Rags To Riches: The Riveting Tale Of Jason Smith

Chapter 0005

"I said that I have a pendant with the Pendragon family sigil on it," Jason repeated,

"Put him down." The manager ordered and the security man complied. "Now, are you sure about this? Because if it turns out that you're lying about this whole thing, or the pendant turns out to be a fake, trust me that you won't be leaving this building in one piece."

Jason gulped in fear at the open threat and still proceeded to bring out the pendant, "I don't know anything about it being fake or real, all I know is that I have a pendant with your family sigil on it."

The manager's eyes went wide in surprise as he saw the pendant, he even went ahead to feel it with his hands just to confirm that his eyes were not deceiving him. "It's the real one... It's the real one... Could this young man here be the... No, I have to conduct a test first.." He muttered excitedly to himself,

"Young man, who are you?" The manager asked enthusiastically,

Jason couldn't help but notice the quick change in the tone of address– one moment he was being addressed like a thief, the next moment he was being addressed like a guest. "My name is Jason... Jason Smith."

"Jason. Smith.. that name rings a bell but I can't quite seem to figure it out now." He then turned to the security man, "Take Mr. Smith here to my office."

"Okay, sir." The security man was perplexed but he still managed to obey the manager's orders, what exactly was going on? What is that pendant that made the manager change the way he addressed the young man?

"And as for you..." The manager said, turning to the receptionist, "Cancel all my appointments today, have them pushed to another day."

"But...but"

"No buts!" He snapped, "Do as I say!"

"Yes sir!" The receptionist replied feeling embarrassingly bashful while at the same time wondering who the hell Jason Smith is that made him receive such treatment from the manager.

THE MANAGER'S OFFICE,

"So, Mr. Smith?..." The manager said, crossing his hands over his chest and standing before Jason who was sitting in his office. "...where did you say you found this pendant?"

"I was going through my mum's stuff..."

"Who's your mum?" The manager interrupted inattentively,

"Eleanor Smith..." Jason said softly as if it hurt to say her name.

"Hmm..." If the manager was shocked, he certainly didn't show it because he simply narrowed his eyes into slits and told Jason to continue.

"I found it amongst my mom's stuff.." Jason said promptly, "...I don't know how she got it but I can vaguely remember someone giving me when I was little and saying something about an heir, though I'm not sure about that too."

"You! Go get that machine on top of my table." The manager said, referring to the security man. The security man quickly left the room and returned shortly with a small black box.

The manager collected the box from the security man and told Jason to place his hands on top of the box. Jason did that and the box beeped and glowed green. At that point, the manager could barely hide his giddiness, he lifted the box and told Jason to face it and the young man complied. A ray of light scanned Jason's face and once again, it beeped and glowed green. The security man stared in bewilderment and scurried out of the room.

The manager could no longer contain his happiness, he cried out with a loud voice and knelt before Jason saying, "Welcome home master."

Jason was beside himself with confusion, "Master? What is the meaning of this?"

The manager looked up to face him with a smile and Jason saw that there were unshed tears in them though he couldn't tell whether they were tears of joy or happiness. "You are the lost heir of the Pendragon family..."

"Lost heir? What are you talking about?" Jason was starting to think that the manager had gone crazy, he was just a young man from the ghetto, how could he suddenly be a lost heir?

"Years ago... You were the sole heir of this family. You were entitled to the entire proceeds and revenues from the family business and everyone loved you and wanted you to take over the family business– though you were barely six then...

Our enemies noticed this and began to plot to eliminate you and render the Pendragon family heir–less, they orchestrated a ghastly car accident and the accident was so lurid that we thought you and your parents' bodies had burnt to ashes in the wreckage...

We were so devastated but old man Cain refused to lose hope, he always told us that you were still alive somewhere and that one day, you'll return to claim your possession. I didn't believe him then but seeing you here now in the flesh, I can't help but feel so emotional..."

Jason was speechless, he was finding it difficult to process all that information at once. All the time he had toiled and suffered in the streets, he had no idea that he was the heir to the biggest family business in the city.

Suddenly, an old man in a black suit barged into the room and rushed toward Jason. "Ben, is it true? Is it true that the heir is back?" Ben was the manager, he nodded softly in reply.

The old man walked up to Jason and pulled him into a hug. Jason, who was still in doubt about the facts that Ben told him suddenly snapped back to reality and instantly recognized the old man, he was the man who gave him the pendant in his memory.

"Jason... I can't believe it... Jason... Thank goodness you survived.." the old man mumbled amidst tears as he held Jason as if he would disappear immediately.

"You know my name." Jason blurted,

"Of course, I know everything about you..." The old man started to say but paused when he saw Jason's shabby clothes and bandaged body, "Why are you in such despicable condition?"

Jason chuckled sadly and replied, "I'm not living the best of life."

"Don't worry about that, starting today your life will change for the better. We'll make up for whatever struggle you went through as you grew, if you want to shop for the best clothes abroad then so be it!" The old man said vigorously, trying to make Jason excited.

"I think all those can wait for later.." Jason said calmly,

"What do you mean?" The old man asked he must've expected Jason to be beside himself with joy but the expression on his face said something else– he was in sorrow.

"Since you said I'm the heir. I'm sure you wouldn't mind if I borrow some money to pay off my mother's hospital bills?" Jason asked expectantly,

The old man was silent for a while then he said, "By your mother, do you mean Eleanor?"

"Yes..."

The countenance on the old man's face suddenly changed.