Billionaire's Secret

EPISODE FOUR:WHO IS HE?

It's the D-day and Karl is somewhat nervous. He had been in the hospital for roughly two days. Immediately after he got discharged,he rushed to Hamilton bar to sort things out with his boss.

He hurries off as soon as Stark drops him off. It's not quite far, about a 100 blocks away from his apartment. On getting there he spots the boss' car(quite rare because he is hardly around except on weekends when they have big customers coming on board).

He heaves a sigh of relief and heads straight to the boss' office but shockingly he sees a new bar attendant dressed in his spare attire. He's quite sure there were no two bar attendants around Hamilton bar.

He heads right into the office, ignoring the endless calls by the new but almost naive young man trying to stop him.

"Good morning boss", he pushes the door open.

"I tried to stop him but"….

Young Sam tries to explain

"You may leave us alone now"… Boss Pedro interrupts with a quite disappointing look

"Sir, I'm quite sorry about my absence from work these past few days. I had an accident and it was life threatening. I wrote a number of letters which I sent through someone who also confirmed your receipt of all the letters" … Karl tries to explain

"No need for your sermons, it's not Sunday"… Pedro interrupts

"You think you can run my business on your own terms? I pay you for this job and you think you can run me down?

Well I have already gotten your replacement so you can use the door"

He concludes, without any form of eye contact and putting together some records

"But sir, this is quite unfair. Okay it's just two days to the end of the month and I worked non- stop and diligently too, well until my accident happened. At Least I should get half pay for my hard work boss" he pleads on bended knees.

"In your dreams, you lost the right to that payment when you left here unannounced so feel free to exit the same way you came lowlife"…

This hit Karl on the bone marrow and the wound was clearly not going to be left untended

He reached out for his ear drawing him closer and gave him a heavy punch right at his nose and before he could call for help, Karl landed three strong punches leaving him almost unconscious

He leaves the office and runs as fast as he could… this could mean more trouble if the neighbors come in. He was able to outrun Sam and takes the shortcut to his apartment

Atleast, Pedro got a taste of his own medicine. He had always wanted to do this but the child of God in him always held him back. Today, it was just too much

Seconds later, it dawned on Karl that he had lost his only means of livelihood. Though little, it was sufficient,enough to foot some bills. Well,more like Emily's bills.

It was more nerve wrecking because it would be quite shameful that a supposed in-law to the most influential family in North America was jobless.

Karl almost bumps into a bike… as he soliloquizes with a broken heart

It's thirty minutes to the event and Karl is still not dressed yet, for the past three hours he has been thinking of what kind of composure he should put up and how he would measure up in such a luxurious party

He kept staring at his worn out cotton shirt and pair of palazzo trousers evidently patched to stupor to match his slightly peeled shoes… bad as it was, this was his favorite and clearly the best from his collection

To make matters worse, he just lost his job and he couldn't get a salary advance to atleast get a new outfit or atleast rent one.

While battling with his thoughts… there comes the endless horning sounds from outside

Clearly, Stark is here

"Hey man, hurry up we're almost behind schedule" Stark thunders from outside

He has never come in, well not everyone would feel comfortable coming into a dilapidated house which can collapse anyday. Atleast it was within his income so he didn't bother much and it gave him the peace he needed far away from his adopted parents.

It's 8:45pm and they are almost at the venue. As a couple, Karl and Emelda ought to arrive together in perhaps a matching outfit as was tradition for occasions like this.

Sadly, the seem to be couple have never had a Peaceful conversation ever since the night they met

Emelda, staring at the old fashioned bracelet on Karl's wrist

"I think you should get rid of that, it's not a perfect fit for the occasion, I mean it's enough that you got us both into this mess, but arousing unnecessary attention and comments? I know you have no ounce of Shame left in you, but common we're supposed to be a couple eww" Emelda breaks the silence slightly readjusting her dress

"Well, you seem to be very talented with changing people's moods huh! As for the bracelet, I'm not taking it off it means more to me than you'll ever know. I can't stand you either and I can't wait to get this over with" he responds with a somewhat angered look

"Here we are" Stark interrupts as he pulls over at The Royale Suites

Without wasting much time they move in with arms crossed, just before they reach the ballroom

They spot Emily, well not without her new loverboy. Typical of them, they advance to meet them.

"What's this gold digger doing here? You should check him out, I'm sure he has stolen something" Charles scoffs

Emily laughing with a disgusted look, was shocking how a sweetheart would turn a stranger in the blink of an eye

"I'm sorry but I was invited just like everyone else"… Karl responds almost trying to avoid any confrontation with them

"Get back here you jerk"… I asked a question

This time, Karl couldn't take it and his old school shoes were not able to bottle up this one.

He grabs Charles' arm and twists it towards the back… Stop please! Emily and Emelda scream simultaneously

A man in clean white beloxxi suit worth $45,000 walks in. His aura alone was enough to draw the attention of all and sundry. Karl was forced to stop by the body guards.

While under the custody of the guards…

"Send him out, he's an intruder"… Charles screams angrily and that draws the attention of the Mysterious guest

Wait! What's going on here? He inquires

Everyone is scared of Max Krane, a man much more dangerous and influential than Emelda's uncle. He is the CEO of a chain of businesses but everyone knows he secretly is a drug baron.

While trying to inquire anxiously… he notices the bracelet on Karl's wrist.

Let me see that, he stretches out his hand quite optimistic

Karl almost peeing on his pants, stretches out his hand

And everyone looking waiting for a rash reaction…

Where did you get this? He asks

"It was the only thing found on me by the sisters of mercy who picked me up 23 years ago at their orphanage, it has been with me ever since" Karl responds

"My son" … Krane kneels kissing the bracelet on Karl's hand with evident tears dropping down his cheeks

Everyone in awe… As whispers becloud the unserene air