Some days later, Mr Healy called for an emergency school meeting compulsory for all students in the school. The members of staff were seated at the front. There was murmuring from the students, but it soon stopped when Mr Healy stood up from where he had been sitting and having a conversation with his secretary.
He cleared his throat and it sent echo across the hall."It's nice to have you here, all you you," he said.The murmuring was getting reduced."You all are aware of what has been going on in this college for the past few weeks..." The murmuring increased.Mr Healy cleared his throat again."As long as you are still in this college, regardless of how rich you are, you should behave well. A lot of you have parents who run business and you will likely understand how hard it is to make a business go smoothly. This is my business too and the last thing I want is for anyone to ruin it," he paused f"What's the problem?""I told him that I didn't know Harlan Smith." "Don't worry. I will go explain things to him.""You don't understand, Harlan, he is going to think I am hiding things from him," Elizabeth said worriedly."I will tell him that I asked you not to tell anyone about me.""That's how it is with us. We don't believe each other.""You don't believe your father? Why?""He doesn't deserve it. He is a liar. I mean, a bloody liar."Harlan frowned, "Elizabeth?""He has been lying since I was a kid so tell me why I have to believe whatever he says.""Wait a minute. We are talking about your father here, Elizabeth.""He lied to me that Mom died because there was nothing that could have been done. I miss Mom," Elizabeth said quietly, wiping a bit of tears from her face.Harlan looked around, slightly embarrassed
Harlan stopped walking and stared at his phone, reading the message over and over again. His mother loved him? why was Madame A sending him that message out of the blue?'What?''She won't allow me to rest until I send you the message.''Do you mean she is there with you?''She was here with me a while ago. She is gone now.''What do you mean "gone"?''She came to visit me and I told her I had a means of reaching you.''You could have allowed her to speak with me herself if she really wanted to.''No way.'Harlan closed his eyes and opened them slowly."Is everything okay?" Elizabeth asked.Harlan spun around to look at her. He gave her an unruffled smile."Yes."He walked her to the car and bid her goodbye before walking to his car."It is exactly one month since you asked m
Harlan and Elizabeth met in Harlan's house the next day to work on the research and get it submitted."You care for a drink?""Orange juice will do," Elizabeth said.Harlan pressed the button meant to call Maria. She came in some seconds later."Two cups of orange juice," Harlan said.She bowed slightly and left only to come back again."You are the lady from that day. Perfect eyes, well structured nose, perfect long hair, cute face. You must be young Master's girlfriend," Maria said."Maria!" Harlan shouted."I am sorry if I had made you angry, young Master," Maria bowed before going inside.Elizabeth let out the breath she had been holding while the maid talked about her.But... Maria? Is this the girl... Wait a minute, Harlan cannot be dating his maid, can he? She looked at Harlan sharply."You must be flustered, I am sorry. Tha
"Sir, I got the documents you asked for," Jack said and asked the two people carrying the bags containing the documents to drop them on the table."Wow. Those guys run in more trouble than I imagined.""You want to go through them?" Jack asked."I have no choice. There are things I need to know about the Alberts.""I can help you go through the documents and give you a summary of every case."Harlan looked at Jack in surprise."It will take you forever to do that.""As a matter of fact, I don't need more than four hours to go through them.""Incredible. Send me the summary when you are done."Jack instructed the two guys to take the files back to the car.Harlan's phone rang. It was from an unknown number. He answered the call but waited until the person at the other end had spoken before he said anything."Harlan, this is Andrew,"
"In unity we stand. Divided we fall!" Grandfather bellowed, looking from one face to another of his family gathered in the hall where they always have their meetings."It has come to my knowledge that there are a lot of traitors in our midst. I don't know where they got the courage from, really, but if they back stabbed the Alberts, actions must be taken!"There was silence in the room. Some people shuddered at Grandfather's shout. None tried to look in his eyes."First it was Jason, now it's those boys we have raised well!""Who are you talking about, father?" Richard, Jason's father, asked."Andrew and Wallace.""Have you found Wallace?""I got information that he is dead and he was buried by some anonymous people. Who the hell knows what he told those anonymous people?" Grandfather said."It is a relief that at least he is dead. Since his return from the last jail term
Harlan stared at Kelvin in shock."What are you saying?" He asked quietly."She would call you a thief for stealing her son's identity, it would be worse if anyone knew you to be Harlan Smith.""Kelvin, I don't... I don't think I understand you.""Harlan, let's be honest here. Do you know if Harlan Smith is still alive? He could be studying overseas!""No. No way.""This is real life. Don't be blinded by Mr Smith's gesture. He surely has a reason for adopting you. I have been thinking it over all these while and I found out that there is nothing Mr Smith could have wanted in you that no other person had.""Shall I let you in on a secret?" Harlan asked quietly."What?""Harlan Smith is dead."That stopped Kelvin's breath for a moment. He stared, eyes widened at Harlan."What did you just say?""I asked Mr Smith and he
Soon after Harlan got home, Mr Smith arrived. He appeared tired as he sat down and loosened his tie."You know what I hate most about my job?""No.""This tie. Each time I have to knot or unknot it, I wonder who the hell suggested that it should be part of men's corporate dress. It sucks."Harlan chuckled, "anyone would think you are used to wearing it by now.""Anyone could think that, but it's the first thing I always want to pull off whenever things are not going the way I want at work."They both laughed."How have you been, son?""I have been good.""Did you hang out with your friends?""I don't have a lot of friends but I am just coming back from a visit to my best friend.""Now that I think about it, we have a couple of things in common. I don't keep friends too."Harlan smiled, "you should rest now that you ar
"I don't understand that.""Families and friends don't matter to them when it comes to business. If not for that discipline, the Alberts wealth would be gone before now. They are a beast in the business field and all they want is to win. They can go any length to see that they are one step ahead of their competitors. That is the game of business I am talking about."Harlan nodded. It makes sense. Just a little more information from Mr Smith and he would be able to convince anyone of the tricky things the Alberts are up to."I see.""But, I would rather not be rich than practice some things they do.""Like?"Mr Smith turned around to face Harlan."I want to keep my head away from business today."Harlan smiled, "it's okay." Mr Smith would be of great help here.Mr Smith nodded.***"One of the Alberts is going to participate in