His Island Girl

Chapter Nineteen

Dave only stared in amazement as his mind was yet to return from the world of the tale told by Leo. He has been drawn far back to the onset of everything that had happened that he found it difficult to return back to the present as his imaginations ran wild. How was he unable to see it all? Why hadn't he notice it earlier that he had been so privileged to meet and dine with the noble legend of all time, Leonard Kendal? That was so much surprise he could take in a single day. It was more than a surprise to him. It was an especially rare and fortunate opportunity anyone could receive.

He had heard so much and had read much about his services and sacrifices to the nation and never in his wildest imaginations had he thought that he would ever get to meet him not to think of knowing about the strong connection he shared with him.

To top it all, the great Sir Leo kendall had been his father's bossom friend all along.

"Woah! Woah!! This...this is indeed the most shocking revelation I've ever heard" Dave said finally in a calm whisper.

"I know it is Dave, especially to you. But it is what it is, the harsh reality" Leo said.

"You have indeed been through a lot. I'm so sorry to hear all of that. My father never revealed anything like that to me, I mean..." He paused to breathe. "You're a big legend in the history of our country, you're the great and fearless Leo Kendall all along, I mean this is so much surprise. Nobody seems to know where you are presently, some say you're dead, others say you left to a faraway land, others say you're in hiding..."

"Dave Dave calm down. You're not to reveal your findings to any soul out there" Leo gave out the precautionary warning as he was yet to figure out if he could trust Dave fully.

"You know, I'm more than thrilled myself and I'm not sure if anyone out there would believe me if I tell them so you have nothing to fear. Sir, I owe all allegiances to you" Dave said as he slightly bowed his head as a form of respect.

Dave then finally understood why the man had been acting like a villain of some legendary series. He was indeed one and had not pretended to be someone else, he had been himself just the way he had been from way back and in fact, he was even more friendly with Dave. If Noella truly is his foster child then he wouldn't blame him about his strictness on her.

"I understand you, but I'm yet to understand why everything had been such a huge secret that my father had to take it with him to the grave. I mean if I had not found you now I wouldn't have known either, or would I?" Dave queried.

"It was all for your good though I wouldn't know why your father didn't want you to know, but it was best that you didn't know about it or even got involved, even your mother knew not about it because if any of you got directly involved, it would be unsafe for you" Leo said.

"Why then are all of these happening? Why are they trying to trap me as you have said?" Dave said half confused and worried.

"That is because they knew what you didn't know. They knew you must be a successor and that's why they decided to test you by enticing you with the said contract the moment you agreed to sign it, that was when they knew that you were not aware of the land yourself. They knew that you were not aware of your own supposed legacy when you blindly accepted the contract" he narrated as he used a sharp edged tiny stick to remove dirt from his finger nails.

Dave only stared at him with full concentration as he took in every shocking revelation.

"So they were eager and quick to try and use you to get what they wanted so that by the time you would eventually find out, it would've been too late. That's how wise they are, wiser than the tortoise himself. They must've used the copy of Nathan's document of the land which is still in their custody, of which I believe they were the killers of Nathan. They must have forged everything in the papers to trick you into believing that they own the land but guess what, their trick is yet to be completed as they're yet to get hold of the original documents since your father Jeff had left them with me before his demise... And without the original, any document they can come up with is fake because the original document is the binding document. If you had went on with the project then with time you would have been tricked into signing documents that would transfer its ownership to them" he said before dusting his hands.

Everything was getting more and more complicated than Dave had thought. He never imagined that such a huge mystery could have ruined his life.

"Like I said earlier, Mario is very tricky and cunning. He doesn't want to arise any suspicions by getting directly involved in this matter, therefore he needs someone to cover up his tracks and that is why he is using the Jenkins Enterprise as a shield so that if anything should go wrong, all fingers would only point to the Jenkins Enterprise and not RKGC. You see everything links to RKGC, they are the only ones that can do this because they are so bent in having this island. They are our common enemy. They are the backbones of the Jenkins and they are the ones funding everything secretly. They are the ones hiding behind the curtains" he said as he stood up to dust his trousers at the back before sitting down momentarily. That single act alone amused Dave that he wondered what the need was.

Mysteries were beginning to unfold themselves and everything Ken had earlier hinted on were beginning to make sense. The RKGC were definitely using the Jenkins to get to him.

"But It's not like I own everything by the way, according to your narrative you said you three were in partnership right? If they had only Nathan's copy then what about yours and my father's copy? All that is necessary isn't it?" Dave asked.

"You see son, the root of the matter is this, for this land not to be bought or defiled by any ruthless criminal, it needs to have a legitimate owner who can take up plans of action. Since yours and Ella's father are no more and I'm also not getting any younger, we need to resecure its ownership. You, Ella and Mirabella have to take up the ownership but it has to be done in secret until the process is completed"

Dave sighed but didn't say a word. Rather he urged his newly found muse on with the questioning look plastered on his face. That was when Leo chuckled and shook his head as if he had realized something deep.

"They think I'm dead. Mario thinks I'm dead because I've not been seen or heard from for more than two decades. Right now, he believes all of us are no more, Nathan, Jeff and I. So for this reason, he thinks it would be easier to acquire everything he had wanted by using his tricks and treachery on the only available successor which is you, Dave"

Dave exclaimed for the umpteenth time. "Why is he so bent in having the land? What's so special about it?"

"Have you forgotten? There is an old abandoned mine here on this land which is the main reason he's doing this. Probably he wants to bring it back to life and make it start functioning again and you cannot estimate the fortunes he would get by doing so. Another reason is the purpose of that contract they needed. To build a resort here and generate more money. Everything is all about the money Dave. If they do that, they will harbour every wanted criminal here also and it will serve as a tavern for their drug businesses without any restrictions. Doing all of these also will require that Mario or his son Lesley has to be the sole owner of this place and that would bring about eviction of all the innocent inhabitants of this place who literally have no home except here" he clarified.

