The Emergence of the Legacy Man

CHAPTER FIVE

"Thank you," Keith told the cab driver as he exited the car and despite his current peril, he managed a small smile for the man behind the wheel.

The man nodded and regarded him carefully. "Are you sure you are at the right place?"

Keith took no offense to the man's question and he simply nodded in response.

The man didn't look convinced, "You sure I shouldn't wait for you?"

Keith shook his head, he wasn't surprised the man asked that, he looked homeless and crazy. "I'm fine. Thank you again." He straightened up, holding his hurting side. The man gave Keith one last look before zooming off. 

Keith released a breath and twirled around to come face to face with the magnificent building of the city bank. As Keith dragged his feet towards the tall building steps away from him, his mind stumbled upon the thought of Sheila and her family. Not only on the thought of their betrayal but the fact that they had set him up and the possibility of Frank and Sheila being together. He knew the sudden friendship between the Hockings and the man whom they supposedly owed money was suspicious, their cahoot against him had come so unexpectedly that he almost didn't believe it. His heart broke more because Sheila hadn't bothered to deny his assumption about her and Frank, the image of the smirk on her face was firmly ingrained into his mind. His mind flooded with assumptions gotten from seeing Frank's arm around Sheila. But now he doubted Sheila, especially after meeting the devil behind her pretty face that fooled him for years. 

He cringed, suddenly recalling the pitiful look from Mrs. Hockings and although she hadn't meant it, it irritated Keith to the core. He couldn't believe she offered him work as a house help. He couldn't wrap his head around the thought that she asked him to beg. He could never beg, even though he had nothing to his name he would never stoop that low to begging that horrible Hockings family. 

How long had they plotted against him? He thought about the years with Sheila, he was with her for so long proving what didn't matter. He wondered how long Sheila had hated him. She deserved an Oscar having fooled him for almost three years. She had him eating at the palm of her hands.  

Keith felt nothing but rage. He was overwhelmed with vengeance and spite against the family he once believed he could trust. Mr. Hockings had been right, indeed he was a fool for releasing all his money and for the first time in his twenty-seven years of living, he felt like the most stupid being to ever live. But this wasn't the time for what-ifs and self wallowing, the deed has already been done leading to the biggest mistake of his life and now he'll take back what was rightfully his and prove to the Hockings that they messed with the wrong person and he won't stop until he has achieved that.

"Hey weirdo, I think you came to the wrong place." One of the security men stationed by the door to the city bank told him with a frown, putting a hand on the gun belt wrapped around his waist.

"The asylum is that way," The other guard by the left chuckled at his joke.

He resisted the urge to roll his eyes, "I want to see the manager." 

"It seems you hit your head hard, young man," the man regarded him with small interest.

 Keith couldn't blame the man, he didn't look anything like the man he used to be.

"Get out of here," the serious-faced guard said, glaring at him like he was garbage. Keith didn't care, as much as he was dying to go home and shower, he didn't plan on leaving until he got what he wanted and that was an audience with the manager.

"Tell your manager, Keith Thompson seeks his audience." He told the guards.

Both guards glanced briefly at each other then back at him and Keith watched from the corner of his eyes as the guard at the left took a step aside to talk into the walkie-talkie on his shoulder and Keith knew it wasn't to call the manager.

"This is very important, I need to see your manager." He tried to make the guard before him see reason but the man's face remained passive.

"Look man we wouldn't want to hurt you, better leave while you still have time. My partner is already calling for…"

Keith doesn't let the man finish his sentence before he sprints past him. Not pausing for a second, he pushed past the heavy doors, ignoring the onlookers he ran as fast as his weak legs could carry him until he stood before the receptionist.

The petite woman behind the counter wrinkled up her nose as she took in the sight of him with shock rested on her features, "Eew, how did you get in?"

"I'll call security."

Keith heard a more masculine voice say but he couldn't care less.

"Call the manager, tell him Keith Thompson wants to see him." He said all in one breath.

The petite woman smiled sympathetically at him, "Sorry sir but I think you are at the wrong place."

Keith hurriedly glanced over his shoulder and indeed the guards from earlier were making their way towards him accompanied by more guards.

"Tell him it's important. I need access to the top tier account," Keith spoke in haste, grabbing the counter to support his weak legs. 

The woman behind the counter frowned, "Top tier account?" She repeated.

Keith nodded, "Yes, tell him it's about the top tier account and I need to see him now."

"There's no account like the top tier account in this bank." The woman told him with a frown. 

"Don't lie to me," Keith growled. "Get me your manager." 

The woman behind the counter glanced at the security men and heaved a sigh of relief to see they were already close. The man before her has succeeded in disrupting the peace of the place and if he doesn't leave soon, she would get in trouble. She looked around the bank and as suspected everyone's attention was on the tattered man who was asking about an account he made up with his imagination. People had begun to whisper, some judging and some with sympathy but they were also all curious to know why such a man would be so keen on seeing the manager.

Keith struggled to get out of the guard's hold. "Let me go, I need to see the manager."

"Take this crazy man out of here," the man standing behind the counter said to the guards.

"Yes, sir." The guard pinning him down answered.

Keith struggled to release himself from the hold, "I'm not leaving here until I speak to the manager."

"You don't have a choice, crazy man." One of the guards said.

"Let me go," he yelled at the top of his voice, hoping to get the attention of the right audience or anyone who would pay him attention. "Call your manager."

"What is going on here?" A firm voice called a stop to the commotion and all attention moved to the blonde man in suit.

"We are sorry, sir. This man won't stop causing a scene about this imaginary account." The man behind the counter said with his head slightly bowed. 

"I want to talk to the manager," Keith told the man, "I know there is a top tier account."

The blonde man studied Keith closely, "Indeed that account does exist."

Keith sighed in relief, "I want to see the manager."

The blonde man nodded, "He's before you and what would you want with that account?"