The Shadow Man

RIGHTFUL HEIR: PART II

"Jacob, finally your home." Old Wayne said he went over to embrace his grandson. He was so happy that he was finally free from the hands of the Blake. "What happened to your face?" Despite knowing already, the cause of his grandson's face to suddenly be all blue. He still asked as he was curious whether the boy would answer him.

"Grandpa, why did you suddenly want to see me?" Jacob was bothered by his grandfather suddenly wishing to see him. He fears, that what the old man has to say will be bad news to him.

"What else, as you are now free? It is time for you to take over the family business."

Jacob had already anticipated why his grandfather so desired to see him right away once he was finally free from the Blake. His grandfather had always hoped for him to take over the business; however, he didn't want to compete with his brother at all, giving his brother all the attention and rights to the company. However, since his brother was nowhere to be found, he knew that the rightful heir to the company was only him.

"Grandpa, it's good to see you too, if you have nothing else to say I'll be leaving then." Jacob stated that he didn't want to hear any more talks about the inheritance.

"You damn kid, where are you going? This is your home." Old Wayne yelled as he pulled the man's arm pulling him back, causing him to sit back. He frowned, annoyed with the man's response. He knew the boy didn't want anything to do with the inheritance as he was the youngest and had always allowed his brother to shine more than him. Despite he was far more talented and capable than his brother, he never competed for attention. "Jacob, seat down. Let's have a proper talk."

It wasn't long for the main butler to arrive with some refreshment and some ointment for the man's wound. Before the two could further discuss things, the old man waited until Jacob had finished treating himself. As he watches how his handsome grandson's face had turned, his blood boiled.

"Those Blake, they dare hurt you. A son of Wayne. Those foolish creatures." Old Wayne continued to complain, and the old butler couldn't agree more. Both of them kept complaining while the man continued to treat himself. "We better do something about this, they dare act so wild…"

"Don't, remember, we all made an agreement that you all won't get involve in my affairs." Jacob said as he handed the ointment back to the servants.

"But…" Old Wayne was displeased with the boy's words. If they hadn't made the agreement back then, he would have already asked his men to take down the Blake.

"Don't worry, it's not as if I would let them go. I'll handle what happened, so, don't you get involve." Jacob looked seriously at his grandfather. Despite the man was his elder, the old man has always admired the man and does show great respect towards him. Other might think he was being disrespectful for the way he talked to him. But for the old man, he was by far delighted his grandson was finally back to his usual self.

"Fine, fine, but you better say here for now." He replied as he averted his face smiling excitedly that he could finally be with the man. "Also, here…"

The old butler places a few cards and keys on the table. Some of them still have ribbons on them.

"What's this for?" Jacob inquired as he looked at the unfamiliar set of keys and cards.

"We missed two years of your birthday, it's not as if I forgot. I've kept all of this for you. Since you are back, it is right that you get what is rightfully yours." Old Wayne replied happy that he could finally shower his favorite grandson with a gift. As he continues to explain with all smiles, he was shocked by how the boy responded.

"I don't need them." Jacob replied as he handed everything back to the old butler.

"WHAT?"

"I said, I don't need them…"

Before Jacob could explain, the old man got up from his seat, all fired up as he started shouting at the boy.

"Don't need them, how will you survive. You are no longer a Blake you are a Wayne. This has always belonged to you. If it hasn't been for your foolish brother, you would have been seated at the top already whilst the Blake beg on your feet all this time. You foolish boy, why are you still acting like this? Someone has to take over the company. Your father is old and so am I. Don't tell me you plan to give it to those b*stard."

What Old Wayne was referring to, were their distant relatives? Old Wayne only had one son and his daughter-in-law was an only child as well. However, they all had distant relatives who were eyeing for the company. A company whose roots have far reached the earth's core, and cannot be shaken. Once they get their hands on the company, vast fortune and power awaits them.

"Jacob, why are you waiting for? Don't tell me you still hope for you brother to come back. Who knows where he is. We have tried and I have even sent my own men to look for him. Yet, all these years we have not found any clues to where he is, as if he is…"

"Dead." Jacob finished what his grandfather was about to say. All these years his brother was nowhere to be found. Seeing as they couldn't find any clue at all, if a person couldn't be found at all, it could only mean one thing. The person is no longer walking on this earth.

