His father liked taking his time. He always did. Leandro had arrived within three minutes as asked. He was standing in the corner of his father's study leaning to the wall with his hands in his pockets after he was finished playing with his tie once he was done staring at his watch and playing with it. He watched his father who was writing and looking at files. His father didn't show emotion and there was no way he could read his mind. So all he had to do was wait. His father was a strict man but a family man. He didn't deal with anyone like how he dealt with his family. If anyone else had betrayed his father they would have been getting a completely different treatment. That was why Leandro wanted to take full responsibility for breaking into the security system that his father had put in place. He didn't want anyone's fingerprint except his own. They could help him if he involved them but he didn't. His father was going to be cross and he couldn't predict what he was going to do, but it was nothing compared to what his father would have plotted to do to anyone else. The other kids were mob kids but still. No one crossed his father. His father was going to make sure they paid or their parents paid some price.
Leandro didn't like being bored. His father knew that well. His father did it deliberately. He made him wait. Leandro looked up at the ceiling that was decorated with Roman style architecture. His father's office was built with roman theme. His Mother's office looked like more Irish. There was contrast in his parents lifestyle. It was easy for him to know which room was decorated by orders of his father and which one had his mother's taste involved.
He now had his hands behind his back looking at the crystal chandeliers trying to imagine what his father could be thinking. He knew he didn't have to wait long when he saw his father's office open and his mother enter. She always protested when his father left their bedroom after midnight. She entered with her pale green silk gown decorated with pearl white jasmine looking flowers. She had her hair tied back in braids and held her head high. His father looked up and stopped writing staring at the lady of the house silently.
Leandro's Mother shut the door soundly and just then she noticed her son leaning to the wall. She glanced at her husband "Is it really necessary to discipline him in the middle of the night? What happened is already forgotten by Riordan. You are now going to complicate the security system even more at his house and the kids can't break in. We need to talk about this. Send him to bed. Now."
Leandro looked at his father's reaction who started swinging on his chair as he whispered "Not now." He simply dismissed his mother. When that happened Leandro tried to stay away if he had a choice. His mother didn't go down without a fight.
She shook her head as she looked at her son "You look pale How much have you slept?" She turned to her husband "Riordan said to you not to act when his security cameras saw your own son acting alone. That place is secure. Only your son could crack your codes because you taught him... He can write an apology letter tomorrow.... to you."
Leandro felt the tension rise. He couldn't wait to step outside. His mother knew how to push his father's buttons. Apology was not an option. A Rosario apologising was nothing his father allowed lightly. Rosarios only apologised to one of their own mostly and his father was one Rosario who didn't accept apologies. He watched as the pen that was in his father's hand got thrown down to the surface of the desk soundly. Then his father gave Leandro a look. He didn't need to be told the words. He knew he had to step outside.
Leandro walked out quite, stood outside and closed the door. He breathed out. It wasn't his first time that he had defied his father. It was not going to be the last time. He looked at the Roman style decorated corridor. It had Roman paintings, statues and pillars with carved patterns. He walked to the painting of Julius Caesar. Roman emperors were intriguing. Betrayed by their own trustees at times. But an emperor was an emperor. Nothing changed that. His father was who he was. Nothing could change that.
The door opened and Leandro saw his father come out of the room and closed it. He then signalled with his hand for Leandro to follow him.
Leandro followed his father. He sighed. His mother not following them which meant that his father had taken her to her room. If he asked "Where is mother?" His father would have replied "where she is meant to be" which was their private quarters in the mansion that was out of bounds. His father was an architect. There were walkways around the house only he knew of. Leandro expected his mother to reveal herself again and she did when Leandro was walking down the steps. She followed his father as she was quickly walking down the steps "I was not finished."
Her husband immediately stopped and turned to his wife "Neither was I... We finish where we left off ... when I return."
Leandro was standing behind his father as his mother stood in front of his father. He didn't like that pose. In fencing normally the one standing on the higher ground won. His mother was a step down and she was looking up into her husband's eyes with disapproval. At least his father had told her that he was coming back. He would not have told anyone else that if they addressed him that way.
His mother said "Stop treating the kid like he has committed a crime. He helped his friends and no damage was done. He did nothing that causes you to react this way."
Leandro's father turned to him and said "Make your way to my car and wait for me."
Leandro complied and overheard more of his parents' conversation as he walked down the steps to the exit.
His mother said "You can't just teach him a lesson every time he displeases you. Do it when he does something wrong. Not when you simply don't like what he did..."
Leandro heard his father say calmly "It's not what he did. It's why he did it."
Leandro's mother said "which is what? Helping Tatiana see her kids..."
His father said "He knew what would happen. He wanted to take the blame. So he made sure none of his buddies got caught. He didn't even disable the cameras so to make me find out sooner that it's him."
His mother said " He obviously didn't want you to waste your time. Don't reprimand him when he does something right. What message does this send?"
