From Pitiful to Powerful: The Concealed Heir Elevation

Chapter Seven

The door yanked open and a man in a red suit walked in, holding a stack of files.

"Hey Eddie, I just received the business proposal from Mr. Kowalski. Funny man. After his defiance, he still decided to bring it. What did I tell you?" He started speaking immediately, oblivious to the presence of the other people as his head was bent towards a pack of files he was holding.

"Maybe we should play a little prank on him just to get him on his edge, you know. What do you think?" The man looked up and widened his eyes, finally noticing the other people in the study.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know you had guests. I..." He stopped apologizing when he caught sight of Rosanna. "Color me shocked. Rosanna, is that you?" 

Brian narrowed his eyes. How does this man know his mother? 

A little smile tugged Rosanna's lip. "Hey, Richard."

Brian took another look at the man and narrowed his eyes more, trying to remember where he saw him. The quiff on his blond hair looked very familiar. 

Brian let out a sharp gasp when it hit him. "You are Richard Lennox." 

The man, Richard, looked at Brian with surprise, then looked at Edward. He looked at Brian again, then Edward. Then his eyes settled on Brian and he smiled. "Hello, Brian."

Brian's mouth hung open. How on Earth did the CEO of L.A.K.E Conglomerate know him?

"You never told me you were bringing them today," Richard spoke, referring to Edward.

"Yes, I did. I sent you a text but I'm sure you were too busy flirting to see it." Edward said. 

Richard placed his hand on his chest and faked a gasp. "Ouch."

Edward rolled his eyes. "What are you doing here?"

"Didn't you hear me? Mr Kowalski just brought his business proposal and I need to know if you want to proceed with it. But I see you are busy for now so..." 

"Nah, wait," Edward said and faced Brian and Rosanna. "It's late already. Why don't we go to bed and have a good night's sleep? We can have this talk after getting acquainted with the situation."

Brian wanted them to continue but his mother yawned. "Yeah, sounds good."

Brian bit his lips. "Right." 

Edward smiled. "OK, then. You study at Star City University right?"

Brian nodded.

"About that, why not attend a top university like Oxford, Harvard, or the like? I can afford those and more."

Brian was struck in awe at what Edward said. He could go anywhere he wanted? Is this the extent to which his life had changed? Was this wealth? Being rich was amazing. 

It had been his childhood dream to study at Harvard. His dreams could come true today.

But he declined. "Nah. I think I'll continue at Star City University."

Rosanna stared at Brian with a look of confusion. Since grade nine, Brian had always told her how much he wanted to study at Harvard or Oxford and he wouldn't hesitate to whenever he got the chance. Well, he had the chance now but why was he refusing?

Edward knitted his brows. "Are you sure?" 

Brian nodded. 

"Maybe you should reconsider..."

Brian snapped at Edward. "Just because it's a public university doesn't mean they don't teach well. Besides, I'm already in my second year. I might finish there as well."

"Well, okay, if that's what you want. You'll be living here then. This is Richard's mansion. It's close to your school. Richard," Edward faced his friend, "take good care of my son when I'm away."

"Of course. Any son of Eddie is also a son of mine." Richard replied, smiling mischievously. He walked in and dropped the files on the table.

Edward rolled his eyes. "Rosanna will be coming with me to Wesville tomorrow. I have a mansion much bigger than this one there." 

Richard snorted at this statement.

Brian raised his brows. "Wait, why can't she stay here? Are you trying to separate me from my mother?" 

"No. I... need Rosanna in my sight always. I've been separated from her for so long that I need..."

"And whose fault is it? I'm not letting you separate me from my mother just because you miss her. She is the only one who loved and cared for me ever since you left us."

"Will you ever forgive and stop attacking me with my guilt?" Edward said. "I've already..."

"Let's not change the topic. My mother isn't going anywhere, right mum?" Brian glanced at his mother who had been watching in silence.

Rosanna pursed her lips and sighed softly.

"Right, mum?" Brian repeated.

"I'd... like to go with him," she said.

Brian scoffed. "So you want to leave me because of him?"

"Brian, I'm not leaving you. Wesville is not that far from Star City. I want to stay with you but... I miss him also."

Brian just stared at her in disbelief and said nothing.

Rosanna approached him and cupped his face. "Hey. I love you but..." She paused, then continued. "You love Alexia. Imagine Alexia left you for years and then came back, what would you do?" 

At the mention of her name, Brian's expression changed. His mind had been so occupied with the recent happenings that he didn't have time to think of Alexia. And now that he thought of it, her words of breakup seemed to replay in his head, making his heart feel heavy.

Rosanna asked, noticing the change in his expression. "Did I say something wrong?" 

Brian shook. "No, not at all." He cleared his throat, "If you want to stay with him I understand." 

Rosanna smiled and rubbed his cheek.

"Well, okay. Richard, like I said, take good care of my son." 

"Quit worrying," said Richard as he perched on the desk. "Besides, what could go wrong? There are guards here twenty-four, seven."

"Good." He faced Melanie and Charlene. "I'm appointing you both as Brian's bodyguards. Make sure no harm comes to him. I don't want what happened to him in the alley to repeat itself." He spoke strictly. 

"Yes, sir." Melanie and Rachel bowed at the same time. 

Brian felt bad for Melanie and Charlene. It wasn't their fault that he got beaten up.

Edward turned and looked at Brian who stared back at him. "Brian, I won't be around much. I'll be busy throughout this week and next, and probably this month. But I'll check up on you through Richard and call whenever I have the chance. And don't worry. Your mother is in good hands."

Brian shrugged and said nothing in response. 

Edward wanted to say more but he sighed. "I guess we better get going to bed. Richard, be a good boy and show Brian his room, would you?" 

Richard scoffed, amused. "Don't appreciate you calling me a 'boy', but anything for my friend. Come on, Young Master. Let me show you your humble room."

The next day, Brian sat at table for breakfast with Melanie and Charlene. His mother had left with his father early that morning for Wesville, another city in the country.

He was surprised to find a lot of food for just breakfast, and they were delicious. So, this was how it felt to be wealthy?

It still amazed him how his life changed in a day. He, Brian Ashton...now Brian Addams, once poor, was the last son and heir of the great Addams family. This was the best news of his life.

But then, there was the issue of his father. Sure, it wasn't entirely his father's fault that he left them but Brian still felt angry at him, remembering all the suffering his mother endured. He spent half of his life, hating the father he never knew. And now that he knew him, his feelings were just a mess. 

He was also curious about the death of his family. 

But it would make sense in time so he pushed all his thoughts aside to enjoy the breakfast with Melanie and Charlene.

Speaking of them, he hadn't gotten over the fact that his only friends had been working for his father in secret ever since he knew them from his freshman year. It felt so awkward that they were his bodyguards now.

"Good morning, girls. Good morning, Brian." Richard announced his presence as he descended the stairs, dressed in a red three-piece suit. He was wearing his silver wristwatch around his wrist as he came down.

The workers around bowed and greeted him, which he responded to with a wave.

 "How's your breakfast?" 

Brian swallowed the piece of waffle in his mouth. "Breakfast's nice. Aren't you joining us?"

"Nah. I have a meeting to attend and I need to be there early. So, I'll be seeing you later. Oh, I almost forgot." He took out his expensive phone and tapped on it.

Some minutes later, Brian's phone vibrated in his pocket. He took it out to check and what he saw made his eyes pop out.

He blinked speedily at his phone. His phone's broken screen can make him misinterpret things on it. But indeed, it was there. He had just been credited.

"One hundred million?" He exclaimed, counting the zeros with his eyes to make sure he was not misinterpreting it.