The days leading up to the one week Theo's grandmother gave him passed in a blur, totally uneventful. He would have thought he had woken up from the dream and his life had gone back to normal if he didn't keep getting the stipend he was promised daily, which led him to where he was standing at the moment."Can I see the doctor?" He asked the nurse that stood behind the counter."Do you have an appointment?" The young brunette asked him warily."Um, no but…." He started to say but she immediately cut him off."Then I can't help you," she snapped. She was already having a long day and she could have just taken him to the doctor but she knew he was just there to waste her time.Chase sighed in exasperation. He knew it wasn't going to be easy, especially as he wasn't a family member, but he didn't know it would be that difficult. He had somehow managed to get Evelyn to tell him her mother's name and the name of the hospital she was admitted to but that was all he could get without drawing
"Young master?" Everyone including the nurses and guards looked around to see who the doctor was talking about.The guards noticed that the man's eyes were zeroed in on Chase and they quickly shook their heads."There's a mix up, doctor. He's just a vagabond that….." the second guard started to say but he couldn't finish his sentence as the doctor slapped him across the cheek, his head falling to the side."How dare you? Apologize to the young master this moment," he growled with fury. The reputation of the hospital he had built with his sweat was at stake and they dared to still open their mouths.The nurses opened their mouths in pure shock. They had never heard the chief doctor speak more than two words at a time, talk more of showing such anger.Who was this young master he was talking about? The question filled their minds.The guards quickly got to their knees in front of Chase. They didn't understand who he was or why they were apologizing to him, all they knew was that their j
The doctor nodded and thanked him profusely and Chase left the building.When he was gone, the doctor sent for the two guards and fired them immediately, all their pleadings falling on deaf ears.The name 'Kevin Alcantra' echoed throughout the hospital like a wide fire that day and the staff all pulled out their phones to search for the name but there was no result found. Was he in any way related to the great Alcanta family? Nobody knew the answer to the question.Chase had a smile on his face as he exited the building. He was very happy because he had been able to resolve the issue that had been bothering his friend for the longest time but the smile on his face faltered a bit as he saw a figure he recognized a few feet away.He walked closer and saw it was Kenny. Kenny sat on a bench with slumped shoulders, looking very dejected."I thought that was you," Chase immediately said when he got closer and saw his face."Hi, Theo," Kenny replied with a smile but the smile didn't reach hi
"Wh…what? Why would you say that?" Kenny choked out and scoffed a bit, which was totally unbelievable, even to a five-year old child."Don't lie, Kenny, " Chase said, his eyes growing even darker. He totally hated when people were bullied and he had been a victim since his awakening but then, there was absolutely nothing he could do. But now, he had the power and wasn't going to let it slide."Why would you think I'm lying?" Kenny kept the denial up as he scratched the back of his head, thinking of how to get out of the situation. This was something he had never discussed with anyone and nobody had been concerned enough to find out, even when he came to work with a black eye. He wanted to tell Chase off but he didn't have the heart to. No other person had cared enough to ask him."I saw what he did to you in the elevator the other day," Chase said bitterly as the memory of how ashamed Kenny had looked came back to him."Wha….." Kenny tilted his head to the side as he tried to think of
"Theo," Huncho called out from the other side of the street and jogged down to reach him on time, two of his minions following in tow.The smile on Chase's face disappeared. They were just the right people he needed to shake Paul up a bit but how would he do that? It wasn't like they were his friends and he could just say "hey buddy, beat someone up for me real quick." If anything, they were there to beat him up."Looks like you forgot about us," one of the men smiled while rubbing his moustache."Fuck off," Chase said through gritted teeth and swatted the man's hand away as he tried to touch his face."You've gotten quite ballsy," Huncho said and his smile grew wider."What do you want?" Chase scowled."I'm gonna keep it brief. Give us some money," Huncho pulled out his hand to receive."I don't have any money to give you," Chase replied and turned to leave but just before he could do that, Huncho dragged him by the collar and was about to land a blow to his face when the headlights
"Young master, we'll be back in the next two days. You'll be leaving for the states with us, just as the empress said," secretary Kim informed Chase.He nodded once in response and walked the remaining distance to his house while the men reversed their cars and screeching of tires could be heard.Chase wasn't ready to leave yet but he knew he couldn't back down. The empress had fulfilled her end of the bargain and he had to do same.After a quick shower, he got into bed, prepared for his last day as a hotel cleaner.At Paul's house, he was having a mini party with his some of his friends. He didn't have to report early to work since he had Kenny who would get everything settled before his arrival."Hey, man, is there more booze?" One of his friends who was already drunk asked."There's enough for everyone one in the fridge," he yelled over the loud music and the party of 7 people all cheered.He was the most respected among his friends, mainly because he worked at a prestigious compan
