Chapter 240 - Two Hundred And Fourty: Kidnap The Owner
The third point of view
Niklaus stared at the figure who made his way out of the crowd of relatives causing his jaw to clench reflexively.
His father, that man Adam.
It's been so long since he last set his eyes on him and it was obvious that age has taken its effect yet that brilliance In his eyes was still there. His aging process was maintained hence the presence of few wrinkles on his face. Though there were now traces of white in his hair, Adam was obviously better than most of his pals out there.
However, Niklaus wasn't here to admire his physique. His fist clenched and unclenched by his side as he received memories of the past seven years, this man was the reason why he had lost Maya and his child.
If only he had accepted their relationship, then those unfortunate events that preceded wouldn't have happened. That man was his father; someone who was supposed to make sure his happiness mattered, however, the reverse was the case - Adam was after his own happiness at the expense of his children's.
"Long time no see, son" Adam said as if they were even on talking terms. He tried to hug Niklaus who stepped back, regarding him angrily.
"What's the meaning of this? Who gave you the right to barge into my house and plunder it the way you want?" Niklaus was furious. They had not shown him an ounce of respect at all.
"Don't be such a pain in the ass," Adam said to him, "You left home for seven years and no one has set his or her eyes on you since then. So when you returned, we decided to come to visit since you wouldn't do so. What's so wrong with it?"?he summarized with a cocky grin unbothered by the lack of warmth on his son's face. His tantrum would end pretty soon.
"I don't need your visitation, return from wherever you all came from" His eyes rove across the crowd coldly.
"Cousin," Niklaus heard Eden's voice from behind.
Contrary to his expectations, Eden didn't look what he expected at all. Yes, facially, his handsomeness didn't diminish but the look in his eyes told Niklaus something else.
Eden looked tired; not the kind of tired one gets after a long time at work but the kind of tired one gets when sucked up with life or situation. Sure, Eden looked mature than in the past - which comes with that kind of responsibility - but the gnawing feeling in Niklaus's heart told him there was more to that.
"So you were a party to this?" He asked Eden, clearly not pleased.
"You decided not to come to the mountain so the mountain decided to come to you," He spoke idiomatically.
"I made it clear to you guys that I want nothing to do with the Spencer family," Niklaus reminded him but those words were directed to his father in particular.
"So you want nothing to do with your sister too?" Emily made her epic appearance.
They came prepared for him.
"Sister," Niklaus tried to smile but winced in the process.
"I would have given you a good punch on the face but whoever gave you that black eye did me a favor," he couldn't believe she was supporting his assaulter.
"Fine, I've always been an asshole anyway," He dragged her into his arms, hugging her tightly.
"I've missed you," Emily said, savoring this brief reunion.
"Yeah, me too. I'm sorry for failing my brotherly responsibilities towards you Emily, "
Niklaus owned Emily a lot; he wasn't there when she got married nor was he there to grace the birth of her first child. He was just engrossed in his problems to help with hers.
"It's alright," She sniffed, "All that matters is that you're back now,"
His mouth twitched, why does everyone think he was here for good? Well, they'd know the truth soon.
"Where is he?" Niklaus asked, pulling away from her.
Emily looked to her right calling, "Akim" and a boy supposedly seven or so hurried over to her side saying, "Mom,"
"Here" she faced the little boy to him, "That's your uncle, Niklaus. Say hello to him,"
The boy glanced up at him with his blue eyes he inherited from his mother, " Hello, uncle Niklaus"
Niklaus lowered himself to the boy's height, ruffling his hair, "Hello Akim. How are you doing?"
"I'm fine," the boy replied right away with a smile. He was a smart one.
Niklaus smiled back at him before his eyes connected with Emily's who bit on her lips nervously, he knew already?
He didn't need to be told, just a glance at Akim and he understood the child wasn't Ahmed. The boy was a copy of Judy no matter how hard they tried to dye his blonde hair black. Ahmed must have known that the child wasn't his and for protecting his sister so far, the man has earned his respect.
"Niklaus, I -" Emily was about to ask him to keep his discovery a secret when he squeezed her shoulder softly.
"You have suffered so far," His comment made tears roll off her cheeks, " Thanks for keeping him alive,"?and hugged her once more.
Judy might have been his shadow guard but he was the closest thing to a brother he ever had. So Emily keeping his lineage alive was a huge joy to him.
