"Where is that piece of trash? Don't you dare lie to me, or it'll cost you dearly!" Steven yelled into the phone at his assistant. He was fuming, waiting for the report on when his son, Arthur, would finally show up.
The assistant tried feebly to defend himself. "Sir, I saw his car outside his apartment. He must have come back late last night after I'd already left my post."
"You go there right now and find out what that arrogant brat is up to!" the man hissed.
Steven was beyond frustrated that his son refused to take any part in the family business. After his mother's death, Arthur had been left to his own devices, and it showed in the man he had become. He categorically refused to do anything, hiding behind vague excuses about "childhood trauma." His version of therapy was specific: a string of meaningless flings, partying in exclusive clubs, and street racing on the highways.
Arthur had cheated death several times, but his constant reliance on booze and pills had turned a once-vibrant man into a total wreck, incapable of making his own decisions. He hadn't forgotten about the pleasures of the flesh, though, regularly spending his time with one leggy beauty after another. This time was no different; Steven's assistant found the boss's son in bed with his latest conquest, a girl named Alice, who glared at the intruder with annoyance.
"What do you want? At least let me get dressed," she snapped.
"It's best if you leave," the assistant said firmly, glancing at the watch on his tanned wrist. "The boss will be here soon. You don't want to run into him face-to-face."
"And what if I need to meet him?" the girl asked defiantly, staring him down.
"Whatever for?" the assistant asked, surprised.
"Something happened," Alice said cryptically, "but I need to discuss it with Arthur's father."
"I don't think this is the right time or place," the assistant said sternly. "I'm asking you again to leave. His father will be here any minute."
The girl shrugged and slipped out from under the covers, completely unphased by the presence of a stranger seeing her practically naked. Soon, Arthur's puffy face appeared from the bathroom.
"Hey, what's the big deal? Oh, it's you, Sam," he said to his father's assistant. "What the hell are you doing here? How do you have a key?"
"Doesn't matter," Sam replied evasively. "Your father is on his way, and he really wants to know what you've been up to. I had to show your girlfriend the door."
"Good, she was getting on my nerves anyway," Arthur muttered, collapsing into a chair and lighting a cigarette. "When is he getting here?"
"He's already here."
The assistant looked out the window. A large SUV sat in the driveway; the private driver had just dropped Steven off. After the encounter with his son, Steven's mood was foul. He still couldn't understand where he'd gone wrong with his only child.
"Other sons bust their asses to build and grow the family legacy, but my little monster just doesn't get it. Made up some excuse—a 'trauma,' if you can believe it. Everyone has trauma, for God's sake! His mother's been gone nearly twenty years; it's time to let go, but he refuses to part with her ghost. I never even remarried because of him, though I could have. I was always worried about Arthur, making sure he wouldn't have to clash with another woman after his mother passed. What a waste."
***
Through Sam, Steven eventually learned that Alice, the girl Arthur had been seeing at the time, had gotten pregnant. However, his son refused to acknowledge paternity, and the girl disappeared to parts unknown.
"Now I have to find out what happened to that child," the worried father mused. "I don't want my grandson falling into the wrong hands."
Sam informed him in a flat tone that Arthur had pressured the girl to get an abortion, but she refused and left without leaving a forwarding address. Steven looked at his assistant.
"How long has it been? A year? Two?"
"Going on three, sir. Arthur hasn't even asked about her. He's occupied with other young ladies," Sam replied with clear disapproval.
"So she should have given birth by now, and I don't even know who my grandson is... Listen to me," the man turned to his assistant. "Here's your new assignment. Find Alice and find out what happened to her and the child. There's no hope for Arthur. He's practically a vegetable from all that junk he takes. Is it right that I gave my life to build a business that my only son doesn't give a damn about? Find them and report back! We'll see what to do then..."
Steven had to wait over a month for news. Sam couldn't seem to find Alice's trail. He even started to wonder if she had fled the country under a different name or if something terrible had happened. But one day, he got lucky and ran into a former friend of Alice's, who was quite skeptical about the girl's future.