Chase yawned like a cat and stretched wildly when he woke up the next morning. He quickly rushed to get ready for the day and since it was his last day at work, he wanted to leave an impression, whatever that may be.He got ready on time and soon, he was standing outside Gab and Gabe's. With a deep breath, he walked in and headed straight to the elevator.He has gone very early so the elevator was mostly free till he got to the floor his section was.Immediately as he opened the door, his eyes met Evelyn's. She was in a conversation with Alice."Hi, ladies," he greeted as he walked in."You're here early today," Alice commented."Don't I come early every other day?" Chase asked, feigning hurt.In response, the two ladies looked at him pointedly."You're going to be just fine," Alice said to Evelyn and squeezed her hand before leaving the office to get started with her day.Evelyn sighed deeply and sunk deeper into the couch. Chase noticed this and walked up to her."That suits you," h
"Is there any issues, young master?" Secretary Kim's voice boomed. "Just a little something. I want you to call Paul's superior to make him report to work," Chase said in a flat tone."Yes sir, anything else?" Secretary Kim asked."Yes," Chase said and told secretary Kim what he wanted him to do next."I'll get right on it. Is that it?" Secretary Kim asked again to make sure the young master didn't want him to do anything else."That's all for now," Chase said and pulled the phone out of his ear, ending the call.He had a good feeling that Paul wouldn't report to work after Huncho gave him feedback of how their little journey went, but he wanted to make him feel every pain he cause Kenny, and that included reporting to work after being abused.Secretary Kim made the call and the general manager, who was surprised to hear his voice and even more surprised at his out-of-the-blue request quickly got to work. It wasn't everyday you got to speak to one of the personal assistants of the em
"Quickly, place that there," the empress instructed a group of people with a bunch of flowers."Yes, Dame," they said and did as they were told."Mother, you'll only get yourself sick from all that walking around," Imelda said."My grandson is coming back today," the empress replied and continued walking around to make sure everything was in place. "Everything has to be perfect," she added."One would think we're preparing for a president's arrival," Imelda teased.The empress waved her off and continued checking the decorations."Why don't you rest?" She placed her hands on her mother's shoulders. "I'll take care of everything down here. Your grandson wouldn't be happy if he comes back and you're all stressed out," she told her."There's till a lot to be done and little time and…." The empress started."Mother….." Imelda drew out. "I'll take care of everything. Just take a nap," she told her."Are you sure?" The empress asked skeptically."Yes," Imelda assured her."Fine. Make sure t
"Mother, why aren't you saying anything?" Jacob requested angrily, his hands balled in fists on both sides.The empress, not even sparing him a glass continued sipping leisurely on her coffee.Jacob fumed angrily but his wife, Regina, placed a pacifying palm on his arm, subtly telling him to calm down."Mother, you can't just buy the whole Union consortium," he continued.The empress considered ignoring him again this time, but decided not to.She dropped her cup majestically and squared her shoulders before turning to him."I can and I have," she said in a bored tone.The union consortium belonged to Regina's family. Jacob had seen it as a plan B because he wasn't so sure about his place in Gab and Gabe's consortium with Theo in the picture, hence, he planned to get Regina to inherit the company after her father but much to his surprise, the empress had bought the company."Why?" He snapped."Jacob," the empress said sharply, narrowing her eyes in slits. "I think you forget whom you
"Why my daughter?" Evelyn's mother asked.Chase stared at her as he tried to make sense of the question.Silver caught on his confusion and proceeded to clarify her question."Out of every other person, why did you choose to help my daughter?" She asked.Chase sighed softly before answering."Your daughter helped me first," he said loud and clear. "So the question should rightly be directed to your daughter," he said.Malcolm, who had been leaning against the pillar scoffed and walked away."There's something I've been wanting to ask but I guess now that we've met, I should just ask you," silver said."Ask away," he said with a welcoming smile."How did you and my daughter meet?" She asked.The question about how her daughter had met someone so high and mighty had been on her mind ever since but she hadn't had the right opportunity to ask.Chase smiled and rubbed his hands together."Well, we..""Mom," Evelyn's voice from the staircase cut him off.Chase stood up and rushed towards he
