Precious Than Diamonds

Chapter Five

"Dave!", Aled shouted so loudly that everyone startled including Dave.

"What does it mean? From where this came in my supplies?", Aled demanded.

Dave didn't answer. His head was hung for a while. His breathing fastened. 

"Speak up Dave, I asked a question. Is it not clear I demand an answer?", Aled was losing his control over his years of practiced rational use of patience at his professional space. Before he noticed he took an abrupt step towards Dave and shook his shoulder aggressively, "I SSSAID SSSPPPEAKK UPPP!", he pronounced the 'ss' with so much force that it sounded like a snake's hiss.

Dave startled again. He raised his head and looked into Aled's eyes. Strangely his gaze was quite arrogant. He spoke in a cool and relaxed voice, "I allowed meth in the supply. There are a few others involved in it.", he said.

"WHY?", Aled breathed out hot air. He resembled a dragon in some ways.

"Because it has a great business, Aled.", Dave's eyes shed more arrogance.

"A great business? A great business? Who you think you are, Dave??? It's my company, and I have zero interest in the great business of MMMETH in my products!", Aled's voice suddenly fell from the top to the bottom, a lower pitch, it almost sounded like a whisper, "How could you think about even planning it? I am working for years now. I make business with decent products. How, how on earth you ever thought I would approve this?"

"Aled, don't forget that I am your brother. We are businessmen. We do things that make money. We both want success, to be the winner. We are the same, Aled, don't you see?...", Dave still had no sign of guilt in his speech.

"I am nothing like you, David Boston Jay. Because of the completely illegal supplies, my company, my hard work, my life's work can be destroyed. And you do not have any sense of right and wrong. I can't believe you are still defending your action. Fine, I want you out of my company. Clean your mess and leave. I won't spend my time and strength on someone like you!", Aled's voice rather sounded wounded instead of angry.

"What? What? Aled, do you know what are you saying? Aled, I am your cousin. I am your blood. I have rights to this company as much as you do. I did what could bring more money to this company, come on!", Dave suddenly sounded friendlier, the trace of arrogance was gone. A hurried urgency was there.

"Rights? Rights? And what rights is that, Davy? Let me tell you something, Dave, One, I made this company thrice as bigger than it ever was. And two, I never worked with anything illegal. Yes, your father, my dear late Uncle Harris did pass his company to me instead of you because he always knew that you were not even half as good to handle his life's work. And yes, I am grateful for that to him, and I was grateful to you all the time without any reason. Simply because you are his son and my brother. And yes, I have always allowed you to enjoy much more access to money than you ever earned with real work from this company. I covered for you before, all because of blood. What else do you want Dave? And of course, this company was willed to me, Dave. Willed. It was willed. It was a gift. I am not bound to pay you for nothing. I owe you nothing. Nothing, Dave!", Aled paused for a deep breath. 

"Aled...", Dave tried to start.

"NOTHING!", Aled threw the word like a slammed door. "Now clean your mess, and get out. Take your illegal drugs and whatever. Sell it wherever you want or smoke it or buy whatever you want with it. Go to jail if you like. Don't show your face here again.", Aled sounded angry again.

"Aled, listen, look, the thing is...", Dave started again.

"Get OUT", Aled shouted again.

Dave still didn't move. His eyes looked softened. They twinkled like a little puppy's when it was hungry or cold. "You are making a mistake, maybe the biggest in..."

"Shut up Dave. If I see you again here, I myself will make sure that you are behind the bars!", Aled, leaned forward and whispered.

"You don't know what you're..."

"OUT!", Aled thundered when he picked up a crystal from the table and dashed it down to the floor. It shuttered and made a violent noise. The room fell into an uncomfortable silence. 

Dave moved. He took a step. towards Aled. Nodded to him. And beckoned to his people. They left making synchronized footsteps. 

Aled brushed his hair with fingers. He sank in a chair and rested his head on his palms.