"Where's she gonna go with two boys? She's probably stuck at her aunt's place in the middle of nowhere, back where she crawled out of five years ago."
"Do you know where she's from? Which aunt?" Sam listened intently to every word.
"Yeah, she's from some small town out west. Tough as nails, that one. Set it in her head she was gonna conquer the big city, but it didn't exactly pan out," the girl giggled. "You know she got knocked up by some rich kid, right?"
"You just told me," Sam replied.
He realized the girl likely had a grudge against Alice, and he was right.
"You know, if that rich kid had been mine, he wouldn't have gotten away that easy," the girl laughed. "I would've made him pay through the nose for those kids."
It took Sam a great deal of effort to find the hospital where she gave birth. It was a standard public hospital where she had delivered twin boys.
"Yes, we had a patient like that," the head of the maternity ward said. "The boys were so healthy and handsome. She wanted to give one of them up, and he was taken by another family immediately after she signed the waiver. They weren't fools—they registered him as their own right away. So, one of the twins is with them."
Sam had to pay a hefty sum for this information, but he knew how vital it was.
A few weeks later, he accidentally bumped into Alice in a city park. She was walking with a boy about a year and a half old—a carbon copy of his grandfather, Steven. Sam followed them and discovered they were living in a rented room. Once he had the apartment number, he returned to his boss.
"I have two pieces of news, sir," he reported. "The good news is I found where Alice and the child are living. The bad news is I found no trace of the second child. He was adopted by another family and moved to a different state."
"Are you telling me I have two grandsons?" Steven asked, incredulous. "Two boys, two heirs that my junkie son doesn't even know about? Oh, Arthur, just you wait!"
"What do you plan to do with him?" Sam asked calmly. "Excuse my bluntness, but he hasn't been a man capable of answering for his actions for a long time."
"You're right about that," Steven replied after a short pause. "Give me Alice's address. I need to meet her. And call my lawyer. I have a very delicate matter to discuss."
***
Alice was stunned to see an imposing man in his fifties on her doorstep, his eyes locked onto her son's face. It was clear from his expression that he wasn't there for a social visit.
"Are you Alice?" Steven began without preamble.
"I am. What of it?" she asked cautiously.
"I have a business proposal for you, but it's more than just business." The man walked into the kitchen and sat down on a chair as if he owned the place. "My name is Steven. I'm Arthur's father. Yes, the man you were with a few years ago." Steven watched her reaction closely. "I also know you gave birth to twin boys. One is here with you, and the other is with an adoptive family. Correct me if I'm wrong."
"So far, you're right," Alice said, her eyes fixed on him. "What do you want?"
"I want you to give me my grandson. Not for nothing, of course. But first, I want to be certain he's mine."
"And what happens if it's confirmed?" Alice asked tentatively.
"I will adopt him or take guardianship as a blood relative. You know what Arthur is like; I have no hope for him. I want to raise a new heir while I still have the strength and health. You will be compensated for the child—anything you want."
"Are you saying you'll provide me with a home and a job?"
"I don't know about a job; I have no idea what your skills are. But with your own home, your life will be much easier. You'll be able to build a personal life because your hands won't be tied by the demands of raising a son. Don't worry about him; I won't leave the boy to fate. He'll get a top-tier education and a career in any field he chooses. All I need is your consent to hand him over."
"I can't just give up my own child," Alice said, tilting her head proudly.
"I understand," Steven nodded. "It's not easy. But believe me, it will be better for everyone."
Alice asked for time to think, though she already knew what her decision would be. Little Danny was a burden she didn't dare admit to herself. If Arthur's father was willing to provide such compensation, why not take the chance? When Steven called two days later, she nearly blurted out her agreement immediately.
In the end, two months later, the toddler became a full member of the family. Steven watched the new heir closely and was pleased. The boy was bright and incredibly curious. Seeing his grandfather focused on reports, the boy would sit across from him, mimic his expression, and utter "wisdoms" that nearly knocked the seasoned businessman off his chair.
"Look at that, my boy is going to outmaneuver me in business soon!" Steven would roar with laughter.
