The Novak's Heir Arises

7. Bank Cards

Travis and Keegan went inside. Once they stepped into the living room, Keegan said. 

"Be careful around my siblings, especially Cassius. He’s always up to no good.”

Travis pursed his lips. He didn't only have to watch for other enemies, he also had to watch out for his own family. Just great.

Keegan's amber eyes studied Travis.

Travis shifted his feet. "So, I'll be going–"

"Perhaps, I was too harsh yesterday in the infirmary." Keegan interrupted. "Sorry."

His jaw tightened, as if it hurt his throat to admit this. 

Travis looked away, not sure how to react. Hearing Keegan apologize felt so weird.

"Losing Adam must have been hard for you. I should have been more considerate. Still, I spoke nothing but the truth. You are one of us now. Nothing can change that."

And there was the attitude again. Travis rolled his eyes.

He inserted his hand into his pockets. "So, I've been thinking. How would you like to run a company?"

Travis blinked. "Run a company?"

He nodded. "We have lot of companies. You can't handle the big ones for now, but you can start with the smaller ones and work your way up."

Travis's heart beat faster. Him? Running a company? It felt so surreal. 

"Oh my God. Y-yes, I'd love to. But can I run a company without a certificate or degree? I haven't gotten into college." Travis pointed out.

Keegan ran his hand across his chin. "Well, you do need some certificates to take over officially, but I can bend things–"

"No. It'll be better if I go to business school and learn."

"Experience teaches better than school. I can appoint someone to look after and guide you." 

"I can go to school and still run the company. Is anything wrong with that?"

"No, but..." Keegan hesitated then sighed. "Okay. I'll help with your admission process and check which company you can run."

"Thank you."

Maybe Keegan wasn't so bad after all.

Travis remembered something. "Can you help me arrange a cemetery for Adam's burial?"

"I already got one for you. Ready to use whenever you want.” Keegan replied.

Travis nodded. It was high time he buried Adam. Life goes on, no matter what.

"Travis dear," Eva's voice echoed in the living room. She climbed down the stairs, dressed in a white shirt with puffed sleeves and black satin pants and heels. Her white handbag hung on her left arm.

"How was your day?" She asked, beaming at him. 

Travis shrugged. “Great.”

“I got these for you."

She reached into her bag and brought out two flat objects, black and yellow. She handed it to him. 

Travis took them. His eyes widened. They were bank cards, and what he thought was yellow was actually gold. A Black and Gold card? Gold cards could be gotten only from the world bank and only exclusively wealthy individuals could get this. They had to go through long procedures, which may not even yield the desired result. Yet, here he was, holding one in his hand.

"You already got him the cards?" Keegan said, not sounding the least surprised.

"Of course. My son isn't going to wait that long for his card," Eva said. "Use these to take care of yourself. There's over ten billion dollars in them."

Travis nearly dropped the cards. "W-what?"

He still had over one million in his account, yet here was Eva handing him exclusive cards no ordinary person could ever get. 

"T-thank you," he stuttered, still shaken by astonishment.

Eva patted his shoulders. "No problem, dear. You are a son of the Novak. You deserve this and more." She reached into her bag for sunglasses. "Okay, honey. Your father and I have to go somewhere. We'll be back soon. Enjoy yourself."

Keegan nodded slightly. He and Eva left the mansion.

Travis just stood in the living room, still staring unbelievably at his cards. His thumb trailed over his name imprinted on the gold card. Should he even be touching this treasure with his bare hands? He should wear gloves to hold them.

"Hmm, just one day here and you already have an exclusive gold card and black card. Someone seems to be enjoying his stay here." Khloe's voice snapped out of his fascination. He turned to see Khloe behind him, dressed in a tank top and sweatpants and holding a headband.

"Don't you have one of these?" Travis frowned. 

She snorted. "Of course, I do."

"So, what's your problem?"

"You enjoy the money of the family and yet still hate them. Hypocritical, if you asked me." 

Travis scowled. "Excuse me? You don't even–”

She waved it off. "Forget it."

Travis opened his mouth to protest but she interrupted. "I just hope you take it easy on your parents now."

"Huh?"

"I know dad can be a little thick sometimes, don't tell him I said this, but he cares about you even if he's not good at showing it," Khloe said, tucking some hair strands behind her ear. "And mum… she grieved a lot when she lost you. I saw her crying sometimes in the past because she couldn't find you."

Travis looked away. 

Khloe continued. "Just try to cut them some slack. They're the best parents ever if you give them a chance. After all, they raised me, so I can advocate for them."

"I still have questions about your adoption," Travis said.

"That doesn't matter now. Just think about what I said. I'm going out for a run." 

Khloe left him, strapping a headband around her forehead. 

Travis sat down on the couch, deep in thought. Was he being too dramatic about this? He had his problems with the family but was he being too harsh? They were his parents after all. Eva deserved to be happy after what she had been through.

He shook his head. He just met them. They'd have to give it time for them to bond well. At least, with his mother. He wasn't sure of his father. 

He'd figure it out eventually. Everything needs time. They'd have to give him time.

His phone vibrated in his pocket, interrupting his thoughts. He mentally groaned when he saw the caller ID. What do they want now?

He answered the call.

"What?" he asked, not bothering to hide how annoyed he was.

"Where the hell are you and Adam?" A female voice raged from the other line.

"Wow, you remember we existed?"

"You piece of..." She took in a deep breath. "Tell Adam to get his butt here tomorrow. We have an important family meeting and, unfortunately, that includes him."

Travis's blood boiled. "That's your uncle you are talking about."

"Whatever." She cut the call.

Travis scoffed. That family of snakes.