The Power of the Eminence grise

CHAPTER FOUR; The Return

"Ms. Blanche" Idris called out casually, perfectly concealing his astonishment.

"In flesh and blood, Sir." She replied with a gentle bow before perching her fierce amber eyes on him. That was typical Ms. Blanche stare even when someone is not in trouble.

"What have these bunch of amateurs done to deserve your attention?"

"Teens, their mistake muscles and rowdiness for strength and power." He tucks the white linen properly into his pocket and then turned his head towards Ms. Blanche

"Are you lost my friend? Home seems pretty far from here.  Though something tells me that's this isn't a coincedence."

"That's isn't the kind of reception I expected after three years." She raise her head to the sky and then exhaled deeply, "Three years, that's how long it took me to find you. You're a a difficult man to find, I will give you that."

"Three years and you guys still can let go, well, am sorry, that life is behind me." Idris said calmly and turned to leave.

"Don't!..." Ms. Blanche bites her lip as she tries to haul her frustration. Patience and gentle cajoling wasn't a regular trait for her. As the head of the Pierce family security for over ten years, action, command and ruthelessness was her dominant embodiments.

"Please sir, do not turn your back on us. If not for any reason, for the sake of your good friend, Late Albert, come and save our dying dynasty. Mr Lane needs you, the heir needs you, everyone needs you."

Sweet, heart to heart words from the brazen Ms. Blanche. That was new to Idris and that caused him to stop in his track. For a moment, silence dominated the atmosphere while Idris mulls through the profound message.

He had left, heartbroken and aimless following the death of Albert Pierce, his dear friend who was like a brother. Albert was everything to him, he was his purpose and life.

After his death, he resigned and left, resorting to a peaceful life.

"This grand return of yours, are we going to journey with our legs." He finally breaks the silence after what seems like a decade.

Ms. Blanche couldn't hide her excitement, "Speak no more sir, we got you covered." She said, pointing to the sky as an aircraft emerged.

"Come sir, we have a long journey ahead of us."

Idris smirked, took a last stare on the carnage before him and then trudged behind her.

On reaching the massive aircraft, soldiers lined up in two rows, each assembled with ammunitions. They saluted passionately as Idris sauntered non chalantly into the aircraft.

Inside and the aircraft ready to zoom off, Ms. Blanche ordered, "Someone should call home, Lord Vader is back."

They journeyed for twenty-five minutes, thanks to the lightning speed of the aircraft.

It came to rest in a very large open space, far opposite the magnificent Pierce Mansion.

Black SUVS and Rollce Royce were already lined up to pick him up. Men and women in black suits bowed humbly as he entered one of the cars.

Right at the beautiful towering gate, it immediately swung open, revealing a majestic driveway lined up with trees and lawns.

The moving tyres of the SUVs and Rollce Royce against the gravel made no crunching sound, a testament to it's smoothness and architecture.

The vehicles came to a stop in front of a grand entrance, were a team of uniformed staff waited to receive him.

The Car door swung open and he alighted. For a moment he scanned the surrounding. He then closed his eyes as the cool breeze embrace him.

It was nostalgic and certainly he have missed home. If only he would enter and see the elegant commanding figure of Albert.

The mansion door opened and Idris entered followed by security team lead by Ms. Blanche herself.

Nothing changed, Idris must have thought to himself on passing through the spacious entrance hall which was adorned with crystal chandeliers and surrounded at the wall by expensive work of arts.

Stepping into the huge sitting room, he was assaulted with staff arrayed in two lines. They curtsied, their faces beaming with smiles.

Suddenly, a man, pleasing in his tailcoat stepped forward with a warm smile on his face, "Welcome home, sir. It is an honour to have you back sir."

Idris smiled lightly but with a squinting eyes, "And you're?"

"The family butler, oh, forgive my manners sir, am Laurence Lane sir."

"I see" He turned to Ms. Blanche and whispered, "You didn't tell me that we have a new butler."

