Kieran stepped in further, mouth agape.
Racks of what were normally used for storing books or groceries were loaded with bundles of dollars. Bundles and bundles of it. And at the lowest shelves of each of the three racks were bars of gold shining under the chandelier's light. Stacked over each other as though building a small pyramid.
Kieran took a bundle of cash and brought it closer to his nose. It smelled nice - one he wasn't used to, clean, rich, and infused with something floral, like high-end perfume.
Gregory paced past him and knelt before a compact steel safe tucked in the corner. He placed his hand on the top and looked at Kieran to see that he was already staring.
Gregory explained, "Both the vault and this safe are encrypted with your fake parents' death dates," leaving Kieran nodding in understanding.
"Oh," Kieran mouthed. "You must have really been watching me all along."
Gregory nodded back - he entered the code, 2017. "Yeah... your flat passcode is the same."
In that brief moment, a shadow passed Kieran's face. He looked between the cash and the racks, then sighed. Gregory, on the other hand, had eyes for the safe and the safe alone. So, he explained how things worked to Kieran more, pointing at the documents in the safe.
"You will need them to take over your father's company. I mean, Hollands Corporation where everyone knows me as the CEO now..."
Kieran cut in, "Are they still on the yacht?"
Gregory paused and rose with a gentle smile. Brows raised, still smiling - impressed Kieran really was with who he expected.
"Of course," Gregory replied, "I asked them to wait because I was waiting for you to wanna talk with them. And so, you did...."
"... You must know me more than I know myself," Kieran said with a tight voice, like someone pissed off about something. He tilted his head at Gregory.
"Because I have been handling your business since you were born. Preparing you for the role of the perfect heir," Gregory rushed to say that before turning back to the safe. He added, one hand holding the door open and another searching files inside, "Trust me...
If you were born straight into wealth and knew nothing more than money and money alone, you might not be as efficient as someone who would lead the empire. Now, look at yourself... Very manly, bold, confident, strong - just so perfect. And, you need all these insanity..." He paused, pulling out a bulky file and walked back to Kieran, "... to control the empire. The crazy shareholders run like a real gang."
Kieran had a question until he laid eyes on the file's name: Legal Holdings Portfolio – Skybridge Assets.
Kieran asked, "Am I getting back to the office that soon?"
Gregory chuckled. "Oh no, live the wealthiest man for as long as you want first, Kieran..."
"... Wealthiest man?" Kieran interposed.
"Yes," Gregory replied sharply as he scrolled through hundreds of pages to the picture of a glass-built penthouse. He turned the page at Kieran. "I was living by your name - Mr. Holland. And what was I? The wealthiest man in the entire Skybridge City. Now that you're back to claim your place, I will step down from your position."
Kieran gasped with slight chuckles. He rubbed his butts, overwhelmed and curious as well... battling with how he should feel at this moment.
"You'll live here from now on. The tallest penthouse in the city," Gregory reported, tapping the penthouse's picture. "And of course, you have got tens and tens of villas, mansions and many other private properties. Feed your eyes the documents when you're done with your people."
Gregory was right. Kieran should meet with them first. He exited the vault to a room right down another passageway. Kieran stopped right before the door. He went ahead to knock, but his knuckles froze inches from the door itself.
Kieran gritted his teeth and his chest tightened. He didn't know what to feel or even if he was feeling right. Because there was no way he could control or stop tears from falling down his eyes. Those people, his parents... so, they were alive all along? Kieran wanted to ask them if they had been eating well and weren't forced to live on a desert just to lay low. They were doing well, right...?
The door opened before Kieran knocked. He glanced forward to lock eyes with those of his mother - Miss Hayes. The woman Kieran had been foolish to thank for giving him his beautiful blue eyes...
She froze by the doorstep, her palm turning watery around the doorknob. Mr Blakes and Mr Hayes stood behind her, heads turned down in shame.
Miss Hayes swallowed, reaching out to touch Kieran. But he stepped back before she could.
He sniffed, wiping the tears from his eyes. "Move on. You never met me here."
