The Novak's Heir Arises

6. Cassius

Travis stared, dumbstruck. He remembered Eva saying she would send him pocket money. Was this what she called pocket money? This amount of money could change an average person's life.

"Travis?" Nate's voice snapped him out of his daze. He turned off his phone screen quickly. Nate stood beside him, worry etched on his face.

Travis moved aside for him. 

"Want a sip?" He held out the beer can to him, hiding the shock he felt seconds ago from the credit alert.

Nate stared at the can skeptically before accepting it and sitting beside him. 

"Are you alright?" asked Nate.

Travis nodded. "Yeah. I'm good."

Nate paused before saying. "You can tell me if anything is bugging you, right?"

Travis hesitated. Nate was his best friend. He could trust him with anything. But this kind of information was too classified to share with anyone yet. And Keegan was clear not to tell anyone yet.

Nate sighed and punched his shoulder playfully. "It's okay, man. Whenever you are ready, I'm here to listen. Just don't do anything stupid."

Travis ate his burger guiltily. Keeping secrets from his bro didn't feel good. Nate had only been his best friend during tenth grade, but he was the longest friend he could keep and the only person he actually had fun with as a friend. He could do anything for him. Maybe he could tell him about Adam's death at least.

Nate sipped the beer. "So, are you going to the reunion?"

"What reunion?"

"Haven't you checked the group chat?"

"Oh, that's what they were talking about?" Travis waved his hand dismissively.

"Hmm-mm. At Sanders Hotel–”

"What's going on here? How dare you?" shrieked a woman behind them, making them jump. 

They stood up and faced their boss.

The boss wore a flower patterned gown. Her chubby face scrunched in anger as she yelled. Adeline stood behind her, her face masked with worry 

Nate stuttered, trying to explain. "Um, I can explain–”

"How dare you two slack off from work and eat my things?" She demanded, her voice laced with fury.

Before Nate could reply, Travis said. "I was the one who took it."

The boss glared at him and stepped forward. Before Travis could blink, a hard slap landed on his face.

Adeline gasped. Nate covered his mouth with his hand in astonishment.

Travis's mouth parted as his cheek stung. "Did you just slap me?"

"Yeah, and I'll do it again if it drills some sense into you."

Travis's blood boiled. Insults and scolding he'd endure but this was crossing the line. He dug his nails into his palm, fighting the urge to retaliate. If he lost control, he would do worse than slap.

Seeing the raged look on his face, the boss fired on. "What do you want to do? Hit me? Go ahead and risk losing your job. In fact, you are fired."

"Madam, you are taking this too–" Nate said, about to jump in, but Travis just shrugged.

"Okay." 

The boss blinked, taken aback. Nate and Adeline looked at each other in confusion.

"Beg your pardon?"

She had expected Travis to start begging her. Travis would do anything to keep any source of his income. 

Travis took out some cash from his pocket and dropped it on the bench. "That's for what I took. Just know you'll pay for what you did. Keep treading on people, and karma will catch up with you."

The boss looked shocked for a moment before her anger returned with full force. "How dare you? Who do you think you are?"

Travis merely chuckled and turned to leave.

Her breath quickened. She threatened. "If you leave, I'm never giving you back your job no matter how much you beg. So better think twice before leaving."

Travis snorted before mounting his bike. 

The three people watched as the bike zoomed off, unaware of the unknown person in a nearby car, videoing the scene.

Travis rode back to the mansion, still fuming. He would make her pay somehow. He wondered how he would have reacted if she had slapped when he was in his old state of life. Would he have had the courage he displayed?

A man leaned on a red car as he drove into the garage and parked. At first, Travis thought it was Keegan, but on closer look, he found out he was wrong. Although the man resembled Keegan, there were distinct features. Keegan didn't have a mustache and that much beard on his face, and his nose wasn't that pointed. This must be his brother or something along the line.

"Ah, Travis." He said as Travis got off from his bike. 

Travis's brows furrowed. The man looked at him head to toe as if inspecting a criminal. It felt invasive, as if he could see through his thoughts.

"Hmm, finally get to meet you. Not sure why my brother is keeping you from the rest of us."

So he was Keegan's brother. 

Travis said. "Well, I just came here yesterday, so..." 

The man chuckled. "So, how's your stay here been so far?" 

"Um, sorry, who are you?" Travis asked.

"Tsk, Keegan didn't tell you about me? Hmm, not surprised." 

Travis stood on guard. The man looked cunning, like he had ulterior motives behind his smile and words. 

Before he could reply, Kegan's voice echoed in the garage. "Cassius, what are you doing here?"

Keegan stepped out of the elevator, annoyance evident on his face.

"Come on, little brother. I just wanted to see your son. He looks promising." Cassius smirked.

"Haven't I told you not to come to my house uninvited?" 

"Can you blame me? You didn't want to bring him to the family, so I had to satisfy my curiosity."

"Well, you've seen what you wanted. You can leave now."

"Hm, really? You won't even have a drink with your big brother?"

"Cassius," Keegan growled. 

"Ugh, fine. I'll leave. But I hope you plan on bringing him to the family's Memorial of the Dead. It's a rite every member of the Novaks must attend." He raised his brow.

"Not your business."

Cassius shrugged. "Can't disobey family tradition, Keegan. See you later, little nephew."

With that being said, he entered his car and drove out.