Chapter Seven – Embarrassed
Rekindling old friendships, fine.
But rekindling old business connections, no.
Dominic kept on swiping left to all the business owners his grandfather had worked with.
Many of them had jumped on the Thales slander and fueled it, many also worked with the Allen’s company while knowing they betrayed him.
“No second chance for scums.” That’d be his new motto. He sat back and glanced at his watch. It was almost 3pm.
He’d have to pick up Suzy and Lucas at school. Selene was busy handling his company’s cases so the least he could do was pick Suzy up too.
Dominic gulped down fruit juice on his desk and then left the table. “I should pick them up now.”
Walking through the hall, he remembered when the place bustled with workers and machineries.
The machineries remained but none to manage them. They were like vegetables, as he had been months ago. “Don’t worry, you'd run soon.”
The car he rode to Suzy and Lucas’ school was one of Jamie’s he bought from him, it was relatively new and was a gift to Jamie.
He stopped the car close to a bar and tipped the owner to let him keep it.
His face wasn’t familiar to the bartender but school teachers or parents might recognize him if he drove a flashy car to school.
He didn’t want Lucas or Suzy to be bullied at school.
A small car was at the garage when Dominic got there. He recognized it belonged to the Allen’s family.
He masked his face and continued to the school, he wore casual clothes so fit perfectly. Also, Lucas’ guardian was still Jamie for time being.
A receptionist at the school’s entrance asked his name. “Sylvain Savage.” He replied. “To pick up Suzy Jones and Lucas… Saunders.”
The receptionist smiled, and then a younger lady appeared. She looked Dominic over. “Who are you? And why are you picking up Suzy and the new boy, Lucas?”
Dominic ignored her, while making sure the receptionist spelt ‘Sylvain’ correctly.
The receptionist cleared her throat. “Sir, this is Miss Ruth, our principal.”
Dominic didn’t give a damn. “I’d wait here. You can call Selene or Lucas’ guardian if you want confirmation, miss receptionist.”
Miss Ruth looked him over, this time with a seductive hint. Dominic caught the gesture quickly and turned away.
“Is this Lucas Miss Selene’s real son? He has her surname.” Ruth initiated a small talk.
But Dominic saw it as a gossip. He didn’t know why Suzy didn’t bear Saunders but he didn’t care. Selene was her mother.
“If you want, I'd tell Miss Selene you asked then she’d answer when next you two meet.” He said.
Miss Ruth shook her head. “No, never mind.”
The bell rang and many kids ran out from a class block. They were numerous three year olds.
Dominic remembered his sons while looking at them, they were around the same age.
“Ouch! That hurts!” one of the kids yelled.
Miss Ruth ran to them and picked a child from another boy. “Lucian! Stop that!”
Dominic snapped his head at the direction and his jaw dropped. Wasn’t that his son, Lucian?
“Let me beat that… ugly… you!” he kept trying to jump on his victim who was already crying.
Miss Ruth held him tight and scolded. “Can’t you forgive Bruce? Your mom almost took you two from my school. Can you be a child for once!”
Before Dominic could react, a man dressed in black suits hijacked Lucian from Miss Ruth.
“We were sent to retrieve the boys.” The man flashed his ID card. Dorian, amongst the other children, ran to the man in suits. “Yeah!! Home!”
Lucian calmed down and he was dropped. “Dorian, let’s go home. I’d finish this later.” He stomped off, with a stoic and bitter expression.
Miss Ruth looked at him with an impossible look, she shook her head. “Maybe I should have let Brielle take her boys.”
Dominic smirked, he felt quite embarrassed with the behavior but thankfully no one knew they were his kids.
“Uncle Domi?” Lucas spoke besides Dominic.
He looked at his little cousin, startled that he sneaked on him. “You’re here?”
“I realized in the morning that your sons attend this school. Suzy told me. That was him, right? The one Suzy said had a short temper.”
Dominic stared at Lucian as he stomped off. Sadly, it would be, like his grandfather, one of his sons had a short temper and sharp tongue.
“Well, blame their genes.”
“You mean grandfather.” Lucas sighed.
Dominic smiled. “And where’s Suzy?”
“Her class left for an excursion, they’d be dropped at their respective homes later.”
He nodded, taking Lucas’ school bag in his hands and walking back to his car.
