the same time.

Cassian mumbled something inaudibly. The atmosphere was tense, and nothing but disgust was written over Richard's face. He had trained his son to be the best successor for his empire. Not just anyone but his son. But recently, he could only hope his years of investment would not go down the drain because of his seemingly insolent son.

“What could be more important than the merger? A waitress?” Cassian turned sharply.

“Yeah, I know about your little escapade, I know everything about you, you of all people should know that by now. And just so you know, I am not pleased with whatever it is you are doing,” Richard said with disgust written over his face.

Cassian’s eyes narrowed. His father had never been pleased with him before anyway, so this is not a first.

“You cannot afford to be sleeping around and doing whatever you like when you are the face of a multi-billion dollar merger, a waitress is a poor choice even for you.” His voice went up a pitch but still maintained authority as usual.

"The Patels value discipline. Nadia’s father called me. He seemed unsettled and agitated."

“Unsettled?” Cassian asked, a smirk curving on his lips. “Agitated? About what?” he snickered. Richard frowned.

"Watch your manners, boy," he said. But Cassian was just getting started. He planned to annoy him some more.

“What’s more unsettling? My absence at the merger, or the fact that the engagement is a show? A fluke. All for what?”

Richards' eyes narrowed, “You are playing a dangerous game, boy, be careful.”

"Am I? You are the one playing with people’s lives, mine included." Cassian was not having it. He no longer wanted to be controlled by his father anymore.

Richard stood quiet for a while, observing his son talking back to him. It was the first time his son ever spoke to him.

“That’s what power is, boy, playing with people’s lives,” Richard replied.

“Is that what happened to mom?” Cassian asked, looking at him head on.

The sentence struck Richard's heart like a lightning bolt. He was not ready for that conversation. In fact, he didn’t want to remember the pain. Not today, because it wasn’t really a pain. It was regret he couldn't call it pain not when it was glaringly clear, but he didn’t notice till she passed away. If only he had paid attention, if only he was not too busy enough, and noticed just for a moment, maybe, just maybe he could have had the opportunity to save her, but they rarely spoke. He thought having billions and mansions meant that she was happy. And when she fell sick with cancer, he didn’t know, because he never cared. Although she died in a car crash, he still blames himself for her death and Cassian bringing it up at this moment was a direct attack on his emotions.

His composure flickered.

“I am not doing this with you,” he said finally, his voice dropping by a tone.

“Because you don’t have an answer,” Cassian barked.

“Because it doesn’t matter anymore," Richard retorted.

“Yes, all that matters is you, and no one else, it’s all about you, your legacy, your image and control…

“Which you are currently throwing away with a woman you don’t even know, a low-life.” Richard snapped, cutting him mid-sentence. The surrounding air was like thick smoke.

“That low-life made me feel alive again,” Cassian spat back.

“Sleeping around with strangers doesn’t make you alive, it makes you reckless,” Richard replied.

“Reckless is better than being a puppet, your puppet.” Cassian shot back.

“Watch your tone, boy.” Richard was almost boiling.

“Or what huh? Cassian retorted? Make me disappear? Just like you always do?”

Richard did not like the direction the conversation was heading. A lot of things needed to be kept in check.

He knew the conversation was leading nowhere; his son was angry, perhaps a little too angry. He had been too hard on him for a long time. But it was for his good, he didn’t need weakness, and he didn’t expect his son to be weak either. And no matter what it takes, he must be strong and fit enough to carry on Warren's legacy. And he could not bear to see his son mingling with low-lifes, talking more about sleeping with them. This waitress saga with his son is serious, despite the fact that Cassian does not understand the gravity of what he had done; it had become his responsibility to clean up after his son and make sure he did not repeat it again, and that he was determined to do. No matter the cost.

“You are becoming weak, Cassian. There’s no weakness in this family,” he said simply.

“It’s not worth it,” Cassian mumbled. More to himself than to his father. He was tired of being controlled. He wanted to be free.

He turned to face the window, he was no longer interested in the conversation. It made him sick.

“Being a warren doesn’t give you room for choices, but for obligations,” Richard said finally and turned to leave.

“And Cassian,” he said, pausing halfway to the door.

“Take care of this mess you have created, or I’ll be forced to do it for you,” he said in his calm but authoritative voice.

He wasn’t joking. He walked out of the room into the elevator.

Cassian was lost in thought and did not bother whatever he just said. Just when he thought he was finally happy, an entity walks into his room and ruins his mood. He hated his very being, and the universe was not being kind to him. He was red with rage. He turned and threw the glass he had been holding across the room towards the door. It fell short and crashed on the marble floor.

Just then his phone chimed, and its light came on. It was a message from Nadia. It read simply.

“We need to talk”