Capítulo 9: The Multi-billionaire
Most of the guest looked at us and wondered why a multi-billionaire wanted to have a talk to a senior high school student instead of talking to them and be potential business partners.
Daniel's POV
"Hi, welcome to the party," my dad smiled at his guest and I just stood beside him and also smiled when the guest looks at my direction. I was smiling for an hour now and it was kind of tiring. If only Jaden had come, I would have an excuse to be with my friend and escape with this party. Dad wouldn't mind because he wanted me to be hospitable to my guest. He always taught me to have manners and behave well during social events.
"Evan, it's nice of you to come," my dad said when a man on his forties walked towards our direction. He is with his wife, daughter and son. The Sandejas family.
They're pretty much known because of their wide influence on business and they are also successful on their 5 star hotels in different areas of the world.
I took a glimpse on Emerald and as always, she looks so beautiful. She looked at my direction and slightly bowed at me to offer respect. She's always respectful in front of her parents. I also bowed at her and smiled but she just looked away, completely ignoring me.
"Thank you for the invitation Duke, I came here with my family. It's been a long time my friend." Emerald's dad patted my dad's shoulder and smiled. Emerald inherited his father's smile whenever Emerald's in a good mood to smile.
Since I was a kid, my parents and Emerald's parents were good friends. They sometimes invite us to their home and we did the same. In those times, Emerald never talked to me for more than a minute and I just didn't question why. She was always like that and the reason why I find Jaden a big mystery is how casual he is around Emerald. He could annoy Emerald without him being bothered and even with the fact that Emerald smiled at her, he still didn't care. Emerald rarely does that and I get curious to why she did that to Jaden. Maybe because of the reason that Jaden stole her spot to the top 1, I just don't know yet.
I do like Emerald. I have a little crush on her since I first met her. Who wouldn't? She's smart, well mannered, and beautiful and she's not the type of rich brat girl you knew. She's just so close yet so far from me. I knew her since at the age of 8 and she never smiled at me or greeted me. Jaden came in just three days and she smiled at him and even greeted him. I don't hate Jaden or be jealous of him. I just find it funny watching them talk to each other and barely talk to other people. There's something with these two and I'm up to figure that out. Besides, if she could start to be casual around Jaden, maybe she could with me too.
The greetings halted when another man entered and my dad looked at the direction of that man. I could feel a little tension building up when he came close to us and smiled.
"Chairman Kim," My dad greeted and smiled at the man named Kim.
So he's the one everybody was talking about? The multi-billionaire businessman with a lot of chained companies under his name and he's the chairman of the Kim Group of Companies. He's also known as Chairman Arthur S. Kim of the biggest manufacturing company in the world.
Emerald's dad looked at Chairman Kim and offered his hand for a handshake and Chairman Kim accepted it with a smile on his face.
"Kim," Emerald's Dad said.
The two famous businessmen are currently fighting to be on the top 1 most successful businessman in the world. They're both influential but this Chairman Kim is currently the known world's leading businessman in the world. Chairman Kim is in his forties and I never heard him having a son or something. He always comes alone and I heard his wife died because of cancer.
"Sandejas," Chairman Kim politely said but it's more of that. There's some tension between these two since they're always on war to increase their companies influence and sales.
I've also heard that Chairman Kim was starting to buy hotels to win in highest people's choice on the most luxurious and accommodating hotels award against of course Emerald's dad. It's obvious Mr. Kim want's to beat Emerald's dad.
"Why don't we both sit to start this party?" My Dad offered and Chairman Kim nodded walking to his seat and met a few friends or business partners on the way. Emerald, her mom and brother also looked for their seats but her dad remained and wanting to talk privately to my dad. I know they want to talk about why Mr. Kim is in here so I decided to walk away from them to let them talk for a while.
I was about to walk pass Chairman Kim's table when he slightly held my wrist making me turn and look at him.
"You're Daniel, right? Duke's son," he asked smiling at me. I bowed at him and smiled back to show respect. After all I'm Duke Astero's son, my dad and Chairman Kim would probably be business partners after this party. I can't mess that up.
"Yes, sir and sorry I was not able to introduce myself earlier." He gestured the seat on his right and I complied by sitting next to him.
