The Heir

AT JOHN F Kennedy International Airport, Queens, New York, Mrs Amelia Rayworth stood at the lot waiting for her son who was yet to come out of the airport. With her were two Sedans and two Limos.

Then, after a waiting period that seemed like forever, Richard Rayworth came out in a complete black suit and loafers, with a pair of sunglasses on, looking all formal and hot. Behind him was James, his personal bodyguard and four porters doing their job. The bodyguards with Amelia went ahead and made a straight horizontal line in front of him as he approached.

"Welcome, Young Sir!" They chorused in unison, all with a slight bow.

Richard paused and scanned through them as they bowed. He removed his sunglasses to reveal his expressionless face -in fact, cold -face and walked over to one of the Limousines which he knew was his, for sure.

"I need you to change that goddamned pilot," he said to his mother as James opened the door for him, "Fast," he added and entered the Limo, ignoring Amelia's almost offended face, before James then closed the door gently.

The guards took in his luggage and set them in the Sedans' trunk before filing into the cars.

Then, one after the other, the cars began to move. First, the Sedan in front, then, Richard's Limo, Amelia's and finally, the second the Sedan. The four black vehicles moved smoothly along the road in a straight file, with almost equal spaces between them.

They all stopped in front of the large gates to Richard's mansion before they were opened automatically. The cars filed in slowly and James ran to open the car door for his boss immediately they came to a stop.

Richard sighed as he came out of the car and glanced at the house slowly and carefully.

Good to be home, he thought. He cleared his throat quietly and walked in as James followed behind. As they approached the colossal vestibule which was more of a hallway, Richard's cook, Madame DeVille came forth and bowed before him.

"Welcome, Young Sir," she greeted with a Spanish accent.

Richard didn't speak. He approached the big spacious living room and looked around as if he was searching for a tiny dot on anything.

"DeVille," he said suddenly, quietly, "Why was I called home all of a sudden?"

"I'm not so sure why," she replied, "But I do know the president is in the hospital."

Richard was surprised but kept it cool. "Hospital...?"

"I heard it's a heart failure."

Richard let out a trembling sigh. "Thank you." He licked his lips and turned to the staircase as James led the guards up with Richard's luggage. He paused and began to wonder what could have gotten his father a heart failure as he was still a sexagenarian. He knew, for sure, it'd be all the stress he'd been going through trying to keep his business in an orderly state. And... Princeton.

He frowned.

James came down with the guards and went to Richard. "Your mother is still in the car outside, Sir," he said.

"Tell her to leave," Richard replied rather coldly and turned to DeVille. "Prepare something for me to eat in an hour," he told her and went up the stairs immediately as James led the guards outside.

Richard's bedroom was almost the size of the living room and had only a few visible things in it. There was neither a wardrobe nor a shoe rack as all was in a walk-in closet. The bathroom was opposite the closet and the only things in the bedroom were the bed itself, a full length mirror, the bedside table and a chaise longue. Plus the French doors that led to his balcony.

Moving towards the bed, he loosened his tie and unbuttoned his coat, dropping them on the bed. He walked to the window in time to sight his mother leaving the compound. He squeezed his eyes tightly shut as different thoughts ran though his mind at once.

Now that his father was ill, he had to be in charge and that'd mean so much work for him. And stress. He sighed and strode into the bathroom for a shower.

About thirty minutes later, Richard walked down the stairs. He was dressed in a red turtleneck sweater and a pair of black pants. Madame DeVille already had his meal of ratatouille ready on his long glass dining table.

Richard had clearly said 'an hour' but only DeVille knew what that meant. His meal had to be ready in at least half the time provided by him. She was used to it.

He sat at the table and waited for her to remove the dish cover before he picked up his cutlery.

"So, how long as my father been in the hospital?" He asked as he raised a fork to his mouth.

"Over three weeks now," DeVille replied.

"Oh...," he said with a slight nod, "Get me my favorite white wine."

She left and returned with a bottle of wine immediately with a fat wine glass in her other hand. She dropped the glass beside him and slowly poured a little quantity in the glass.

"Who's been in charge?" He suddenly asked, raising the glass to his lips.

"I'd say your mother, but... Mr Princeton almost has everything in the palm of his hand," she answered.

Richard smirked and dropped the glass. "Guess he's still after it, uh? Get James."

DeVille left him to go to the vestibule and returned with James soon.

"Tomorrow...," Richard started without turning to look at him, "We're going to the company. I want the demons to know their Lucifer is back. From, there, we'll visit my Dad."

"Okay, Sir."

"Get ready."

James bowed and ran out immediately.

Richard sighed and continued his meal in silence as DeVille stood, watching him, as she'd always done and had to do. He stopped soon and emptied his glass, then he went back into his bedroom.