Emily wanted to break down in tears but composed herself. Her father and other relatives were watching and though Akim had grown up and wouldn't be taken away from her easily, she still couldn't trust her father. But it was satisfying to know that someone - her brother - understood the hardship she had undergone all through the years.
"And you still say you want nothing to do with the Spencers, would you cut off your relationship with your sister too?" Eden butted in, causing the siblings to move away amid making secret signals with their eyes to continue this conversation later.
Niklaus didn't say anything but his eyes rested on Adam who was making conversation with another member of the family - which Eden didn't fail to capture.
"Don't keep your beloved family members at arm's length because of the sins of one person," Eden advised.
"That should be two persons," He corrected, "If you hadn't kissed Maya, the scandal wouldn't have popped up in the first place,"
Eden gulped, Niklaus still thought it was him who initiated that kiss and it would remain that way, "It's been seven years, Niklaus. Get over it,"
"Says someone who didn't lose the love of his life and his child," Niklaus sneered and moved away. Talking to Eden would continuously put him in a bad mood. All he wanted at the moment was for them to end this stupid party and leave him the hell alone.
Sadly, that prayer wasn't answered. He ended up making conversation with family members who were curious about his business and intended to partner with him. As much as he hated them, business was business - but not one with his father.
But the main battle began at dinner. Niklaus shared a table with Eden, the annoying face; Emily and her son, the only ones he was sympathetic to; and Adam, the last person on earth he wanted to communicate with at the moment.
"It's a good thing you're home for good, son," Adam said.
Niklaus glanced up in his direction, "Don't rejoice much, I'm not staying for long here, he responded with a not- so- friendly- tone
"What?" Emily's face fell, "Then, why did you return in the first place?"
"I have something to deal with over here," Niklaus revealed without going into much detail.
"You mean that problem with your company?"?Eden asked.
"He's having problems with his company?" Adam inquired, to Niklaus's annoyance. He didn't need his father's involvement in his private life and dealings.
"What's wrong with his company?" Emily joined in the questioning.
Knowing that Niklaus wouldn't bother to explain, Eden went ahead to say " His company is facing a lawsuit from a rival firm for copyright infringement,"
"Uh-oh, that doesn't look good," Emily remarked.
"How were you so careless to let such a mistake happen?" Adam grumbled, "I never trained you to be dumb and careless!"
Niklaus glared up at him," I run the business and you don't have the right to butt into this case. It's my company, remember that when criticizing me!"
"Alright, calm down everybody" Emily interfered, she turned to him, "Nobody is here to criticize you, Niklaus. We're just looking out for you like loved ones are supposed,"
He tried to rebut her words but she silenced him with a warning glare his way. Niklaus swallowed his argument instantly, his sister was the only person after Maya, he ever listened to.
"Fine, my company is at a two million dollars loss if we lose this case and so far my legal department thinks our rival has a strong case," I disclosed.
I could afford such an amount but this was affecting the whole company and shareholders were beginning to worry.
"What happened?" Adam calmly asked this time to his surprise.
"A funny case where two designers shared the same room and the other stole the drawings unknowing that the designs had been sold exclusively to the company and the rest is history,"
"Something's strange," Eden rubbed his chin, "Why didn't the rival company claim ownership until you started production and distribution?"
"He fell right straight into a trap," Adam figured out, the disappointment on his face was prominent - Niklaus didn't give a damn.
"Why would they target me, I have nothing to do with them," Niklaus said earning stupid looks from everyone. They all knew the Spencers had numerous enemies, people who they stepped on their foot one time or the other.
"Maybe you should try settling outside the law" Eden suggested.
"I'm planning on meeting up with them and if I'm so lucky, I might be granted permission to use the works through licensing arrangements or buy the works from the copyright holder - I highly doubt that,"
"You are going to beg them?" Adam asked in disbelief, "We, Spencers don't beg, we take what we want,"
Niklaus scoffed, "You're not seriously suggesting I kidnap their owner and torture him to give up the case?"
Adam looked away but the answer was obvious.
"You're unbelievable,"?He breathed.
"Wait a minute," Emily chimed in, "I think you all are forgetting something important here"
"What are you trying to say?"
"Who's the owner of the company you all are trying to kidnap?"
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