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Lenin knew that his future was looking very bleak as he looked at the paper in front of him with a depressed, defeated expression. This was his last hope and yet it seemed to have become the coil around his neck, threatening to take his breath away. He drummed his fingers on the desk as he made his decisions.“Call Dr Burkhart.” Lenin instructed his assistant as he made plans.He looked through all his finances; there was enough to maintain his current lifestyle for another 3 months if he could find a buyer for his projects with Elijah. His current aim wasn’t to recover his investment but to find a buyer who would buy his bonds from him in exchange for the contract. This was the only way to prevent declaring bankruptcy and buying time till…. his lips curled up as he thought of the last trick in his arsenal.He didn’t want to use it yet, that was meant to his grand stroke but now, it was his only stroke if he couldn’t find a buyer."Call Evergreen Heights and find out if they are happy
Lenin’s assistant didn’t slack off on carrying his boss’s order regardless of how he was abused or demeaned. He contacted Radcliffe’s assistant and relayed his boss’s message verbatim. He didn’t want to sound rude or desperate but wanted to convey his boss’s sincerity and this was the only way he could do it.Jonas didn’t need to run it past Chris as they had already paid for the bonds; he knew Chris’s intent and told his secretary to hold off for a day before passing the message that they would sign considering it as a favour to the Walters.Lenin gritted his teeth and smashed whatever was remaining on his table when he heard the message but other than smashing his own things, there was nothing he could do. He wore a polite façade as he went to the meeting scheduled for handing over the contract and bonds.“Thank you, Mr Radcliffe, for reconsidering our offer.” Lenin opened the meeting with a flattering smile.“Like I said, I have to pay respects to the Buddha… I cannot not pay respec
On Chris’s end, he was in high spirits, his wife and kids were with him, adding colour and music to his life, his world was complete. As an added bonus, the itch by the name of Lenin was about to be smashed into the pages of ancient history in a matter of days. The next few days had scandals of the key players of ‘Desire and Elegance’, a major player in the entertainment arena splashed all over the news. The medium of media didn't matter, it was the news that was catching all the rage. If it was the news of selling sexual favours for roles and bribing the committee for movie awards selection committee that filled the news headlines on one day, then it was the decadent night life of the stars on the next day.The broadcasting scandals of the company’s most celebrated directors leading to speculation of the fairness and the impact of such a moral-less company on the morale of other self-respecting actors was also debated on social media platforms without even giving the company breathin
News flash in the morning was the most explosive news in a very long time. It was an announcement or rather an advertisement with a snippet about the live broadcast of a tell-all interview of Lenin Walter on national television; an open and honest confession where he would bare open his scars, wanting answers and closure… feigning confusion and regret... confusion in not knowing what he did wrong…. Regret in having to lead the life of an orphan despite having a family…… If the snippets were anything to go by, I can vouch that 'Desire and Elegance' would never have gone under, if only Lenin had chosen a different career path!Who doesn’t enjoy a good performance? The Walter siblings were no different; they too joined in the fun, along with their wives (husbands) and kids. They gathered around in the true spirit of entertainment with popcorns, drinks and the works. The only people missing out on the fun were Adam and Elizabeth who were in a world of their own, or were they?Adam was tr
Lenin arrived at the National broadcasting studio on time; he wasn’t dressed in his usual flashy style but wore a rather conservative style, his choice of colour, a dull grey which amplified the gloomy, depressed persona he was trying to depict to perfection. At first glance, anyone would mistake him for Chris if he didn’t have the gloomy aura around him.“Mr Walter, it is a pleasure to meet you.” the reporter smiled amiably as he welcomed Lenin into the studio.“I wish it was under better circumstances.” Lenin replied dryly trying to bring a smile on his face and failing miserably.“Things will get better… you have to believe.” the reporter had a smile as he comforted but if one looked clearly, they would realize that the smile didn’t reach his eyes nor was it anything more than a professional front.“Yes… Hope is what keeps us moving forward…. keeps us going even when everything around us is screaming to give up…” Lenin sighed with a miserable look in his eyes before shaking his head
“It isn’t a secret.” Lenin shrugged as he let out a shallow laugh “My surname is a big giveaway although my father has refused to acknowledge me or my mother.”Lenin leaned forward and sat with his face buried in his hands, his fingers bunching the neatly combed strands of his hair. Pin drop silence reigned in the studio as Lenin worked up his courage. He slowly raised his head, his eyes unwavering as he spoke, word by word “My father is Adam Walter.”“Aha…..” Gasps arose from the audience; their shell-shocked faces were testament to Adam’s image in the community. They broke out into a flurry of conversation after they recovered from the shock of the explosive news that they just received.“Now… now….” Craig called the attention of the audience back to him “I know this is huge… but we only have another 30 mins…” He tapped his watch jokingly “and I am sure we want to hear more from his young gentleman.”“If you don’t mind me asking, how old are you Mr Walter?” Craig continued once the c
