Eizan went home by himself and got a slightly depressed look as he entered. The mess inside was obvious. Pinned on the walls all over were pictures of different people with documents hanging underneath them. He had been gathering information on everyone who had been following him. He stared at a photo on the wall and then looked around at the room that was completely trashed with food wrappers and empty drink bottles and cans. He let out a long sigh before sitting down at his computer. After several hours he swept the laptop onto the floor angrily. “God damn it. Theres nothing here.” He stood up and started ripping the documents and pictures off the wall angrily. “No matter how much information I collect it’s all a dead end.” After staring at the mess on the floor he looked towards the entrance to his apartment. “I need to get some fresh air.”

It was dark as he slowly made his way down the steps to his apartment building. He walked in front of a grey car that was parked on the street. He stared at the driver for a few seconds before making a rude gesture and walking off. The man in the car sat the dumbfoundedly for a few seconds before starting his car and slowly following behind him. Eizan hadn’t been able to get rid of this guy so far. The man had been warned about his antics and was somewhat immune to it. Plus, he really needed the money. Eizan even tried to bribe him to leave at one point But, the man laughed and told him that he was told to report any bribes and his employer would double it.

Eizan slowly walked by the orphanage near his house and got a small smile on his face. He could see that the lights were on and that the children inside had happy looks on their faces. He got a small smile on his face. “The place looks a lot better. I’m glad the old demon stuck to his word.” He paused for a few seconds and continued to walk slowly. Right when he was about to make it to the corner of the block he stopped. He mumbled to himself. “It couldn’t be.” He shook his head as if trying to clear his thoughts. He stared off into space for a few seconds. “I wouldn’t put it past him. Is this whole damned thing a test? It’s the only thing that makes sense. Barely anyone knows of my existence and my shell company was almost perfect. Only someone like him would have the resources and intelligence to figure it out. It only leaves one conclusion.” He turned and walked towards the grey car that had been following him. He walked up to the driver’s door and tapped on the window.

The man cracked the window and asked. “Can I help you with something?”

Eizan chuckled. “Shut the hell up you piece of garbage. Scum who would follow a teen around for money are the worst. I wonder how you sleep at night. By the way I sent your wife a letter letting her know what you have been up to for the last few days. Just tell your employer I’ll be at his office in the morning and he better have a good explanation for all this or I’ll make him pay.”

The man sat in his car and watched as Eizan walked away. His face was pale and he gulped. “That kid is nuts. Why the hell did I even accept this job.” He immediately picked up his phone and called someone. He talked to the man on the other end of the line for a few minutes before slowly leaving the area. He didn’t bother to follow Eizan any longer. His employer told him it wasn’t needed anymore. He drove towards his house at a high rate of speed hoping to intercept the letter before his wife got it. Little did he know Eizan never sent the letter in question. He was just messing with him.

Eizan was walking back from the store with a small bag when his usual bodyguard in a brown suit approached him. Eizan got a small smile on his face as he watched the man walk towards him. “Aren’t you supposed to stay hidden?”

The man started to chuckle. “Why would I? You have known I’m following you for years.”

Eizan got a wry smile on his face. “So, why break your cover now?”

The man pulled out a cigarette from a pack he removed from his pocket. He lit it and slowly took a puff. “I think you know why.”

“So, the Gramps wants to see me?”

The man shook his head. “Actually, he wanted to inform you that you passed the test. The company is yours as soon as you graduate college. He already set up the procedures. He said he’s relinquishing everything to you whether you like it or not.”

Eizan frowned. “You’re making it sound like I don’t have a choice.”

The man shrugged. “He told me to tell you that you can do what you want with the company. He frankly doesn’t care what you do with it. He did say he was taking a rather substantial severance package though.” He started laughing. “It’s just like that old man to leave everything to me.” He tipped his hat. “Well, this is the last time I’ll be following you kid. Good luck with everything.”

Eizan tilted his head to the side. “Are you quitting?”

He got a small smile on his face. “Yup, I started living with this pretty little thing a while ago. She hated me at first but lately we’ve been getting along great. But following around a punk like you has been getting in the way. Plus, this little stunt the boss pulled has made us both mad. So, we decided to quit and travel to find our place in the world.”

Eizan seemed lost in thought for a second. “Wait a second are you talking about Alicia?”

The man started to chuckle. “You always were a sharp kid. How’d you figure it out?”

“Damn, good catch old man.”

Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

“Hey I’m not that old I’m only 35.”

Eizan chuckled “That’s old to a kid like me.” He had a mischievous smile on his face. “Honestly though it was just a guess. She’s the only one I could think of that would be privy to that old bastard’s plans.”

The man burst out laughing. “Yeah, he sure is a prick.” He got a serious look on his. “But I do agree with the lesson he was trying to teach you. You are too arrogant kid. You may not realize how many times I’ve rescued you.”

Eizan smiled. “Eleven times if I remember correctly.”

The man got a strange look on his face and shook his head. “If you knew, why are you still causing problems?”

Eizan shrugged. “I can’t help it.” He got a big smile on his face. “But thank you. You have been a big help. By the way what’s your name?”

