Chapter two

"What do you mean my nephew Alan is alive? Alan died nineteen years ago. We all know this," Phil yelled over the phone while he took in the cool evening wind, however, Thomas' call was disturbing.

"I'm telling you, Phil. I saw him tonight. He came to my fundraiser party and I'm pretty sure he was the one who caused the disturbance," Thomas was erratic. At that time, he had received help from a doctor who came to attend to him.

Petra had found him lying on the ground unconscious, and quickly took him home to be attended to. 

"Thomas, have you been dealing again? You know you really need to stop taking those drugs," Phil said, but Thomas scoffed.

"Don't you dare put this on me. This has nothing to do with the drugs. I am telling you that Alan is alive. He's older now, but he's alive. He looks just like your brother Carl. We must do something about this. He said he will come for you next," Thomas was adamant. Phil sighed.

"Listen, Thomas. You are stressed. You have a big event coming up in your company and your mind is trying to find ways to cope. I understand. But this nonsense of yours has to stop. My nephew is dead. We saw his urn,"

"But we never saw his body. How are we so sure that the assassin you sent did his job?" Thomas Questioned.

"Because that same assassin was the one who sabotaged Carl's plane with your permission. Or have you forgotten already, Thomas?" Phil was starting to get irritated. He had been entertaining the talk until then, but he was beginning to lose his cool.

"I don't care what happened back then. All I know is that something did not go as planned. Your nephew escaped. He's not dead. And if he comes for me, I will tell him everything I know about the assassination," Thomas said erratically. 

"Thomas..."

"I will tell him everything. Yes, I'll tell him about you, myself, and the five other shareholders who planned the murder. I will not go down alone. Best you know that now," Thomas added.

"Do not speak a word of what we did to anyone. If you do, Thomas, you will have me to contend with," Phil warned him. Thomas scoffed.

"Well, I don't care. If your nephew is back, you are the least of my worries," with that final note, Thomas ended the call. Phil grumbled while he settled the phone in his hand on the table. 

"He should get himself help as soon as possible. Fucking brute!" Phil cussed.

"What's wrong, father?" Bentley, Phil's son asked as he strolled to him. Bentley was the acting CEO of Bernard Incorporated. After Phil had usurped Victor, he made his own son the next CEO of the company and to solidify his claims, as soon as Bentley turned eighteen, he was made acting CEO.

"Nothing for you to worry yourself about, son. How are preparations for the wedding coming?" Phil asked him and Bentley sighed.

"I don't know why I'm doing this. I don't even love Eleanor. She's not better than a one-night stand material," Bentley complained.

"Her father will likely be the next governor of the city. You know how important that appointment is to our company, don't you? You have to do what you must to ensure that Bernard Incorporated remains number one in the city. Is that clear?" Phil asked, and Bentley nodded.

"I understand, father," he responded.

"Good. Now leave me alone with my thoughts," Phil instructed, and Bentley zoomed off. Phil took a deep breath and began to think about what Thomas had rattled about. There was no way any of it was true. It simply wasn't possible.

"Alan Bernard, you're dead. Stay dead, dear nephew. Stay dead," Phil said to himself as he gazed into the moonlight.

Meanwhile, Victor zoomed back to the mansion that he had acquired in the city over the years. He had been planning his return for a very long time, and he needed to have everything ready. As soon as he drove into the mansion and stepped out of the car, John walked up to him.

"Boss, did you find him?" He asked and Victor nodded.

"Yes. My plan is in motion. We have no time to lose. Where's Xavier?" Victor asked and John led the way.

"He has been waiting for you. And boss, he's not doing very well. I don't think he has much time left," John said and Victor paused. Then he sighed and then dashed into the building.

Several guards and servants smiled at Victor while he walked past them. Then an elderly man approached.

"Young master Victor, it is good to see you again," he said with a bow.

"How are you, Pako?" 

"I'm fine, sir. He's waiting," Pako told Victor and he quickly dashed to Xavier's bedroom. He opened the door and then found the older man lying on the bed. Xavier's breathing was heavy, and he constantly wheezed while he tried to sit up.

"Victor. Did you find Thomas Knight?" He wheezed while asking.

"I did. I revealed myself to him and bought thirty percent of his shares. But he doesn't know that yet. Soon, I will have his company and he will be on his way to jail," Victor said and Xavier nodded.

"I am sorry for how things turned out in your life, Victor. I never should have taken the deal to murder your parents. But my wife was sick and she needed the money..." Xavier paused and coughed. "I made a terrible mistake, and I am paying for it right now. But I also want you to reclaim everything you lost," 

Victor walked closer to the bed and then sat down beside Xavier. He exhaled while smiling at the older man.

"You made the choice to save my life when they asked you to kill me. You raised me like I was your own son and you used the money they paid to set up our business. I am grateful for that," Victor told him.

"I had nothing else to live for. My wife died regardless. Sending back a fake urn with ashes that weren't yours was the only way that I could save you. And you looked terrible after I shaved your hair," he added and Victor laughed. "We needed the DNA to make them believe that you were truly dead. And I had to change your identity as well; from Alan Bernard to Victor Storms."

"Yeah, we did. Rest now, Xavier. I will see to it that they pay for all they did to me. No one will be spared. I promise you that," 

Victor told him and then dashed out of the room. John met with him outside.

"What now boss?" John asked.

"Now, we take Knight Incorporated from Thomas' undeserving hands," Victor replied.