As Caleb was being pushed into the waiting van of the mobile police, he stole a glance at his boss' office window just in time to see the blinds dropping down.Someone had been standing there and watching. It was Mia. He couldn't see her eyes but he was certain she was having a really good laugh at the open humiliation meted out to him."Get into the car and don't waste any more of our time, punk!" The officer holding him yelled angrily and slapped him hard across the face.Caleb blinked hard, trying to refocus his blurred vision. From the corner of his tear-stained eye, he could see the curious stares of his former colleagues from the large glass windows of the administrative office downstairs."Former?" he thought ruefully. "Did I just lose my job for real?""Are you deaf?" The other police officer blared out, jarring his eardrum. "The hot slap must have deafened him," the one who slapped him snorted and then burst out laughing croakily.His colleague joined in.Caleb felt the ring

Learning the Truth 4CALEB'S POVThe car drove on in silence. The revelation about his family hit Caleb harder than an electric shock. "What?" he intoned.Mateo nodded. "Is this true, Mama?"He turned to give his mother a blank stare.Leah's greyish-blue eyes had become opaque and watery. Tears streamed down her pinky cheeks and formed a puddle on her sharply edged chin, dripping in droplets onto her hands which were clasped together prayerlike."I guess your silence is an answer in itself," Caleb grumbled."You were adopted after I managed to whisk you away from being killed and hidden in an orphanage. Your foster mother here used to work as a nursing assistant there." Mateo recalled.Caleb lowered his head, the empty package of food dangled in his hand. His grandfather retrieved the pack and dumped it on the backseat.Leah made an effort to hold her son's hand but he shrugged her off. "Don't touch me.""Do you hate me now?" her voice cracked.Caleb felt sorry for his mother. "I'm so

Going Shopping 6CALEB'S POV The following morning, Caleb was awoken by the smell of coffee and waffles coming from downstairs. He promptly sat up in the big mahogany bed and tried to take in his new environment for the first time. Everything happened too fast in the last two days that he barely noticed his surroundings. The bedroom wall was painted white and covered with wallpaper depicting a tropical rainforest overlapping a waterfall. The ceiling was immaculate and shaped like a cone - a contrast from the wooden roof that housed him and his mother in their old rented house. The door blinds were velvet green with golden threads draped against the edges. "I can't remember the last time I slept so well," he murmured to himself, his voice still groggy from sleep. His eyes then wandered to the steady rays of sunlight dancing against the glass window covered with a white curtain indicating it was already broad daylight. Stretching, Caleb yawned and got out of bed. He walked over to th

The Tables Turned 8CALEB'S POVBy the time Caleb got home from the mall, it was noon. His grandfather had already left for the office, thus he decided to take the rest of the day to relax and browse the internet about cars and bikes. He would need his personal means of transportation - something moderate which wouldn't give him away as a rich guy as yet, especially on days he might want to get to the office by himself without waiting for the entourage. He sat in the mini living room attached to his bedroom upstairs, with a glass of red wine he found in the wine bar. A few years ago while he was still job-hunting, he assisted his friend, Raj, to run an errand with his boss' scooter. And though it wasn't a motorbike, he dreamed of owning one someday. It was such a tall dream at the time. He thought of a Harley-Davidson, Ducati, Yamaha, or Suzuki brand. He was still poring the internet when his phone buzzed. "Hello, Grandpa," he answered. "Are you back from the mall?" "Yes. We cam

CALEB'S POVThe SurpriseRicardo cleared his throat looking confused. "I'm sorry ma'am...""Miss Daniels," Elena said, putting forth her hand for a handshake. Ricardo looked from her to Caleb not knowing what to do. But Caleb simply smiled and said it was okay. He understood that to mean he could shake hands with her. "It's a pleasure meeting you, Miss Daniels," he replied and briefly shook her hand. The two security guards were still standing there, with puzzled looks on their faces. They've never heard Ricardo being addressed as the CEO. If anything, he had always been seen driving the boss. The slim guy spoke first."Welcome, sir. We were waiting for the boss to arrive because there's been a problem."Ricardo turned to face them. "What problem?" The slim guy pointed at the side of Elena's car."Our new employee here bashed Miss Daniel's car and then spoke rudely to her."The other guard rolled his eyes. He knew his colleague was lying but was helpless as he couldn't just inte