Most of the guest looked at us and wondered why a multi-billionaire wanted to have a talk to a senior high school student instead of talking to them and be potential business partners. I didn't faze at their curious stares and just smiled politely at anyone who I caught that was staring at me.
"It's fine. You can call me Uncle Kim if you want." Uncle? Am I into some sort of trouble here? Did my dad trade me for business that I didn't know?
"Relax, my boy," he laughed when he saw how uncomfortable I am about all of this and slightly patted my shoulder. "I'm gonna be your father's business partner so might as well get to know about his son, right?" So he's just gonna get to know about me because I'm the only son of Asteros and I will be the future chairman? He kind of have a futuristic view.
"I'm sorry sir—"
"Uncle," he corrected and I just again complied.
"Uncle, why do you want to know me? Is it only because of you and my dad's business relation?" I went straight to the point.
He's the only business partner of my dad who took interest of me. In some ways, I'm curious of his real intentions. Does he want something from me? Well I could give him some favors since it's not everyday you could meet a multi-billionaire and let you call him uncle.
"You're also smart," he chuckled and looked at me. "You just remind me of my son." He smiled and I relaxed. Okay, so he did really had a son? Had or have?
"If you don't mind me asking, what happened to him?" His eyes averted mine and looked sad. I shouldn't have asked that. But I'm just curious. He's the one who opened up the topic about his son so might as well let him tell me about it.
"He—he's not here," he simply said and smiled again but still, it was a sad one.
So, his son died? Nobody knew he had a son. He kept his life so private that even before he entered into this business world, he already had a wife and a year later, she died. That's all what the world knew about him.
"I'm sorry to hear that—uncle." I tried to say uncle as casual as possible to not let him be aware that I'm not used to call some of my dad's business partners as uncle.
"It's fine. He's about your age if he's still here." He's all alone. He never remarried and just made a lot of money than wives, a good way to become successful. "I hope it will just remain between the two of us." I nodded at him and gave him a reassuring smile. I'm not into spreading some rumors about his life anyway. "I don't want other people prying into my private life and use that as my weakness."
The business world is not always on your favor and others will use you, bring you down and even lie to you to have what they want so I understand him. Dad pretty much taught me anything to help me.
"I'm not gonna tell anyone. I only have one close friend and he's not interested in anything, so you can trust me." He smiled and chuckled at me.
Yeah, Jaden doesn't give a damn about anything but only argue with Emerald. He doesn't look interested in business since he's not from a business family and only cares about his studies. He's so secretive that he never even told me about his parents. I just heard one time when he was in a hurry to get home because of his uncle.
"Who's this friend of yours?" I was out of my thoughts when Chairman Kim asked. He asks more questions than my dad. I just told my dad about Jaden and if I could invite him over to our house and he just gave a thumbs up about having a lot of friends at school.
"He's Jaden. His class is the same as mine. In fact, Emerald is also in my class which makes us classmates." He looked at me with interest and nodded.
He seems to be pretty amazed on my high school life. Is it because if his son didn't die, he could at least witness his son grow up like me and enter high school? Indeed money can't buy all the things you want the most.
"Can I also treat you like my son?" I was speechless and unable to answer him immediately. I bet he noticed my shocked expression when he held his hands on my shoulder and chuckled again.
It's weird when a billionaire suddenly asks you to be their son. I mean, I pretty much have a lot of money but not as rich as Chairman Kim.
"I'm sorry, I only miss my son and—" he deeply sighed and looked at me with an apologetic smile. "I wish I should have been a better father to him".
He really misses his son. My dad and I always hang out during his free time and usually have family dinners together with my mom. Well my mom is not always around because she and dad got separated and divorced when their marriage is not working anymore. My mom loves her career as a journalist and she's always out of the country to do her job and my dad doesn't like the idea of her always leaving me and they always fought about it until they both got tired and decided to just stop their marriage.
It was hard for me but I got used to it now. I looked back at Chairman Kim and gave him an understanding smile. It must be hard being alone all this time. I always miss my mom and my dad is busy with his job and being an understanding son, I was sometimes alone too.
"It's fine uncle. You could also treat me like your son. Besides, you and dad will be business partners which mean we could see each other a lot." He smiled again but with pure happiness this time.
