I broke down in tears, “It can’t be true. My parents died three days ago. My mother died of a kidney failure while my father died from the flu. I don’t know what you are talking about. My name is Brian Patrick and not Mike Don as you claimed…” my voice shrieked of peril and ruin. I could feel the warm tears steam in my eyes.
My jaw dropped as I lowered my gaze to weep to my satisfaction.
“No, son, no,” he squatted and dared to check the scar on my right foot again. “Oh destiny has brought us together.” He gratefully raised his gaze to the ceiling. This is it. This scar was given to you by Steve…” he pointed at Steve Marks.
H interposed, “Yes Mike,” Steve Marks confirmed with a nod, “Some years ago when you were still a baby, I was doing your pedicure when you playfully drifted and the blade cut you deeply on your right foot, leaving that thick scar afterwards. You are Mike Don. I believe Brian was given to you by the couples that adopted you. But your true name is Mike Don, and he is your true father.” Honesty possessed his voice.
“No Steve marks, don’t tell me that after all these years! Do you know what I have been through? Do you know the ridicule, the shame, humiliation and rejection? No I must be dreaming. The popular and world richest man can’t be my father. This must be a joke and I must tell you I am not ready for this…”
Saint Don trudged to his drawer, “It is not a joke, son.” He fondled in the drawer hastily as he was all tears.
He pulled out piles of photos from the drawer and returned to my side to show me pictures of my babyhood and the ones I had with my late mother.
The resemblance struck in my head even though I was still in doubt.
“This is you. This is you and your dashing mother. This is us. This was on your day of birthday.” He pointed at the pictures one after the other. “Look at you at the age of one. Can’t you see the resemblance? Look at the eyes, look at the beaky nose. For chrissake you are my son, Mike!” he screamed at the tops of his voice and hugged me instantly.
At the time I was still yet to believe their claims. How can these things be? How am I supposed to believe that Saint Don, the world richest man had been my father all this while?
“Mike,” Steve Marks called, “Put the blames on me not on your father, trust me when I tell you that your father has lost hope of seeing you again. He thought you died in the car alongside your mother. No one knew you were alive except me. Your father loves you so much. He went berserk when news of the auto crash got to him. It was all my fault. I was over speeding at the time and didn’t realize it would lead to a ghastly accident...” he choked upon his words and broke down in tears.
Nothing in this world had shocked me than what happened next
Saint Don went down on his knees and begged me, “My heir, please I know how rough and unfavorable the world must have treated you. I know you must have been kicked in the ass because they thought you were a no body. I know you must have been slapped on the face because they didn’t know your personality. Please I understand the furnace of peril and ridicule you have been through, the dilemma that rubbed you on the face; the storm that disturbed your sky. But please find a place in your heart to forgive me. It was all an accident. You are not supposed to fall short of this wealth and power.”
I sobbed greatly as I wailed on end. “So this is true… this is…” I stuttered and covered my face with my trembling hand , “Oh no, no, I can’t believe this. You have been my father all along?”
Steve Marks interrupted, “After you were discharged from the hospital by an unknown fellow, I thought I wasn’t going to see you again. I was full of joy and satisfaction when I saw the scar on your foot the moment you wanted to commit suicide.”
Saint Don interrupted, “Wait a minute. Was he about committing suicide when you saw him?”
“Yes, Chairman,” Steve replied, “I was driving through Rio Hondo bridge when I saw him about jumping over.”
“Oh my gush!” pardon me, son!” Saint Don said, “I can imagine what you have been through. I can see the pain in your eyes. Your face is clouded with so much hurt and disappointment. You thought you were going to end up an unfortunate person. I can see the miasma of hate that fill your tears. Weep no more, heir. I am Saint Don, the world richest man. Today you are going to sit at the top of wealth and power. All I have and would ever have belong to you. Whatever decision you take at the Saint Don group is solely acceptable by me and my staff.”
Tears of joy streamed down my cheeks and uncertainty stood in my head as I wept like a kid. With my arms I covered my face.
Steve Marks patted me on the shoulders and nursed me.
Saint Don continued, “Today, I give way for you to take over the affairs of my multi-trillion oil and gas conglomerate, since I am not getting any younger.”
Steve bowed his head and stretched out his hands to my father.
“My boss some years ago I made a promise to find your heir and make you happy. Today I have fulfilled that promise. Behold your heir in flesh and blood.”
Saint Don quickly had a warm handshake with him and then hugged me as we wept on end…
Morgan Harris, the Fanny’s Sarah Cannon, Hoffers Greenfield; those names hung in my head as I clenched my teeth in furry.
Revenge just begun but firsts I must know who Zion Don was to Saint Don…