NEXT IN-LINE TYCOON

Chapter 04

Alex ran as fast as his legs could carry him.

he checked the wristwatch he was putting on his wrist

“9:25 pm “ he muttered.

“Abigail Darius and James Darius, you humiliated me and made everyone mock me! I will never forget this day !”

he stared at the wristwatch again this time not to check the time but, to remember his mother.

as he was engulfed in emotions

his mother had given him the gold wristwatch a few weeks before her demise and since it was the only gift the woman gave him, he hadn't thought of selling it even though it was a bar of real gold. and he needed money.

so many times, he had wondered how his mother got the money for such an expensive wristwatch but he hasn't been able to come to a clue.

he ran as tears filled his eyes.

he was in pain

he ached to be treated as an important being.

all he wants is to live his life like a normal human and not to be bullied!

as he runs, a strong wind sends a shiver down his spine then followed by a deafening thunderstorm as the sky opens up and raises down a heavy pour.

The rain poured down and he chuckled between sobs “ even the sky can feel my pain so they send down this rain to comfort me”

after running for more than twenty minutes, Alex stopped for the first time since he left the Darius mansion to catch his breath.

The rain

had subsided a bit but his clothes were drenched already.

he walk slowly towards a heap of stone and then sat on it looking miserable.

he had gone through a lot simply because he is a nobody.

the son of a sweeper but his promise to James, Abigail, Mark, and Andrea still stand

he was going to teach them a lesson and make them pay for all the humiliation and mockery!

he sat on the stone for a long time thinking about his life.

he had rounded up from college but he wasn't stopping there he needed to draft out his next plan he didn't want his life to remain a mockery and he also didn't want his future kids to face such miserable life.

and with that thought, he got up, dusted his butt then walk home.

on getting home,

he pull the door open and saw his father on the torn couch in the sitting room.

“dad” he called “don't tell me you stay up to this time waiting for my return “

he bolts the door and then walks towards his father who didn't reply.

“dad am home now, you need to lie down on the bed here is not good for you,” Alex said helping his father up.

but froze at his father's reaction.

his body was cold and he dropped back on the couch.

he raised up his father's right hand but the hand drop lifelessly to the couch.

“God please let this not happen “ he pray as he placed his ear on his father's chest.

“dad isn't breathing his pulse had stopped completely. his body is not moving and they are cold.

it only means one thing dad is dead !“

“Dad! dad!! dad!!!” Alex screams as hot tears Cascade down his eyes.

“dad please wake up and tell me this is a prank “ he swayed his father's lifeless body.

but still, the body didn't move the old sick man was lifeless!

***

if there is anything the people of Rift Valley could do without blinking an eyelid, it was assisting in burying a poor dead person.

if the person comes begging for food or anything to survive, he will be mocked and bullied but once he or she dies everyone wants to give him or her a befitting burial.

that is when they come out to help and Alex's case wasn't exceptional.

once they learned of Alex's father's death, they trolled in groups to console him.

even though Alex wanted to chase them all out and bury himself in sorrow, he refrained because he had no money and couldn't bury his father all by himself.

The next day, Alex's father was buried, and after he was laid to rest everyone dispatch to their various home.

Alex lay on the grave loss of what to do next.

he was an orphan, with no family, he was all alone in the world now so he didn’t think of leaving.

he watches as people walk into the graveyard with flowers to put on their loved one grave but he had no money to buy any flowers.

it was getting dark and no one was seen in the graveyard except Alex.

he didn’t know how much time he had spent in the graveyard but he didn’t want to leave. he couldn’t cry anymore as he had been crying since yesterday and his tears seemed to have dried up.

“hi,” a deep voice jotted him from his sorrow.

on looking up, he saw a familiar face staring at him.

even though it was long since he set his eyes on this face, he could recall who the man was.

he was his father’s best friend from years back.

before his mother’s demise, his father was a man full of life but, after his mother’s suddenly died he dropped everything and buried himself in alcohol.

“Alexander Peterson, “ the old man said squatting beside him.

“what are you doing here?” Alex shifted from him.

he was his father’s best friend yet he had abandoned him for years and he suddenly appears when he learned he was dead?

such a bunch of fake friend.

“I got the news of his demise “ the old man replied standing to his feet

“leave! you aren't a good friend so leave before I push you out of here” Alex yelled.

“your father wanted to be alone

he is a stubborn type and I had no choice but to let him be” the old man explained.

staring at the flower in the old man's hand Alex said “ I can see you came with a flower to pay him your respect so do that “

he knows his father was very stubborn.

he has seen that aspect of him so he didn't want to chase the old man knowing he only respected his dead father's wish.

“thank you, young master, “ the old man said kneeling beside the grave.

“Young master? such a sweet talker “ Alex scoffs.

after some minutes the old man dropped the flower on the floor then stand to his feet.

“come with me young master, “ the old man said

“Who are you referring to “ Alex rolled his eyes

he needed to ask because he was standing in the graveyard alone with the man

“Maybe he sees ghosts and just saw a multi-billion dollar dead man,” Alex thought.

“your real name is Alexander Xavier

you are not a nobody but you are the grandson of Xavier stone your father is Peter Xavier, Xavier stone's only child and since he is dead, you are the only heir so come with me to claim your multi-billion dollars inheritance”the old man said.

“Are you sure you are not mistaken me for someone? “ Alex asked.

“no young master Alexander Xavier please come with me “

“But if my father is from a wealthy Home, why did he live in a poor house, got a job as a sweeper, and died a poor man”

“It's a long story but you will find out why”

and with that Alex and the old man walk out of the graveyard.

“am Kim I wasn't your father's best friend I was his personal guard,” the old man said as they walk towards a red pininfarina sergio.

“Please sit young master, “ the old man said opening the red pininfarina sergio.

“thank you, “ Alex said sitting at the back.

the old man rushes to the driver's seat then zooms off.

“the ac in this car is so cool and the car looks expensive. if a guard can be driving this car that looks expensive then this man that Mr. Kim says is my grandfather is damn moneyed!” Alex thought.