At least I could have another dad and not just any other dad but a multi-billionaire. I could also help him in some other ways like making him feel less alone and let him experience being a father for once.
"Thank you. If you like, you can also bring Jaden so that the three of us could have a lot of fun together. Two sons would be great."
Wow, he really likes to have fun with me and Jaden? I would love to hang out with Mr. Kim but Jaden...I don't know. That guy always finds excuse and seems to be so tired of everything except pissing off Emerald. But I will surely bring him with me so that he can meet Mr. Kim.
"I'll be delighted to, uncle. I will surely drag Jaden with me next time." I promised him and he chuckled patting my back.
"I will be looking forward for it, son." Jaden, you will have to come with me next time, with or without excuses.
Jaden's POV
I looked at myself at the mirror and sighed. I just wore a simple inner white t-shirt and a grey hooded jacket, black fitted jeans and also wore a converse shoe. I'm not that poor and could still afford branded clothes.
"And where are you going?" I saw my uncle's reflection on the mirror. He was leaning on the door frame of my bedroom.
He's gonna interrogate me again. He does that whenever I leave the house. I sometimes wonder if he thinks I'm doing something illegal or bad whenever I leave the house.
"Where do you think?" I looked at him bored and he crossed his arms narrowing his gaze on me.
"On a date? Did you start liking someone on your school—"
"Seriously?" I asked in a knotted forehead and uncle just chuckled.
What's with anyone saying I'm having a date? Why are they so ecstatic about my love life? Do I look desperate to have a girlfriend now?
"I'm just kidding. I know you don't give interest in dating—for now." I just rolled my eyes at him and walked pass him heading to the front door. "Don't forget the flowers!" He shouted before I could finally get out of that house.
He knew where I was going even though I haven't said anything. Whenever I feel down, I always visit my mom.
I went to a near flower shop and brought some flowers. She likes flowers a lot and even grew a garden with different kinds of flowers and different colors. I smiled when the lady handed me the flowers and I went on my way to the cemetery.
When I arrived, it was quiet and still was the same cemetery I always visit whenever it's her death anniversary. I walked leading to where she was buried many--many years ago.
I smiled when I reached her gravestone and placed the flowers. I seated on the Bermuda grass and took away the leaves covering her engraved name.
"Hey mom," I smiled and thought of her when I was a kid. If my father lacked the love that I needed when I was a kid, my mom filled that gap and always taught me about life and simple things that matters. She taught me the importance of compassion, having fun and living life. "I'm sorry I can't always visit you."
She died when I was only 9 years old. She's been sick before I could reach the age of 7 and she tried so hard to live for me but still failed. She had cancer and it was too late for us to notice her getting weaker until she was diagnosed and only had more than a year to live. She lived for me when I wish to just die for her.
I hated myself for not noticing her getting weaker and she only wanted to have time with me when I was so busy following the orders of my father. I wanted to prove myself to my father that I forgot that I had a mom who doesn't need me to prove anything because she loves me.
"I tried to live the way you wanted, mom." I only stared at her tombstone and smiled a little. "But he always ruins it." I clenched my fist in anger as I remember how he left me suffer seeing my mom die in front of me. He never even visited mom at the hospital and only worked all day. He only thought of his fucking money and company.
"I wish I can just have you here with me mom. I wish you can see how I'm doing at school. Classes are fun and I get to know other people," I smiled when I remember Emerald and I arguing in literature. "It's not the same without you. It's harder and I--" I breathe in and cleared my throat trying to suppress the tears, "I wish I could just be free from him".
I was 16 years old when I escaped from his terror ways of being my father. My uncle is my mom's trusted friend who helped me escaped. He promised to help and protect me and gave me a new life—the life my mom always wanted for me to have. She wished that I could experience high school for the last time, have friends and be part of this world than being hidden.
She loved my father but my father turned into someone that you can't imagine. He never lets me play with other kids because I should devote my time in studying than being with people who will only contribute to my temporary happiness than long lasting success. Of course, I'm not always obedient and sometimes go out to a playground just few kilometres away and there, I met her.
