The Rightful Successor

Chapter 7

Alex found himself in a dimly lit room, but to his surprise, he wasn't being treated roughly. Instead, he was kept in a tidy room. Before long, a servant girl entered the room, accompanied by two burly men who resembled the ones who had kidnapped him. The girl placed a tray on the table in front of Alex and then bowed slightly before leaving.

Confused, Alex watched as the servant girl walked away. He couldn't understand why he was being treated so nicely when he clearly remembered being kidnapped and brought here. His gaze shifted to the meal in front of him, and the delicious aroma made his stomach growl.

Curiosity got the better of him, and he cautiously lifted the lids of the covered plates. To his delight, he discovered seared filet mignon with truffle sauce, along with his favorite roasted potatoes and steamed vegetables. The anticipation of the mouthwatering meal made his stomach churn, but he couldn't help but be cautious.

"What if it's poisoned?" he silently questioned himself. It seemed too good to be true that someone would go through all this trouble just to treat him well. He wrinkled his nose, torn between his hunger and his suspicions.

"Eat, Alex," a voice suddenly spoke from behind him, causing him to turn around. "You need to regain your strength, and I remember roasted potatoes and vegetables are your favorite." Alex's eyes met the smiling face of an old man, and he couldn't help but smile back.

"Calm down, Alex," Sir Martins said calmly as he watched Alex devour his meal. He took a seat in the empty chair across from Alex and observed him hungrily munching on the food. 

"You can never get enough of roasted potatoes, can you? You haven't changed," Sir Martins chuckled. Alex nodded in agreement, still eating hurriedly to satisfy his hunger.

Sir Martins signaled his security to leave them alone, and they immediately exited the room. Alex looked up and watched them go before asking, "How did you know I was arrested?"

"We were already close when the incident happened, and I didn't want the media to catch wind of our connection. It would have complicated my plans," Sir Martins explained to Alex.

"Brock is such a nuisance, I swear," Alex managed to say with food in his mouth. "I've taken care of him," Sir Martins assuredly replied, causing Alex to narrow his gaze at him.

"What do you mean?" Alex asked, his curiosity piqued.

Sir Martins laughed. "He's a gambler and a cheat, currently at the casino trying to double his money. Although I'm not sure what he intends to use the money for."

Alex's eyes widened in surprise. "How did you find out?" he asked, confused. Even Alex, who lived with Brock, didn't know his whereabouts.

"He's a regular compulsive gambler, and I know his patterns when he wants to double his money. He knows how to cheat his way through accurately. But he's in for a surprise," Sir Martins calmly explained, capturing Alex's keen interest.

Alex wanted to inquire about Sir Martins' plan against Brock but decided against it as his mind raced with thoughts about his father. "What happened to Father? He's not that old to die," Alex asked.

Alex noticed Martin's demeanor turn pale. "I'm not sure, but I believe he was murdered. You know your father was wealthy and had many enemies."

Carefully watching Martin's reaction, Alex was keenly aware of his father's affluence and the rivalries surrounding him. "Who do you suspect?" Alex inquired, his gaze fixed on Martin.

Martin hesitated before speaking, "Your dad made a secret video of his will, leaving 80% of his properties to you, including ownership of the Styles Consortium. Ten percent goes to Liam, your brother, and five percent to charity and me." Martin sighed, clearly troubled by the situation.

"So, he knew he was going to die soon?" Alex questioned, to which Martin nodded in agreement.

Frustrated, Alex half-yelled at Martin, "You're his trusted personal assistant, you should have some clue!" He couldn't understand why Martin seemed clueless about what had happened.

Martin explained, "It's a well-calculated plan, and it seems like everyone is involved. That's why I reached out to you. Liam has already taken over as CEO of Styles Consortium, using a fake will with the help of your father's lawyer, Barrister Kate." Alex sighed in exasperation, realizing the seriousness of the situation.

"This is serious," Alex managed to say, looking at Martin and sensing his unease. He ordered Martin to speak up, wanting to know more. Martin confessed, "I had to play along to understand the game and the feud involved." He looked at Alex, hoping he would fight for justice for their father.

Understanding Martin's position, Alex nodded and said, "I'm in." Martin smiled gratefully and immediately revealed his plan, "There's a board meeting tomorrow, and we'll announce you as the new CEO. I've already made arrangements and plans."

Alex smiled, envisioning what tomorrow would bring. He wasn't afraid; he was determined to expose everyone involved in his father's death.