The Emergence of Raphael Gauthier

CHAPTER 5: A WEALTHY BALL IN HIS COURT

Raphael without further ado narrowed his eyes to grasp a better view of the man standing in front of him, from his stature, he could deduce he was in his early 40s, about 6"1' tall with a well-shaved goatee.

‘Young Master? What does that even mean, huh?’ The persistent questions ran across his mind whilst standing to his feet.

“Please who are you? Why did you call me such? Have we met before?” he continually questioned, staring deep into his face.

The strange man quickly knelt before him with his hands lifted towards him in absolute honor. “Young Master, my name is Benoit. I'm your grandfather's senior butler. I'm…” he was about to complete his words when Raphael quickly turned and ambled away from his presence.

“Young Master?... Please don't depart,” He quickly mouthed as he noticed the strange outlook after he mentioned working for his grandfather.

Raphael kept mute with a frowned face, his arms akimbo. Benoit still ran in front of him and knelt once again. “Are you pissed off that I almost rode you over? I'm sorry, Young Master.”

“Your grandfather persistently insisted he wants to see you. I had no choice but to trail you from your family in-laws' house and when I saw you running I had to drive behind. I'm sorry if I nearly had you knocked down,” He deeply apologizes, bowing his head beneath his feet.

“Benoit, you've done nothing wrong. I don't want to speak with my grandfather.”

“You wasted your time coming over here," he responded with a frown on his face.

Benoit just gazed at him in a dumbfounded state as he was startled at Raphael's outright response.

“Do have a nice evening,” Raphael mouthed, striving to continue with his sprinting.

Suddenly a voice fell from behind. “Your Grandfather had a heart attack this evening! He insists he must speak with you or he won't take further medications…” Those words escaped from the Senior butler's mouth as he knelt hopelessly with teary eyes.

Raphael abruptly froze in shock at what he just heard and turned towards the senior butler with his eyes etching in disbelief.

“Young Master, he's sick. I don't know his bad deeds against you that have made you stay away from him all these years. But he desperately wants to see you,” Benoit kept pleading for him to have a change of heart.

He drew a deep breath in uncertainty. “Let's go meet grandfather. Take me to him at once,” he affirmatively responded.

Raphael found himself in the car seat of Range Rover Autobiography. Within seconds Benoit had zoomed off without further delays.

Over the years Raphael's grandfather had done all he could to reach out to his grandson but all had been a failure.

Raphael's stance has been made explicitly; never to have anything to do with his multi-billionaire Grandfather.

The bigger question is what exactly could have precipitated such a strong-willed decision?

Within 10 minutes Benoit had driven into the finest residence in Munich estate in Paris and screeched the car gate after the gatekeepers had parted the gate for him to drive through.

Raphael alighted from the luxurious car and five domestic staff at the residence fell before their knees in respect.

“Young Master! Welcome Young Master!” They simultaneously voiced out in greetings. Raphael sheepishly nodded his head as all those honorary gestures were entirely new to him.

It was his first time beholding his grandfather's abode, as his eyes marveled at the exquisite ambiance of the building, with no mix of words it was damn breathtaking.

He hadn't ever seen a mansion as beautiful as that in his entire life. The building at his ex-family in-laws isn't anywhere near what his eyes were fixed upon. What!

Benoit with all smiles on his face led him into the living room whilst another five staff beside the stairs bowed and did the usual greetings.

He flinched at the sense of respect they accorded to him. What's all this for?

‘They keep calling me young master? Always on their knees to greet?’ he thought inwardly whilst ambling along the staircase behind Benoit who gradually led the path.

Benoit squeezed the royal bedroom door open where Raphael's grandfather was lying after his heart attack episode.

Jacques Claude Gathuier; his grandfather widened his eyes in shock to have set his eyes on Raphael for a long time in seven years.

The last time he saw him was when Raphael's father threw them out of the house and disinherited him with the belief that his wife was cheating on him with another man.

Jacques Claude Gathuier begged earnestly for both to come live with him but his daughter vowed never to set foot in his mansion with her son.

He had been calling Raphael's cell phone to ask for mercy but he remained adamant because of what transpired in the past. What happened in the past?

“I'm so sorry my dearest Grandson. I know words wouldn't explicitly express how sorry I feel for how I treated your mother in the past even before you were born,”  his grandfather spoke with tears flowing down from his cheeks.

Raphael noticed the emotions in his tone and ambled closer to him on his mattress.

“I treated my late daughter so badly when she refused to marry the billionaire man I arranged for her. I was only being selfish to expand my Winery production business.”

“I didn't for a second consider what my daughter wanted, even whilst my late wife was striving to make me see reasons with her I selfishly refused to adhere,” he kept revealing the past wounds.

His words made Raphael shiver with goosebumps. His mother had already told him what his grandfather did and pain has wracked their hearts because of his actions.

“She chose love and married your late father instead. I-I… I… disowned my daughter!” Jacques Claude Gathuier screamed in regret as his eyes completely met with tears.

“Forgive me, my grandson. I ought to have done better,” he begged his life out.

Raphael felt the genuineness in his grandfather's tone and held his hands strongly and nodded his head which signified. "Yes," there was no need to still be angry with him after all these years.

He's sick and at least needs such forgiveness to make him get better sooner.

His anger was more on his late father who believed his late wife cheated on him after her sacrifice to be with him and had them thrown out without any further investigations if she truly bedded with another man.

The grandfather winked at the butler who understood the message being sent forth.

Benoit cleared his throat to catch his attention and bowed before him as he always does. “Young master. This is a premium card designated for you. It's just $800,000,000 in it for a start.”

“Please accept this little token from your grandfather," he said in all obedience, stretching the premium card toward Raphael's right finger.

Raphael glanced in shock and excitement. His grandfather held his arms strongly and nodded his head; a plea he should accept his little token.

"Dearest Grandson. Henceforth you'll become the Managing Director of The Lion Winery Industries.

“I've waited for so long to place you in your most deserving position.”

“You're my only heir, my strength," Jacques Claude Gathuier firmly mouthed, learning further towards his grandson.

Raphael's eyes widened the more in disbelief. “What? For real… Grandfather?”