“Come on dad, leave them alone,” Josh complained to his father. His father was a successful CEO and made sure to insert his title in every conversation. It made Josh feel uncomfortable.“I’m just trying to get to know your friends, Josh. You complained about how I am not in your life enough and when I finally attempt to, you push me away,” His father’s voice was smooth and heavy. “Jessie, this is my father, James Clinton.” Josh gave in and introduced Jessie to his father. Josh’s father smiled politely as he reached out his hand to shake Jessie’s. “Nice to meet you, dear. And might I say, you look lovely.” “Thank you, Mr. Clinton.” “And you, young man. You look familiar. Do I know you from somewhere?” Josh’s father said when he turned his attention to Isaac as he tried to shake the young heir’s hand. “I’m Isaac Ford. Nice to meet you, Mr. Clinton.” Isaac was really good at social interactions like this. His father made sure of it. His father made him understand that he was to be a
Worry filled Isaac’s heart and he aimed to know what was going on. “Mom, what do you mean that we could lose everything? What’s going on?” “I really don't want to talk about this over the phone, Isaac. Just know that we need you home as soon as possible.” Isaac heard his mother breathe out a sigh of frustration. “I always knew that this was coming, but I did not think that it would be this soon.” “Mom, you can’t just tell me all this and leave my mind to wander. Please, I promise that the moment I drop this call I would book the next flight to South Africa. But I need you to tell me what’s going on.” Isaac begged his mother for more information. “Just come home, please…” “Did dad hit you?” Anger laced his voice and he clenched his jaw. “No,” His mother replied in a breathy way. “Then what? What could be huge enough for you to sound this worried?” He held the phone to his ear as he headed for his room. He needed to start parking and would get Otis to take him to the airport as
Robert Ford entered the sitting area and saw his brother sitting on the long fur-covered chair. His mother sat not too far, and she frowned a bit when her eyes landed on him.Victor stood to his feet and straightened the suit on him. His hair was perfectly styled, and the shoes he wore alone cost nearly ten thousand dollars. He had been in prison for a long time and being free felt good.He could still remember why he had been thrown in jail. It was because he beat a man to death. Victor did regret that the man died but he knew that he only assaulted him because the man had been caught trying to rape his girlfriend of six years.He had been so angry and filled with rage that all he could see was red. He bashed the man’s head in with a short-length iron pole that he had found in the same alley where everything was happening. There was so much blood but he did not stop hitting the man until he was out of breath.Afterward, he took his girlfriend to her family and turned himself in. He g
The car ride back to the mansion was quiet. No one said a word to each other but it was clear that a lot of thinking was going on. Isaac sat in the back seat by the door while his mom sat between him and his father. Once they reached home, the car swerved smoothly into the big compound and came to a stop in front of the house. Two guards immediately approached the car and they opened it up for the Fords. When Isaac got down, he walked straight into the house and headed for the living room. He started to pace as he awaited his parents. When they finally came into the house, they joined him in the living room and sat down on the couch.“One of you please tell me that we are not going to let that madman get away with what he has planned…” Isaac began. “Isaac,” His mother's voice was filled with defeat, and her eyes held sadness. “I love you. I really do, but I think the best thing to do is to do as Victor has proposed.”Isaac stopped pacing and looked at his mother incredulously. “You
Isaac watched Otis park the fancy jeep in front of the airport, which was where he was with his luggage. Otis got down from the vehicle and kept the engine running as he took the luggage away from Isaac respectfully. “How was your flight?”“It was meh. I have flown on better airlines,” Isaac joked, and Otis laughed in response. When the luggage was in the trunk and Isaac was in the backseat of the car, he let out a sigh. It felt good to be back in New York. “Did you take care of what you went to take care of the back home?” Otis asked as he drove Isaac to the penthouse. The car was filled with light jazz music. “Uh, yeah. Yeah, I think I can say that.” Isaac did not want to get into the specifics with Otis. Not that he did not trust the man, but he was just a bit weary of the topic and liked that his life here was different. He was afraid that if he told Otis fully about what happened at home, then in a way he would be contaminating his life here with life back home. Isaac did no
Isaac was in his room, lying on his bed with his eyes open wide. He hugged his gray duvet tightly as he chewed on his bottom lip in nervousness. Sleep was not his friend tonight. The lights in the house were off due to the very heavy storm that just started to fall outside. The flashes of lightning were so bright that they lit up his room, and the roaring of the thunder made his breath hitch each time the mighty sound boomed. He could hear his parents arguing loudly, and his heart beat hard against his chest. He knew what was coming next. He knew his mother would throw something at his dad. It was how it went almost every single night. The last time they had argued, it was about him. He had to break up with a girl because of his dad. His dad liked the girl but did not like that she was not of a certain class. The girl Isaac had dated was considered a ‘commoner’; in the very words of his dad. His mom was okay with this but his dad was not; hence the thundering argument that they ha