"Boy, please consider what I'm saying. It is time for you to stand on the light and step back from the shadows. You have every right to inherit everything. From the start, you were the rightful heir not your brother. Your brother didn't even mind before when we told him that we plan to hand the company over to you. I have given my wife's share under your name. However, those foolish Blake nor the board member knew about it yet."

Jacob felt like he was about to have a headache. He didn't expect that on the first day he set out from the hands of the Blake, his grandfather would hand him everything. He was now the right young master of the city.

As he was still contemplating on what his grandfather was saying, he was taken aback when someone suddenly jumped to hug him.

"My baby, you're finally home."

It was Madam Wayne and Chairman Wayne who received the news that their son was finally free.

"Son, you're finally home." Chairman Wayne said as he embraced his son tightly as well. He hugged both his wife and son, who were all emotional. His wife was crying like a child, with tears as big as rain.

Moments later, the family of three have finally calmed down. Madam Wayne continued to hold onto his son's hand as she still couldn't believe he was right in front of him. She had waited for a long time, and finally, there he was, yet still felt so unreal.

"I see father had talked to you. Jacob, you can start right away. Don't pressure yourself and just talk a rest for now. Get your strength back first, then you can head straight to the company." Chairman Wayne said as he looked at his assistant, explaining all the necessary preparation needed to be done in the company.

"No need." Jacob replied, causing both his parents to be dumbfounded. It was the old man who didn't show any reaction at all as he already expected what the boy would respond. "For now, I won't be entering the company. However, I made up my mind to help out."

"What do you mean help out? Do you plan to continue to work from the shadow? Jacob, we have no other son apart from you who has the right to inherit everything." Chairman Wayne explained as he couldn't understand why the boy continued to act in this way. His brother was long gone; even though they have stopped the search and hope he is fine; the boy has to step up as his brother is still missing.

"Like I said, I agree to take over. But for now, I have things to handle." Jacob explained as he took a bite of the biscuit his mother was feeding him.

"Could this have something to do with the Blake?" Madam Wayne replied as he wiped off the crumbs on her son's face. As she wiped it off, she was so happy that she could finally pamper his son.

"Not just that. As you know, back then I was in a mission, I think I finally have some leads to the master mind behind everything." He explains without giving out any more details.

"Fine, fine, do as you want. However, you must live with the girl." Old Wayne explained as the spoke of the topic they had not talked about yet.

"That right, Jacob, where is she? Is she alright? You must have her keep the child. The child is still a part of our family." Madam Wayne insisted as she eagerly hope to see the woman right away.

"Son, we know what happened was all planned by the Blake. But still, a child is born and…"

"Don't worry, I'll take responsivity. Which is why, I plan to stay away from the family for now. I don't want any things to happen to her. Pregnancy can be stressful and if you all get involve, she might be pressured and scared." Jacob explained, acting out all concern for the woman. Despite everything was his plan and not by the Blake.

"That right, she would be scared indeed. Very well, will keep our distance, but you must promise us. That once the child is born, you will let both mother and child join the family." Madam Wayne explained with all smiles. She was so delighted that she was finally going to be a grandmother. What a blessing it was to finally get her son back and to also get a grandson.

"Fine, if you have nothing else to say. I'll be heading out; I'll go look for the woman and explain everything." Jacob said as he got up from his seat, preparing to go empty-handed.

However, before he could leave, both his father and mother pulled him back.

"Wait, how are you planning to take care of your wife and child if you have nothing? You don't even plan to go back to the company. Just take this." Madam Wayne handed a different card from the set of cards his grandfather had prepared. It seems his mother was also prepared to hand him back everything.

Jacob couldn't resist his mother. So, he gladly accepted the black card. However, things got even more annoying for him when the old man, handed him another black card. The old man didn't say anything and only frowned at him, stating:

If you can accept your mother's, then you can accept mine.

Jacob didn't bother to argue and accepted both the black card. He wonders how much money was in one of them. He expected not less than a hundred billion maybe was in one card. But that was only because back then he had that much amount in his bank.

"Very well, I'll contact you if anything happens. For now, remember what you promise. You won't get involve." Jacob repeatedly said to them, as he knew his parents, especially his grandfather, aren't that trustworthy when it comes to him. The fact that they think he has a child now, things might get even more exciting. Thinking about how things will be in the future, he wonders how much the Blake would react.