Chapter 1
The black BMW slowly pulled up to the large black gates that protected the residents of Harris manor. A security guard posted at the gates gave the unfamiliar vehicle a dark glance as it came to a stop a few feet from where he stood. The engine cut and the headlights shut off giving him a better look at the driver and passenger. Recognizing the man sat in the passenger seat he stood down and sent a quick message on the radio inform the other staff of the new arrival.
Kenneth Harris slouched in his seat watching the security guard, as memories from his childhood resurfaced. The security team may have kept those unwanted off the property, but it also kept the residents of the Manor in, Prisoners in there 'home'.
"We don't have to do this Kenneth. I don't want to force you into something you don't want to do. I can more time off work to look after her and my parents can help too. You're not obligated to make any commitments," Charlie Iglesias turned in his seat, to face the man that had gone from a friend to a brother.
Letting out a sigh Kenneth as he shook his head. "You have a lot on your plate, and so does Camilla and Mateo. I'm not going to complain about having to look after her for a few weeks. I can manage."
The driver bit his lip looking back at the Manor before them. It stood tall with three floors and was just as wide to accommodate all those who resided there. "And if its more than a few weeks?" He couldn't promise that everything would be resolved in just a handful of weeks. They had to plan for the unexpected as well.
"I'll do it, Char. You've just driven two hundred and fifty miles to get me here. I can do it." He wasn't sure how much he believed the words that flowed from his mouth, but it seemed the man beside him believed it enough to start the car once more.
The guard stood by the gates, spoke into his radio once more and the heavy iron gates began opening. Charlie carefully drove up to the long driveway nearly on the edge of his seat staring up at the Manor. "I still can believe your family are Millionaires." He hadn't known anyone who had enough money to move out of there parents home, and he was twenty-seven!
"if you met anyone one of my other sibling you'd know in the first ten seconds of meeting them."
"Why are you so different then. Working at the bottom of the food chain when you could be the apex." He hadn't known anyone that could afford to move out of there parents house before twenty-seven!
"You know why." He removed his seat belt as the car rolled to a stop in front of the entrance where a figure was already stood waiting to greet them. "Can you get her out while I speak to him?" Charlie nodded as they exited the car.
shutting the car door kenneth mad his way to the doorway a middle-aged man stood patiently waiting for him. Kenneth enveloped the man into a tight hug if there had been one thing he had missed about being in Blackpool it was him. "Nice to see you again Wesley, sorry about the short notice."
The man gave him a gentle smile taking in his tired appearance. "It's always a pleasure to see you, Master Kenneth, though I must say you have seemed to have aged since we last spoke."
"It's been a stressful few weeks." His eyes nervously looked behind the man into his old home. "How many are here?"
"Four. Kinkade, Fiona, Harley and bailey. Three of your siblings have left to go back to university or college this week. They have all been instructed to give you time to settle in before they begin harassing you." His eyes strayed to the car. "Is that the young mistress?"
Kenneth turned as Charlie approached with the small child still asleep in his arms trailing a large suitcase beside him. "Her name's Dani and this is Charlie."
Wesley gave the unfamiliar man a polite nod. "I'm sure you're all tired from the long journey, would you like something to eat before you retire for the night?"
kenneth shot charlie an amused look. "Charlie's not staying at the manor tonight. He's taking full advantage of his freedom for the night." Charlie had already googled the best clubs to hit in town before he had to begin the six hours journey back to London in the morning. "Phone when you get back tomorrow."
"Don't worry grandad, I know the drill, and I'll keep safe. Will you be okay if I leave now?" He only had four hours to party like it was his last night alive and find a woman to take to the hotel he was booking. it everything when well, and it always did, he'd still catch five hours sleep before the drive back to London.
kenneth nodded as the man hugged him around the child in his arms. "Call me if anything changes."
"I will Hermano. Stay sane and call me if you need anything." Charlie handed the child to him placing a soft kiss on her forehead. Looking back at the man dressed in a three-piece, he gave him a polite nod mirror what he had done minutes before turning and heading back to his car before he came to his senses and changed his mind.
watching the car make it's way back towards the gates kenneth turned to Wesley. "I think I might just go straight to sleep Wes." He shifted the child in his arms.
"That's quite all right sir. I'll help you with your luggage sir." Wesley wheeled the suitcase past the threshold. "I've asked one of the maids to ready your old room but if you would like to use a guest room that's perfectly adequate. I understand that you may have bad memories associated with that room."
kenneth let out a quiet breath, 'bad memories' was putting it lightly. "It's fine Wesley. I'll be fine. I didn't exactly give you a lot of time to prepare anything." It wasn't fine but it would have to do. he had given the man less than twenty-four hours to get anything ready, he was grateful that the maids had gotten a room that hadn't been used in more than a decade ready in such a short time.
twelve years to be exact. He had left Blackpool when he was sixteen and never looked back. he had been to the towns surrounding the city during the festive season to see his siblings, once a year.
being back in the manor was already bringing back memories he had thought he had forgotten.
his tenth birthday, playing hide and seek with his brother Kinkade who was four months older. they had just come back from riding the horses when the rain made going back out impossible. it wasn't unusual for the rain to prvent going outside. living less than a mile from the seafront mean it rain more often than not.
Making there way up the grand staircase Kenneth couldn't help but feel ouof place. His cheap primark clothes looked like it came from a charity shop compared to the butlers three piece.
Fortunately his childhood bedroom was located on the first floor at the end of the hallway. "Might I ask a question sir?" Wesley proposed as they slowly made they way down the hall. "Your sibling who are currently at the Manor may keep your return out the media. But there are others that want you to rejoin the family publicly. What do you plan to do about it?"
It was a good question. One that had plagued his mind since the idea to return to his childhood town was bought up. He had managed to stay of the media's radar by keeping to himself and living an average life. No one would suspect a billionaires son to be working as a low paid UX designer. It had also been easy as he was rarely seen in public with his siblings on the few occasions that they had there annual Christmas Dinner. "I don't know Wes. Hopefully in a few week I'll be returning to London. As long as I keep to myself hopefully I can stay off there radar."
The look Wesley gave him made him doubt his words as they reached the bedroom. Stepping into the room Kenneth was surprised by how much it had changed." Your father had all your belongings placed in storage a year after you left. It hasn't been touched otherwise."
He wouldn't expect anything else from the man who had adopted him. Placing the child on the bed he felt cold, as if the room was striped of its warmth. He turned back to the man who left his suitcase next to the door out of the way." Thank you Wesley."
The room itself was the size of a small studio flat back in London. Big enough to fit a King sized bed, two couches, a coffee table, a walk in closet and a set of draws with enough room left over to fit more furniture if needed.
"Your welcome sir. Breakfast is served at seven still and tomorrow you have a selection of pancakes and waffles along with the usual full english. Have a goodnight sir." Wesley left the room closing the door behind him.
Kenneth made his way to one of the couches by the window and sat hugging his knees with his chin on his knee. looking at the child on the bed he sighed deeply.
In the morning he would be the only familar face she knew, and that meant stepping up as her father. A role he had only recently accepted. the five year old had taken eagerly to calling him 'daddy' but he was still adjusting.
he wasn't sure how long it would take to adjust, he just prayed she wasn't her usual troublesome self in the morning. the last thing he needed was trying to introduce her to his siblings as she was throwing a tantum.
without charlie to hand her off to, he had to deal with her himself and he was honestly shitting himself. Five years were scary when they didn't get there way.
This chapter has been rewritten and edited.
(26/06/19)
