Revenge and Redemption: Aaron's Tale of Resilience

Chapter four

 “Have a seat, Master Aaron,” Adolph said politely and offered him a comfortable sofa.

Aaron started to believe the words of the old man but even though he did, he still couldn’t come to terms with it. How could he go from absolutely nothing, from a reject, a man who had been cheated on harshly and brutally kicked out of the company he worked for, to being the grandson of a billionaire? How was that eve? Possible? What kind of luck was this? Or could he call it luck?

 “This is all too much for me to take all of a sudden, Mr. Churchill. No one ever made mention of my parents, I can’t recall ever having any, I’ve just lived my life like that ever since.” He said, his thoughts curled up in his head in turmoil, there was an excitement buried beneath his confusion.

 “Of course…I do not expect you to live…over two decades of your life and then…” The old man coughed roughly before continuing. “And then believe this out of the blue…but I assure you, Aaron…my grandson…it’s all true and all I have left is for you.”

 Aaron resisted the urge to know exactly what he had left, but from all this luxury, he knew that definitely, if nature wasn’t playing an absurd prank on him then he had hit a massive gold mine! 

  “You said my parents died in an accident,” He said and stared at Mr. Churchill. “Were they buried?”

The old man relaxed in his wheelchair, “Of course, that was the last time I ever cried, but finally set my eyes again on you…I might just cry.” A guard handed a napkin to him, which he used to dab his eyes. “Your parents were buried here, in a special place close to one of the gardens. Let's go there.”

 Adolph handed a beautiful bouquet to Aaron as he walked out of the huge mansion. A guard pushed Mr. Churchill who took up the role of a tour guide to his long-lost grandson. 

 “This is one of the biggest residences in this town… It’s in the weekly magazine almost every…week. The reporters can’t get…enough information….the paparazzi can’t get…enough pictures.” Mr. Churchill said with a proud smile.

 They arrived at a beautiful garden that was embellished with a brilliant broil of different flowers, next to this particular garden was a tomb. It was an elaborate and large structure, Aaron referred to it as the grave of the rich. It had ornamental designs and the names of his parents inscribed on the grave. 

 “Mr. And Mrs. Patrick Churchill…” He mumbled the words to himself and then turned to his grandfather. “How come there’s only one grave?” He asked, a wave of sadness sweeping over him as he saw the sorrowful look on the sagged face of the old man.

 “It was your father’s last wish that they… should be buried together and his last words.. were to find you.” Mr. Churchill replied, holding back tears. “It was a very sad night and I’m somewhat glad you weren’t there to experience so much pain.”

 After Aaron dropped the flower on the grave and said a few words, they headed back to the house, and on the way back, Mr. Churchill broke drastic news to him.

  “I’m glad I found you, son.” He said with a satisfied smile. “I’m dying soon, the doctors say if I live up to a month more, it’ll be a bloody miracle.”

Aaron stopped walking instantly, he was shocked to his bones, how could someone say that so casually? He stared at the old man and his smile broadened. Did he not fear death?

  “Don’t be surprised, my boy.” Mr. Churchill said. “Yesterday, I was a jumpy bundle of nerves and that’s how I’ve been over the last few months, but now, I’ve found you and I can finally accept the cold hand death has been offering me with a smile.”

 Aaron was silent, he had mixed feelings, but most of all, he was happy that he could bring such joy to the old man even though he had only known him for a little under an hour.

 “You’ll have to accompany me for the next few days, I need to show you around before I pass away, son.” Mr. Churchill said and Aaron noticed that his words weren’t breaking off anymore, he was more lively. “If we want to tour the full size of the family’s consortium, we would have to travel through sixty percent of the world. All my wealth and assets will be transferred into your name and you’ll have your limitless card, though it’ll take a few days.”

Aaron’s eyes widened with disbelief, he didn’t know what was coming, he didn’t know how big he had become overnight. He was in the special class now, the one percent of the wealthiest of the wealthy. The consortium owned several top companies around the world and across all continents. The assets were almost uncountable. They owned a primary residence in almost every major city in Europe, a vacation home in the Hamptons, the French Riviera, and Aspen. Countless farmlands and ranchlands. Luxurious yachts, each residence they owned had a fleet of not less than a dozen cars, and the investments and shares the consortium held in other massive companies were huge.

 Aaron was a fucking billionaire! 

 Back in the house, Mr. Churchill was already looking exhausted, he smiled at his grandson and said. “Aaron, I don’t know what sort of life you lived before Adolph could get to you, but screw that now. You’re a fucking billionaire, the world is in your hand and anything you desire, you’ll get with just a snap of your finger. That’s what it means to be a Churchill, you have no limit to the amount you can spend. You don’t know how excited I am to have finally found you. Your old man has to retire to bed now.” He concluded.

 Aaron nodded and held his fragile hand, “I’m still in awe, to be honest, Mr. Churchill.” He said.

His grandfather frowned, “Bullocks! Call me Grandpa, Aaron. You’ll get used to it, you’ll get used to wealth and power.”

Aaron offered to lead him to his room but Mr. Churchill refused and said he had men to do that. “It’s a clear night, son, drink and do whatever you want. It’s all yours, son.”

 It was a very complicated situation for Aaron but one thing about his perplexed emotion was sure, he was excited! He had money, he couldn’t even think of that yet, he had a family! But that was going to be short-lived because of the expected passing of his grandfather. He felt bad, he felt sad, but the way the old man had said it gave Aaron a euphoric feeling that the old man was going to die peacefully because of him.

 So much wealth, so much power, so many properties, so many assets, he couldn’t even think about it yet, he was going to be one of the richest people in the world from being a lowly designer. But that was his fear, that was his greatest fear because no matter the suit he put on, it didn’t change the fact that he was just a failed designer in a company that stabbed him in the back. How was a useless designer supposed to undertake the task of running a conglomerate this large and widespread?

 Aaron was scared of failing, he didn’t want to fail…he couldn’t.