The Prince

Part 36

"Do you mind telling us what happened today?" Noah attacked Skye the moment they congregated in the kitchen where Tsukasa was cutting up fruit for them.

"It's my grandmother," he sighed, unable to see a way out of the situation. "She's trying to teach me a lesson."

"Well, could she maybe only teach you a lesson? Where am I going to find three years' tuition if this bombs, and trust me, this will bomb," Noah said in a panic, turning to Tsukasa who'd been silent throughout.

"It's right in the middle of exams as well. We're never going to be able to plan everything and have it ready in time while writing our exams. It's impossible," he shook his head looking slightly perturbed.

"Don't worry, I'll make this work somehow, you two don't need to get involved" he rubbed his forehead thinking of who to turn to first. Even though Hollard had said everyone was sworn off helping him, he was sure that there was one soft target that would help.

The next day Skye took the bus home, aware that Hollard was lurking somewhere near him, out of sight, in case he was needed. This frustrated him more than anything. He knew that when he was younger someone was always following him around and he'd become used to having the men around, but as soon as he'd stepped into high school, he'd wanted more freedom from the family and refused to go anywhere if he was being followed.

Now he was back to having an annoying tail that could pop out at any moment like a temperamental snake.

"Dad, Dad!" He called out as soon as he'd kicked off his shoes. "Dad, this is serious, where are you?" He watched his fathers appear looking concerned.

"What is it Little One? Are you hurt?" Jackson immediately grabbed him into a bone-crushing hug.

"If I wasn't hurt before, I think I may be now. Hi Dad," he kissed Jackson's cheek before going to the lounge. 

"We have a problem with Grandma," he started as soon as they sat down with him.

"Oh, we heard," Raymond looked at him with pity. "Is there any way we can help?"

"Wait, aren't you going to put an end to this? Why are you offering help as if there's no way out of this, Dad?" He turned to Jackson. 

"Well, the thing is, your Grandma has laid down the law and you know what she can be like. But we'd be happy to point you in the right direction," he tried to cheer Skye up.

"And you're not concerned that my grades would drop or that I'd have to pay three years' tuition to the school?"

"Son, we'd help you if we can, but your Grandma pulled in a few promises and tied us all down," Raymond admitted in embarrassment. He'd never imagined that his mother would trade in favours, but she had sworn every member of the family to follow her word like law for the next few months. 

"Some parents you are," he groaned getting up. "I'm off to Granddad to see if he can help. He's the only sensible one in this family anyway," he threw at his fathers turning to leave.

Some time later Skye knocked on his grandfather's front door as the rain came pelting down. Great, now he was going to get soaked on his way home. This was not his day, he thought miserably waiting for the door to open.

"Skye? What are you doing here?" Jesse opened the door to let him in. 

"Hi Grandad," Skye smiled glad for the warmth of the house. He could feel his fingers tingle as they warmed up. 

"You must be here about your Grandmother?" Jesse asked handing him a cup of coffee.

"Not you too? Doesn't anybody see how irresponsible this is? Come on Grandad, you have to help me here, please?"

"I wish I could Squirt, but your Grandma called in a favour, so my hands are tied."

"Why is she doing this? Does she want me to fail?" He asked miserably. If his grandfather couldn't help, then nobody would.

"Skye, your grandmother loves you more than anybody in this world, she has her odd ways of doing things, but she'd never give you anything knowing where failure was the only outcome," he led Skye to the sitting room.

"Your family doesn't speak about it a lot because to them it's the most natural thing in the world, but coming from the opposite side of town, I know some of the limitations of the training we had given you." He smiled at his grandson who still had his unhappy frown.

"You're grandmother is preparing you for what is going to come, Skye. You've been hiding from it your whole life and we've been happily ignoring it with you, but you have to realise the position you're in, son. You are the heir to two major companies and whatever insanity your family has saved for you and you need to be prepared for the way things change."

"Normal kids don't have to go through this growing up. What am I supposed to learn from planning a ball that will help me in the future?"

"Don't let this one get you down, Squirt. It's a test, that's all and you've never failed any test that I know of, or am I wrong?" He grinned trying to cheer him up.

"I suppose you're right, Granddad," he sighed miserably, resigning himself to his fate. "I just wish that Grandma would explain exactly what it is that I'm supposed to learn." Groaning, he got up to leave.

"Do you want me to take you back?" Jesse asked as Skye pulled on his coat.

"No, I'll ask Hollard to do it. Since I'm being taught about my legacy, I might as well make full use of it."

"That's my boy," Jesse clapped him on the back, watching him make a call. Within seconds a black sedan pulled up in front of the house and Hollard jumped out with an umbrella in his hand, hurrying toward Skye.

"I take it that you've decided to honour your Grandmother's wishes?" Hollard looked at Skye in the rearview mirror. He'd been silently steaming since he got in.

"It's either that or admit defeat and I'm not about to let one little old lady get me under. Now I only have to figure out how to do it," briefly closing his eyes to think, before they shot open again. "Can you help me Hollard?" He asked in the hope that there may be a quick fix to this.

"I'll help where I can, but I'm still your grandmother's secretary." he smiled encouragingly. "Don't worry Skye, you have all the resources of Dealer and Zenith pooled together at your disposal, you only need to speak to the right people."

"Thanks, Hollard. Even though you're part of this crazy scheme, it's good to know you're around."

"Anything for my young master," he chuckled glancing at Skye.

"Hollard, please stop the master and sir thing, it's making me uncomfortable."

"I'm only poking fun, although I'll stop calling you master." He watched as Skye cast his glance at the scenery going by.

"Big load of good that will do," he morosely mumbled.