"It wasn't important after all he is family. He is Mr Lane's son"

"Oh yeah, because he didn't say it now, right?" He sarcastically whispered. Ms. Blanche could only squeeze her face. "Where to now?"

"To Mr Lane, follow me" Ms. Blanche lead the way and he followed.

They went deeper into the building and stopped at a particular door.

Ms. Blanche knocked twice but in a unique pattern like a code or something, "Come in, Ms. Blanche." A wobbly voice emerged from inside

Both entered, "He's here, sir" She said and bowed before taking her leave.

"Are you hiding My friend?" Idris asked on entering what seems like a study room. He observed the room as his eyes scans for Mr Lane.

"You don't have the right to ask questions" The sound of moving objects emerged. It very much appeared like someone is looking for something.

"That's fair my friend."

"It cost us twenty-five million dollars to find you. You will call it peanuts I know, well given the amass wealth by the Pierce, it is definitely a drop in an ocean."

"Thank God you admitted that."

"That's the truth but a lot have changed since you disappeared without a word." A particular picture catches Idris attention as he stared nostalgically at the image of him, Albert and Mr Lane.

'Good old days' he thought to himself, still waiting for Mr Lane to emerge.

"You know what, Mr Lane, everyone seems to be ardent about changes that have occured but I see otherwise, as a matter of fact, everywhere seems pretty good." Idris commented, taking his eyes away from the frame.

They was a brief silence.

"You have lost some of your touch. The Vader I know could sight a problem from a mile."

Another silence followed suit before Idris decided to break it, "I guess.., we all have changed and..."

"I know you miss him" Finally, a skinnedhead man in his early seventies emerged with documents and maps.

"We all do" He continued, "You see, I was afraid of what might become of us before he passed away. You made him but also, I could tell that he was your reason of existence. But I blame myself for not preparing for it " He stopped before a tough looking maghony table and dropped the objects.

He reached for a whiskey, brought out two glasses, "You see, it is a shame that no one can replicate what you did for the Pierce or what you can do, not even a hundred astute men."

He pours drinks into the glasses and hands one to Idris who immediately took a sip.

"I'm going to bore you now, I hope you pity my receding age " Mr Lane said, slowly settling in his seat.

"Take your time my friend." Idris responded casually, taking another sip.

"After you disappearance, Henry took after his father as expected but things was never going to be the same.

These kids do not understand that their father only existed in history of greats because of you.

We tried to keep the news of your sudden disappearance hidden but Henry made it impossible." He takes another pour and then signals Idris if he wanted and he affirmed.

"Your absence, Albert's death coupled with Henry's lack of wisdom and his capriciousness caused resistance to accure and it didn't take long before companies, groups and politicians loyal to us started an exodus to our two arch rivals, the Suzuki family(Zaibatsu empire) and the Lee family(Lee group), which you know of course were weak during your time.

Six months into his reign, Henry was killed and his younger brother succeeded him"

"His younger brother? The philanderer"

"Yeah, you know him too well and he was worse. Cared only about parties and women. He was killed also two months after succeeding his brother."

Mr Lane readjust himself and continued,

"The most painful of all was Grace, the gentle, innocent girl. His innocence which considered a likeable trait was a weakness in this world. She was killed also following a hospital visit to a friend. Though we still believe it was planned

The Lee Group and the Zaibatsu empire have grown stronger over the years and if allowed, would crush us in no distant time.

"Albert had four children, were is the fourth?"

"She is inside her..." He was interrupted by the brash entrance of a female staff.

"Sir, Lady Amelia is not in her room."

"What!" Mr Lane barked as he managed to stand up.

"How did this happen? Inform Ms. Blanche and her team. Check every corner of the world and find her.

"Is this happening for the first time?" Idris asked calmly, a little bit unbothered.

"No, no, no, not the first time. You see, Amelia is something else. She is..she is stubborn and...d.. and....but believe me, if under a proper guardian like you, she will be the perfect one for this rebirth ." He frantically draws closer towards Idris

"I beseech you, please, find her."