Richard spent the rest of the day beside his swimming pool which he'd found had the best WiFi connection in the mansion. He sat with his laptop in a lounger, going through the latest comments in the company's website.

He got curious to know how Princeton had been managing his father's business while he was gone. He really wanted to have a glance at the productivity chart to know whether the comments were nothing but criticisms or just the truth.

He would find out the following day.

"James," he said softly and James came in immediately, "Vodka," he said without turning to look at him.

James went out and came in almost immediately with DeVille who had a tray bearing a bottle of Vodka and a wine glass. She bowed as she served the wine and dropped it on the stool beside him. James walked out while she stayed.

"What exactly can you say about Princeton managing my father's business?" He asked her.

"Well..., I'd call it... terrible," she replied.

"Interesting... Explain."

"Since he'd literally taken over, I have a feeling that the productivity chart is descending. He keeps having unofficial meetings with the high officials in the business. I heard from his secretary that the Chief Secretary seems to be the only one against him."

Richard twirled the stem of his glass with his fingers as he tried to reprocess all DeVille just told him. "Only Tallman." He scoffed, "I really have a lot of termites trying to bite through my oak." He dropped the glass for her to refill and sighed. "You can leave."

She bowed and left quietly.

Richard licked his lips and folded his arms. He imagined what would happen if he suddenly showed up at his father's companies' HQ the following day. What he was sure of was that Princeton wasn't aware he was back from Sweden. He'd make him lose his balance and then take his seat behind his desk as the Managing Director. Then, he'd know what next to do.

He cleared his cleared throat and shut down his laptop.

Amelia fixed her gaze on Princeton as he drank his wine slowly. She suddenly smiled, then gave a evil laugh which surprised him to the core.

"Do you... really think you can bring him down that easily?" She asked. "You know Richard is like 10x smarter than he looks and acts. He can figure out who's walking towards him by the footsteps, even with his eyes closed. You think you can make him resign?" She laughed again. "It's his father's business!"

Princeton smiled. "Didn't you say he isn't your biological son?" He asked, "And he understands that fact, right?"

"So, what's your point?"

He dropped his glass. "Since he understands that he's not Roland's son, I can easily talk him into resigning. Or I can make him. He's been gone for two years and...he doesn't know about any recent development in the company. Or his father's state. Or does he?"

"His maid should've told him. She's very talkative."

"I'm sure he'll want to see his 'dearest father' tomorrow. He'll also want to know what's going on in the company too. I'll be expecting him."

"You still want to try to give your son part of my husband's properties?"

Princeton stared in confusion, not knowing what to say.

"He's also not biological, remember?" She added.

He chuckled. "He owns what I own. 'Cause he's to inherit everything after my death."

"Same as Richard. He owns what Roland owns. And he's to inherit all after his death."

"Just... look for ways to manipulate your husband's will as soon as possible."

She shrugged. "Of course. I hate that proud little bastard I'd do whatever I can to take him out. For now, consider RolRay Pharmaceuticals yours."

"It's so nice working with you..., Amelia," he said with a smirk.

She frowned slightly at the imprudent mention of her name but hid it with a fake smile. "I'll take my leave now," she said and stood up as he also did so to shake her hand. They shook hands briefly and she walked away from the first class section of the restaurant.

She went out to enter the Limo and was driven home by her bodyguard. She was still on her way from Richard's mansion but had decided to meet Princeton at their rendezvous.

The thought of bringing Richard down began to haunt her. Though, he wasn't her biological son, the thought of it haunted her a lot. She began to recollect when her husband, Roland had brought Richard home from an Orphanage to live with them. He called him their 'son'.

She'd first flared up, of course, thinking he was having an affair outside their marriage but Richard confirmed Roland's words that he was really an orphan.

The couple had taken Richard in at the age of nine as their son and heir to everything they had. Though she never appreciated his presence, she lived with it because she'd been unable to conceive and have a child since her 25th year of wedding Roland.

The reason to her disapproval for Richard was unknown, even to her. Maybe because she once believed that Roland was only trying to question her barrenness. Or because he'd lost all hopes that she'd ever become a mother on her own. And, for real, all hopes were lost -she was already in her late forties then.

She sighed heavily as she remembered how Richard had indirectly chased her from his house earlier. He was a really arrogant child and she wondered where he got it from. His arrogance had become what to be called rudeness and immorality. Though, he still paid his respect to her and called her 'mother', the sight of him always displeased her.

Her disapproval for him had turned to sheer hatred when Roland decided to will all he owned to Richard only.

After Roland's death, Richard would own everything under RolRay -Pharmaceuticals, Hotels and Suites, Fashion and Schools - and all the housing estates he had in New York City, San Diego, Chicago and all over Kansas and Miami. She, too, had had to will her three malls in New York and Chicago to him. Richard was literally a billionaire before the age of 10.

She sighed again and reclined in the seat, trying to get her mind free from worries.