“You have suffered…” Craig broke the pin drop silence that was created as a result of everyone in the studio sinking into the sadness that Lenin’s words unleashed.“Before we move on to trying to reach out to your debtor for answers, I am going to open the floor for the Q & A session, but I would like to ask you if you are comfortable with going ahead.” Craig looked at Lenin in concern; Lenin was sitting hunched up with his head buried in his hands.Lenin raised his head after about 5 mins with a tensed smile “Apologies… I lost my composure… but it is hard to re-live your nightmare even though the verbal detail is only glossing past…” Lenin shrugged “sketchy to say the least.”“No offense taken.” Craig waved his hand in good nature “There is no need to apologize. This is why I asked you if you want to take a break? We can re-convene in a few minutes.”“No need. I can continue.” Lenin nodded stiffly.“The floor is open for questions.” Craig turned to the audience with his signature smil
“Now how many of you consider the sister of your best friend as a childhood sweetheart?”Almost everyone of them put their hands down.“Have you not been around your friend’s sister? Have you not played with her?”“We have” the people who put their hands up previously responded in unison.“Then, how is it fair that you, who had your friend’s sister around you and played with her when you were growing up not be considered childhood sweethearts while my father who is also guilty of the same crime, have to be forced into accepting his best friend’s sister as his childhood sweetheart?” Mark narrowed his eyes as he looked at the audience.No one dared to refute but Lenin couldn’t sit still. He jumped up in his chair as he pointed his finger at Mark and cursed “Big brother, don’t go too far. You can wriggle your way out of most things by your twisted logic but today…. You picked the wrong topic.”“All my brothers are around me …. I don’t have any other brothers.” Mark spoke sharply as he dir
“This has nothing to do with my daddy. We are the ones who bought our mommy back.” Chris Jnr stood tall as he crossed his arms and looked at Grandpa Holston in anger; Emm, too had the same expression, her face red with anger.If it was another occasion, everyone would have laughed looking at the 1-inch dwarfs who were protecting their daddy behind them.“Great grandpa…. didn’t….” Grandpa Holston couldn’t bear to see the accusatory anger in the eyes of his most precious great grandchildren; he could bear anything; he was ready to bear the curses of the whole world when he decided to close his eyes towards his grandson’s action, but he didn’t factor in his great grandchildren.“You know what you did.” Chris Jnr retorted without giving him any face; his daddy, mommy and little treasure were his bottom line. “I don’t think you want me to glorify it by spelling it out for you.”“Big treasure….” Chris called out, a restraining command in his tone.“Hymph!” Chris Jnr hmphed as he turned his
“The old master Holston is here.” The butler announced breaking Chris and Henry’s stalemate,“Can daddy’s big treasure go and play with the others?” Chris asked in a gentle voice.Big treasure pouted, clearly refusing to walk away as he knew what great grandpa was here for. He hesitated for a minute before resolutely shaking his head in refusal and ditching Chris for the first time since he was born and walked over to take a seat on the sofa all by himself, with his head held high and lips pursed stubbornly.Just as Chris was thinking about how to coax big treasure, he heard another set of tiny steps pitter pattering towards him; his heart literally sank as he turned around to face the culprit. He could face almost anything that life throws at him without batting an eyelid except for these two little ancestors…. He was bound to be at loss, every single time.“Is little treasure late?” Emm asked Chris Jnr worriedly, without sparing a glance at her daddy and unreliable mommy.“I heard t
The rest of Burkes followed suit without waiting for either Chris or Emile to respond; curiosity had gotten the better of them.Little baby was not stupid. How would he dare question little aunt? He looked over nonchalantly before making a gesture with his meaty fingers to indicate payment.“What do you want?” Both Harry and Addison asked in excitement.“I am very rich for the time being, so I will let Leo choose.” Little baby responded with a smug look and passed the honours to Leo.“Take us all on the trip to the Alps when fifth Uncle Walter is taking them.” Leo didn’t have to think as he told Addison what he wanted.Addison agreed without a second thought and walked back into the room the adults were seated, humming a song only to be despised by his mother, which he totally ignored and sat down happily with a thick skin.The fate of the rest of the Burke brothers were similar; no one was spared. Henry who was complacent looking at the miserable fate of his brothers, got a rude wakeu
