Some men die once. Some are buried twice. But legends? They rise when the truth is ready.
Everywhere was tensed up, even for the cold-blooded Amira. She stood in her office, staring at the skyline as the company stayed quietly beneath her heels. A storm was rolling in; it was not rain, not wind, but legacy. Brooke entered, looking all pale and scared. "Ma'am, there's something that happened," she said. "He's here." She added. Amira turned slowly with a glass of red wine in her hand. "Where?" "Lobby. He didn't say a word. He just... walked in. Security asked if he had an appointment, and he… just smiled." Brooke swallowed hard. Amira didn't wait for her silence, "What?" She asked sharply. "And he said: 'I built this place.'" Amira's heart stopped. Her spine turned to ice. "Tell him I'm not available, and tell the security men that I swear to God they are all fired after today. "He said he's not here for you, " she asked." Who the hell is he looking for?" she asked. "I guess you need to see him yourself", Brooke said. Amira walked down the stairs slowly. She began to remember how she betrayed him badly; she felt so scared, she hadn't seen him in 15 years.
Julian, (in Brown Caldwell's) powerful frame, stepped out of the boardroom and froze when he saw him. George Caldwell. He looked normal and casual. He stood in the lobby, bold and still a legend. Is he still 'Alive'? Julian Blackwood had only heard about the great Brown Caldwell and his mysterious case some years ago, when he was still in his real body; he never knew he would see him physically. He wore a navy wool coat, a black walking cane in one hand, and power in his presence that not even age could tarnish. Julian instinctively stood straighter. He remembered this man from photographs. George looked him over. Eyes sharp. Calculating. "You're not my son." He said instantly after a first glance, "How does he know that? It's been 15 years since he met Brown. How could he see any difference?" he asked himself, still staring at George; his throat got dry. "I've waited so long, Amira, I'm sure you don't miss me, but I will when you are dead", he said. She stared at him, eyes cold, everybody's eyes locked into each other, "As for you, Brown, the truth will soon be out, "what truth, sir…I?" George cut him off. "You're not even close." Then, calmly, he walked past. "But she's going to learn the difference between blood and fraud." "Security, take him out…now", she shouted as they all rushed towards him, but he just opened his palm and stopped them, as they all stood still. "Not in a rush though, but I'll walk myself out, dear, Ex-wife", he said before leaving the company as he entered a black limousine outside the building, as it zoomed off. Right after Amira orders extra security to take him out, his fragrance lingers in the air, but it smells like chaos is coming…Brooke steps out of the scene as a message pops in, her hand shaking slightly.
Unknown Number:
"She's lying about everything to everybody. You know what she did to George.
And you know what she did to her daughter."
Brooke's eyes darted to the security cameras, and she turned to her left and right, but no one watched her. She became extremely scared; she knew she couldn't defend Amira anymore, even though she had taken care of her after her parents' death. She then walked into an office and closed the door behind her. Another message comes in:
"This time, if you delete it... You go down with her. Work with me, and you are safe. Meet up behind the company"
Brooke's hand shook, her thumb hovered over "Delete" ... But instead, she locked the screen. Slipped the phone into her jacket. She walked out of the office and said nothing.
Jasmine has forever been curious about her life; her mother has never told her about her father. All she says is that he was murdered 15 years ago, 9 years after she gave birth to her. She doesn't know her cousins or relatives. Just in case of necessity. She sat in her mother's study room, the light was dim, the atmosphere was cool and chilly, and she sat for a while thinking about Brown until her eyes caught a box hidden between stacks of books on the shelf. She walked over to it and brought the box out. It looked old and dusty; she opened it slowly and started flipping through it. It was a box of old family papers and pictures that Natasha tried to hide from her. She pulls out an old birth certificate.
Name: Julian Elijah Blackwood.
Mother: Isabel Blackwood
Father: Not listed.
