Alistair looked at the document shoved into his hands. He was confused.
“What… I.. I don't understand”
“Sign the freaking papers, Alistair!”, Elara shouted, glaring angrily at him.
“I don't understand, Elara. What.. are … are these divorce papers?”
Smack! That was the third time he had been slapped in a row.
“Have you suddenly lost your ability to read? Or is it your ability to comprehend that's the problem?” , Elara insulted, casting her wicked glares on him.
But Alistair's mental faculties didn't want to comprehend at that moment. They were blank, they remained blank and that was how he wanted them to remain.
“I have had a whole year. A whole year Alistair! A whole year of putting up with your… your stupidity! And… and … with the …. disgrace… and with the … the… Urghh!”, She shouted in frustration, tugging furiously at her hair.
“You see what you are doing?! Do you see what this bastard has caused for this family, Gerald? And I warned you, didn't I? And you didn’t fulfil all the plans of me being first lady of the Voxx group. Now look at the disappointment not even long after!”
“That's enough Kate. He'll sign the papers”
“Elara please”, Alistair began pleading, going on his knees.
“Please don't do this”. That marriage was the last hope he had. What was he going to do? Where was he going to live?”
“Sign the papers Alistair! Now!”
“Please …”
“I said, sign them!”, Mr. Wilde shouted furiously. “Round up the boys!”
Alistair's heart jumped in fear as he heard that. One of the male servants left the room to carry out the order. Scrambling for the pen on the ground, he gathered the papers properly in his hand. He signed them slowly, getting up to his feet to do so. Mr. Wilde's personal bodyguards soon came into the living room.
Kate Wilde snatched the papers out of his hand, scrutinizing each document to ensure they were all properly signed.
“Idiot”, she called him, handing the documents over to Elara. Mr. Wilde directed with a tilt of his head and the two bodyguards jacked Alistair.
“Please Elara…”
“Oh please, I don't want to hear another word of my name from your filthy mouth”
“Elara please. Please don't do this”, Alistair pleaded profusely.
“Take that bastard out!”
He struggled with them even if he knew it was an unproductive effort to do so. They threw him out of the compound gate, his clothes and belongings after him. Alistair didn't even know where to begin from. He picked up his journal from the ground - it was a book that he'd kept from childhood - not for many logical reasons though. Now its pages were being marked variably by the droplets of drizzling rain.
As Alistair flipped through the pages of the small A6 papered book, bright headlamps distracted his focus.
********************
“Mr. Bane..?”
Alistair couldn't focus on the person who was trying to get his attention because of the lights. The headlamps soon deemed, and he realized they were people and not even just one person - men to be exact.
“Mr Bane”, one of the men called as they all walked up to him. He shifted back, taking a protective stance as he didn't know their intentions. They dressed in all black, which was enough.
The streetlights helped him see their faces.
“Mr Bane?”
“Yeah..?”, Alistair answered, his eyes shifting from one black suit man to another.
“I’m Regan, a representative of Voxx Group”, the hefty man declared, showing off a card and his official Voxx badge on his suit.
“And I've been asked to bring you to our headquarters. Your presence is dearly needed and there's some important information that you need to know”
“What … what kind of information?”
The guy glanced to one of the men behind him. “Information better disclosed at the office Mr. Bane.”
“It's mandatory that we get you there today”
“And if I resist? I can't just follow you just because you supposedly work at Voxx”
“I understand Mr. Bane”
He snapped at one of the men who handed him a small device.
“We brought evidence hoping this would convince you if you did doubt”
He hit the play button on the device for the video to play.
“Hey Alistair. It's Nathan. Nathan Brown - your … childhood friend if … you remember. We used to…”
How could Alistair forget? He had been his one and only childhood friend.
“ …Anyways, I have important news for you. Actually, actually your parents' lawyer has news for you. It's something from your parents and you really need to hear this. I have … I've sent Regan and some of our top security men from Voxx to escort you down to the Voxx Headquarters. Please, go with them. Thank you and …. I'm really hoping to see you again, Alistair”
The video stopped playing.
“We are running out of time Mr. Bane. Shall we?”
Alistair hesitated, but he knew he was going to have to follow them either way.
“Yeah”
The security men led him to one of the cars and one of them got the door for him. Alistair got in, the posh feel of the car appealing differently to him. The driver got in as well and two of the bodyguards, one in front and one beside him. They moved first and the others escorted at the back. Alistair could guess already that Regan was in charge.
