Vindication of the Rejected Heir

Chapter 4

Declan knew that he had to start from somewhere to achieve what he wanted. He started thinking of a plan. When he came up with one, he discussed it with one person he knew was on his side.

Samson was Declan's close friend, since childhood. They worked at the same coffee shop and their shifts always collided. "Are you sure you want to do this?" Samson asked, sounding very worried for his friend.

"It's the only way to get out of this shit hole and make a life for me, before that people that call themselves my family succeed in making a total mess of me".

Declan had applied online for an internship at an automobile firm in another city. He was among the few that was accepted months ago, and he had made up his mind to go for the internship.

He knew that there were a lot of opportunities this internship would bring his way. He was seeking his fees and flight ticket.

"I just feel like you should calm down and take some time to think about this", Samson said, in a bid to change his mind.

"I've been doing so all my life, thinking about what I should do next and I think it's time for me to finally act", Declan said with a tone of finality that surprised Samson.

Samson headed to his bed and opened his bedside drawer. He took out a wad of cash and handed it to Declan. "This is the best I can do for you now, I don't have much with me", Samson said. Declan rushed to him and embraced him in a warm hug.

Early the following morning, Declan was on the first flight. This new encounter seemed like a door of opportunity had finally opened on his side, and he was excited.

His application was immediately accepted when he got there. An accommodation was made available to him along with other interns.

The automobile firm took care of them and gave them some allowance to fend for themselves. He thought his life was finally making sense but it was all a mirage.

People tagged him as a stammerer, and he found it so difficult to find confidence in whatever he did.

Declan finally lost himself and lived in a world of his thoughts.

As much as he tried to wade it off, his pains were still fresh and bleeding.

On consecutive times, when he remembered the statements uttered at the wedding "He is a b*stard" tears crept down his cheeks.

He had always looked to the heavens and thought of his parents. He never knew if they were alive or dead.

One particular evening after the usual routine for the day, Declan set out to an unknown destination.

He told no one where he was headed, because he felt his presence was of no significance either.

Still in the dark thoughts of pains and hating himself, he swaddled towards the beach.

"I need to call it off, my life is definitely nothing at all. No goodness, or significance."

Declan fell to the beach sand weeping profusely. Even though the waters raged, he stood his ground, ready to go with the currents.

"I really can't do anything great. Those that referred to me as being useless were never mistaken."

He walked towards the waters shut his eyes with his arms outstretched ready to be swept off.

"Declan!"

"Young Master… Please don't ." a string voice called out, but Declan turned deaf ears.

In a split of seconds, Declan was grabbed off the shore before the current swept him off.

"No, no, let me just die off." Declan wept profusely like a child would.

"Young master…. Please do not kill yourself, else I'm doomed!"

Declan was forced to wipe out his tears at the words spoken, he forcefully tilted his gaze only to find a middle aged man with a visible row of grey hair, he was dressed in a white three piece suit that spoke of luxury.

"I…am not your young master! You probably are mistaken. I'm Declan, the useless son of Rowland."

"No, young master… You aren't useless. Only time and situation has dealt with you unfairly."

Before Declan could counter further, the young man was on his knees, bowing to Declan.

"Please accept my apologies for finding you late, and come along with me."

Declan sluggishly followed the middle-aged man. He drove in the Tesla Model S lounge range, till they arrived at a luxurious mansion.

Throughout the journey, till they alighted, Declan was quiet. At the sight of the mansion, he couldn't help but stare in awe.

The mansion gates were made of pure gold, which gave the gate the voice of nothing but opulence.

Not to talk of the mansion. Every single thing were just different from Declan's grandfather's mansion.

'Please follow me young master." Both of them walked through a hallway till they got to a sturdy room.

The middle aged man offered him a seat. "I'm Brandon, your family butler."

"M..y family! You know my family?" Declan was stunned.

"Yes young master, I'm so sorry. Your mother died after birthing you. Then your dad followed suite a month later after we lost both of you at the hospital."

"He had strong faith that you would still be alive, he told me to search for you till I find you."

Declan wept, realizing how he never got to meet them before their exit.

"You need not weep anymore… It is time to take over your dad's cologmerate."

"Cologmerate!" Declan truly was never opportuned to attend college, but that never stopped him from knowing what a cologmetate is.

"The Reids cologmerate ranks number five amongst the richest in the world. It has several subordinate companies and a net worth of over ninety trillion dollar."

Declan couldn't believe his ears, he therefore asked for proof.

In a flash, Brandon arrived with the company's document, laying all before him.

"It's time to take over young master. Your sufferings are over."

Declan spent the night at Brandon's place. As expected, no one reached out to him, he knew his existence was really nothing, but who would have thought his story could change.

In the morning while he prepared to head out, Brandon came around to ask him.

"Young mastet, do I prepare you a vehicle?"

"There will be no need for that… Its better I remain undercover while I learn the companies ethics.."

Declan returned, no one asked of him neither did they feel his absence.

As quick as he could, he but a stop to the internship, and decided to return to his roots.

He remembered his friend Samson, but he couldn't tell him anything about his new identity either, at least not yet.

****

Back to his roots…

Declan lay on his bed that night. He thought about his family's business, and he could not help but feel very disgusted by his grandpa and brother. Mere thoughts of them made him mad. He had read about the business in his papers.

They were failing again and their campaigns were usually to gain the favor of the public. But Declan knew that something was wrong from the start, so he had bought the company a year ago, under a disclosed identity.

He made up his mind to head there tomorrow, to see how things were going in his company. He would see his brother and hopefully, see Patricia, just to know how she was holding up.

When he stepped into the company, a whiff of nostalgia hit him, along with annoyance. He nodded at the receptionist when he greeted him and adjusted his tux. Samson said he looked very good in the navy blue color and he could not agree less.

Some lady passed by on his way to the elevator. He could not help but recognize her. "Patricia?" He called out.

She turned around, her hair bouncing as she did. She looked more beautiful than he remembered. "Declan?" She called out too. He smiled at her and embraced her from the side.

She held on to him longer than he expected and when she finally let go, he could tell that she was disappointed. "We will catch up later", he said, finally on his way.

Daniel raised a brow when Declan stepped into the office. "Look who we have here. Mr investor", he said, laughing.

"I've read about you in the papers, and it's good you've finally made something out of yourself", he continued nodding. "I'm sorry to break it to you but you still don't have a place here in the family business".

Declan stood quietly, without uttering a single word. He would not say anything. It was not the right time to speak.

"Well", Daniel continued, "a meeting for the board of directors has been scheduled. We await our new chairman, and I hope he leads us into the future better than I have ever done.

You're not invited because you still don't have a place here".

Declan tried hard to contain his laughter. "I just came to check in on you. I saw patricia on my way out. You are realy caring for her", he said slowly pacing around the office.

"I thought you would be a changed man now", Daniel said with a tone of amusement, "but I guess a leopard does not change his spots", he said, in a tone laced with mockery.

Once in the conference room where the entire members of the board sat, Declan waltzed in followed by his PA. "What are you doing here Declan?" Lord Rowland asked.

"This is our new chairman. He bought the company under a hidden identity last year, and we signed the deal for him to take over this year", Johnson, a member of the board, said.

The look on Lord Rowland's and Daniel's faces was priceless, but Declan could not care less. He was looking for new ways to make this new life uncomfortable for them.

He would pay back every single act of wickedness they showed him.