22 Do you even love him?

Lester was in his villa when he received a phone call. After he had seen the caller, he picked up the phone leisurely. "Boss" the voice came from the other end of the phone."You should better have a good reason for calling me" Lester replied sipping his coffee. He had just come out of the shower after his exercise when he got the call.

"Actually, I do" the voice replied with a smile. "Then you better make it fast" Lester snapped. "Well, sister-in-law is graduating in a weeks time," the voice said. Lester heard this and immediately stood up splashing himself with the hot coffee he was still sipping.

"Boss, boss, boss" the voice on the other end of the phone called out to Lester. Ding. The dial tone of the phone was heard. 'What is wrong with the devil again, he has been grouchy lately' the man on the other end of the phone said.

Lester was not sure of what exactly he should do. Annabelle was finally graduating and he had to make his move to make her his. Thinking about it he knew with everything happening around him, he couldn't force her into being his woman.

Lester had no idea why he wanted her as his woman but ever since she stood up to him without even looking for ways to scam him of his money. He knew she was the right choice to make his wife. He did not even know he was already thinking of marriage until he caught himself.

Ring ring ring, the incessant ringing of the phone made him frown. Picking up the phone he snapped thinking it was the former caller "What? do you still have anything else to say?". However when he heard the voice of the caller he frowned.

"What do you want?", he asked not caring about the other person on the phone. "Son, your mother wants you to come home' Donaldson said finally. He had to pick his next words carefully because he knew if he didn't Lester could hang up.

" I don't remember having one," Lester said his words cutting Donaldson like a sharp knife. "Son please come home she misses you, she might not say it but that doesn't mean it is true" At this Lester gave a mirthless laugh.

"Love? you dare talk about love. Mr. Alexander, I think you are mistaken control with love but you don't have to worry because I am not stepping another foot into that house" Lester said all these in one breath.

"Son, how dare you talk about your mother that way. I left you alone when you threw her out of the company months ago but this, this is outrageous" Donaldson yelled at his son. He was mad with rage. The day Lester had thrown Leonie out of the company he didn't say anything to Lester for fear of his reaction but it had been months since then.

"Why don't you and your wife look for who you can lord over because that person is definitely not me. Do not be confused with the fact that I still bear the Alexander name or even run the company. All I do is for the grandfather who single-handedly built this company to where it was before I took over. This here is my last respects to him"

Once Lester was done with his piece he hung up the phone. Throwing away the phone in his hand, he looked for anything he could smash and he only calmed down when he could not find anything else to destroy. He was already bleeding profusely but he didn't even realize it. Walking out from the room he was in, he walked to his kitchen and took out some cans of beer, drowning away his sorrow with the alcohol.

Meanwhile, over at his parents' villa, another show was going on. After Lester hung up the phone, Leonie came out from where she had been eavesdropping on Donaldson's discussion. Seeing the look on his face, Leonie knew the conversation was not a good one.

Leonie sneered "That boy is not coming is he?" Donaldson was shocked seeing his wife, he frowned even more after seeing her reaction and hearing her words. "That boy? Do you mean your son? Did he ever do something wrong to you to deserve your harsh treatments? Is it really that bad marrying me because you could not continue in your acting career? Or is there something else I don't know about? Is he really your son?"

Donaldson was already frustrated with his son's words earlier, but looking at his mother talking about him like he was something disgusting, he lost it all. He had never raised his voice at her but today he felt like it was needed.

Leonie stared at Donaldson in shock, "Donald, how can you say that. Lester is my son, I bore him for 9 months. You have not been fair to me Donald" she said amidst tears. "Do you even love him?" Donaldson asked "I... I" Leonie shuttered.

Donaldson scoffed at this, "You don't even love the son you gave birth to? I know I am not a good father to him too but at least I care for him and that is something I can't say for you. Lester does not need parents like us, Leonie. What hope do you have to give to him when he feels like an outsider in his own home"

As Donaldson continued Leonie was in tears. What sort of mother doesn't love their child? She knew Donaldson was right but she did not know how to show that love. Donaldson looked at his wife and with a shake of his head turned to leave. Leonie finally gained control of her emotions. Lia was back after she was done with a shoot that took her out of the country and Lester was refusing to pick her call.

Lia went to Leonie and complained about this and Leonie, in turn, told her husband Donaldson. Leonie knew she couldn't call Lester to come home because of Lia and as such decided to tell Donaldson how much she missed Lester. Donaldson knew her exact reason but did not want to mention anything about it to her.

Leonie went back into the house as she had regained her calm. "Mom, what did daddy say? Is brother Lester coming home? Come on, mom talk to me, I even prepared dinner myself. I am sure he will like it" Lia asked excitedly. Leonie looked at her daughter a bit speechless. "The brat is not coming" Leonie cleared her throat as she said this.

Lia was disappointed after hearing this "Well did you tell him, it was me who told him to come?" Lia said. "Why waste words on him? He should have joined the military like his brothers," Leonie said a bit dissatisfied. "Mother, how can you say something like that?" Lia exclaimed her beautiful eyes widening in shock.

"You know I prefer Lester than the older ones, they are too mean. No wonder they are in the military. Lester would not even survive a day in there" Lia said dramatically as she rolled her eyes. "I need him to invest in my new drama mother but he has been ignoring my calls and now I am not sure of what to do" Lia finally revealed her intentions. "Don't worry dear, you still have me and I promise to get that investment for you one way or another" Leonie said with a glint in her eyes.