“Yes boss”, he said, nodding simultaneously.
“He was… standing outside the Wilde's home sir”, Regan said, lowering his voice.
Regan listened to the voice over the phone for a moment.
“I had some of my men deliver the message before we left. I also informed his secretary”
“It’s quite late, Regan. Did she give you a reply?”
“No sir. Not yet”
“What was his response when the message was delivered?”
“We… we didn't wait for one sir”
There was a long sigh from the other end of the phone.
“How far are you from here?”
“We just arrived”
Alistair's car diverted while the others headed straight for the garage. The driver turned, hitting the pedal so the car zoomed, headed for the building. For a moment, Alistair was lost, quickly concluding that the driver had completely lost his mind. But to his surprise, the glass doors swung open, and the car zoomed in, coming to an abrupt halt on the designated sliding platform. Alistair had lost his composure, his hands stretched out to keep himself from thrusting forward.
The automated platform came to ground level, giving Alistair's heart more cheer to race on. Regan and the chauffeur got out of the car.
“I apologize for the rough ride, Mr. Bane”, Regan said, stepping aside as he opened the door for Alistair. Alistair took a moment to recover himself before alighting from the car. Regan closed the door behind him sharply.
“Please, follow me Mr. Bane”, Regan said, stepping in front to lead the way. The other security guards joined behind Alistair, but he didn't notice until they got to the elevator. Two of the security guys got in with Alistair and the elevator ascended to the last floor.
The elevator doors slid open, and Alistair wasn't prepared for the first face he'd seen.
One he couldn't forget.
Nathan's.
“Alistair”, Nathan said, getting to his feet as soon as he saw him. He walked over more briskly than Alistair entered the room, engulfing him in a hug. Surprised but not shook, he slowly hugged back, memories flooding him all at once.“Nathan”, he said slowly, in a raspy, loud whisper.“It's been… so long”“Yeah like fifteen years”, Alistair said, disentangling from the hug.“Still can't believe it's you”“I….me neither”“Ahemm”, the lawyer's deep cough brought both young men to reality.“Oh… ummm.. sorry. Back to business please”, Nathan said as he unnecessarily adjusted his suit, leading Alistair to where the fairly long conference table was.“Take a seat please”, Nathan instructed as Regan walked up to pull out the chair.“Thanks”, Alistair said to Regan, taking his seat slowly.An awkward silence filled the room as Nathan signaled all the men in the room to leave, except Regan of course. Nathan cleared his throat, obviously a little nervous to start.“Umm… Mr. Alistair, this is y
“What’s the meaning of this Nathan? Huh? Why didn't you inform me that this was what this meeting was about?”“I’m sorry sir. I was only acting on Mr. Voxx final instructions.”“Mr Voxx is dead! And I adopted his son. I am closer than a next of kin. I should have been told about this!”The elevator doors swung open. Mr. Wilde stepped out angrily, headed for the building's exit door. The automatic doors slid open and Mr. Wilde came to out where his car was parked.“I want a copy of that contract document, Nathan”“I'm sorry Mr. Wilde but you don't get a copy. But you will get to sign in consent as a voluntary adoptive parent to Mr. Alistair's inheritance.”“I'm not asking you Nathan. That's an order. And if I don't get a copy, forget my signature being in that consent.”“Oh you will sign it Mr. Wilde”, Nathan said, his tone suddenly raspy and dangerous.“You have too much to risk. After all, isn't he still the bastard son in law of yours?”“What … what are you talking about?”Nathan sm
Alistair woke up rather too suddenly, his seemingly pleasant yet nightmare of a dream stirring his consciousness. For a moment, he was bewildered, stirring at the suite he was in, confused. The chandelier lights, though dimmed, seemed to bright for his eyes. He squinted, his realization first of his non-aching body.Moving around, his soon found the bathroom and washed his face. Then realization dawned him. The events of last night.Anyone who'd known him and witnessed the previous night could have given him an award for composure. Apparent composure though. No one knew or rather, he should say no one knew yet the things he already had set in motion in his imagination.But his sudden wealth had shook him. Even Nathan knew that at some point, he'd drop the nonchalant, indifferent attitude he was wearing. He was beyond awed. And the irony of events as well? Hadn't it been few moments away from his utter embarrassment and divorcement? A smug smile appeared on his face as he wondered the
