The Last Victim #JustWriteIt

CHAPTER TWO

Fixing his collar and straightening out the few creases on his red t-shirt, Jay made his way down to breakfast. He always got up early. Unlike other children of rich people, just like his dad was, a business tycoon, he wasn't a little bit spoiled. This was partly a result of the magnificent upbringing of his mother and partly the competent and inspiring character of his father.

As he stepped into the dining room, he was greeted by the brilliant aroma of his mother's exceptional cooking. Likewise, this was one of his mother's old habits. Even though there were about half a dozen cooks in the kitchen itself, Emma Aston believed in cooking for her loved ones herself. She managed to do it for either one of the dishes at breakfast, lunch and dinner too. She was almost as steadfast to this practice of hers as Jay was to getting up early and exercising before breakfast. And she handled her job skilfully. Jay found his seat and settled down. His dad was present at the table. His mother was not. She was probably in the kitchen whipping up something nutritious for the family. Helping himself to some grape juice, Jay addressed his father who was busy reading the morning paper.

'Morning, Dad! What's up?'

At the same time he saw his mother coming in followed by a few servants carrying tray laden with breakfast goodies.

His father set down the paper smiled and then replied, 'Well I am doing great! And I have some great news for you!'

Jay frowned at his dad. 'You do?'

His dad smiled and asked, 'Well aren't you going to ask what it is?'

Jay shifted his questioning gaze from his mother to his father. His mother stifled a smile at his puzzled look. Jay frowned. His parents did an awesome job always making up different things for him to guess. Here was another one. Great.

'Why don't you have some breakfast first, dear?' His mother asked him.

Jay took and transferred a pancake to his plate and looked up again. Picking up his knife and fork, he shrugged at his father, 'So what is it?'

Though he had addressed his father, it was his mother was the one who replied, a slight smile forming on her pretty face. 'Jay! I don't know how you would take this, but we would be a taking a little holiday.... Obviously we had been to numerous places, but this is going to be a bit different. London. Actually, more like, the edge of London. Just for a short while. Not more than a year. So what do you think?'

Jay stared at her, obviously too lost for words to come up with a reply immediately. 'Oh!' was all he could manage at the moment. 'Well, that is......... unexpected!.' He finally decided. His mother let out a laugh at his lost expression.

'Jay!' She waved a hand in front of him. 'Are you still with us?'

'What? Oh yes.' Jay muttered returning to his previously abandoned breakfast. He played with it for a while absentmindedly and then questioned his parents again. 'Anyways, what with the, you know sudden plan? Is everything Ok? Because I still have my studies going on, Dad!' This time it was his father who answered him.

'Yes, Jay! Everything is Ok. You remember that recent project I was talking to you about the other day? It is on the suburbs of the London, next to a marsh. That place is a large stretch of unused land but depicts real beauty all year around. However, it has remained deserted for over 10 years now. A few other businessmen along with me decided to invest in the place to revive it back to life. The work going on there is almost complete. We are going to go there and inspect for a while. I am sure you would love it! As for your studies, that's not an issue. There's a state university well known there. You can enrol and continue your business education!'