The call was from one of the secretaries in a restaurant where Leo had booked a reservation. The reservation was supposed to be for him and Melissa where he planned to surprise her for her birthday.
"Sorry?" the young lady on the phone retorted."I said, cancel the reservation," Leo repeated gruffly."Uh...um...um...why sir?" she was confused. "by any chance, are you unsatisfied with any of our services? please tell us so that we can know where and how to serve you better. Do you need an upgrade for the reservation?"Leo was already fed up with everything. The word 'reservation' reminded him so much of his treasured marriage that he had just lost and all he wanted at that moment was for the whole world to shut up."Just do as I said." He snapped at the woman and hung up the phone.A few seconds after he disconnected the call and put it in his pocket, it rang again and he pulled it out with annoyance,"I said CANCEL THE RESERVATION!!!" Leo yelled into the phone, "Don't call me again!"With these few words of rage, he hung up again and tucked the phone into his pocket with anger.INSIDE A BLACK BENZ CAR.The woman who had made the call couldn't believe her ears as she stared at the phone in her hands.'What the hell just happened?' she asked herself in disbelief, 'did he just yell at me and hang up on me? How rude...'If she had her way at that moment, she would just turn around and drive home.'Modest and polite indeed!' she scoffed as she remembered how her grandfather praised the man's humility, modesty and politeness, 'see how rude he sounded on our first call. Honestly, I don't see what grandfather sees in this guy...'She hated what she was doing but she had to do it, she picked up the phone and dialed his number again. "Let's try this again."It rang twice before he answered it. This time, she made sure to speak first so that he wouldn't hang up like the last time."Mr. Leonardo Dubois..." she pronounced his full name first.Leo was about to start yelling into the phone when he answered the call but all of those words hung in his throat when he heard her call his full name."I'm sorry, who's this?" he asked instinctively,"Who I am and how I know your full name doesn't matter now." she replied coldly, "What matters is that my grandfather needs your attention now.""Huh?" Leo retorted loudly.She knew that the next question was going to sound something like, 'Who the hell is your grandfather?' so she saved him the stress of asking and said, "My grandfather is Maxwell Jones, the CEO of the Jones Brothers Corporation." The name of the multimillionaire brought chills to Leo's spine and he found himself rooted to one spot, speechless.The lady didn't have time for his drama so she pushed the conversation forward. "What's your location? I'm coming to take you to him now."Somehow, Leo managed to maneuver his shock and give her his location."I'll be there in 5 minutes," she said and hung up.It was only after the lady had hung up that Leo's mind started working properly and he remembered that many years ago, before he married Melissa, he had an encounter with this man- Mr Maxwell Jones.While Leo was waiting, Melissa and her obnoxious secretary stepped out of the cafe and stumbled into him there.The secretary was the first to see him so he quickly launched a series of taunts in Leo's direction. "Hey! What's this loser still doing here?"The secretary's taunt attracted Melissa's attention to Leo who was just standing by the road and minding his business."Oh yeah I know!" the secretary said loudly and many people turned towards them, "you forgot to ask for your cab fee? that's it right?"Leo did not say anything in response to the man."Are you ignoring me?" The secretary asked irritably,Melissa then turned to Leo and said; "Listen Leo... I know that you're angry and frustrated by my sudden decision but....""No need." Leo cut her off and shook his head without looking at her.The coldness in his voice pierced straight through Melissa's heart and her countenance fell. She opened her mouth to say something but she couldn't bring herself to utter the words.A few moments later, a black Benz car drove by and parked in front of Leo.The sudden appearance of the car got tongues wagging. The black Benz was not any ordinary car, it was the latest model and it was still on exclusive access. That meant that whoever owned the car was definitely amongst the top 100 richest people in the world.When the woman called him and said that she would be coming to pick him up, he didn't expect her to come in a car that was as luxurious as this one.'I didn't know that the old man was this wealthy....' Leo thought to himself.Suddenly, the tinted window of the driver's seat rolled down to reveal the face of the most beautiful woman that Leo had ever seen in his life.A small face with flawless white skin, azure blue eyes, and blonde hair that shone lusciously.Some of the people who were around when her car drove by were amazed when they saw her through the window. Just like Leo, they were all enchanted by her beauty and some of them even brought out their