Miss Hayes's heart ached. She wanted to embrace him for the last time, to tell him how hard it was leaving his side back then. But she felt like, no matter how she tried to explain, one thing would still be crystal clear. That they abandoned him.
Bowing one last time, she said, "Yes, Mr. Holland." And the two men did the same thing. Then, they made a slow turn into the passageway and walked on.
Kieran sniffed out louder with a deep sigh, turning his face towards the ceiling. They fooled him. They let him believe knowing them was by coincidence and sheer luck. Not knowing it was all planned like a fantasy novel.
But despite Kieran wanting to do everything, he actually felt he could do nothing. Kieran turned towards them and said:
"... Well," he cleared his throat, rubbing his butts, "... I wasn't actually invisible, was I?"
The trio stopped and turned with almost lit eyes. Of course, circumstances said they had abandoned him. But during the moments they were together, everything felt natural. At this point, Kieran knew for sure they would make great actors.
Because, not the kisses on the forehead, the constant nagging and pampering and the outings to the beach, felt surreal. Mr. Blakes didn't clean his butt or rub honey on his head... but he never forgot to wish him a happy birthday and even bought snacks to eat together.
... That was because he was lonely too - Kieran believed that.
"Well," Kieran stammered, looking at the floor and then the trio, "I heard I would be living in a penthouse or something soon. And um... of course, it's nice by me... because..." he cleared his throat, "... you know, the girls—"
"You stupid brat! Are you thinking about girls here again...?" Mr. Blakes had let that out before Mr. Hayes tapped his arm, cautioning him. He swallowed the rest of his words, almost forgetting this wasn't the ordinary Kieran anymore. He was the heir to the wealthy family. Mr Blakes bowed, "Pardon—"
"Oh, tch - if not girls, then what?" Kieran said back, forcing a smile to sound as casual as he could be. Mr. Blakes glanced up at him in surprise. Kieran cleared his throat again and said, "So... what I mean is, I'm moving into the penthouse soon. Do you... guys want to move in with me too?"
The three of them looked away, clearly unsatisfied with the offer...
Kieran took a step forward without realising it. "I'm serious. I don't care if I have an original family or whatever, but you guys are the ones I grew up with. You're my real family no matter what!"
Mr. Blakes slowly looked at him, sighed, and rubbed the back of his hand over his eyes. Kieran chuckled when he saw that.
"Oh my goodness, I'm going to—"
Kieran cut him off with a smile, "...Blush, yes, I know that."
Mr Blake's mouth widened. "Uh? You knew that all along?"
"Yeah, of course," Kieran replied. "You always wanted to blush whenever I said those sweet words to you."
The man gasped. "Ah, you dimwit... were you having fun all along?"
Well, what was bad about having fun on an ancient Satan?
Mr Blakes walked towards him with widened arms. "Bring it in, you bastard," he said with a hint of tears in his eyes. "Bring it in."
Kieran did the same thing - he walked towards him, spreading his arms out. But he almost hugged him before walking past towards the couple. They looked shocked, but couldn't do anything when Kieran held them in a tight hug. He closed his eyes and stayed silent for seconds, as if enjoying the embrace. And at one moment, Miss Hayes patted his back warmly.
"I'm sorry for everything, Kieran," she apologised softly.
"No, Mum," Kieran replied with a gentle smile, shifting his chin over her shoulder. "You did nothing wrong. You did as asked to, but also showed the warm sides of you all..."
Mr Hayes said, "I'm proud of you, son. I can't wait to see you being announced as the new heir. Your real father will also be proud of the man you have become, Kieran..."
Mr Blakes said from behind, "Well, my arms are free here too."
Miss Hayes chuckled and waved at him. "Just join us too!" As Mr Blakes approached, she whispered with a smile, "Ha... he's such a funny man."
"Yeah," Kieran's reply came softly, "A funny Satan, if you will mind putting it right."
The couple chuckled. Soon, Mr Blakes embraced both Miss Hayes and Kieran.
Then, Kieran told them all, "Don't you worry. If you're uncomfortable living in the penthouse, you can take from the villas I own."
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A/N: the book is now vetted. Please vote with power stones! Thank you! Expect to see how the super rich lives in the next chapters!