My way. A journey through life from Johannesburg to Cape Town
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My mind in chaos, entangled with care,
While my heart longs for silence, suspended in air.
On the pages of books, no symbols in vain,
No meaningless patterns in ink that remain.
For there lies the ache of a heart alive,
And love that shatters despair to survive.
Knotting paths as I tread, weary and worn,
With the weight of lifeless lines deeply borne.
The traveller lifts his gaze to the sky,
Where mercy of knowledge grants him to fly.
A desert unfolds in its golden expanse,
No mirage misguides him, no stumbling trance.
No poison tree looms, no anchor of dread,
But visions of life on a planet ahead.
I soar through the silence of clouds ever still,
The plane breaks the quiet, bends sky to its will.
In my heart lies the love of this life that I claim,
Living within it, I trust it again.
CHAPTER 6. A LEGACY WOVEN IN GLASS AND WATER
Konstantin’s story began long before he ever crossed my path. By the age of 27, he had already carved his place in a world not easily impressed. In the arid heart of Africa, where others saw only desolation, Konstantin discovered an untapped source of water – a revelation that would become the cornerstone of his first empire. From those humble beginnings, he built a glass factory, turning sand and gas into something transformative. The raw simplicity of his materials mirrored the clarity of his vision.
“Glass is a paradox,” he once said to me, his voice carrying the weight of both ambition and introspection. “Fragile yet enduring. It reflects, refracts, protects, and reveals. Much like life itself.”
Those words stayed with me. Konstantin’s foresight was unmatched. He anticipated shifts in energy conservation and food production long before others dared to dream of such things. His company’s stock soared as he implemented energy-efficient methods and expanded into sustainable practices. Yet, what set him apart was his uncanny ability to balance the material and the ethereal. Beneath the sharp precision of a businessman beat the heart of an artist, a poet, and a dreamer.
THE WEIGHT OF THE PAST, THE FIRE OF CREATION
My own family’s legacy was not unfamiliar with glass. My grandfather, after the war, had been sent to rebuild a glass factory, pouring his resilience and creativity into every piece. As Konstantin recounted his early years to me, I couldn’t help but see parallels between him and my grandfather. Both men believed in the transformative power of their craft, imbuing it with a sense of purpose far beyond its practical use.
“A house cannot truly be a home without water and a garden,” I told Konstantin one evening as we walked through one of his projects. “Concrete and stone are not enough. There has to be something alive within it.”
He paused, considering my words. “You’re right,” he said. “The soul of a building is in its light, its water, its breath. I try to design with that in mind.”
A VISION BEYOND BUSINESS
Parallel to his work with glass and water, Konstantin ventured into construction. Unlike many of his contemporaries, who were content to churn out monotonous buildings devoid of personality, Konstantin approached each project with an artist’s eye and a philosopher’s heart. He wasn’t merely erecting structures; he was shaping spaces meant to inspire.
One project, in particular, held a special place in his heart – a dilapidated 18th-century estate that he dreamed of restoring to its former grandeur.
“It’s not just a building,” he explained to me, his blue eyes alight with passion. “It’s a piece of history, a story waiting to be retold. I see it as a sanctuary for the soul – a place where people can find beauty, even in the smallest details.”
As he described his plans, I couldn’t help but admire the depth of his vision. He thought of everything: the angle of sunlight streaming through ancient windows, the preservation of original colours against the ravages of time, even the way modern glass could protect the fragile facade without altering its authenticity. Years later, I would pass by that building again. By then, it had been turned into a sterile business centre, stripped of the elegance and warmth Konstantin had envisioned. It was a painful reminder of how easily dreams can be overtaken by cold practicality.
THE OFFER THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
“What will my role be?” I asked one evening, unable to hide the trepidation in my voice. Though
I was captivated by Konstantin’s charisma and vision, I was also acutely aware of the magnitude of what he was asking of me.
“I need someone who can manage my time,” he said, his tone both commanding and sincere. “Someone who can oversee special projects, who understands the balance between pragmatism and artistry. Someone who sees the beauty and the possibilities I sometimes overlook.”
His words struck a chord. Manage his time? It was a curious request, almost intimate in its vulnerability. Time, after all, is the one resource no empire can expand.
“I’m surrounded by cold, calculating minds,” he continued. “Wolves, if you will. They help me build my fortress, but they lack the essence of life – the taste of it. I need someone who can bring balance. Someone who can remind me of what it means to truly live.”
For a moment, I was silent, caught between the weight of his request and the gravity of my own ambitions. Konstantin was offering me a leap forward – a chance to step into a role far beyond anything I had imagined for myself. Yet, I couldn’t ignore the complexity of what lay ahead.
“As a lawyer, you’ll do more than you think possible,” he added, sensing my hesitation. “Tomorrow, we meet with representatives from English and Dutch foundations, along with my personal legal team. This project… it’s important to me. And I believe you are the person I’ve been searching for.”
THE LEAP INTO THE UNKNOWN
I didn’t say yes immediately. Konstantin’s words lingered in my mind, echoing long after our conversation had ended. There was an undeniable pull toward him, a magnetic force that both intrigued and unsettled me. He was a lion – majestic, commanding, and at times overwhelming. But I was no prey. If I stepped into his world, it would be as an equal, not a captive.