"You really know much about Mario, more than anyone else could. You also know how the Royal Kish Group of Companies operate. That is so amazing" Dave marveled though still overwhelmed.

Leo only smiled after giving him that stern look.

"Of course. I'm a spy remember?" He teased back sarcastically using Dave's words on him.

"Oh sure you are, you are, I totally forgot. But how do you know this much about them even when you've been in hiding for a longtime?"

"Oh just the same way I know everything about Orman Empire. In case you've forgotten I'm still the legendary Leo Kendall. Do you want me to tell you about everything and everyone in Orman Empire? Would you like to listen to your latest secrets?" Leo smirked.

"No no no. Nope I don't want to hear it, I've heard more than enough in just a day" Dave waved it off and then heard him chuckle.

"So what procedures do I have to follow before securing the land?" Dave asked trying to bring back the serious atmosphere that threatened to depart so quickly.

"First, we have to transfer the sole ownership of this island to yours, Ella's and Mirabella's name, making it your legal property and you the legitimate owners. That way, they will all keep off-"

"Really? There is one problem though, Ella doesn't really know that I'm Dave Orman, in fact she seems to dislike Dave Orman"

"Ahh that dumb kid. To think she once crushed on him So what do you think?" He rubbed his forehead.

"You mean she used to have a crush on Dave?" Dave asked excitedly.

"I'll pretend I didn't hear that" he said and Dave's smile only grew wider.

"Do you think she'll hate me if she finds out that I lied to her? I know that no matter what, she may find out someday" Dave said after a brief pause.

"So what if she finds out? Will she start hating on you huh?"

"You don't get it do you? I really like her a lot and I think I'm-"

"Uh uh uh! Remember our agreement, no falling in love with the boss's daughter. I wasn't joking when I said that. Ella is still very young and tender"

"She's twenty one"

"The more reason why she's still naive and innocent. She's too young to get hurt because of some senseless feelings" Leo defended.

"You think I'm gonna hurt her? I adore her just as much as I've come to cherish her existence in my life. Please don't deny me the chance of showing her how much I feel" Dave literally pleaded with everything in him.

Leo paused to look at him noticing his seriousness, he said,

"I will think about that later. But right now we need to think on how to go about the transfer of ownership in a discreet way."

"You are only thinking about yourself. What about me? Doesn't my interest matter as well?" Dave asked getting agitated at the fact that he was only trying to change the topic of discussion. When it came to Noella, he wanted every possible attention from him because his plans for Ella can only come to pass when her father gives him listening ears.

"Dave the most important thing right now is not about what you want, it is about the right thing to be done. Ella is not running away she's always here and the issue on ground is for you to do what is right and save this land. You seeked for explanations and now that you have it why are you trying to ignore it by putting your interests first?" Leo said in a raised tone.

"No no point of correction you are the one who is only after your interest by playing deaf ears to my pleas. What about Ella? What I'm asking for is not that much and unless you give me what I want I won't do what you want" Dave said half conscious about the weight of his words. But he had to say them just to show him that he was also serious about his request not like he intended to execute them.

"Are you trying to taste my patience young man?" Leo said half angry, half hoping that Dave did not mean what he had just said because he really needed him.

"Not exactly though but...what if she thinks the same as me? To think I even wanted to request from you the permission to take her to my place in the city so she can experience civilisation. Do you know that her greatest wish is to experience life outside this place?-"

"Oh no no please Dave don't tell me you went as far as instigating and enticing my daughter. Do you even know how unsafe the outside world can be?" Leo said sadly.

"I know how unsafe it is yet I live there with my family. It is unsafe everywhere and also unsafe here especially if your enemies find you out and decide to invade this place. Have you ever thought about that? We all survive by grace... Alright do you intend to hide them here forever? Shouldn't you be teaching them on how to face their fears and confront or even fight their enemies to end this once and for all? Who knows if we the next generation are destined to end all of these but how can we do it if you keep holding us back and not just us, you keep holding onto the pains and hurts of the past..."

Leo became quiet for some time as the reality of all that Dave had said dawned in on him.

Neither of them said a word for the next few minutes as Dave kept hoping he would understand and see things beyond what it actually is.

"You must understand that I'm not doing this for myself like you think, I'm doing this for the good of all of you. I have nothing to gain in this except to see that my top priorities are met which is the sole protection of my friends' family and all they have suffered for. That was my promise to them..."

"I know, I understand. But you can't do it all alone, you as well need to be protected. We all need to watch each other's backs especially since we are no longer kids and we know what to do and who to watch out for. I promise you I won't let any harm come her way" Dave assured as he tried to take a hold of Leo's hand's.

But Leo was not used to public show of affection and so he pulled his hands away as he swallowed hard not wanting to believe that everything Dave had said was the truth. But he was not going to succumb to mere words.

"All her life, I've done nothing but protect her from harm's way. I'm so sorry but I won't let her be separated from me. Her place is right here with me where I can keep an eye on her. Please forgive me if I'm being overly protective about everyone in my family but you must understand where am coming from"

"You shouldn't forget that she's a lady as well. Not just that, she's a young woman who will eventually grow up and not be satisfied with just a father's love. Someday, she will yearn for a companion who would satisfy those needs which her father is unable to meet up with. The only way you can help her achieve that is by starting now. Allow her to experience the outside world and overcoming her fears. You have done a great job in raising her that I know she will not let you down wherever she finds herself in" Dave clarified again.

He was not going to give up that easily and so was Leo.