LEGACY OF A BILLIONAIRE SON-IN-LAW

part 010

Leon sat in his system room, the glow from the large monitors reflecting in his sharp, focused eyes. The room was quiet, except for the faint hum of machines working around him. Streams of data flowed across the screens like rivers of light. The air smelled faintly of metal and leather, a reminder of how much time he spent here.

His chair creaked as he leaned back, staring at the main display. His fingers hovered over the controls, waiting. The ballroom incident still lingered in his mind – the men in suits, the strange tension, and Clara’s worried face. Something felt unfinished.

Suddenly, the system chimed. A bright notification appeared, glowing in bold blue letters across the screen.

TARGET: CLARA EVANS.

Leon straightened, his eyes narrowing. He tapped the screen, pulling up the details. Clara’s profile filled the monitor.

Name: Clara Evans

Age: 23

Occupation: Waitress

Workplace: La Belle royale

Leon frowned. His eyes locked onto the name of the restaurant. La Belle royale

He knew that place. It was the same restaurant he had visited a week ago. A small, simple spot on Maple Street, tucked between two larger buildings. He had gone for a quick lunch, nothing fancy. But he remembered the scene.

The manager had been shouting at someone by the entrance. Leon hadn’t paid much attention, but now it clicked.

Clara.

“That was her,” Leon muttered to himself.

The system flickered again, as if waiting for confirmation. Leon’s gaze lingered on Clara’s picture.

Coincidence? He didn’t believe in coincidences.

Before he could think further, his phone buzzed on the table. The sharp sound cut through the silence. Leon grabbed it and answered without looking at the caller ID.

“Leon,” he said calmly.

The voice on the other end was familiar. It was Gray, his private investigator.

“I looked into the girl, like you asked,” Gray said. “Clara Evans. Twenty-three. She’s been working at La Belle royale for just over a year now. No criminal record, owes debts but nothing suspicious. She’s clean.”

Leon leaned back in his chair, letting the information sink in. “And the Winters?”

Gray hesitated. “I haven’t connected her to them directly, but something’s off. Those men at the ballroom weren’t ordinary security. I’m still digging who they were out for.”

Leon tapped his fingers against the desk thoughtfully. “Keep looking. Let me know if you find anything.”

“Will do. Oh, and Leon?”

“Yeah?”

Gray’s tone lowered. “Be careful. You know the Winters. They don’t like loose ends.”

Leon smirked faintly. “Neither do I.”

He ended the call and set the phone down. The system room returned to silence, but Leon’s mind was busy. He stood, grabbing his black coat from the rack. As he slipped it on, the system chimed again.

DESTINATION SET: BELLA’S BISTRO.

Leon smiled to himself. “I’m already on it.”

Leon slid into his car, the engine roaring to life with a smooth growl. The soft glow of the dashboard lit up his face as he tapped the screen, syncing it with the system. The navigation pointed him towards Bella’s Bistro.

As he pulled onto the road, headlights appeared in his rearview mirror. A sleek, dark car followed close behind.

Leon’s eyes narrowed slightly. He knew that car.

Moments later, the vehicle pulled up beside him at a red light. The window rolled down, and Leon’s jaw tightened.

His uncle, Victor Aldridge.

Victor smiled from behind the wheel, his expensive suit gleaming under the streetlights.

“Well, well,” Victor called out, his voice smooth but mocking. “If it isn’t Leon, the driver.”

Leon glanced at him but said nothing. His hands rested calmly on the steering wheel.

Victor chuckled, tilting his head. “You know, I almost didn’t recognize you. It’s hard to see you like this – running errands, driving around like some taxi service, you look clean, something you father couldn't afford on his own just overused suit. Did you steal it?’’

Leon’s eyes flicked toward him. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you uncle? After what you've done to my family.” He asked in anger.

Victor leaned against the car door casually. “Of course I am. You had everything, Leon back then when you were just a little boy with your family. And now? Now you’re just another guy in a car. A driver”.

Leon’s fingers gripped the wheel tighter, but his face remained calm. “I still have one thing you don’t.”

Victor’s brow arched. “Oh? And what’s that?”

Leon’s eyes locked onto his uncle’s. “Time.”

Victor’s smile faded for a brief moment. But he recovered quickly. “Time won’t change the fact that I own everything you once did. You were careless. Or should I say you were too naive back then and I was smart, it belongs to my children now, you know how your cousins can be”. He smirked at him.

Leon’s jaw tensed, but he kept his cool. “We’ll see how long that lasts.”

Victor laughed. “You keep telling yourself that. But remember, Leon – this world isn’t fair. It doesn’t reward people like you. It rewards winners like me.”

Leon smiled faintly, tilting his head. “We’ll see who wins in the end.”

The light turned green. Leon’s car eased forward, leaving Victor behind at the intersection.

Bella’s Bistro

The bistro’s sign glowed faintly against the night sky as Leon pulled into a nearby parking spot. The place looked quiet, with only a few customers inside.

Leon stepped out of the car, adjusting his coat as he crossed the street. His eyes scanned the entrance.

Through the glass, he could see Clara standing near the counter, holding a tray. Her hair was tied back, and she looked more tired than she had at the ballroom.

Leon entered quietly. A small bell above the door chimed as he stepped inside. Clara hadn’t noticed him yet.

But the manager had.

A burly man with a rough face, the manager immediately spotted Leon and frowned. “We’re closed soon,” the man grunted.

Leon ignored him and approached the counter. Clara finally looked up, her eyes widening in surprise.

“Leon?” she asked, confused.

Leon smiled slightly. “Hey.”

The manager scowled. “You know him, Clara?”

Clara hesitated but nodded. “Yes. He’s… a friend.”

The manager narrowed his eyes but didn’t argue. He returned to the kitchen, leaving them alone.

“What are you doing here?” Clara asked softly.

Leon leaned on the counter. “I wanted to check on you. After the ballroom.”

Clara laughed nervously. “I guess I didn’t make a great impression.”

“You made enough of one,” Leon replied. “The Aldridges don’t forget things easily.”

Clara’s smile faded slightly. “I noticed.”

Leon’s gaze softened. “I’ve been looking into things. I don’t know why yet, but I think the Aldridges have an interest in you.”

Clara frowned. “Why me? I’m just a waitress.”

Leon didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he pulled out a card from his coat pocket and slid it across the counter.

“My number. If anything strange happens, call me.”

Clara stared at the card for a moment before picking it up. “Thank you.”

Leon nodded, glancing toward the kitchen. “I’ll let you get back to work.”

As he turned to leave, Clara called out softly. “Leon?”

He stopped, looking over his shoulder.

“Why are you doing this?” she asked.

Leon’s expression was unreadable. “Because I know what it’s like to have everything taken away.”

With that, he left, the bell chiming softly behind him.