Chapter 4 Slade to Herondale

Mr Calloway stood at a corner, bowing his head. "Your grandmother sent me undercover to be sure it was you."

"You mean you were only around all these years because you were watching me. You were never a homeless man," Allen blurted out. "This is unbelievable!"

"I've worked with the Herondales for years long before you were born and I was positive it was you," Mr Calloway said again, still bowing his head.

Just as Allen was trying to wrap his head around the whole thing, his grandmother's voice cut in.

"Bring it," she said to one of the maids. The maid rushed towards them with an opened box stretching it towards Madam Ophelia. She took out a black credit card with Herondale boldly inscribed in gold ink and handed it over to him.

"What is this?" He asked her, surprised, examining the black card with gold writings on it.

"This is an infinity card only owned by Herondales," she said. "It has seven billion dollars in it and it is all yours."

"Seven billion dollars!" Allen repeated trying to be sure he heard well. His grandmother just gave him a card that had seven billion in it. He couldn't remember the last time he had anything close to a thousand.

"You must be starving. The maids have prepared different meals for you to choose from. Perhaps we could talk it all over dinner," Madam Ophelia suggested, walking slowly and he followed.

They ended up at a large dining table, with varieties of food spread out on it. He gulped hard as his stomach grumbled. He didn't remember the last time Katherine let him eat such luxurious meals.

"Help yourself to as much as you can eat," Madam Ophelia suggested, with a smile.

Allen ate to his fill until his stomach could not accept any more food. Then questions rang in his head.

"Could you tell me more about our family," he pleaded with her.

Madam Ophelia took a deep sigh and bowed her head. "Your parents died in a fatal car crash when you were only ten years old but luckily you survived. Your body was not found at the scene so I had people looking for you," she revealed.

Allen could almost not remember anything from before. He only remembered being adopted by his foster parents. He felt bad that he could not spend time with his real parents.

"As you can see, I'm frail and old," she continued, cutting into his thoughts. "Someone needs to continue the family business."

"But if you give me as much as seven billion, what will be left for the company?" Allen asked, being considerate.

Madam Ophelia chuckled, gesturing at Calloway to brief Allen.

"Young master, each of our ten companies are worth over ten billion dollars each," Mr Calloway told him.

"Seriously!" Allen screamed. It was hard for him to believe. That was a lot of money.

"Mr Calloway will teach you but it's not just one company. We are the silvercrest group of conglomerates. The art gallery is just one of our many businesses," she revealed, leaving him in awe.

"Silvercrest! You mean we're multi billionaires?" Allen exclaimed, his palm slightly covering his mouth. There was no one who had not heard of Silvercrest and he wondered what he did for the universe to favour him so much in one day.

After dinner, the maids showed him to his room. It was the most spacious and luxurious bedroom he has ever had the chance to sleep in. As he collapsed on the large bed, thoughts of his newly found riches flooded his mind. Most importantly, he couldn't wait to tell José.

The next morning, Mr Calloway woke him up with a message. "We are to escort you for a wardrobe change."

Allen thought he was right. If he wants to fit into the rich, he should start with his clothes first as most of his old clothes were worn out. A luxurious vehicle was arranged to transport him to where he wanted to shop.

"This is the car we're going in?" Allen asked, his mind blown away just by looking at the Rolls Royce in front of him.

"It is yours, young master," Mr Calloway revealed and Allen almost jumped in excitement. He hurriedly jumped in it as they started their journey.

After a few minutes, the car stopped in front of the same store he had gotten the necklace for Katherine.

"This is another business of your family," Mr Calloway announced and Allen's mouth widened in shock.

"I know this place. So it is ours," he said again, still convinced that it was a dream.

Having bodyguards on black with him made passers by murmur, giving him too much attention and it made him uncomfortable. He still looked poor with his old clothes on so it was difficult for anyone to know he was not the same Allen.

"I think I'd be better off alone inside," he said. "I will be back."

"But young master, we can't let you out of our sight," Mr Calloway said, bowing his head. "Madam will not take it lightly if anything happens to you."

"I will be fine inside," He told them. "It is an order," he said again, and they obeyed him.

While inside, he headed for the clothes section. He had always admired those luxury clothes at the store. He was even more excited now that he could afford them and more.

He examined the clothes one after the other when a voice interrupted from behind him.

"Don't you have any atom of shame in you Allen?" a soft voice blurted out and he turned. To his surprise, Karina stood there, fuming at him. "What do you want here again?"

"I just came to get some clothes so if you'd excuse me," he said, totally ignoring her and walking away. Her trouble was the last thing he wanted.

"Stop right there Allen!" She roared. "Do you want to steal from us? Last I checked, you don't even have a penny to your name so how do you want to afford these expensive clothes," she said, laughing at him.

"I might not have any money but it's none of your business what I do here," he told her calmly.

"It's obvious you want to steal. Back off before I call the security on you. I think jail would even become your new home since you're homeless now," Karina said with a sneer, followed by a laugh.