Leandro heard his father say "He shouldn't defy his father and you should be doing what I told you. My wife. I continue this conversation when I return. Accept it."
Leandro reached outside and paced the ground waiting. He did not like to see his parents fight because of him. He had no idea how his parents could be attracted to one another in any way. They were so different. His mother believed in being her husband's equal and she was. In every way. But his father demanded from his mother to obey him and she never did unless she wished it. It caused tension. He waited next to the car and looked at his watch. There was a battle for domination inside the mansion. One side had to compromise. He wondered who won when his father came out. Leandro sat next to his father on the passenger seat and then the car moved alongside other cars after his father gave a signal. His father didn't talk much unless he wished it.
"Leandro."
Leandro turned to his father when he heard his name. His father poured himself some soda in a glass "Now that I have time... talk... in your defence. Go on..."
Leandro said quickly "I plead guilty."
His father said "Who was the ring leader?"
Leandro said " I am guilty father. That's all I wish to say in my defence."
****
Days Later
Jean had not seen Leandro for a while now. She has no idea what had happened to him. Leo had informed her that Leandro was going to be out of town for awhile. It felt strange that Leandro was not around. As the days went by and she didn't see Leandro she started to get worried. Leo assured her that all was well but she was worried and couldn't help it. She could not even begin to imagine what could be happening. Leo had explained to her that Leandro was in trouble with his father but it was not Leandro's first time of having to answer for his actions. He downplayed it but she had a feeling he was guarding the secrets of their family.
Jacob said "Flowerpot where are you going? It's early morning. Even football practice is not on yet."
Jean turned to him. His brother was looking sleepy in his pyjamas as he was rubbing his eyes " I am sorry for waking you up with the noise... I am going to the library. It's 24 hours for a reason now that we are studying for the projects."
Jacob said "You have done all your homework. You are working too hard."
Jean said "It's not that. I just can't sleep. I prefer to be out there."
Jacob said "Flowerpot. I told you not to worry about Leandro. He will be back and he will be his cocky self. Some of the boys are relieved he is not around to torment them. Especially the younger kids. He gives out sanctions like candy as the dean. Don't feel sorry for him."
Jean said "I can't help it. Leo tells me nothing at all."
Jacob said "Why don't you just stop worrying? There is nothing you and I can do. He knew what he was doing from what I gather. How about we do something fun tonight? So I can help put your mind off his absence?"
Jean said "It won't help... I hope he comes back to school. What if his father hurts him?"
Jacob said "You know what they say. Be careful what you wish for? He may turn up at our door step if you keep mentioning him. I don't miss him that much. It's entertaining watching him get annoyed but I like the laid back football practice."
Jean said "Your practice was quite intense..."
Jacob chuckled "Oh. What you saw yesterday was nothing like how Leandro does the afternoon sessions. You think Leo gives people intense training? You must see Leandro giving people hell."
Jean said "I still feel sorry for him. Other kids get grounded when they do something wrong. But he disappears. I hope he is safe. He may be bad sometimes. But he tried to help his friends and took the blame. Leo told me about what he has done..."
Jacob asked "Leo is talking too much. Leandro will kill him if he finds out he is telling you what exactly he has done... Just don't tell Leandro you know anything..."
Jean nodded and said "See you at breakfast."
****
She was sitting on a bench looking into the distance as she was reading a book. The weather was nice outside so she had decided to sit outside.
She was startled as she felt someone behind her and she froze as she heard her name being said "Jean..." Her breath hitched in her throat. She turned and saw him standing there. It was Leandro. He walked around the bench with his hands in his pocket. There was no scratch on him. He seemed fine. She said "Hi."
He smiled and walked in front of her "I have missed you."
Jean breathed "I am glad you are safe..."
Leandro stood leaning to a tree as he said "You thought I won't come back safely? Really? Why?" He thought of the irony. He was pretty safe with his father. He was too safe actually with all the bodyguards.
Jean said " Leo said you were being dealt with for something you did..."
Leandro whispered " Leo... I hope he did not worry you ... For his sake..."
Jean said "No. No... It's just that... I thought you must have been having a hard time..."
Leandro said " Of course. Missing you was hard..."
Jean looked away feeling her cheeks blush... She then looked up at Leandro "Can you tell me where you were or what you did while you were away?"
Leandro nodded " I was with my father... I followed him around but I did not have any freedom ... I got lectured a lot and I had to be silent ... I had to keep my thoughts to myself... It's hard when I disagree with my father and I can't complain... That's his way of discipline for something that I did... Silence, getting lectured and solitude... But I got it easy actually. My mother interfered and offered my father a favour. I don't know what. Right before we left on his business trip... My mother convinced my father to go easy on me so instead of weeks it took days." For sure betraying his father was a big crime. His mother only could get him off the hook. Now he could get back to see jean and seeing her face was like seeing sunshine after seeing the dark for days.
Their moment was interrupted as a football flew towards Leandro. He caught it mid air and with a hardened expression he looked at the culprit.