The Rise - Chapter 10

Upon arrival to his mother’s house, Leon went to his room and started planning for the campaign. His mother would return home either early or late, never in between. This time, she came home late at night and immediately took Leon out for dinner. As Leon saw it, his mother would parade him outside in the eyes of the media and people for political gain. He has no doubt his mother loves him, however he’s fully aware of the value of being seen as a family person.

‘Despite being divorced and a busy woman, she still finds time to take care of her child’ – this was the image she wished to portray. This was the politics that Leon grew up with, everything must be done with consideration of its political value – even family matters.

They ate at an exclusive restaurant known as the The Rubric. The two sat facing each other at the table looking at menus. Leon’s mother was sitting with perfect posture with her legs crossed, she had perfectly wavy black hair that only reached her shoulders. She had narrow blue eyes and thin lips. She was a terrifyingly beautiful woman.

“How was school today?” she asked scanning the menu

Leon shrugs and looks away.

“Elizabeth informed me you weren’t at school today. Did you think I wouldn’t find out?” she said raising an eyebrow. Elizabeth was the Vice Principle of the school.

“She has twelve hundred students to worry about, I didn’t think she’d care so much about one student.” replied Leon

“It’s her job to worry about you. You’re a Cottonwood.”

The Cottonwood family was primarily responsible for the creation of the Unitare High School, and in perfect Cottonwood fashion, its creation had significant political value.

The waiter arrives cutting off the conversation. The two make their orders and hand in their menus.

Leon tried to explain his reason for skipping school, but his mother already inferred it was due to the student council presidency.

“I’ve spent many nights trying to convince you to run for student council president, yet you always refused.” she said

“If you want the honest answer, I don’t know why I’m running.” he said

She smiles gently.

“What?” he asked

She looks away slightly and wipes the smile off her face.

“Mother? Aren’t you going to say something?” he continued

She locks eyes with Leon and he suddenly becomes tense and cold. Her lips start moving but no sound comes out until he hears her say

“I hope you’re aware, you won’t win.”

Leon becomes tense and his chest sinks at the piercing words of his mother. She kept looking directly at him without flinching. It wasn’t a joke, but a cold-hard truth. Leon knew his chances were low, but to hear it from his mother dented his confidence. He was unable to reply, unable to move.

“This must be the influence of your father and his philosophy. I have nothing against losing, but to purposely place yourself in a losing position, that’s madness.” she continued

Leon remembered the words of his father about how ‘you must fight the fights you could never win’, when his mother brought up his ‘philosophy’.

The food had arrived and the plates were placed on the table as Leon’s mother stared at him whilst he was looking away like a captive in a hostage situation trying to make his escape.

“Though, if I’m correct, that is not the reason why you decided to run.”

Leon turned towards his mother waiting for her to continue her thought.

“How does Justin do at school?” she asked

“Why?”

“I’m guessing he’s the type who just barely passes.” she continued

“So?” asked Leon still confused

“What do you think will be the first thing he does when his father’s empire collapses?” she picks up a knife and fork and starts segmenting her food. “He might just finally decide to pick up a book” she continued.

Leon’s eyes widened in shock.

“You foolishly believed you could survive off the success of your parents, you believed that the political world would embrace you with open arms, you believed that you somehow had some genetic advantage, to the point that you no longer worried about the future. But what happens when your parents’ success turns into disgrace and scandal.” she said taking the first bite from her food.

Looking down at his food eyes wide open, his fists were clenched on his thighs beneath the table. “I-I don’t care about politics.” he insisted unconvincingly.

She smirks and her narrow eyes became narrower as she gave Leon a piercing look.

“If you don’t have politics, then what do you have, Leon?”

She takes a sip out of her glass of water. He had no reply, everything she was saying felt like arrows to his chest. Completely caught off guard, he had never expected a night out with his mother to end like this. She wasn’t holding back.

“Well, if your father’s arrest was all that was needed to finally get you to wake up, then fine by me.”

She reaches out with her hand and caresses the side of Leon’s face.

“You may be late, but since you’ve finally decided to join the family business, tomorrow you’ll finally meet your grandmother.” she said with a terrifyingly calm look on her face.

Leon nodded obediently. Still in shock. He often forgot who his parents were. They were masters of politics, and by extension they were masters of human nature. They could read individuals inside out with just one look. It put into perspective where Leon stood in the world of politics – he was nothing. And tomorrow, he was going to meet the woman at the top of the food chain, his grandmother, Hilda Cottonwood.