He should head back to the company before some sort of tragedy happened. Also, Silas would be in the country in few hours.
“Do you remember Silas? Do you want to meet up with him?” He asked Lucas as they got into the car.
“No, I have assignment to do.” Lucas said quickly. “Muy dificil.” he added a bit of Spanish.
Dominic rolled his eyes, disappointed. He had almost forgotten how much of an introvert his little cousin was. “Fine then, let’s roll.”
The bartender waved at him as he left and even if Dominic didn’t see why, he waved back.
They left the school’s premises. Lucas began reading so Dominic spared him from any small talk he’d like to initiate.
As they got to another street, the acceleration of the car picked up without Dominic affecting it. “What the hell.” Dominic tried marching brakes but they didn’t work. The car moved faster.
“Um… Uncle Domi?” Lucas looked scared as the car was moving past the required limit.
Dominic stomped on the brakes many times while trying to open the car door. Horror filled his eyes when he realized the door didn’t open.
It was jammed. He turned to his little cousin who seemed to understand the situation. “Will we die, Uncle…”
The car made a sharp turn and crashed on a pole, then it slowly went back and stayed at the middle of the road.
Lucas passed out immediately due to fear while Dominic breathed heavily, having his forehead bleeding from hitting the steering wheel.
“Did… did we have an accident?” he muttered.
He had so many flashbacks from his last accident that left him almost useless.
Was this another one? Though it wasn’t fatal, he still feared something worse would happening.
At that moment, many small black cars pulled up in front of him. Men dressed in black came out of them but none came to his aid.
“What the hell was happening now?” he yelled in frustration, despite pain throbbing in his head.
Chapter Eight – KidnappedThe environment was pitch black and low police sirens could be heard. Dominic slowly moved his head but a sharp ache made him put it down. Where was he taken to? He remembered the accident and then being taken out from the car.The men in black suits left Lucas in the car and it worried him because he didn’t know what injury Lucas had sustained. Light pierced into his eyes, interrupting his thoughts. “Oh, you’re awake now?” a familiar voice said, followed by a snicker. Dominic tried to work his brain to identify the voice. He couldn’t see the person’s face clearly. “I almost had PTSD when I heard you awoke. You are supposed to be dead, how did you live?” the man sighed. He was supposed to be dead? It made Dominic wonder if the accident that happened was more fatal than he thought. “Where’s Lucas? If you want just me, then leave him alone.” “He’s still a Thales, you know. But yes, I’m not interested in killing him. Don’t worry.” The man replied. Kill
Chapter Nine – At the ward. Again? “What do you mean?” Damien wasn’t stunned Allen family wanted him dead, he’d be hurt to know but at the point, he had given up. But what did ‘again’ mean? “Your accident four years ago. Didn’t you realize they were involved with it? My father precisely. My sister knew nothing.” Bethel explained. Dominic’s heart pounded heavily in his chest. Four years ago, he almost died but luckily or unluckily fell into coma. Sir Allen did that? “Of course, you don’t need to know the reason why…” “I can guess.” Damien interrupted, darkness filling his eyes. “He only wanted Brielle to marry me for my wealth. It planned a long time ago.” Bethel watched him intently as his voice lowered, he looked away. “It’s an inner strife by my father and your grandfather decades back.” Dominic’s head rose. “A decade long strife?” Why'd he never heard of it? Did his grandfather know the Allen family before he married Brielle? “Yet, that’s what led to the unnecessary
Chapter Ten – I’d pay “To give an advice or two.” Sir Allen replied with a calm demeanor, still sporting his fake smile. Advice? Dominic stared, hopelessly, at the man. He wanted to smash his head to a wall but that’d cause a messy scene. But he didn’t want to care. The man caused his life to be such a mess yet he came with an advice? Why were the Allen’s so fearless in taking him on. He knew Sir Allen was only there to threaten but after coming from his son’s place, Dominic was fed up with any Allen telling him what to do. “Get out while I’m still sane! I’d likely not repeat myself again.” He showed him the man the door. Sir Allen shook his head. “This will help you, you know. After four years and returning to the business world, you’d need some…” The man’s neck was dragged and his smile fell. His face was closer to Dominic’s. “Allen, you took my wife from me and then my sons, unless when I want to finish you, I don’t want you showing up in front of me!” Sir Allen
