The Monster's Shadow

"How did that position slip from my hands?' Just like that. I was almost there! Just a few mistakes." Gloria mumbled to herself in disbelief as she hit her hands on the table. She was at home and could finally speak her mind now and the empty air did not mind being her audience at all. 

Her gaze was distant and all she could think about was how Lara might have actually tricked the board of directors.

She was still thinking very hard when the sight of one of the housemaids approaching the door caught her attention. It dawned on her that she hadn't even heard the doorbell ring all because she was absent minded.

Axel walked in slowly with a bottle of Louis Treize in his right hand.

Gloria sniffed through the air and all she could get was the irritating smell of strong alcohol.

"Mum, you're back! I'm so sorry I missed the meeting." Axel said, his left hand placed on the edge of the sofa Gloria was sitting on.

"You've been out... drinking again! And I'm sure this time you drove yourself whilst drinking huh?" Gloria asked in a low 'I don't really' care voice.

Axel staggered as he tried to move closer to get a clear view of his mother. " Mum I've told you before, I wasn't drinking. By the way, you say it like I committed murder." 

"You can say that to the bottle in your hand." Gloria retorted calmly.

"Mum! Mum! You won't believe it! The movie that was released just two hours ago already has six million views and bloggers are already posting that it's gonna steal the spotlight at next year's Grammy." Jeanne hurried down the stairs approaching her mother.

"I'm impressed, even though that should not be a surprise since a Dubois is the main character." Gloria smiled at her daughter.

"I know but..."

"But it didn't draw so much attention as the last one. I understand and I'm sure you remember your father's words, perfection is a daily work, one can't just attain it in the twinkle of an eye." Gloria interrupted with her lecture.

JEANNE (POV)

"... Perfection is a daily work, one can't just attain it in the twinkle of an eye." My mother quoted.

She and my Father were total perfectionists and I always wondered if they ever made mistakes in life. Of course not, they were the Dubois.

"You!" Axel pointed at me arrogantly.

"Don't you have any better job doing than going around acting dumb movies?... I've heard it all. My girlfriend tells me about them, she totally despises them and you as well." He stuttered in a depressed voice, probably the work of the alcohol he had consumed.

Yes! My perfectionists of a parents did make one mistake in life which was having Axel as their son. Even though he was never like this from the start, I still held on to my belief that nothing could ever shake a Dubois.

"Hmmm" my mother sighed gently as she folded her hands into a fist.

"I can't believe Lara went to such extent. Now I see how it all played. Everything makes sense now, she used all this to buy some time and now my poor Axel is suffering for her greed." Mother continued in a low tuned voice.

I could feel her pain even though it didn't show in any way that she was feeling pain and I could feel Axel's as well. He had been set-up by Lara. He never knew his now ex-girlfriend whom he loved and cherished so much was a spy sent to pry into his life and god knows what she did and then broke up with him and now he still calls her his girlfriend even after their break-up and can't get the hell over her. She was a very smart girl I agree, because she completely turned Axel against his family and now he even thinks acting is stupid, something he once relished.

It was actually difficult to find out who was behind it all but trust the Dubois. My mother dug hard into it and last week we found out with solid evidence that Lara was behind everything. Mum insisted we deal with her personally rather than dragging the cops into it which would obviously attract the media and alert the public. "After all, we are family" my mother would usually say to cover up for that dark hearted woman.

My mother was definitely referring to that case now but I did not understand what she meant by saying Lara was buying time with the problem she created in Axel's life, I mean how did that even connect. What exactly was she buying time for? I questioned myself.

"What do you mean mum?" I asked curious for answers.

"I'm talking about today's meeting dear. The company has been handed over to a stranger." My mother managed to say.

"No way!" I gasped in shock.

"I'm sure it's because of that Lara of a woman!" I spat in despite.

"Cette salope!" I added in frustration and disgust.

"Watch your tongue ma petite." My mother frowned, her gaze directly on me. "She's not worth it." She sighed heavily as she stood up cautiously. "Lara claimed to have a son by the name of Lucien Dion and all but it's only a matter of time before I find out what game Lara is trying to play. Everyone knows she never had a child before Mikel's death, but let's see how it all plays out." My mother said, her soft voice going in line with her careful movement towards the stairs. It felt to me like she was dancing rather than walking. But my mind drifted away from her when I recalled what she had just said. 

Did she just mention Lucien Dion? The name sounded so familiar but I could not get a glimpse of where or when I had ever come across that name.

"Lucien Dion." I muttered as I watched my mother climb the long majestic stairs gracefully.

Axel reeled back and forth as he tried to get a hold of himself. "Thinking of how to woo him already?" He asked, his voice sounding intoxicated.

I had even forgotten he even existed since he last spoke. I shrugged and all my thoughts vanished for the moment. "I bet you've had too much of that drink and that bottle can't shut that trap of yours." I smirked walking past him. I scurried off to my room to continue work on my next big project but I had a lot on my mind now. Lara and her cunning ways and the stranger she brought in as her son.

I laid down flat on my bed with my face facing the decking and all I could think about was how familiar that name sounded.

Lucien Dion, Lucien Dion. I whispered as if I was summoning his spirit.