Chapter 93 - A Confrontation

Hundreds of different and rare orchids were planted on both sides of the green house. A man who looked in his forties, was lovingly tending the plants and speaking to them as if they were his own babies. He firmly believed that the plants could hear him and would grow better from listening to him. It was because he had a nice voice, so of course they would be happy. Just then a knock sounded on the door and the butler stood back a bit. Angry at being disturbed, the man glared at the butler but the man simply bowed and said, "Sir, the young master is here."

The man scowled at the mention of the young master and said, "Well! So what if he is here? Tell him to go back! I have no interest in seeing him!"

But just as the man was about to walk back, the butler cleared his throat again and announced, "Sir, the first young master is here.." 

The man paused mid step and turned back to the butler with a disbelieving look, "Who did you say is here?"

"Sir, the first young master is here."

Hardly able to contain himself after hearing this the man shook his hands excitedly before turning around, "My son is here! He is back. Did you all hear that? Your eldest brother is back! I need to go!"

Throwing aside his gardening gloves, he rushed out of the hothouse and ordered the butler on the way, "Bring fresh lime drinks and tell the cook to prepare the best nourishing soups and tell them to prepare duck! He loves that."

As the man rushed to the living room , he saw the first glimpse of his son after a long while. So tall and so thin. The man wanted to go and hug the young man but there seemed to be a wall around him and he could only wring his hands as he smiled widely, "Welcome back, my son! Welcome back."

In stark contrast of the man's happiness, the younger man's face was set in stone. He hated coming here and had never planned to come here but the man in front of him, his so called father had forced him here using under handed and despicable means. The older man paid no heed to his son's standoffish tone and immediately beckoned him, "Come and sit. You must be tired!"

But even as the thin man sat leisurely, he simply stared at the older man before finally asking"Sir? What are you up to?"

"Sir! How can you call me sir? I am your father? And you don't even ask me how I am doing? What kind of filial duty is this.?"

This time the younger man snorted and answered, " I have already done my filial duty to the one who deserved it. Towards you I have no obligation whatsoever.. Now, Sir? Are you going to tell me everything or would you like to explain it yourself?"

This time the older man gave up the pretense of being a simple father and old man and sat on the opposite chair, with eyes as sharp as that of a tiger looking at it's prey. " I have always been clear on what I want! The problem has always been on your side. But I have finally found a way to clear the problem. So, very soon the ball will be in your court!"

The younger man snorted and said, "What you want is what you will never get! I suggest you stop using those despicable means and leave me alone." 

Just as the younger man finished saying this he was about to get up and leave but the older man stated," I am thinking of getting married again? What do you think about getting a stepmother? A young one..like Alice Faye?"

This time the younger man did not control his rage. Walking forward he leaned down and pushed his face closer to the other man,"Mr. Adken Perry. If you dare to eye my woman, let me warn you I will kill you regardless of the fact that you are biological related to me!"

"Well then you should have not exposed your weakness to me. I want you back home Adam and if you refuse to come directly then I know how to get what I want. Until now, you had the upper hand but I was also not sitting idle. I have already trapped Alice Faye and my next mission is to get you. If you promise to return to the company and me, then I will forget the contract that Alice Faye has signed and will happily give my daughter in law what she wants but if you don't agree, Alice Faye will still get what she wants but you might have to call her step mother."

Adam shook his head as he glared at his biological father with more hatred in his eyes. So he really had been up to something.

"If you think I will let Alice fall for your dirty tricks then you are mistaken. I will protect her."

This time Adken Perry showed his true colors and smiled cunningly. "You will protect her? I don't think so. It is because of you I set my sights on her. Do you really think I don't know of the past between you two? She might not remember but you do. Right, Adam? I already started laying a trap for her when you spent your time together many years ago. You thought that you had hidden everything well. But Adam I am your father. Though I must say I had pitied the poor young girl for becoming my target unknowingly but over the years I have seen her grow into a ruthless woman and I must say I quite enjoyed it. I'll tell you what. Since you are my son and I don't want you to think that I covet your girlfriend, I will give you a choice. Acknowledge me as your father and I will let you continue with your singing and dancing. Alice Faye is a capable businesswoman and she lives you. I will pass your inheritance to her and she can work in my companies on your behalf. What do you think?"

Scoffing, Adam uttered the hurtful words that he had kept hidden in his heart for a long time," Let her work with you? The man who is responsible for ruining my family and forcing my mother to commit suicide? When you had the time to acknowledge and love your family you wanted nothing but the company and now that you are old and unable to handle the company affairs, you are looking for people to share the same name as you to hand over the company. I don't know what made you decide that Inwould be suitable to become your heir but let me remind you that you have another son who can sacrifice his life for you. And you even have a minion who thinks that he is as powerful as you. Why don't you use them?"

Adken Perry banged his hand on the table angrily as he said,"You said so your self! Lucas Ivy is but a minion while your younger brother is no where near as smart as you. If I hand him the company, the sharks will have eaten the company by the time your brother realized that there is danger! And you are my first born, Adam Perry! I did all this for you. It is not my fault that your mother was so weak minded that she would kill herself!"

The aura around Adam changed at this. The man who usually came across as kind, gentle and laidback now looked like a block of ice as he looked coldly at the man opposite him,"Adken Perry, you have done nothing for me. And let me give you some advice, you can do whatever you want as much as you want, but the ones under my protection will stay protected despite your petty tricks. And you should not worry about my brother unheriting but what would I do to your beloved business if I get my hands on it. The one thing I hate the most in this world other than you is that company of yours. And if you force my hand, I may not be able to kill you but I will kill the company until nobody remembers the existence of AP and Sons."

With that thread echoing in the large room, Adam Perry left the house without a backward glance. There were some things that Alice needed to know and once those things came out in the open, he and Alice would be able to be together without any worries. However, even as he repeatedly assured himself of this, his own heart was having trouble believing it.

Adken Perry watched his son's receding back and wonders just how much more despicable he would have to become to bring his son back. He had already given up any hope for having his forgiveness but he wanted Adam to have all this. Whatever the boy might believe, Adken really had worked hard just so that his sons could have a good life....