The woman opened the door and they stepped into a spacious room that had a huge bed in the middle.The bed was fashioned after a hospital room and it had immaculate white curtains, white wall paint, and a lot of life support devices and equipment including an oxygen tank, respirator, and a flatliner. The room also smelt thickly of disinfectant and it attacked their noses the moment they entered.Leo instantly noticed that there was someone lying on the bed and the person was surrounded by a lot of doctors and nurses.The moment Leo entered the room with the woman, all of them turned around and bowed their heads towards her in greeting."Welcome back, young Miss, we have been awaiting your arrival." They all said simultaneously. Without wasting any time, they offered face masks and gloves to the both of them before allowing them to come closer.This greeting piqued Leo's interest and made him wonder who this young woman was that would enable her to attract such a level of respect from
Everyone was shocked at Leo's action and they all yelled in raw fear. Even the bodyguard who was stationed in the room pulled his gun and pointed it at Leo."What are you doing?!" the young Miss cried out in panic and slapped Leo's hand."Gentlemen, gentlemen, let's be civil about this," Leo said in mock surrender as he put his hands in the air. "I'm going to cure him, didn't you guys bring me here to cure him?""Cure him?" One of the doctors asked angrily, "Do you seriously expect us to believe that bullshit? Can you guys hear him?"Another doctor said, "He's trying to tell us that an unlicensed individual like him can cure an illness that professionals like us haven't been able to cure for weeks now. That's the biggest joke of the year."Leo gently put the knife down and shrugged, "It's not a big deal if you don't want me to treat him. But one thing that I'll assure you is that he doesn't have much time left."What's this dumbass talking about?" One of the female doctors said and ch
The moment the scalpel pierced the man's chest, he made a loud gasping noise and it was then that everyone in the room realized what Leo had done."Oh my God! What have you done?!" the lead doctor asked in pure despair and terror.The bodyguard who hadn't noticed Leo earlier suddenly tackled him to the ground and locked him in a chokehold.He began to tighten the chokehold on Leo's neck with a single motive- murder.Luckily for Leo, the young Miss quickly intervened before the guard could squeeze the life out of him."Wait, don't kill him yet," she said as she towered over them on the floor.Once she noticed that the guard's chokehold had loosened, she bent down and slapped Leo across the face.WHACK!Turning to the doctors, she said, "Someone please take out that scalpel before he dies."The doctors had been hesitant to remove the scalpel because they didn't want to complicate the old man's condition any further. When Leo noticed that the doctors wanted to remove the scalpel, he yel
Helen's face turned sour when she heard her grandfather call Leo's name.She had wanted to hug him when he woke up but now that he was mentioning the name of a man that she disliked, she frowned and kept her hands to herself."Why are you looking for Leonardo Dubois?" Helen asked irritatedly, "he almost killed you."If her grandfather was shocked by that statement, he didn't show it because his facial expression remained cold, devoid of emotions as he asked again, "Where is Leonardo Dubois?""Grandpa," Helen tried to speak softly but her voice betrayed her and dripped with thick irritation, "you don't need Leonardo Dubois, I've already called Mr. Greg."For the first time since he woke up, the old man's facial expression changed to a frown and he opened his mouth to say something. However, whatever he wanted to say was interrupted by the sudden entrance of a man into the room.SLAM!The door swung open with so much force and ferocity that it seemed like the door would fall out of its
"I need you to promise me that you'll marry my daughter, Helen."'What is this man talking about?' Leo asked himself, 'where did he get this hilarious idea of telling me to marry his daughter?'Before Leo could compose himself from the shock of Maxwell's request and give a response, Helen butted in with a hot-headed rejection."No! No way in hell Grandpa!" She cried, "There's no way I'm getting married to this man. That's not how things are done."As she spoke, she eyed Leo with contempt, Leo noticed the death glances that Helen was sending his way and he couldn't help but shake his head and think, 'The feeling is mutual.'He then turned to Maxwell, summoned his most polite voice and said. "I'm sorry sir, but I can't grant this request. It's beyond me."Leo could see the disappointment cloud Maxwell's face when he heard his response.‘What if I can help you to find out the truth about the death of your parents?’For years, Leo had no clue about this, how could he know it. He was abou