The man looked years younger and far more energetic. Where his head used to be filled with problems regarding the business or Arthur, the arrival of his precocious grandson forced him to focus on new goals. He found genuine joy in playing complex construction games with the boy, doing puzzles, riding bikes in the yard, and teaching him to swim.
He took pride in Danny's successes; the boy could memorize information on the first try and recall it perfectly when needed.
"The kid's a real genius, he'll leave everyone in the dust when he grows up," the doting grandfather told his associates.
He gave up all attempts to introduce Arthur to his own son. Arthur, perpetually high on his latest fix, showed no interest. Based on his reaction, he didn't even seem to grasp that he was a father or that his son was living under his father's roof.
***
Danny graduated from high school and college with honors, after which his grandfather offered him an internship at the company. The young man embraced the challenge and created a new cybersecurity product that was highly rated by the small and mid-sized business sector. Now, Danny was busy adapting it for major corporations.
Steven offered him the position of Head of IT. After a moment's thought, Danny accepted.
One evening, Danny overheard Steven talking to someone on the phone.
"Did you find him? I'd like to meet him while I'm still around. Yes, I understand, but I can't just give up on my own grandson, you see?"
"Grandpa, what are you talking about? What grandson?" Danny asked, standing in the doorway.
Steven realized the time for secrets was over. Seating his grandson across from him, he told him the family history. Danny listened, eyes wide.
"So I have a twin brother? Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I had no idea where to look for him. My assistant called recently; he knows where the second one is. His name is Justin. He grew up in an adoptive family with much humbler means than ours. He has no education beyond high school because he didn't want to study. He fell in with a bad crowd and dropped out. People say he's not stupid, though."
"You want to meet him? Will you introduce me?"
"I'm not sure yet," Steven replied. "I need to know him better before I claim him as kin."
"But he's my only brother!" the grandson protested.
"My boy, you have a brilliant education and a work ethic. From what I've learned, he's not exactly like that."
Danny went to his room and spent a long time thinking. He was genuinely happy to have a brother, but he had no idea what kind of trouble a close acquaintance might bring. Steven hadn't had the heart to tell him that Justin—the twin of his beloved Danny—had already spent time behind bars for petty theft, fighting, and disorderly conduct.
The last thing Steven wanted was for his worthy heir to start associating with types like Justin; people like that could easily lead a man astray. It was better to stay away.
But Danny, being an IT specialist, managed to track down his brother in secret. He began communicating with Justin, who quickly realized how he could profit from these family ties.
"You know, I always felt like I wasn't alone," Danny shared during one of their talks. "I'd get these feelings like something was happening, but not to me."
"I felt the same way," Justin lied.
He used his striking resemblance to his brother for his own ends, seeing Danny only as a tool.
"Let's head out somewhere this weekend. I know a great spot—guaranteed adrenaline rush," Justin said conspiratorially.
Danny, who had never done anything like that, accepted. When he pulled up to the meeting spot in his car, Justin looked very pleased.
"Good call on the car. Getting there on foot is a massive headache."
Justin rolled out a map and pointed to a spot in the woods.
"There's a site here. Not sure what it was, but it looks like some old strategic complex—tons of pipes and scrap metal. Stalkers usually hold competitions here, but no one will be around this week. Let's check it out."
"Stalkers?" Danny was surprised.
When he was a teenager, his grandfather had strictly forbidden him from going to places like that, saying those trips usually ended badly, especially alone. "If you fall into a hole, who's going to pull you out? You'll rot before they find you."
But curiosity won out, and Danny went without a second thought. He trusted his long-lost brother implicitly. Justin kept repeating that a real man couldn't live without adventure, mocking his twin's office job. Reaching the site, the brothers got out and hiked toward a derelict building in the middle of a forest belt. Everything seemed fascinating to Danny, and he walked along, looking around in awe.
Finally, they reached a massive hangar that looked like a scene from an apocalypse movie.
"This is incredible," Danny repeated, following his twin deep into the building.
Suddenly, Justin vanished, and Danny realized something was wrong.