Death was tugging at Isaac’s soul and he closed his eyes shut tightly; preparing for his fate as his father continued to terrorize him with the sharp shard in his hand. “Help! Please, he’s going to kill my son!!” Isaac’s mother cried at the very top of her lungs until her throat hurt. She was not going to just let her baby boy die at the hands of the man she called her husband. The front door suddenly caved in loudly and Mr. Robert dropped the shard from his hand to the floor, but he still sat on top of Isaac. Men in military uniforms rushed in with guns in their hands. “Everybody, get on the floor!” One of the armed men ordered with authority, and Mr. Robert finally rolled over from on top of Isaac. He listened to the order given and carefully laid on the floor covered with broken vases. Isaac opened his eyes and took in the deepest breath that he had taken in his entire life. Hot tears flowed from his eyes freely and almost every part of his body was in pain, especially his ne
Isaac’s eyes fluttered open as the light of the room he was in started to flood his dark world. He was now slipping out of unconsciousness and coming back to the real world. His vision was at first blurry and then after blinking a few times, it cleared. Where was he? His mind was a bit foggy but with each passing second, his memories were returning. He now remembered everything; the loud argument that his parents had, and his trying to intervene when it went too far. Isaac had almost died. He could still imagine how very afraid he felt. It was like he looked death in its eyes! He never wanted to feel that way again. And if that meant putting his foot down for the first time in years, then that was what he was going to do. He realized that he was laying on a bed in a room that looked like the hospital room that his grandmother from his mother's side used to be in when he was only nine. She was very ill; a disease that was too aggressive to let her see his tenth birthday which was
Isaac watched Otis park the fancy jeep in front of the airport, which was where he was with his luggage. Otis got down from the vehicle and kept the engine running as he took the luggage away from Isaac respectfully. “How was your flight?”“It was meh. I have flown on better airlines,” Isaac joked, and Otis laughed in response. When the luggage was in the trunk and Isaac was in the backseat of the car, he let out a sigh. It felt good to be back in New York. “Did you take care of what you went to take care of the back home?” Otis asked as he drove Isaac to the penthouse. The car was filled with light jazz music. “Uh, yeah. Yeah, I think I can say that.” Isaac did not want to get into the specifics with Otis. Not that he did not trust the man, but he was just a bit weary of the topic and liked that his life here was different. He was afraid that if he told Otis fully about what happened at home, then in a way he would be contaminating his life here with life back home. Isaac did no
The car ride back to the mansion was quiet. No one said a word to each other but it was clear that a lot of thinking was going on. Isaac sat in the back seat by the door while his mom sat between him and his father. Once they reached home, the car swerved smoothly into the big compound and came to a stop in front of the house. Two guards immediately approached the car and they opened it up for the Fords. When Isaac got down, he walked straight into the house and headed for the living room. He started to pace as he awaited his parents. When they finally came into the house, they joined him in the living room and sat down on the couch.“One of you please tell me that we are not going to let that madman get away with what he has planned…” Isaac began. “Isaac,” His mother's voice was filled with defeat, and her eyes held sadness. “I love you. I really do, but I think the best thing to do is to do as Victor has proposed.”Isaac stopped pacing and looked at his mother incredulously. “You
Robert Ford entered the sitting area and saw his brother sitting on the long fur-covered chair. His mother sat not too far, and she frowned a bit when her eyes landed on him.Victor stood to his feet and straightened the suit on him. His hair was perfectly styled, and the shoes he wore alone cost nearly ten thousand dollars. He had been in prison for a long time and being free felt good.He could still remember why he had been thrown in jail. It was because he beat a man to death. Victor did regret that the man died but he knew that he only assaulted him because the man had been caught trying to rape his girlfriend of six years.He had been so angry and filled with rage that all he could see was red. He bashed the man’s head in with a short-length iron pole that he had found in the same alley where everything was happening. There was so much blood but he did not stop hitting the man until he was out of breath.Afterward, he took his girlfriend to her family and turned himself in. He g