They all turned to see a fair, curvy, and beautiful woman walking towards them with her security around her.The woman was dressed in a suit for females which gave her a look of professionalism and smartness that complemented beautifully with her natural beauty. She had a perfectly symmetrical face with small pink lips, a pointed nose, and amber-brown eyes that betrayed the wisdom and experience of the owner. It was obvious that those eyes had seen a great many things in life. She was of average height and her curves were all in the right places in the right proportion. Her stature was so perfect that she looked like she was a model actor who was playing the role of a businesswoman.The air in the environment had suddenly changed at her arrival, everywhere was suddenly filled with tension and the security men all stopped what they were doing to hear her out. A lot of them didn't know who she was but they knew that she was an important person."Wait a minute..." One of the security men
Melissa drove her mother and her brother to the hospital with her secretary in the car.Throughout the journey to the hospital, all Agnes did was to threaten Leo and curse him endlessly."That failure of a man called Leo is going to pay for harming my son," Agnes seethed, "I don't care what it's going to take. I'm going to make sure he eats the dust for daring to lay a hand on my son."Melissa gnashed her teeth as she drove to the hospital. She was finding it difficult to believe that Leo was the one who harmed her brother. She had grown accustomed to knowing Leo as a peace loving and gentle person, she never believed that he would be able to do such a thing.While she was still thinking about the issue, her secretary jumped in on the issue."You know what?" He started, "I'm not surprised at all that he did this... He has always been a pretender and a liar. I'm only shocked that it has taken you this long to see through his facade of fake goodness."Melissa clenched her fingers tightl
Leo and Kyrian stood with to their hands handcuffed to each other before the large portrait of Sarah Jensen previously Sarah Homer in the living room of her expansive oceanside mansion. He was surprised at how homely the building looked as it was all warm colors and bright decor which was in very sharp contrast with his own home which was mostly black and white furniture and filled with technology. The only gadget in sight in the living room was the large TV and he couldn't spot a single security camera around. He loved the way the home felt secure and welcoming and he was sure that even though Helen said nothing about it, she was worried by the lack of privacy in their own home. He felt she had been even happier since they had moved out of the house.He loved the way the home felt secure and welcoming and he was sure that even though Helen said nothing about it, she was worried by the lack of privacy in their own home. He felt she had been even happier since they had moved out of th
Sarah, Kyrian's daughter sat in her baby's nursery desperately trying to shush her from her screaming. She had already fed her twice but the child just kept on wailing at the top of her lungs. She had fired the baby's nanny a few days ago after she found out that she was having an affair with her husband. She had kicked him out of the house too and he had slept on the front porch for three nights in a row knocking and screaming and begging her to let him in. She promised to call the police each time his noise woke her up. It was probably the wedding contract she had made him sign before they got married that made him so desperate to win her back. He had signed away thirty to forty five percent of his business empire if they were ever to get divorced depending on the length of the marriage, currently she was eligible to take up to thirty nine percent of all he had without even lifting a finger.The affair had began from the night she hired the nanny and she didn't even know until she
Kyrian groaned as he got off the helicopter. At his age he didn't enjoy sitting in the sticky helicopter seats any longer. Old age took away certain luxuries from him he would never get back."Good day sir" the security guard greeted him as he stepped down onto the grass."Good day. Where's my car and escort?" Kyrian asked while responding curtly to the greeting."Right this way sir, just follow me" the guard said and began to lead the way to where the cars were parked. At a comfortable speed they should be able to reach Dartford City before night fall where he had dinner reservation with Leonardo Dubois. "Right this way sir, just follow me" the guard said and began to lead the way to where the cars were parked. At a comfortable speed they should be able to reach Dartford City before night fall where he had dinner reservation with Leonardo Dubois. He was slightly nervous because of how long it had been since he talked face to face with him last. He took a deep steadying breath befor
Gordon wiped his brow, the steam from the pots blurring his vision. The clatter of plates filled the small kitchen of St. Jude's Orphanage, a rhythmic echo of lives lived in shadows. He had just finished scrubbing a particularly stubborn pan when the sharp whistle pierced the air, cutting through the dull mood of the evening routine. Instinctively, he froze, the scrub brush still in his hand, unsure what was happening.“Come on, Gordon! We need to hurry!” shouted his roommate, Ethan, bursting through the door with a wild look in his eyes.“What....What’s going on?” Gordon asked, his heart pounding as he dropped the brush and followed Ethan into the hallway. The other boys were already racing past them down the hallway , they were laughter and shouts a mixture of excitement and anxiety which left Gordon more perplexed .“It’s a billionaire!” Ethan exclaimed, his voice barely above a whisper, yet it crackled with energy. “He’s coming to adopt a kid from the orphanage. They say he’s go