"Justin? Where'd you go?"
Suddenly, something heavy crashed into him. As Danny lost consciousness, he felt himself falling into a pit. Justin's face flickered above him. Seeing the boy was out cold, Justin efficiently stripped off his jacket and boots, taking his phone and car keys.
"Sorry, bro," Justin said mockingly as Danny struggled to open his eyes. "Time for you to learn what it means to survive, not just live the high life. No hard feelings." He kicked Danny in the jaw, knocking him out again.
Justin slipped through a crack in the wall and was gone. He walked with a spring in his step, like a man who had just solved a difficult puzzle.
"Serves him right. While you were living like a king, I didn't even have enough to eat! Take that..." Continuing to talk to himself, Justin got into his brother's car, started the engine, and sped away.
He decided to return to Steven's house later so the old man wouldn't ask questions. To his horror, however, he saw his grandfather sitting in the spacious hall, reading a newspaper. Seeing his grandson, Steven set the paper aside.
"And where have you been, Mr. Adventurer? Couldn't you have called and warned Sam so I wouldn't worry?"
"What's there to worry about? I'm not a kid," Justin smirked.
At that, Steven suddenly pressed a buzzer on his desk. Two hulking men appeared immediately, grabbing the boy by the arms and pinning him.
"Grandpa, what the hell?" Justin struggled.
The older man walked up to him and looked into his face with mockery.
"Did you really think you could fool me, you son of a bitch? I know my Danny like the back of my hand! He would never act like that. Where is he?!"
"I am Danny," Justin wheezed.
The old man slapped him across the face.
"I know exactly who you are. You're my grandson too, but I didn't raise you! You reek of a prison rat from a mile away! Since you clearly know the language, here's my final word. I'll let you live, but you're going to give me my grandson back! Do you hear me? My real grandson! Not a filthy fake like you, or you'll regret the day you were born! Clear?!"
"Crystal," Justin croaked, and the old man gave the signal to release him.
"It's dark now, but tomorrow morning you're going out there and bringing Michael back. If you don't, God help you!"
***
Justin lay awake in a small room, wondering how Steven had known who he was from the first word. After much thought, he concluded that if the old geezer hadn't been a criminal himself, he never would have gotten this rich.
"And he tries to make Danny into some saint. Some holy family."
In the morning, Justin was forced to drive back to that forest under the watch of two thugs to find the abandoned building. To his surprise, Danny wasn't there.
"He couldn't have just walked out," Justin muttered to himself, wondering how his brother had escaped.
... The day had been specifically chosen so no one would be there. However, three days later, a phone call came in, after which Steven personally headed out with all his bodyguards. From the window of his room, Justin watched as several cars pulled up to the mansion three hours later.
"What the hell is going on?"
Danny was carried in on a stretcher. Walking beside him were a young man and a girl who looked no older than twenty. The girl looked around fearfully.
That evening, Steven looked into Justin's room.
"Take the money and get out, you little snake!"
"What happened?"
"What happened is that the world still has good people. By pure chance, a boy was there and carried Danny out on his back. And this girl, his sister, nursed my grandson while he was unconscious. He had a serious wound—it almost turned into blood poisoning—but that girl saved him. Danny will recover at home; I'm not risking his health. You take the money you did all this for and vanish from our lives!" Tossing a small envelope onto the table, the man gave him a look of pure disgust and walked out.
Justin didn't waste any time. He grabbed the envelope and ran. He knew that if he ever showed his face to his grandfather's or his brother's bodyguards again, he was a dead man.
"I think you two should come work for me," Steven suggested to the siblings. "Because of you, my grandson is alive and well, and I'd like him to have people around him I can trust."
The brother and sister looked at each other and nodded. "Okay, we'll think about it..."
"And you, my boy, get well soon," the man said to his grandson. "It was very lonely while you were gone. You're the one who's supposed to see me off when my time comes, not the other way around, right?"
"What's the rush, Grandpa? You've still got a long way to go!" Danny hugged the old man and leaned his head against his shoulder.
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