Learning the Truth 4

CALEB'S POV

The car drove on in silence. The revelation about his family hit Caleb harder than an electric shock. "What?" he intoned.

Mateo nodded.

"Is this true, Mama?"

He turned to give his mother a blank stare.

Leah's greyish-blue eyes had become opaque and watery. Tears streamed down her pinky cheeks and formed a puddle on her sharply edged chin, dripping in droplets onto her hands which were clasped together prayerlike.

"I guess your silence is an answer in itself," Caleb grumbled.

"You were adopted after I managed to whisk you away from being killed and hidden in an orphanage. Your foster mother here used to work as a nursing assistant there." Mateo recalled.

Caleb lowered his head, the empty package of food dangled in his hand. His grandfather retrieved the pack and dumped it on the backseat.

Leah made an effort to hold her son's hand but he shrugged her off. "Don't touch me."

"Do you hate me now?" her voice cracked.

Caleb felt sorry for his mother. "I'm sorry, Mama, I'm just so hurt by this revelation."

Then turning to his grandfather, "Who is the man who murdered my parents and only sister? And why?"

"His name is Don El-Zaki." The old man's forehead wrinkled painfully as he spoke his name.

"He was your Papa's righthand man when they were young entrepreneurs, although he and Lorenzo went into different businesses."

Lord Dezani took a sip of water from a bottle lying beside the door handle and continued. "El-Zaki went into textiles while your Papa ventured into cosmetics."

He turned to stare out the window as the Bugatti sped along the less busy road leading towards the Dezani Estate. "Later on, as the business grew, he expanded it into general household items."

Caleb listened with rapt attention.

"El-Zaki on the other hand made a wrong investment and his textile business collapsed."

"Lorenzo invited him to partner in the cosmetics business since they were already well-known businessmen and, with his contacts, they could expand and set up various branches nationwide."

"El-Zaki agreed. Unbeknownst to anyone, he was plotting to eliminate the entire Dezani household and take over the company for himself."

A nerve or two twitched in Caleb's jaw.

"He almost succeeded but for the timely intervention of the guards on duty that night of the raid."

He paused for a long while, then went on.

"One of them took several gunshots to his back while managing to escape with you in his arms. He later died at the hospital as a result of the bullet wounds that pierced his liver."

Caleb was now shaking with rage. "How did you find out all this, Grandpa?"

Lord Dezani scratched his salt-and-pepper beard. His eyes narrowed as he recalled the ugly and bloody scene from that night.

"It was the company's former chief security officer who later confessed during investigations."

Caleb adjusted in his seat.

"Is the security officer still alive?"

His grandfather shook his head. "He was later found dead in his cell in police custody."

"What!" Caleb shrieked, a vein bursting on his forehead.

"Yes. That was how the case died a natural death because all the eyewitnesses either died mysteriously or suddenly disappeared."

"El-Zaki won't find me an easy target to eliminate!" Caleb blurted from nowhere.

His grandfather's sad face broke into a radiant smile. "Which is why we need you to marry El-Zaki's stepdaughter."

"What?"

Leah gasped. Caleb glared at the old man as if he were the enemy.

"We're here, boss," the driver announced, interrupting the tension in the car.

Caleb's eyes shone as he beheld the biggest house he's ever seen.

"We will continue this discussion over dinner tonight." Mateo patted him on the shoulder.

"Get their things and put them in the East wing upstairs," he instructed Ricardo who was already opening the car door for him.

He stepped down slowly and added, "Go and freshen up and reflect on our discussion, especially the later part. I will see you downstairs shortly."

With that, he strolled away. Caleb stood there watching him. He observed he was walking a little awkwardly.

"What's wrong with his leg?" he asked Ricardo.

"Doctors say it's osteoarthritis. The pain becomes worse when he's forced to sit for long hours."

Ricardo fetched their things and led them both into the house. The rest of the guards had dispersed to their various duty posts.

"This way to your room, Master," he announced.

"My name is Caleb. Please call me by my name."

Ricardo shook his head. "I can't do that, Master. Forgive me."

Caleb wanted to argue but changed his mind and took his mother's hand. "Let's go up Mama. You've been awfully quiet and must be feeling hungry."

"Food will be served as soon as you're both ready," Ricardo affirmed.

***

An hour later, they were seated in the dining room. Mateo took his seat at the head of the table while Caleb sat on the chair next to him. His mother sat opposite him.

They had both showered and changed into different clothes but even their apparent new look was a mismatch for the elegance of the large Dezani mansion.

"You will be needing a change of wardrobe," Lord Dezani observed.

"But Grandpa, this is suitable for home use," Caleb protested.

"Those are unfit for a prince. You have to completely change your dressing going forward."

"Anyway, let's eat," he changed the subject.

The old man grabbed a plate and dished some spaghetti into it, took a handful of grapefruit and placed it by the side. He then added a little sauce to taste.

Caleb was confused about what to eat. He hadn't seen so much food in his entire life, let alone a variety to choose from.

"Having a problem with choice?" His grandfather chuckled.

"I've never had to choose what to eat before."

"And that's another thing that needs to change."

"What, Grandpa?"

"Your diet."

Leah shyly took a plate and started to dish some soup. She ate it with potato and chicken wings.

"You need lots of vegetables and fruits to balance out the excess carbohydrates you've been consuming," Lord Dezanj said eyeing Leah's plate.

Caleb settled for rice with vegetable sauce. Then pineapple and cantaloupe for dessert.

"This is the best meal I've eaten my whole life," he belched with satisfaction as the table was being cleared.

"Thank you so much, Lord..." Leah didn't quite get his name.

"Call me Mateo."

"Mateo," she said quietly. That was the first time she'd spoken directly to the old man since their awkward meeting.

"You're most welcome..."

"Leah," she supplied her name.

"Well," he cleared his throat turning to Caleb, "let's talk about you becoming the CEO of the company."