“Where are you going?” Henry teased as he caught the little overlord and hurled him in the air.“Put me down.” Bruno frowned, flailing his legs anxiously “I haven’t finished discussing with little uncle.”Everyone laughed as Henry put Bruno down, who promptly ran to Chris, looked up at him curiously, awaiting his decision.“Hur…hur…hur….” Chris chuckled “How would I dare renegade on a promise to our little overlord?”“Then when can we go?” Bruno asked seriously, taking no offense to the title, to him, this was recognition of his ability.“When we get back and whenever you say the word.” Chris never had any qualms indulging his nephews and nieces.“Where are we going?” Leo asked curiously.Bruno looked towards Chris who shrugged “It’s up to to the owner of the reward to decide, I am just the charioteer.”“Then let’s go to the ocean king’s castle.” Bruno didn’t have to think twice to make a decision.Chris “”Everyone burst out laughing, only the little ones looked curiously at Chris.“I
He was smart enough to decipher big treasure's cryptic message that he could find the answer by testing them himself, after sulking for a while, thinking about big treasure’s words over and over again. He rushed to Chris’s room once again, pulled Big Treasure aside and whispered hurriedly before running away. He then ran off to the apartment where the Burkes where resting. He went over to call Leo and Liam to play with him in the backyard with a crafty look in his eyes. All the Burke kids followed Leo and Liam to play, the main intent for the older kids following them was to keep them safe.He turned around to look at Leo with a guilty look in his eyes as he asked cautiously, “Would you stop talking to me if you find out that I landed you in trouble to test you?”“Why do you want to test me?” Leo demanded with a frown.“Because it is very important to me.” Bruno blinked his eyes, lowering his gaze as he whispered, “Like life and death situation that grown-ups talk about.”“Well, in tha
After the excitement died down, everyone decided to go out, sight-seeing, like proper tourists. Adam invited his friends who politely stayed back at the hotel sensing that Adam and the rest had family matters to sort out, to join the group. Just like that, the Burkes, Walters, Adam’s three friends, the two masters, Chris’s senior brother, Bai-Min and Lai-Li set off on their wild-life adventure, that they had booked with one of the tour groups. It goes without saying that the group included Adrian and his little family and Neil who dragged Chiara along with him. What was unexpected was that Emm pulled Amy, Abbey’s assistant to tag along with them. Luckily for Amy, she had Beth who got dragged into the family outing by Marcus to keep her company. Her boss had ditched her without a conscience the minute her ‘knight in shining armour’ appeared. On their return trip, even though they were all chatting, what attracted everyone’s attention was little treasure’s soft cute voice “Daddy, is it
The next morning, everyone was in high spirits without even a trace of the anxiety that passed through; although they were still waiting for an explanation, a closure to whole saga. The breakfast table was lively and cheerful. “Son, tell me is Emile really pregnant?” Elizabeth couldn’t hold herself back anymore. She asked once everyone had settled in the lounge area to relax after breakfast. “Um” Chris nodded although he was displeased inwardly; he wondered if his mother had truly changed or whether she was about to revert to her old ways. “Tell us how you know what was wrong with Little aunt.” Miles piped in from the background, turning everyone’s attention towards big treasure and little treasure, after being signalled by Marcus. He didn’t know why eldest brother wanted him to divert the topic, but he still obeyed. He didn’t always have to know the reason; eldest brother was in charge; he would follow whatever eldest brother asked him to do. “Daddy was too lost. We knew we had to
Outside the room, Chris Jnr finally managed to coax little treasure and sighed in relief. There was nothing he could do about it, his little ears and heart hurt from listening to little treasure’s wails. He would compensate his little brother in other ways. “How is your mommy?” Chris asked once little treasure had been coaxed. “She is fine.” Chris Jnr thought for a minute before answering; his mommy looked fine, she was sleeping peacefully. He leaned forward, close to Chris, gesturing little treasure to come close and whispered with a soft voice “Daddy, I touched a dragon.” “A what?” Little treasure’s eyes widened, surprise mixed with disbelief, reflecting in those adorable eyes. “Um” Chris Jnr nodded with all seriousness in affirmation to little treasure but not before he gestured little treasure to be quiet. “Daddy, are dragons real?” Little treasure leaned even closer as she whispered. “Maybe…” Chris shrugged before closing his eyes and mind linking with the two treasures “Da
“Jnr might be a good option.” Chris’s master slowly opened his mouth once he finished sifting everyone’s faces through his mind.Hua Yueren lifted his eyebrows questioningly.“He has been around her while she was away. Naturally, the apparition although only a figment of Azure’s consciousness, it will still be sharp enough to sense a friend from a foe. Also, since he is her biological son, his spirit must have a lingering smell of her essence.”Hua Yueren nodded; he didn’t have any better solution. They would re-think their plans if this one backfired.Chris’s master transmitted his message to Spector who promptly brought Chris in, in his usual manner of teleportation.Chris Jnr greeted the two masters and stood straight, neither servile nor overbearing, quietly waiting instructions; his demeanour brought a glint of admiration to the eyes for both men.“Son, can you see the apparition surrounding your mother?” Chris’s master knelt beside Chris Jnr so that he could level his gaze with h