I never knew her name because we don't always see each other and she's quite cute when she said she doesn't trust strangers to give her name. I call her Chubby because of her chubby cheeks when she pouts at me and she calls me Robin or sometimes Christopher Robin because of some cartoon character she liked so much which I think is the boy on the Winnie the Pooh cartoons.
My dad got furious of why I was ditching my lessons with my private tutor for just playing with Chubby. He ordered me to stop playing around with her or else he'll have to send me to States to study abroad so I only obeyed and pushed Chubby away and said unforgivable words at her because I was only afraid that my father might separate me away from my mom. Whenever I can't do the things he wanted me to do, he'll shout or insult my mom for being irresponsible and then he would scold me afterwards.
I sometimes wonder if I was really his son. I sometimes asked my mom about it if my father hated us but she just said that there are some things she didn't want to tell me yet and unfortunately I won't be able to know about it but reassured me that I am my father's son. I don't look a lot like him but I got my features more from my mom except my eyes.
"How can he expect me to stay with him when he always hurts me?"
I remembered the time when he taught me some self-defense. I tried to block all his attacks but of course he's much stronger than I was. How would you expect a 14 year old me to beat him up? I was even underweight for my age and height and don't have that muscles to at least lift a two 10 LB dumbbells. I was beaten up badly to the point of just begging for him to stop. He did stop after seeing me split blood and crutches down in fear.
"How can I have a weak son like you?"
He said that with much bitterness and looked down at me. I feel so belittle and powerless against him. It was always like that every week and I tried to get stronger until I could use it against him. I used it to protect myself from him and wish to see him being the one begging this time and not me.
He always kept on letting me fight with his strong bodyguards and they always ended up getting beaten up by me. From my thin body, I tried so hard to be well built to finally survive a week of beaten up by him and I did. I was forcefully turned into a monster because of him. I almost hated myself because of what he turned me into. I couldn't control my anger when I feel like losing on the fight and almost being beaten up by his man so I fought until I knocked them all out. This is not what my mom wanted me to be. The lost and innocent boy she once knew was gone and was only full of hatred.
I was alive and breathing but I barely felt anything like I was dead inside. I wish I was dead.
The only thing I was good at without exerting too much effort was my studies. At the age of 7, I was doing complex mathematical equations; at the age of 8, I was reading and understanding the String Theory; at the age of 9, I was studying Quantum Physics and already memorized the Human Anatomy; at the age of 11, I was writing my research paper and started college; and at the age of 14, I finished college with high grades and with a degree on Physics.
I did all of that because it is what he wanted me to do. I did have my degree at the age of 14 and I'm just attending high school again because it is what my mom wants. I never experienced attending schools because I was always home schooled except college but still, I barely knew anyone because I kept distance.
I attended the Cambridge University and my father did everything to still keep me away from the spotlight. I was not the only advanced student in there and they're a lot of other intelligent students too with much younger age than I was. He always reminds me to only study and if he knew I was doing something else, he will make me transfer to another university. After losing Chubby, I couldn't bear to lose another friend because of him so I was the anti-social student.
I was a nerd and only made friends with the books. Maybe it's the reason why I couldn't have a friend. I was so good on being alone that I never knew the feeling of having someone. The only thing I was thankfully for is that he didn't force me to have a degree in business.
I was more of a prisoner than a son. I barely knew other people because of my father and when I was fed up, I escaped from him with Uncle John of course. I couldn't do it this far without him.
He enrolled me on just a normal school and within just 2 months, my father found us and I just have to transfer another school again. It was always like that and I was always the senior student, unable to finish senior years because I was constantly being transferred to another school.
I decided to enroll myself in the school of elites to make him stop having me back again. He can't just touch me in there and I did everything to secure my position on that school and became the top 1. You probably wonder about how old I am right now. I'm 19 and a year behind of my senior years because of my father. Most of my classmates are at the age of 18 but its fine, it's just a year difference.
I stood up and looked at my phone when it vibrated.
Uncle John
I'm at the stop. Don't be home late.
I sighed and shoved my phone back again at my pocket. I looked at my wrist watch and noticed that I spent 2 hours in here. I looked back again at my mom's gravestone.
"I've got to go now, mom. I love you," I smiled at her and headed my way out of the cemetery.
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