Company Theft

Chapter 1 Caden Wing

  Black. That's all my eye's could see for miles. I walked into the church where the funeral was taking place. I saw the picture of the man I once knew as my grandfather, but now I didn't recognize him. I saw just a shell of my smiling grandfather that once showered my family and I in money.

Until he was caught stealing from his partner in business, Scarlet Industries. His money was taken away, so was his house and everything he owned. Since my family was supported by my grandfather, we lost everything as well. My mother and father went to College, but they never actually had to work. We never made any money of our own, and right before he was sentenced my grandfather hung himself. That's how I ended up here. Wearing all black and sitting In a church pew with my family next to me. Not many people showed up, and the ones who did weren't sad.

I knew because the only one in the church who was crying was my younger sister. She was old enough to understand that my grandfather was a thief, but she didn't care. She still loved him more than anything. After the service in the church. My family were the only people who bothered to go to the burial ground. My father wasn't paying attention to my grandfather being buried. He was to worried. To worried about where we were going to stay tonight. Our house was gone, and we have been living in a trailer since we lost our money. My father snapped out of his worried state when a black limo came riding up to the graveyard. A woman not dressed in black stepped out. As soon as she got out of the car. I recognized her. My entire family did.

The woman was Abigall Scarlet. The CEO of the company my grandfather stole from. She was... Young. Very young. She looked my age, and I turned only 19 two months ago. She was dressed in a blue skirt and white top that fit her perfectly. She had a blonde ponytail wrapped into a bun.

From my understanding Abigal's mother died from cancer, when she was 8 years old. Then when she turned 14 her father, Randy Scarlet, died from a car crash. Her father's company was left for her, but she was too young. The company was handed to John Scarlet, Randy's brother. John took the company, but wanted nothing to do with Abigall and her brother, Romeo. As a result she stayed in her mansion. Her brother and her were taken care of by their maid. Then when Abigall turned 18 she was given the company. 5 months after she created a partnership with Wing Trading Company, my grandfather's company. She realized she was being stolen from 6 months later.

As Abigall walked up to my family with the poise of a princess, she looked sad, but I payed no attention to this. I was more focused on the beauty of her appearance. Then I snapped back to reality, and finally thought of the obvious question.

Why is she here?

When she reached us, she extended her hand to my father. My father shook it politely.

"I know that I really shouldn't be here, but I heard that your family was having... trouble. So I was going to offer you a place to live. My house is a five story house with at least twenty bedrooms. Before you say no, I am also offering a job at the company for you and your wife," Abigall said. I was astonished. While I knew my father would never accept, I couldn't believe she offered. My father was about to say something. Before a word got out, he closed his mouth and swallowed hard. Then he opened his mouth to speak again, and what he said made my entire family do a double take.

"Yes," my father spoke, "I accept your offer. Thank you for being so generous. My family truly appreciates it. I know you said that you have arranged jobs for my wife and I, but is it possible to have my son work as well? I just don't want to inconvenience you, and I want to be able to pay off the debt my family will make, while living with you." I was surprised, and then angry. We're taking charity from the girl who put my grandfather in prison.

"Who said anything about debts. I am not making you pay for staying at my house. You're actually doing me a favor. Living there with only my brother gets lonely for both of us. I'm glad he will have some people to talk to. Oh! Regarding your son getting a job, I don't have a problem with it. I think it's a great idea," Abigall said. She wasn't going to make us pay. That's is I can't take it. There is no way some girl is going to let us stay in her house, and with no debt. I don't thinks so.

"I don't want a job working for someone like you. You might as well have murdered my grandfather. Then you come to his funeral, and act like nothing happened. Someone like you doesn't just offer something like this, so tell me what do you want with my family," I say in the rudest voice I could muster up. After seeing her face, I regretted it. Her face didn't look as happy as when I first saw her. Her face was full of sadness and understanding. I expected her to be mad. I didn't expect this.

"It's Caden, right?" She asked. I nodded in response. "I truly am sorry for your loss. I didn't want this to happen. Though you are right on one thing. My reasons are completely selfish. I do feel that I played a large part in his death. I think that if I do this it might help me be at peace with what happened to your grandfather." My father gave me a look that I would never forget. It was a look of pure and utter disappointment. I decided that it would be best if I stayed quiet. We made our way down to the limo, and we hopped in the back. I was sitting the farthest away I could get from Abigall. I watched as we entered the richest part of Los Angeles, and continued into the high end neighborhoods. The limo stopped when we arrived at the largest house in the neighborhood.

I have to admit it was a really beautiful house. It had trees and bushes. Then it was a split driveway with a fountain in the middle. Each tile leading to the front door had some sort of message. From 'Never give up to 'All life problems can be solved with chocolate.' I gave a small chuckle at that. Earning weird looks from everyone.

A man stepped towards the door of the limo, and opened it for Abigall. She thanked him. Then she continued towards the front door. As soon as we reached the fountain in front of the doorway, a young boy came running. He looked about my younger sister's age which was fifteen to sixteen. He hugged Abigall. Then I realized who the boy is. His name is Romeo, Abigall's younger brother. They talked for a moment then we proceeded into the house. A butler was there to open the door.

I stepped inside, and finally understood that I would have to live here for the next year... at least.