Worry filled Isaac’s heart and he aimed to know what was going on. “Mom, what do you mean that we could lose everything? What’s going on?” “I really don't want to talk about this over the phone, Isaac. Just know that we need you home as soon as possible.” Isaac heard his mother breathe out a sigh of frustration. “I always knew that this was coming, but I did not think that it would be this soon.” “Mom, you can’t just tell me all this and leave my mind to wander. Please, I promise that the moment I drop this call I would book the next flight to South Africa. But I need you to tell me what’s going on.” Isaac begged his mother for more information. “Just come home, please…” “Did dad hit you?” Anger laced his voice and he clenched his jaw. “No,” His mother replied in a breathy way. “Then what? What could be huge enough for you to sound this worried?” He held the phone to his ear as he headed for his room. He needed to start parking and would get Otis to take him to the airport as
“Come on dad, leave them alone,” Josh complained to his father. His father was a successful CEO and made sure to insert his title in every conversation. It made Josh feel uncomfortable.“I’m just trying to get to know your friends, Josh. You complained about how I am not in your life enough and when I finally attempt to, you push me away,” His father’s voice was smooth and heavy. “Jessie, this is my father, James Clinton.” Josh gave in and introduced Jessie to his father. Josh’s father smiled politely as he reached out his hand to shake Jessie’s. “Nice to meet you, dear. And might I say, you look lovely.” “Thank you, Mr. Clinton.” “And you, young man. You look familiar. Do I know you from somewhere?” Josh’s father said when he turned his attention to Isaac as he tried to shake the young heir’s hand. “I’m Isaac Ford. Nice to meet you, Mr. Clinton.” Isaac was really good at social interactions like this. His father made sure of it. His father made him understand that he was to be a
Isaac closed the door of the car once he was in. “For now, nowhere. I just want you to drive me around the city until it’s time for us to pick up Jessie.” “Sounds like a plan. You are about to get the most unique tour of New York City, the city that never sleeps.” Otis replied as he chuckled heartily. The car jerked forwards gently as Otis pressed the gas. He took Isaac around the city and even rolled down the windows. The wind blew in the car as he drove and whenever traffic caught them, Isaac would take pictures of the busy streets and the buildings.Finally, the sun was setting and Isaac was blown away by the beauty and life of the city. He had only been here for a few days but he felt like he was becoming a part of this surreal place that looked like it was ripped out of a modern fantasy world.The buildings were so tall that they looked unreal. When the sun had disappeared and welcomed the night, Isaac laid back on the car seat as a feeling of freedom filled him. He felt reall
Isaac stared at Jessie, slightly surprised that she wanted to go to another party. But it made him excited and glad that she also wanted to spend more time with him. “Are you sure?” She giggled and the sound made Isaac smile warmly. He loved seeing her happy. “Yes, I’m sure.” She sat down in her seat next to Isaac. The class was now almost full but the teacher was not there yet so everyone was doing their own thing. “But what about your secret?”Her eyes dimmed a bit but hope then sparked in them. “It’s all good. My brother is taking care of it. There is nothing to worry about.” Her tone was confident. “That’s great! I genuinely hope that it all works out!” Isaac meant the words that flowed out of his mouth. He really did not like seeing Jessie weighed down and downcast. He enjoyed it when she was light and filled with a softness that he could barely describe.“If you need my help at all, just let me know,” Isaac added, and then he bit his bottom lip in nervousness. He remembered
Jessie watched the color drain from her brother’s face and her heart dropped. “Please, say something…” She begged him, feeling fear and paranoia take over her entire being. “I–I…how is this even possible?” He stuttered and then tugged at his hair in frustration. “I swear, I covered our tracks perfectly. There’s just no way.” He laughed without humor. Jessie could not help the tears that were building up in her eyes. She had thought that her brother would be able to take care of this but from his reaction, she feared that it was above him. “I was at Josh’s party–” Jessie began but Joe cut her off. “You were at a party?” He stared at her incredulously. “I literally told you to lay low!” His face glowed red, showing how upset he was. “Can you just let me finish?” “Dammit, Jessie!” Joe roared as he slapped the computer monitor from on his desk violently. It crashed to the floor with a loud thud, causing Jessie to inhale sharply. “I just wanted to feel what it was like…” Jessie sob
Isaac took a few seconds to process what Otis had just told him. He really wanted to help Jessie and not doing anything especially when he was capable made him feel useless. But he also knew that Otis had a solid point. If he did this, it would be the very thing that would pull him and Jessie apart even before they got together. “You have a point.” Isaac agreed with Otis. “I’d like to think that too.” Otis made a turn down the street and drove towards the skyscraper that Isaac was staying in. “So what would you suggest that I do?” “Have faith. Have faith that when the right time comes, Jessie would open up to you. And not just about her secret but about everything.” Otis replied, and the car came to a stop. Isaac smiled, feeling good that Otis just saved him from almost making a mistake that would have bitten him in the butt. “Thank you, Otis.” He smiled warmly.“You’re welcome,” Otis pressed a button in the car and the locks on the doors made a sound, signaling that the doors we