Reincarnated Trillionaire Tycoon

I Am Back

On the ride to his supposed home, Zen glanced severally at Ariel. He expected that she cracked a joke to ease the tension, but the little demon was as stiff as possible. It was almost as though she was with his boss.

He supposed that in many ways he was her boss; since he had the face of her former boss and he was to act as one, she’d have to accord him with the same respect she accorded the former one; which means the end of his youthful lusting towards her.

Zen shook his head and thoughts away. It wasn’t like he was particularly lusting after her—okay, maybe he was, but who wouldn’t? She was the epitome of everything sinful. The car suddenly stopped and Ariel turned to him.

“We are here.”

Zen looked out the window at the house she had stopped at. It was a decent house in a decent neighborhood, with a tiny flower bed in front of it that was beginning to weed into the main entrance.

It looked as though it had been unattended for years, but the footprint on the flowerbed signified that someone had been in very recently.

“It used to be much neater than this,” Ariel said, interrupting his thoughts. “But after you died, it became a mini train wreck. Emma fired the housekeeper.”

“No money?” Zen inquired.

“No, far from that. We pay the deceased family every year but she has decided to convert the funds for herself.”

“I see.”

“Now that you’re back, you would have to put it in order.”

“It isn’t that bad.”

Ariel didn’t look convinced. “I actually hope it’s not.”

“Alright then. Let’s go meet this wife of mine.”

Ariel pressed a button on the car and his door clicked open. She remained in her seat, waiting for him to leave.

It was then that Zen realized she would not be coming down with him. He held the door handle and looked back at her.

“Come on, Ariel. You know I cannot do this alone.”

“And I do not want to see your wife either,” she answered.

“She is not my wife… okay she is but not… Listen, I don’t know this woman, okay? Why don’t you just help me figure it out?”

She sighed, narrowing her eyes at him like he was some child she couldn’t wait to get rid of. Zen knew she would have to please him according to her master’s instructions, but he also knew that she could tweak it however she wants.

“Sir, I already made it easy for you. I told her you’re still recovering and as such, must not be stressed with too many questions. I did well, didn’t I?” Her brows arched at the last sentence, challenging me to defuse her claims.

I sighed and got down from the car. There was really no use bickering with Ariel like this. She would only stand her ground and help out in the parts she wants to. Besides, he could understand why she didn’t want to go in with him… almost.

Zen waited for the car to drive off so the occupant inside would know that someone really did stop by. He rapped on eh door twice, then waited. When no one came to the door, he knocked again, more heavily this time.

Emma threw open the door and stared down at him. She was of average height with inky black hair and eyes. If there was any animal Zen would allude her to, it would be a raven. She had a beautifully structured face, but there was this air around her that was icy.

She looked homely, of course, but there was just this thing about her…

Emma stared at him, disbelief written all over her face. She poked at his skin with her finger, like she thought he was really not there and she was just making sure that he was.

“Danny?” she said. “You really are alive? They told me but…”

What did Danny mean? Zen wondered. Was it a nickname or abbreviation of Daniel? Whatever it was, he needed to play along. He was a tired old man who had just miraculously risen from the dead.

“Emma, I would really like to sit down right now,” he said in a hushed whisper.

“Oh right.”

She took his arm and led him inside. The inside was even worse than outside. Cobwebs were handing from the ceiling, there were used plates littered everywhere and empty canned drink. It was a mess.

“Please excuse this mess,” Emma said as she led him to a less messy chair. “I just wasn’t expecting you.”

“Ariel said she told you that I’d awaken.”

Emma frowned at the name. “That little assistant of yours? Yes, well, I don’t believe anything that comes from her mouth.”

Zen even found what she was saying unbelievable. No matter what, if someone told you that your dead husband wasn’t really dead, you’d at least hope that he wasn’t. This Emma did not even seem to like that he was here and she was helping him into a chair.

“I am here now, aren’t I?” he said.

She looked down at him, a small smile on her lips. “Yes well, I am glad that you are finally home.”

“Me too?”

She sighed, apparently out of words to say. This was not the sign of someone who was happy that her husband was alive.

She was making it too easy for him. Zen used that opportunity to study her again, hoping that some memories that’d help him understand her better would surface. From what he could see, she looked to be in her early to mid thirties.

“Would you like something to eat?” she asked, clearly uncomfortable with his stare. “I’m sure you’re famished with all that stress you went through.”

Zen looked around and was utterly degusted. “No, I think I’ll just lay down…” his stomach grumbled, betraying him.

“I’ll just order a takeout and clean up this mess,” Emma said and walked away.

He saw that she breathed well when she left his side.