Forrest novel Chapter 35

FORREST

“YOU ARE arrogant son of a bitch!” He spat out a furious breath. He was mad. Damn right, so did I.

“That makes the two of us. And here you thought that I am interested in being a part of your cabal and cohorts, don’t you? The only reason why I am here. And then right now, you think I will dethrone you? Am I that desperate? And you see as that boy. When desperation arises, I will leave that old man to death and save my own arse, will I?” I smirked evilly. “I know you would think something like that. And that situation might have happened once in your pathetic life, am I right?” I narrowed my eyes into slits as his face flushed with rage about to put two holes in my head with his blazing glare. “Or was it the other way around?”

“You cross the wrong man, boy. You just sign your death wish.”

“In fact, I do, since I planned on meeting you. That’s the fate that I already accepted, but I also have patience and hope that that moment will not come. Why am I not even surprised that you’re going to threaten me? As I told you, I don’t want anything to do with your business or whoever you have entangled with. I only offered your shipping company some handsome cash to lure you in. And let’s be honest here that what’s got your interest, isn’t it? I only want two things though then my business with you is over.”

“What do you want?” he spat out.

“I have a lot of money. My family owns a mining company, leading jewelry industries all over the world. I have a connection in the black market if you think I haven’t have experienced being in your awful corrupt world. I am about to launch a multi-million dollar project for the benefit of many people. You probably ask yourself now, why nobody knows a certain Forrest Wood, do you? Who Forrest Wood is? Two years ago, my company developed a security system that has facial recognition. Visual does ring any bell? If you ever stepped closer to my home, you’re dead, considering your situation.” I was already towering him, looking at him from head to toe in disgust. “Atto Tech is mine, and that’s something you are interested in. Tell me now who I shouldn’t cross or who you shouldn’t? Are your lackeys watching this conversation right now?”

“This is none of your concern.” His eyes narrowed into hostile slits. His lips pulled taut in displeasure that maybe he was thinking right now that I was richer than him. Damn right, I was.

“It certainly is.” He still didn’t get it, did he? “But fine by me, and they better be listening.” I scanned for the possible places where they installed the camera. “I want Leandrei and Constance out of your lists.”

He gasped, staring at me with wide eyes. Horror and shock were so deep in his pools. His face was ashen as he froze. He clamped his mouth shut as his chin started to tremble. What an awful sight for the almighty? Tsk tsk.

This was not the reaction I was expecting. Anyhow, I took it as a victory.

He swallowed hard as he spoke. “I-I knew the first time I looked into your eyes.” Pain crossed his face as if I just triggered a switch to his past life. Fuck him!

“Well, that must be unfortunate for you right now.” I snorted. “Twenty million for you to leave us alone.”

“I’ve been looking for you and your mama for so long.” A wave of defeat crossed his face. He sagged against his chair. It was priceless to watch that he seemed powerless before me.

“You should have asked someone to check the background of Kentworthry Capital before you accepted meeting me. Or maybe your health clouded your judgment, eh? Or you’re too desperate to save your barely standing bloody shipping business.”

He rubbed his hands over his face and paused, somewhat sorting out through the bits of what I just spilled. “I’d been asking people to search for you, but they ended up in the dead end.”

“I think I should give credit to those people who gave me my new identity. Our business here is over, Francois Xavier or should I call you Oliver or Papa?”

“Forrest.” His voice was low and wasn’t deadly anymore, but my anger and disgust towards him were still boiling.

“And let me finish your story. The old man feeds the boy because he’s the only chance they have to survive. And the love of a father is selfless. Since the boy is stronger than the old man, there’s the possibility that he can save their lives.” He kept telling me that story when I was a boy, and that confirmed now that I was his son. “Now, you will leave me and my mother alone. If you set foot to England, I will have a bullet right between your eyes.” Without waiting for his response, I walked towards the door.

When he called my name, my feet just stuck to the floor. It was my real name that I had not heard in years.

Leandrei Edward.

Leandrei bloody Edward.

He just fucking called me by that name. How I hated it.

That boy was too weak to save his own mother.

I knew meeting him would trigger my past, and memory lane was not always fun to visit. Not even years had passed would make me forget the pain I felt in that fire, seeing my mother atoned for my father’s sin just shredded my heart in ribbons.

When I turned around, he was still staring at me with eyes enormous in shock.

I tightened my eyes as I stared back at him. He was nothing to me than a dead man since he left us in that burning house. “See how fate had played you? If you only had a little patience in yourself, in us, you would probably have me and mama until now.”

“Where’s your mama?” Unfuckingbelievable!

I snorted. “Just do me a favor and spare me. You have the money within twenty-four hours. You won’t ask someone to dig around about me, Mama, and Alan. I may be younger and know nothing about whom or what you’re dealing with, but I wear this ring, and you owe a huge debt to one of the members who have like this.” I raised it for him to see that I was dead serious. “I won’t hesitate to call someone to shoot you in your damn head from a distance that you thought you are safe.” I should have done that years ago, but I would be just like him, a cutthroat son of a bitch if I have his blood on my hands.

I grabbed the door and stopped before I forgot what was my real intention of facing this dead man I once called Papa. “Answer me one question though. Why did you burn Mama alive?”

He looked afflicted and in pain than before, but I didn’t give a shit about him anymore. As far I was concerned, he was dead to me since that day he left us with nothing.