Hazel stepped of the first ladder of the airplane, the cool French air brushing against her skin. She inhaled deeply and smelled the fresh unpolluted air, a rare smell in Dartford. She lived the countryside but she had a mission to fulfill there . She walked back into the plane to meet Jason, the pilot who had flown them across the Atlantic.“Thank you, Jason. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this,” she said, handing him an electronic card. “The details for the rest of your payment are right here. Just follow the instructions.”Jason took the card, "How do I know that this card will pay me?" Jason asked. "Seriously man, you're doing business with billionaires and you're asking if you will get paid a couple millions?" Hazel asked with a slight chuckle and Jason nodded nervously.“No problem,Just keep him safe. That’s all that matters now.” he replied before she left the cockpit.James stood beside her, clutching a small backpack to his chest. At five years old, he looked so sma
Gordon Fisher crouched behind a stack of shipping crates as he scanned the harbor. The moon hung high illuminating the transatlantic ship moored at the end of the dock. The weight of desperation pressed heavily on his chest. Just hours ago, he had been a man with a plan; now, he was a fugitive, the walls closing in with every passing moment.Leonardo Dubois had shattered his world with a single announcement. He had told the truth about Gordon’s infiltration into his private mansion to the public. The man who had killed his father now stood untouchable, declaring to the world that Gordon had broken into his multimillion-dollar mansion, seeking vengeance for a crime that had haunted him for years. The plan had been foolproof—or so he thought.He had designed the security system for Dubois's home, crafting a web of protection that he believed would be impenetrable. But when he finally made it into the house, his plans spiraled out of control. Instead of finding Dubois's wife, Helen, in h
Kyrian Homer sat comfortably in the plush armchair of his holiday mansion in Spain, the golden rays of the late afternoon sun filtering through the grand windows. The ocean outside shimmered. At seventy-three, Kyrian had seen the world shift in ways he never thought possible, but today, as he watched the news, a chill raced down his spine, igniting memories he thought he had buried deep.The host’s voice droned on, a mix of politics, celebrity gossip, and the relentless drumbeat of tragedy. But Kyrian’s attention sharpened when the anchor introduced a segment about Leonardo Dubois—Leo, as he had always called him. After all the drama following Scar's death and with them regaining control over the city Kyrian had finally decided to take his hands off the steering and he left his company to his son and moved to Spain he had only been back to the States twice, one for Leo's wedding and another for James' christening.As the camera panned to Leo’s face, now framed with salt-and-pepper hai
Jason stared open mouthed at the man who stood before him. He had a chance to see the most vulnerable side of one of the richest men in the world. He didn't know what Leo was trying to hide his child from but he knew that it must be something or someone dangerous."I brought half your payment in full. My friend Hazel will be traveling with you and when you drop them she will get you the remaining half of the money" Leo said as he motioned to Hazel. "Where exactly an I going to drop them?" Jason asked Leo but he shook his head in reply. "I don't know. The only people who know are Hazel and James who chose the location. Hazel won't tell you the destination either until you are out of the country's airspace to avoid any sort of device picking up communication" Leo said a little bit paranoid but of course he was paranoid, if a deranged killer with a personal vendetta against you snuck into your house so easily with the sun if killing your wife, you'd be terribly paranoid."Alright then
"What the fuck" Leo cursed as he stumbled out of his vehicle. He saw Hazel and Ross's vehicle reversing quickly and stopping a few feet away from the hitman's crashed car. They carefully stepped out while keeping their heads down. Leo got to the car them and forced the car door open. He took one good look at the half conscious hitman before reaching over and snatching the gun out of his hands"This moronic unprofessional is why you two were running over thirty minutes late?' Leo asked them with a slight smirk and they both laughed."You should have seen yourself when you realized we were being pursued. You practically made that turn like a formula 1 driver" Ross joked before he walked up to Leo and wrapped him in a hug. "Any one hurt on your side?" Leo asked with concern but they both shook their heads. "What of Helen and James?" Hazel asked a little worriedly but she smiled when she saw Helen helping James out of the car and waving at them."They're fine. We have to get out of her