The convoy drove through the city and entered a private road where they drove for a few minutes and finally arrived at a very large estate property. The entire estate was lit up, shining bring. Every structure in it was a testament to luxury and opulence.
They drove through the estate and finally stopped inside the compound of a huge mansion. The guards came down and opened the doors for them to come out, and Robert's sights remained wide open in disbelief. How is this place even real? He asked himself. He had seen beautiful places, especially in movies and magazines but nothing of this such has he ever seen.Dozens of armed security guards were littered all over the mansion and the estate. As they came down, everyone bowed to him as he walked past them, his smiles were off this world. In no time, he had transitioned from a world where everyone insulted and abused him to a world where everyone bowed to him, that was only a reality in his dreams. But what he was experiencing now made him question his reality again.They walked through the mansion and finally arrived at the living room. Everything was luxury on another level, with decorations of pure gold all over the interiors of the mansion. In the living room sat an advanced man in his 70s, the sight of him made the man get up. He was led to the man and on reaching him, the man hugged him tightly.“Welcome home, my child.” The man said to him. No doubt, this could be the grandfather they had told him about. The infamous Mr. Jude William. But how was he related to the man, he couldn't tell. He just allowed everything flow.The man led him to sit with him and instructed the first man who brought him in.“Raymond, get him something to drink.”It was then he knew the name of the man who had come for him, he reasoned he could be the Head of Affairs the police chief spoke about. Raymond went on to get a bottle from the bar and brought it to Robert, the same $200,000 whiskey Robert had shattered at the hotel. A drink he never imagined he could have a taste of, now it was presented to him to consume as he wished.Raymond poured him a glass and he drank it once, to quench his long thirst. He had drank some water in the car on their way here, but a little alcohol was needed to heal his body. After he was well settled he turned to the man who claimed to be his grandfather. “So you're my grandfather, right? And I am your grandson.” He asked.Mr. William answered him, “Yes I am. And you are my grandson, yes.”Robert nodded his head, taking in that piece of information, and was set for the next body of knowledge to come.“Okay, sir. Can you tell me how, please?” He asked Mr. William.Mr. William leaned back in his seat and began narrating to Robert the story of his identity.“27 years ago, I lost my only son, Pierce William, your father to a tragic plane crash when returning from a meeting with the President. Among his secret files and records he kept was information regarding a secret marriage he had with a lady called, Rose Mayor. He never informed us about any of it, but from his files, we found that the lady got pregnant for him while he was in school, and after the delivery of the baby he promised to marry her.“The marriage didn't happen until the child was three years old. A few months after their secret marriage, he died. Rose didn't know his true identity because he never told her. However, he gave her this ring to keep for the boy child which he would need when he comes of age.“For years, we searched for the child but to no avail. You were that child, growing up with your mother in struggling conditions, all because we couldn't locate you. Your mother had disappeared after the death of your father to deal with the heartbreak, a few years later she too passed away and left you to survive on your own.“But when we heard about the family heirloom in the hands of one Robert William, we resumed our search which we had given up on. We called the police chief to confirm if you had the birthmark you have on you and he confirmed it. Your father had pictures of it all kept in his secret files. Once we confirmed you were the one, we came for you as soon as possible.”Robert listened as his grandfather unveiled his true identity to him, truly most of the things he said, Robert could relate with them. He had a struggling growing-up background, he knew his father but didn't know who he was until now. When his father died, he watched his mother heartbroken and devastated, they relocated and disappeared for a while. A few years later they came back but she didn't live long afterwards before her death. Both Robert and his grandfather shed tears at the revelation they had just shared. They hugged each other and rejoiced in the moment together. When they were done, his grandfather dived into another chapter of the story.You see, my child. Your father handled the business operations of the family and controlled the empire, he was the sole heir to the Williams Empire and when he died, the family lost its heir. But thank God that you're found, I'm getting old and I need to retire which is why you'll have to take over the operations and control of the empire as the new heir.” Robert listened attentively but was overwhelmed by the part of him taking over as the new heir, what does he know, he has no experience and no degrees to qualify him for such a task. This triggered fear in him as he wondered the magnitude of the task.“Grandfather, I am not in any way or form qualified for any of these. I am a mere hotel attendant.” He cried out immediately to his grandfather, fearing his incompetence for the job.His grandfather looked at him and smiled, “Of course, I know that, my child. You'll undergo a three-month training program which will be designed to bring you up to speed with the best professionals in t
For the first time in his life, Robert actually felt good about himself. He looked down, again at the debit card sitting in his lap so carelessly and breathed deeply. Happiness was evidently written all over his face. His bright, blue eyes beamed in delight, illuminating his dark skin as he smiled heartily. "I know it has been a long and incredibly tasking day for you, my child. So I believe it is necessary that you get some rest." His grandfather proposed in concern. And he was right. Robert was way beyond tired, after all the torturing he had encountered in the cell, he really needed to get some rest."I could mistake you for a mind reading shaman, grandfather." His chuckles filled the room as he alighted from his seat. "I am really tired.""Funny boy. You're just like your father, cracking jokes no matter what the situation at hand might be." The smile on Jude's face melted in to a long, sad expression as memories of his late son came to mind. His eyes searched the place immediatel