Chapter Eleven – Jean In front of a clinic, a red Lamborghini had been parked for twenty minutes before a man stepped out of the driver’s seat. The security guards that had been watching the car were stunned when an elegant looking man stepped out of the car. The man walked briskly to the other side of the passenger’s seat and opened the car door. A blonde girl jumped out of the car and ran to the entrance, she stood and gaped. “Awww! This is the clinic, isn’t it?!” The security guards gawked at her beauty with subtlety. The man sighed and walked to her, folding his arms around hers. “Mother is in, let’s go.” he pulled her along, ignoring the gawking of the security guards. As they walked into the clinic, the receptionist ran to them with smiles. “Sir Casimir, Miss Jean! Good morning. Hope you had a nice flight?” Jean grinned widely. “We sure did! There was this old lady who got mad at me for talking in the first class…” “We did. Thank you.” Casimir interrupted his lit
Chapter Twelve – Jones.“What are you doing here?” Dominic stared down at the two human forms before him. He was just about drowning himself in coffee and documentations when he heard the scream. “And why are you looking for Brielle here?” Jean made a small run towards him. “Hi, I’m Miss Jean from the Timely...” “I heard.” Dominic interrupted. “You didn’t answer me.” Jean stepped back. “Um, well…” “I’m Casimir Jones, CEO of Timely Gadgets. We came to offer condolences for the death of your grandmother.” Casimir said, coming forward. Dominic’s eyes darkened on him. Jones? The name sounded familiar, and not really in his good book. “Thank you for the thoughts.” He was sure there was no enterprise called Timely Gadgets that his grandfather collaborated with. He had recently checked the log books. “Anything else you need from me?” he asked, taking a step back to show he needed to leave. “Where’s Lucas? I haven’t seen him.” Jean said suddenly. Dominic frowned at her. What
Chapter Thirteen – Everett. Augustus Arthur. Definitely a powerful name belonging to a powerful man. Seeing the name alone made Dominic shake. “What’s the deal with him?” Dominic forced a smile to ease his discomfort. He kept scrolling but the name stayed on his mind. When done with the files of the day, he closed the building. He was heading for a meeting he looked forward to all day – meeting of the Dons. “This will be so exhilarating.” He said under his breath. “Another chance to trend!” The awoken Young Master gracing his presence at the exclusive party of young CEOs. Before his accident, he never took the meeting serious because it was just a glorified evening party yet he attended always. Showing his face at the party again will surely cause an interesting buzz, after all, he was still a young CEO just not as successful. He got in his car, drank bottle of water before starting the car. He’d be going for a two hours drive to make it, but he’d not miss it.
Chapter Fourteen – Ex-wife A tall red-haired lady, with pursed lips and curious eyes stood, hands on waist, behind him. She was a fashion model that took the world by storm four years back. It seemed she reached greater heights to be dining with young CEOs. “You aren’t a regular here. Don’t think anyone can just waltz in…” “Now, that’s just rude. You wouldn’t even ask my name since your eyes don’t seem to work.” Dominic sighed disappointedly. He had regained some of his features so was definitely easier to recognize, except she wasn’t big on the Thales family. Which would be unreal. Miss Avarez clenched her fists. “Who are you speaking to like that? Excuse me?” she called for a guard. Dominic expression became serious. Was this lady about to cause a scene? He grabbed her arm and pulled her to his face. The guard noticed the act and rushed to him. “Miss Avarez, I’m not used to not being known. It’s never been said anywhere that the Thales heir wasn’t identified.” His
Chapter Fifteen – Hiring The chill juice sliding down his throat cooled Dominic's nerves. He exhaled, dropping the glass down, then stared at Everett. “You want to help me? I’d say, I’m surprised.” “Don’t be.” Everett dropped his own glass. “I’m repaying a debt.” Dominic narrowed his eyes. That didn’t sound right. After helping him, he had no intentions of being friends again? He sighed. “Whatever. You have a clothing line?” Everett nodded, “I understand Thales empire released one before the fall. If they are good products, they can still make a debut in the market but in cheaper prices.” That piqued Dominic’s interest. He had been thinking of debuting the clothing line, since he had Suzy Jones as standby model, but he worried for it’s quality. “I bet they have great designs but the quality might be less now so take a bit from the price. You might run little loss but it’d give you first popularity.” Everett advised. Hearing Everett give good advice impressed Dominic bec