DOB: 19th August 2000
Next to it: a family tree. Not fully drawn to scale but scribbled with a black pen. Her eyes moved down to Natasha Blackwood's bloodline. Her sister: Isabel Blackwood. "Wow", she muttered, her blood runs cold. "She never told her that her surname was Blackwood. "No… no way. How are they fucking related?" she said in her mind. She became tense already. She grabs her phone and searches Julian Blackwood's biodata from her office records, and after a while, it flashes across the screen. Everything matches. Same birthdate. Same middle name. "Are we fucking cousins...?" Then she remembers:
When "Julian" came to apply, she told him the name sounded familiar.
Now she knows why, blood knows blood.
Brooke had no choice; she never had the mind to betray Amira, but she had gotten way out of her league. She also wanted to know the truth about Amira's secrets. She went to the designated location from the unknown number.
Her eyes spotted a black car under the street light, she walked straight to the car and a man dressed in black suite and dark glasses opened the door for her, even though it was night, why the sun shades, she thought in her mind, she steeped into the car, as their eyes locked into each other, "hi Brooke", she said, "hey?", she was confused, she hasn't seen this face before nut the smile on her lips was familiar to that of Amira,: well there's a lot you don't know about Amira, the same woman, you are working for, and also dear Brown Caldwell, has a game he's about to play". She said smoothly, her face was fair, she looked beautiful, then she handed her an envelope, "don't open it yet, until, its time", she said, "what time?", Brooke asked, "just figure it out yourself dear ", she added, before Brooke steeped out of the car. The car zoomed off with a sly, evil smile on her face. The envelope was still in her hand, but she had to wait for the right time; she hadn't dared open it. She should have. But she didn't. Her phone buzzed again. Same unknown number.
"She's stalling the release order. George knows."
She felt nauseous. Amira hadn't mentioned a word about George's legal status.
And now… someone else knew? She turned the envelope over in her hands. Stared at the wax seal. It was black, with a single word engraved "S". "Selene…" she whispered. "You've got to be kidding me", she said and chuckled before she stuffed it in her bag. She didn't say a word.
Jasmine stormed into Natasha's room that night, holding the birth certificate in one hand and her phone in the other. She was very angry, and her face was red. "You told me you were the only daughter of your parent and they are long gone, but now there's a Julian who's my relative, and his mother is your damn sister, who was just a name I'd heard in passing." Natasha didn't flinch. "Because you weren't ready to hear the truth." "He's my cousin. And most especially, he works in the office. Natasha just looked at her for a while; she knew her plans would soon come to an end. If Julian is town, it only means one thing: Isabel is back. "how could you lie to me mom, why?", Jasmine said with tears trolling down her eye, "I wanted to protect you all this while, you don't know who Isabel is, and trust me, you don't want to relate with her", Natasha stood up leaving her veleta red wine on the table as she walked closer to Jasmine, "let's just forget them darling, we have a battle to finish, okay", Natasha said convincingly, but Jasmine didn't flinch or respond, "let tell me everything about dad", Jasmine demanded, she cried even more, the pain, the lies, it all went through her veins, "this isn't the time for a family story please, just know that, he isn't here with us anymore, but I'm her for you", she added, Jasmine looked at her and threw the papers in her hand on the floor and stormed into her bedroom.
The city of New York was in their summer season, everywhere was hot, but not as hot as Amira's hot, she stood in her private office, a place with no glass window, just the AC humming and the whole room was chilly and cold, nobody knew the in or out of that office, expect the builders, she sat on the chair, thinking and pondering all alone her cold tea untouched. She had a separate coffee machine and a corner for whiskey and wine. A sound caught her attention as the elevator behind her dinged. No one had access to that floor, not even Brown Caldwell or George, then who could it be? She stood up slowly, staring and waiting for the door to open. The doors slid open… And there she was.
Selene Caldwell Fernandez
Her presence was a shock; she wore black, just like her dearest mother. Her hair was slicked back. Her hands were in black gloves. She looked stunning for revenge. Amira's blood ran cold, and her face changed. "How the hell did you get in here?" Selene stepped forward slowly. "The same way you got into Leo's heart.
Uninvited. But unforgettable." Amira took a step back.
Selene smiled. "Hello, Mother."
You can bury the past. But not the bloodline.