Lords of Underworld

Trouble

A beam of sunrays passed through the large Anchor-Vatana glass wall which gave Melly a clear view of her bedecked swimming pool and variety of flowers which was her favourite first view.

The rays which probably had woken her up warmed her. She blinked, closed her eyes for almost a minute, trying to do what she called 'booting'. She sat up, holding tight to a pillow, turned her head to the pool to take a look at the set of flowers beautifully placed in vases round the pool. Her parents knew how much she loved flowers so a personal floriculturist was employed to take care of her flowers, but she loved doing some of the things by herself. The poolside was adorned with Cherry bosom, bourvadia, heather, Queen Anne's lace, bird of paradise, laurel and lots more.

She watched them for ten minutes before she realized that there was a lugubrious feeling that was darkening everything in her life. She was not her perky self any longer. She tried to keep it to herself, making it her deepest secret and feigned to be happy when in midst of her friends. She could not bring herself to tell anyone except Jeff .But why him? Okay,it was explainable. He saw things and probably must have suspected her.

She got off the king-size bed, stretched her body and pulled off her pyjamas, walked straight to the bathroom,  had a quick mouth brush, ignored the Jacuzzi and had a shower instead, dressed with little make up, picked up her school bag, car keys and went out. As a tradition,  she went into her father's living room and met them at the dining-room which was big enough to host a hundred people.

Everyone was there and seated. Dad, Mum, and  Sean

Her father was forty three years old but had made a vintage of his years. She learnt that he had been a billionaire even before she was born. He was an arms manufacturer with lots of investments in other fields. According to Fobes, he was worth fifty three billion dollars but she knew he worth more. He was handsome, with dark hair and oval shaped face which accommodated a swaggering beard. Tall and slightly chubby, he carried a pacific but flamboyant personality.

Her mother, Kate was taller, standing six foot tall, slim with bosom that could put some young girls to shame. She was blonde, with sapphire eyes and thin line eye brow. She was a lover of makeup and paid a lot of attention to her looks. Sean was her twelve year old brother.

They had gone on a charity visit to an orphanage seven years ago and he was part of the kids chosen to dance with her. She was an only child, and loved him at once so she made her parents adopt him. A lot of people had said they looked alike. He was a handsome tall boy with auburn hair.

As usual, the table was stashed with different varieties of assorted food: baked eggs in avocado with guacamole, mini egg white frittata, hash-brown quiche, oats, corn flakes and milk, argula and sharp cheddar scramble and mexi bolita breakfast beer. She ate as usual because she had been secretly taking drugs that increased appetite. After breakfast, Jeff was first to leave as one of the chauffeurs waited to drive him to school. As she watched Jeff leave, the new found fact that she was also adopted from an orphanage and not knowing for the nineteen years she had spent on Earth hit her with a piercing pain. It was like a nightmare. How could she wake up one day to realise that her real parents abandoned her hours after her birth because they were criminals?

No !

What a devil her real mother must have been. What epicurean avaricious cowards were they ! Subjecting her to a dolorous end because nothing was hidden under the sun.

Her breathing began to labour, her hands grabbed a glass tighter,  lips tightened and she found it hard to control her protean inclination. She felt something swirling in her head,  mouth tasting bitter and everything seemed dark, and she felt the world heating up like inferno.

" Melly." Her father called as he noticed her bizarre attitude.

But she had lost it. She grabbed the glass and flung it on the floor. It crashed and broke into pieces.

"Melly, what is going on?" Her father, now looking befuddled, said and sprang up. Mrs Grant tried to reach her but she was up on her feet and ran back to her room, crying. Before she could shut the door,  Mrs Grant grabbed her hand .

Melly pushed off her mother’s hand and jumped on her bed, crying. They looked confused and alarmed. They kept asking what was wrong with her. Was she having some psychological problems?

" I am not sick !" She said. "Why did you keep the truth from me?"

"What truth, honey?" Said her mother.

" That I was adopted when I was two. My real parents were criminals! I thought I was your child. How could the world be so wicked?" She was now crying hysterically. They seemed shocked by her discovery and knowing they could not deny it, which she hoped they could because she was ready to doubt Pliers' report, their reaction confirmed that it was true. Oh my God! It took more than thirty minutes to calm her down .