“Good morning, Mr. Nathan”, his secretary greeted as he passed by her office.“Morning Kathy”She got up quickly, gathering her files as she attempted to catch up to him.“Sir…the…”, she stopped a little to adjust the files in her hand.“All our shareholders and partners, are they seated?”“Yes sir but …”“The directors of the Voxx groups?”“Ye..yes”, she said, distracted by the task of keeping the tipsy files in place.“But sir…”“And the Heads of departments?”“Yes sir. They are…”“Great”, Nathan said, as he took a turn to the left. He was about push the conference room door open when Kathy finally caught up to him to stop him“But sir…”, she said in a rather exhausted tone. A file slipped off the pile on her hand.“Yes Kathy?”“Mr. Charlie…”“What about him?”“He's arrived.”“Is he in?”“Yes”“Perfect”Kathy handed her boss his work phone.“Escort him to the conference room. Meeting starts in fifteen minutes”“Yes Boss”, Regan's deep-voiced reply came through the speaker. The call t
Alistair walked over to the large window in his office, watching the reflection of those behind instead of the breath taking view of the city below. The lower office staff were arranging the office, a silent yet stuffing activity for him. He wanted them to distract his thoughts, but they pretended not to notice him, a character they played out too well and so unknowingly, it seemed so normal.Back to the thoughts. He looked down, finally acknowledging the beautiful view of the city from his window. A speed boat breezed through and it seemed funny to Alistair how the big companies always had their headquarters situated on the island part of the city. Alistair blinked, and suddenly he could see the younger version of himself in the reflections instead of the cleaners. He could see himself walking, the awkward and unusual memories he had of his first day at his father's office.“Alistair”Till that day, he wondered if he was actually meant to have been there. His mother never took him any
“He's here sir”“You ******* dumbass, what do you mean he's here?”“De Capuedo”Charlie groaned inwardly. How the **** did the idiot get through security. And what the *** is he doing here?!“No, no, no. The ****!”The door swung open suddenly and all the guards were alert, gun raised up and bullet bulked, with their fingers to the trigger. For a moment there was suspense and Capuedo's men gave way for him to emerge.“Signore Charlie … He he he…”, Capuedo's croaky, Italian coated words waved through the tense room, his usual intimidating, Italian laughter following. Laughter that was never intended to induce happiness.“Now, this isn't so much of a warm welcome, is it? Ei? Come on now. Sorely, you can do better than this, Charlie”He moved to the couch at the center of the room, taking his seat as he occupied almost half of the curved sofa.Charlie snapped his fingers as a signal to his men to put their guns down as Capuedo simultaneously did the same with a wave of his own hand.“Wha
“Woah..”The slippery trunk handle slithered through her hand, hitting the ground rather gently than harshly. But not gentle enough for Mrs. Moore. As usual.“Layla!”“Oh .. sorry Mum”, Layla apologized rather too hastily, a distracted apology as her eyes seemed glued to the magnificent building in front of her. She could see the inside already through the glass or rather she could see through the glass that framed half of the building, living room upward.“Get the other things from the car, Layla”, her mother's strict tone lashed at her, snapping her mind out of captivation. Layla's small, quick feet went down the stairs.“Welcome Madam”, the doorman greeted Tricia as she stepped in.“Thank you.”He offered to take her bag from her but she declined.“Oh dear, that wouldn't be necessary”, she said, smiling kindly at him.“Thank you”“Yes ma'am”. He nodded in approval and dashed outside to help Layla.Just then, Alistair came out of his room, headed for the stairs. When Tricia saw him
That was her mother's way of telling her to leave. The seemingly hingeless door closed behind her as she walked out, questioning herself for the hundred and first time why her mother sometimes treated her like a piece of rag. Euphoric really to think that the old woman had started to change back when they'd moved to the countryside.But no. Her mother was just as was worse as before. The energy had returned the day they'd received Alistair's information. The same day she'd dared to ask her mother about her father.Her father. Well, that was another topic on it's own. Tragic that Layla didn't even know a thing about him, talk less of knowing what he even looked like. Her mother had utterly refused her of knowing anything about him and would shut her up every time she attempted to ask. And the day she'd seen those pictures, with the cut out parts and burn patches, she just knew her curiosity wouldn't let her. They were pictures of the younger version of her mother, pictures of her mothe