The man started to chuckle. “You never tried to find out who I was?”

Eizan got a wry smile on his face. “Honestly.” He stared at the old man in front of him for a few seconds. “I never really cared until now.”

The man frowned. “Really. Do I matter so little to you?”

Eizan chuckled. “Yup. But…” Eizan got a mischievous smile on his face. “Now that you are dating Alicia I need to know.”

The man stared at him dumbfoundedly. “Oh yeah. Are you threatening me kid?”

Eizan just kept staring at him with the same fake smile. “I’m not threatening you… Yet.” The man raised an eyebrow. “It’s more like an insurance policy. I’ve grown rather fond of Alicia and I only want what’s best for her.”

The man burst out laughing. “It’s Mark Sliger. Happy now. But I have to ask. Why ask me my name? I’m sure you could find out if you really wanted.”

Eizan chuckled. “I could. But I was just wanting to know if you would lie, Frank Maurer.”

Frank froze. No one knew his real name. He gave up that name almost ten years ago. Alicia didn’t even know his real name. He gave up that name for good reason. He was sure even Carter didn’t know his real name. Frank was special forces for the United States and had made many enemies in his younger years. He was too good at his job and had been in many conflicts across the world. Some of his actions had harmed certain world leaders and they would do anything to find him. When he retired at the age of twenty-six, he had used every tool at his disposal to disappear. He assumed a new name and never thought he would be caught especially by such a young boy.

Eizan started to laugh when he saw the look on Frank’s face. “Don’t worry I’m sure I’m the only one in the whole world who knows your real name. You really did a good job covering your tracks. But from people like me it’s almost impossible to hide. I actually did you a favor a little while ago.”

Frank furrowed his brow. “A favor?”

Eizan smiled brightly. “I used every tool at my disposal to destroy all evidence of your existence online. I read about everything you did in the past Frank. It was some pretty heavy stuff if I do say so myself. I’m glad you got out of that life. You probably would have ended up dead.”

Frank looked completely confused. “Why would you go through all that trouble?”

“After I met Mio, I decided to do background checks on everyone around me. That’s when I figured out who you really where. You were almost impossible to do a background check on. It all looked legit on the surface but something just felt off. I couldn’t have your enemies tracking you down and harming me or her in any way. Besides, how could I let my favorite body guard get wrapped up in all that nonsense again. Especially after you went through so much trouble to get out of that life.”

Frank sighed. “You really like to stir up trouble kid.”

Eizan chuckled. “I’ve been told. Well, it’s good talking to you Mark Sliger. Have a good life with Alicia.” Eizan turned and stared to walk away.

Mark formerly Frank was shaking his head. “You too kid.” Mark turned and started to walk in the other direction with a slightly amused look. “That kid is really a monster.” Ding. Mark looked down at his phone with a surprised look. He turned back to look at where Eizan was supposed to be still walking away and was surprised to see he wasn’t there anymore. He looked down at his phone seeing the notification. “Boy I had enough money. Where the hell did, he even get that amount. It’s almost like.” He looked up and was staring at the space where the young boy was supposed to be. He shook his head. “No way. He couldn’t have been playing us, right?”

Meanwhile Eizan had made it back to his apartment and collapsed on his bed breathing heavily. “Damnit, I shouldn’t have run that far.” He burst out laughing. “I wish I could have seen the look on his face.” He kept laughing as he laid on his bed. He slowly sat up and walked towards his book case. He slowly reached behind the book case and grabbed something from behind it. He pulled out a small device with a wire dangling from it. “I’m tired of you always listening to me. So, for now goodbye.” He dropped the device on the ground and smashed it. He then walked across the room and picked up a small lamp. He smashed it on the ground and picked up another small device. He dropped it and smashed it too. He then walked over to his bed a plopped down on it. He let out a long sigh. “I’m tired of these stupid tests. Did he really think I wouldn’t notice.”

In truth Eizan had figured out it was a test from the very beginning. Yes, it was all an act. He knew he was being watched and listened too. Even Mio was clueless. But his stupid grandfather had been testing him in various ways since he was a small child. There is no way he wouldn’t have realized it almost immediately. He knew that if he didn’t go along with this whole ploy by his grandfather, he would just keep testing him. Also, he was having fun playing his role. He knew Mio was unhappy but he also knew they couldn’t keep living together. It wasn’t appropriate at all. That was part of the lesson his grandfather was trying to teach him. He didn’t know what the reason the whole test was about at the beginning. It was all about doing whatever it took to take care of the ones you loved. Even if it meant not being right next to them the whole time. It was also made to make him realize that his living situation with Mio wasn’t necessarily appropriate. Plus, it allowed him to exercise his investigative skills and he got a free overseas trip out of it. He had to keep up the act the whole time but he found that fun too. Maybe Carter figured out that he was acting but he really didn’t care if he did.

The other reason was. He reached over and picked up a picture of Mio that was on his nightstand. “I fell, too hard and too fast for you.” He chuckled. “I barely know anything about you and you barely know anything about me. Heck even my only family barely knows anything about me anymore.” He chuckled. “If only they knew what I was really doing in this room for the last year.”