Robert stopped for a moment and sighed gently. Leaving Raymond in perplex and concern over the change of countenance of the young master, who was amazed just moments ago."Why? Is anything wrong, young master?" Raymond asked, standing at ease behind Robert."Well, it's nothing. I just thought of The Richards. They were the ones who returned the ring to you, right?" He asked, almost like he didn't know the answer already."Well, yes sir. They did. What about them?" Raymond asked with a sudden interest pique about the topic, as he recalled that Robert had asked that they be invited to his welcome party as well."Nothing serious actually. I just want them at the welcome party this weekend. Do not forget to send them a special invitation, naming them as my special guests." Robert emphasized once more."Okay sir. Everything will be done according to your command." Raymond replied in confirmation. " Shall we continue to your room, young master? I'm sure you still need some rest."Robert nod
Robert laid there, still with his eyes fixed to the ceiling for few minutes. He had to digest everything he was seeing and actually believe it was all his. It was just unbelievable to him how fast the table turned in his favour. He stood up after a while, walking around the large room, admiring everything in it. He went into the restroom and his eyes lit up at its wonderful setting. The door was made of glass, that couldn't be looked through from the outside. Inside, there was a huge mirror that could be seen when one just walked in, the toilet seat sat at the other side of the room, with a wash bowl just close by. A little door there opened up to a neatly arranged bathroom with a nice shower. Far from the shower laid an extremely huge bathtub, almost the size of a jacuzzi. Robert smiled in disbelief, yet happiness as he walked back out. There, he noticed a bit box fixed to the wall, which he had missed when he first came in and inside it, were warm, cozy towels. Does this just get be
Robert followed behind Raymond without a word till they got to the stairs. It was dark outside already and the house was at ease and generally quiet."Is it downstairs? The dinning room?" Robert asked almost impatiently. He was famished after his long rest."No, sir. Here we are." Raymond replied, pointing patiently at the first door at the other side of the staircase. "Ah, finally. I'm famished." He chuckled lightly as he talked, walking past Raymond into the room. His grandfather, Jude sat at the far end of the table waiting. "You're finally here, my child." He said upon looking up and seeing Robert."Good evening, grandfather." He greeted as he walked towards the table. The dinning room was spacious, with cozy looking furniture. There was a big dinning table in the middle of about eight chairs and Robert wondered if his grandfather usually ate there all alone."Good evening, my child. I hope you had a good rest." Jude asked between smiles, as he observed Robert's face."Yes, gran
"Thank you so much, grandfather." Robert stood up to head back to his room. Looking at his grandfather, he was glad once more that he finally had someone close enough to be seen as a father figure."It's just food, Robert. It's nothing." Jude replied gently. He was also done eating but wanted to sit a while before going to bed."No, grandfather. Not just for the food but for everything. Thank you so much." He said once again. His voice, solemn and filled with genuine gratitude."You're welcome, my child. And thank you too." Jude smiled at his grateful nature. "You're going to bed now, l see. Get ready tomorrow, I have a surprise for you." Robert nodded gently, his face beaming with smiles. "Goodnight, my child." "Goodnight, grandfather." Robert smiled, as he turned and walked away. He wondered what Jude had in store for him as he headed to his room. Raymond had left him soon after pointing out the dinning room. Robert waltzed graciously to his room, gliding like a peacock, head high
"I'm sorry, my child. I kept talking about how much sadness I felt over your father's passing, not knowing what you had to go through as well, losing both parents. Would you want to tell me a little about your mother?"Jude asked, feeling pity for his grandson. No one had ever asked Robert that. He had never shared his grief over his mother's death with anyone. Jude asking him that made him feel like someone did care about him. A rush of relief flowed through him as he held his grandfather by the shoulder."Let's go get breakfast, grandfather. I'll tell you everything there." He said, leading Jude back to the car."I don't know why I feel this way but I believe you are full of surprises and I can't wait to see you do wonders keeping up our family legacy." Robert smiled, hearing those words from his grandfather. It did feel good to have somebody believe in you, he thought. This was something he had lacked since his mother passed. So, his gratitude multiplied even more."Thank you, gran
"Funny? You think that's funny?" Grandfather asked, his face a deep frown that cut downwards through the fine lines that decorated his face. "There is nothing funny about what happened to you. You weren't supposed to go through all that and I feel sad about it. I'm really sorry. I still don't understand why your father never told me about you and your mother. I would have reached out, but all that doesn't matter anymore now, does it?""I guess it doesn't matter anymore. I just hope whatever reasons dad had for hiding us were actually reasonable. You had to see how wretched I looked, how unkempt I was. It was really hard with a father, but it became worse with mother gone as well." For Robert, this was some kind of therapy. He had never really opened up to anybody about it, so it created pent up anger and pain whenever something made him remember. But here he was, saying it out freely without any restrictions or concern. Something he never knew he needed. "Losing mother was hard, worse