CHAPTER4
1087 Words
What!?" I exclaimed in shock.
The old man's words shocked me. My thoughts spun all over the place.
How did I suddenly become the heir to Zogenix's multibillion-dollar company.
Were they trying to con me? I thought, but I shook off the thought.
There was nothing a struggling student could have that they'd want.
"Calm down, I know it's a lot to take in" the old man said.
"My name's Luke, could we find somewhere more private and discuss?"
I pondered, silently wondering if it was safe to follow these people.
"Alright but.."
I pointed at the other guards.
"They can't come along."
A bizarre expression appeared on Luke's face. He nodded in agreement.
I watched as he proceeded to give some instructions to the guards before they all drove away.
"Alright, that's done," he nodded at me.
"I know a restaurant close by, how about we go discuss there?" Luke suggested.
I nodded slowly, as long as we were in public view I had nothing to worry about, a part of of me was still convinced this was a hoax.
Luke hailed down a passing cab.
" Can you take us to Chef's Table?"
"Sure, hop in, the driver gestured to us."
We got in, I silently digested what I'd heard.
Chef's Table! That was one of, if not the most expensive, restaurants in the city. I'd seen photos of it only on the net.
It was a quiet ride,Luke seemed content staying silent, his eyes were bright, and he occasionally glanced at me.
The cab pulled up at the curb and we got off. Luke slipped the cabbie a hundred dollar note and walked off without asking for the change.
I was so surprised, I didn't know what to say.
I had always been frugal and careful with my spending; seeing Luke give away so much money had me dumbfounded for a while.
"I've been here once, their food can be considered fairly good." Luke nodded at me as he led the way.
"Fairly good?" I stuttered.
Was I hearing things? The most expensive restaurant in the city, and he described their food as fairly good.
I felt a little dazed as I followed Luke inside.
An attendant walked up, immediately we walked in.
" Good day, gentlemen, and welcome to The Chef's Table, May I have your reservation card?" The attendant curtsied and asked.
Her manners were impeccable.
"Get Chang Lee out here, I didn't have time to make a reservation." Luke waved his hand grandly.
The attendant frowned. " I'm sorry, sir but may I know how to address you?"
"Just tell him, Luke Jimenez sent you,I'm having an important meeting here,I don't wish to be disturbed," Luke said.
Immediately his words sounded, I noticed an immediate change in the attendant's face.
"Right away, sir,please come this way."
The attendant stuttered,she hurriedly led us inside, Once we were inside, I realised all sounds from the street outside was cut off.
The attendant led us to a row of chairs behind the counter cooking utensils and tools were arranged and at the ready.
"The Chef's Table have a special feature" Luke turned to me after dismissing the attendant.
"We get to watch the chef prepare the delicacy of our choice live, and he'll make it customised to each of us. Of course, we're here more for the privacy not the food."
I nodded while exclaiming internally, The rich sure had it good.
Luke's expression became serious. He asked, " What do you know of your parents?"
I pondered for a moment before I slowly explained all I knew.
My mom was an immigrant, but she was not well to do, she had an affair with a doctor, and she got pregnant.
But she was found and deported back before she'd given birth.
When she managed to travel back, with the intention of reuniting with her lover, she found news that he'd died.
She passed away shortly after, and since then I'd been moved from foster home to foster home till I hit my legal age.
Luke listened in silence, when I finished speaking, he signed deeply.
"I'm sorry for all you've had to go through, Jay, there's a lot you need to know."
Luke paused before speaking.
"Your father's real name was Julius, he's the founder and CEO of Zogenix."
"What!" I gasped in shock. I sat dumbfounded.
Wait,hold up! I caught the drift in his words.
I asked in astonishment, "Do you mean…. He's alive?"
Luke shook his head, "Yes and No"
He raised a hand, stopping me from speaking.
"I'll explain in due time, but let me speak."
I nodded.
Luke shook his head. "This would come as a bit of a shock, but… "
Luke stared at me "You have a twin sister!"
My mind paused,fireworks virtually going off in my mind. A sister? How come I never knew?
"Your mother gave birth to twins, you and your sister, so you're a twin.
Your mother was on the run from someone."
Luke looked uncomfortable at this point.
"So she was attacked, but she managed to escape with one child."
"Me," I whispered.
Luke nodded.
Your father arrived too late,he only managed to find your sister, your mother had disappeared."
I had a sister,I thought, my mind struggled to come to terms with this conclusion.
"How is she?" I asked,I imagined a tall blonde lady, with my kind of eyes.
Luke snorted coldly. "She's in good health."
"Presently, the company is under the control of your sister, she's been managing affairs since…. Since your father disappeared.
But there have been complications.
Your sister has been raised by her stepmother since birth, so her mind's been poisoned to do her wish.
The company has been split into two sides, your sister and stepmother, and then your father's brother Maxwell.
They're both embroiled in a power tussle over control of the company.
I'm afraid,your appearance would not be good news to them."
I listened, the shocks became bigger than the last.
"But what does this have to do with me?" I asked confusedly.
"For the record, I'm not interested in fighting for control of a company."
I knew better than to throw myself into a dangerous game of such high stakes.
Luke shook his head.
"It's not that simple, you see,before your father disappearance, he willed it in writing that the company be controlled by his heir in the eventuality that he was found."
Luke stared at my shocked face.
"I found you, Jay."
- Writer