Chase was already half asleep when the text message from Evelyn had come in.He rubbed his sleepy eyes, picked up the phone and read through the message.A soft sigh escaped his lips when he read the words."Evelyn…." He muttered under his breath and shook his head before tossing the phone to the side and going back to sleep.He was woken up by the blaring of his alarm clock the next morning and he sat up groggily on the bed.His long-term "mini vacation" had finally come to an end and it was time to return home.He picked up his phone again and skimmed through the many unread messages but frowned when none of them was from Evelyn.He dialed her number but got the automated feedback before it went straight to voicemail."I guess this is it," he muttered to himself.He got up and walked straight to the bathroom to get ready and when he was done with his quick shower, walked into the closet.All of his things were already packed and ready and he got dressed quickly.There was a soft kno
"I know…it's far and…." She started to say."Heck it is," Malcom interrupted her immediately and she sighed softly.Their mother quickly put her hand over Malcolm's hand to calm him down."Let's hear her first," their mother's soft voice echoed.The glare on Malcolm's face didn't lessen but he was quiet now.Evelyn took a deep breath. Even before she started talking, she already knew how difficult the conversation was going to be, given that her mother was still recovering and Malcolm was yet to get a good job. At some point, she even considered going selfish, but she just had to put it out there. "As I was saying, I got a scholarship in NYU," she repeated but her voice was no longer as firm as the first time."Scholarships at NYU aren't easy to come by, sweetie," her mother said softly, goading her to tell them more.Evelyn looked down at her intertwined fingers because that part was going to be a little difficult but it couldn't be avoided. She wasn't going to lie to her family."I
Quietly, she followed him into the car which was already held open for them.She smiled inwardly at all the respect he was getting because she believed he deserved nothing less, given all that he had gone through."Do you want to get ice cream?" Chase broke the silence between them after contemplating for a while.Getting ice cream after lunch or dinner had always been their thing.Evelyn was still overwhelmed from everything that had happened and had barely been able to get food past her throat."Maybe next time," she said with a polite smile.Her words made Chase happier than she knew. It meant that she was actually considering a next time with him, which only meant that that day wasn't going to be the last time they met."How did you do it?" She asked out of the blue, turning in her seat so she could face him.The partition of the car was up, so they were separated from the driver and could have any conversation without fear of being eavesdropped on."Do what?" Chase asked and arch
Evelyn's eyes skimmed through the words on her screen again and again as she tried to understand what she was seeing.She looked up at Theo who had a small smile on his face as he watched her because he had a good idea what had her like that."Wha….what's this?" She asked with shaky hands. "Do you know about this?" She showed him the screen of her phone.He read through the email and leaned back in his seat."You know about this," she said softly. "I can't accept this," she shook her head and started to type on her phone but he gently took it away from her."Eve…" he started but she interrupted him."No, this is too much, I can't accept it," she said hurriedly."You've always wanted this," he pointed out.She reached for her phone but he kept it out of her reach."It was a dream. A dream I had no hope of fulfilling," she argued."And an opportunity has come for you to fulfill it," he countered."I can't accept this," she shook her head. Chase studied her for a few seconds without say
"I know it was you who paid my mom's bills and helped my brother out of jail," she said softly. "I…" Chase didn't know what to say. He had tried as much as possible to hide it from her because he knew how difficult it was for her to accept help. She had done life on her own for a long time and she felt that any help rendered to her was a set up."I just want to let you know how grateful I am and I'll work as hard as I can to pay back every cent," she said and swallowed a lump that had formed in her throat.She hadn't expected her little speech to get that emotional and she wished with everything in her that he knew how grateful she was."I don't need anything back from you," he shook his head. "I didn't do any of that to get anything in return. I did it because I know how much your family means to you and you're my friend. Friends help each other in need," he told her."But I've never helped you," she said and choked on a sob."You have," he replied without missing a beat and leaned
With a small smile and a shake of his head, Chase tucked the phone back into his pocket but not before sending a quick email to someone."Take me to Hovers," he told the driver, who nodded once and turned on the engine.The ride to Hovers was smooth in contrast to Chase's bumpy thoughts on what to say when he gets there.He hadn't expected her to reply but she did and he was going to see her.He tapped his long fingers on his knees impatiently as each second of the ride felt like a lifetime but soon, the driver was pulling outside of hovers.Hovers was a small café downtown. It was far from the whole bustle of the busy city and Chase could really pin that kind of place to Evelyn.The fresh greenery on the outside and the minimal but cozy decor on the inside was definitely her scene.He pushed the door to the welcoming space that smelled of coffee beans open and he looked around for a couple of seconds before his eyes caught her honey brown hair in a corner.He cleared his throat and r