" We are truly sorry, Honey." Said  Mr Grant. " We did not tell you because we did not feel it. It was not going to help you nor us. Now that you found out, of what good is it? We wanted you to be happy and you are our child." He took in a deep breath. " Your mother and I got married early but the doctor told me that I could never produce a fertile ..... I mean I can never have a child of mine. I told her to forget me and move on, marry a productive man, have children and live happily. It was hard for her but she said her happiness was stashed in  me.

She decided not to leave me. We got married and two years later we had you. I never knew about your real parents until a few weeks later. They died two weeks before we had you. We loved you and you can testify to that. You are the heir to this empire." He burst into tears and Mrs Grant joined him.

She felt stupid and chastened at once. They were right.They did what was best for her and now she wished she never found this out. They loved her and they were far better than the devils that brought her to this world.

Now it was her turn to console them. It was a pathetic scene. After everyone had calmed down, she had to go to school but told her parents that she wanted to spend the weekend at their country house at Fort Lauderdale. They became skeptical .

"Are you trying to avoid us?” Asked Mrs Grant.

" No."  Melly said. "I had it planned. I just want to spend the weekend there."

" Alone?"

" No, with my friend."

" Which of them? Kim?"

She blushed. "No."

"Oh, a boyfriend."

" Hmm….Yes."

" You mean you and Steve want to spend the weekend together?" Asked Mr Grant.

" I don't want to talk about it." Melly said with a shameful grin.

" Honey we need to know who you are going to be with." Mrs Grant said.

" I am nineteen." Melly said defensively.

" We know you are an adult but we are your parents. It's for your good. Steve is my friend's son." Said Mr Grant.

" If you don't want us to use the country house, it’s okay...."

" No, Honey." Said Mr Grant , " if you feel you going to be fine, it's okay, huh. Catch fun. The servants are there for you."

She smiled. " Thank you, Dad. Thank you, Mum. I love you."

" We love you too." Said Mrs Grant.

She hugged them both.

Mr Grant looked at her and whispered, "make sure you are ready before you do it and be protected."

" Huuh...don't even go there. I can take care of myself, trust me. I will be fine, I promise."

"Okay.”

 *****

Two hours later, she was sitting in the school garden with her two best friends: Kim and Samantha. Kim was a tall, slim blond with attractive features. They had been friends since grade school. Her mother was the CEO of a new generation bank with over three hundred branches across the globe. Samantha was of moderate height, brunette and plumpy. Her father was the Founder of Liccars Casino, One of the biggest casinos in Las Vegas, As they sat there, she recalled what Jeff had said which she had never thought of.

Billionaires always befriended themselves. All of her friends were rich and subconsciously, they never really related with the poor. It was the system. Their parents made sure they maintained such cycles without telling them to do so. When she celebrated her birthday at a younger age, they only invited children of their friends and associates. When they went on summer camp, it was for the rich and powerful.

They attended private and expensive schools only the rich could afford, so the only friends they made were the rich like them.

She had her luggage in her car . She was through with lectures and had a busy weekend ahead. They hardly kept secrets from each other but this time, she derailed. Melly never told them about her vicissitudes. While they sat discussing about Kim's break up with Alex whom she swore never to date again, Jeff whom she was waiting for  alighted from the Buick's passenger's side. The car was driven by a black boy whom Melly guessed was Fahad.  

Fahad was light complexioned with dark wavy hair, bushy eyebrow, pencil thin moustache and low chin beard.

Melly told her friends that Jeff was  an architect who was going to work on a project for her father, but in reality, they were going to spend the weekend in Fort Lauderdale. Why? After two days, they were able to find the location of the so-called John Terry. This man was said to have the answers to her questions and hoped the mystery would be solved once and for all. She needed Jeff as a guide and she was willing to pay him. This was another secret she was not ready to divulge.

As Jeff and Fahad walked towards the girls, Melly noticed Kim staring at Jeff, and she could tell when Kim was mesmerized.

Jeff was tall with spartan's shoulder, long sturdy legs that gave him a dishy athletic body he carried with a lion-like grace. He seemed moulded from a different cast with his exclusive captivating façade which was unique. His Viking-gold hair was immaculately coiffed to perfection. With a bristly eyebrow well placed above rover blue eyes, hawkish nose and concrete jaws. He would have been a unique male model which he was not. The sun got him lacquered and enamelled, which made him radiate brio and synergy. What would Kim do when she heard his deep voice and felt his vivacious but buccaneering personality which made a lady want to get wrapped in his strong arms and feel warm and protected.

Kim almost melted as he produced a cosmic smile which accentuated his chivalrous personality.

" Oh my God." Kim whispered. " I love this guy."

Trouble!