The Last Valkane

Chapter 1: Pre-Proposal

Chapter 1

Goya, Madrid, Spain

Wilson Enterprises

The sound of stepping heels could be heard along the hallway that led to the administrative quarters. Several rooms lined the hallway on both sides. She tilted her head up and stopped at the sound of a buzzing electronic machine. On both sides, at head height, were poles that ignited on sensing human blood. She recognized the meaning and stretched sideways. A hologrammic horizontal line went upwards and downwards five times, scanning her and her handbag. After passing the scanner, she laughed and placed her index and middle fingers on the door that marked the end of the hallway. A blue light portrayed an x-ray, four-sided image on the eye-height of the door. Her fingers were projected and a sign read "ACCEPTED". The door slid horizontally, paving way for her entrance into the administrative quarters. She turned left and proceeded to the last room. Without preamble, she placed her thumb on a circular knob and pushed it open. Before her was a large and executively decorated room. Leather chairs sat opposite each other on the sea-blue linoleum floor. A large cabinet positioned at the left end of the room, obviously for business documents and files. A refrigerator positioned at the right end of the room. at the middle end, was a large, rectangular table that had some files on the right side of it, some books on the left side of it and a big laptop in its middle. Behind the table sat a man suited up in a pitch-black tuxedo suit, a red tie knotted in the Windsor style and a red pocket filler to match. He looked up at her and stopped what he was doing immediately. "Who authorized you to barge into my office like that?" he asked with a stern look.

She ignored the question, threw her bag on a chair by her right and sat adjacent to it. "What's in the icebox?" she asked.

He relaxed into his chair and gestured towards the refrigerator. "See for yourself" he replied.

She stood up and in four strides, got to the refrigerator. After opening and scanning it, she drew out a bottle of Coca-Cola drink. She turned to him and sat on his laps. She took her hand to his hair and scattered it in a playful manner. "Workaholic. You'll die of work one day" she remarked.

"That will be after our wedding and child-rearing" he said and stroked her nose.

"When are you going to propose that?" she said rising from his laps and opening the drink. "You keep postponing it. Look Kade, time isn't gonna wait for us. We have to make hay when the sun shines. My parents are seeing our relationship as a joke" she lamented.

"I know Nora. I know. I need more time babe. That's why you see me working everyday and hour. I don't work to cause an interruption in our marriage or family life. I'm arranging some things" he pointed out.

"I do not want to disappoint my parents" she said in a sober tone. "Laura and Linda already disappointed them. I don't want to cause them another heartbreak"

He sensed what was coming next and stood from his seat, towering above her a little. He drew her into a warm embrace and stroked her hair. "It's alright Nora. I'll quicken things" he said and held her by the shoulder, looking into her eyes. "Trust me when I say this. We will be married before the year runs out"

A broad smile came to her lips. That smile that caught his heart when he first saw her. She wiped the traces of tears that involuntarily came out when he hugged her. "You really mean it? This year?" she asked with her cute eyes spelling curiosity.

He smilingly nodded and gestured to her drink. "It's getting hot. I won't spare you another bottle" he said and she chuckled.

She went back to the seat she kept her bag and sat sipping her drink. They chatted and laughed till 7pm when Kade stood up indicating his departure. She was feeling sleepy now and he half-carried her to the car waiting outside in the Enterprise's garage. He laid her in the back seat and sat in the passenger seat. Then, signaling his driver, they zoomed off.

Kade opened his room and collapsed onto the sofa. He had a long day today. Several official phone calls, firing, resigning and employing workers. Indeed, the last day of June was a strenuous day. He had made up his mind to marry Nora but he didn't want to rush it. He wanted to be loved by her family and love them as well. His mind went to a restaurant he had visited earlier on his way to work. There, he had seen a chef slicing some cooking items with ease. Not that it was unusual but the speed at which he sliced them was amazing. The knives just projected and retracted. He let it off his mind though. After all, it wasn't his restaurant. He stood up and turned on the Samsung LED TV in opposite the sofa he was sitting on. Not ready for much action, he selected National Geographic Wild, an educational geographic channel that enlightened the public mainly on animals. Soon, he slept off.

The sound of the ringing alarm jolted a weak and tired Kade out of his sleep. He moaned and stretched, reluctant to wake. He had had a dream that portrayed him shooting fire balls out of his hands. He chuckled at the illustration. Maybe he really was getting into movies these days. Most importantly, he had decided to propose privately to Nora. Their relationship had been great and it was time to drift into something committed. He jumped out of his king-size Simmons Beautyrest Mattress overlaid with two California King Bedsheets. His spacious room had features of both a bedroom and a sitting room combined. Golden artifacts, excellent cooling and heating conditions, comfortable furniture, fragrant air, name it, he had all the luxury he desired. The Wilsons had left a behind a fortune for him. He was found in a cave somewhere in the English Islands – so he was told.

Mr. Watt, son of the wealthy and notable business monarch, Wilfred, and his wife Sara were on a vacation and wanted to explore the British coasts. They came into an uninhabited island and searched the mountains. In a specially carved out cave, lay a baby. Watt was hesitant at first, but seeing his wife's curiosity and courage went and carried the baby. He was not shivering from the cold, neither was he crying for milk or water or food. He just stared at them with cute and innocent eyes. They looked at each other in surprise. The baby had a tattoo on his back which was also inscribed on his right shoulder. The tattoo consisted of an enormous dragon in two circles with runic symbols. They knew that the child was from an extraordinary source. Not wanting to leave the child there, they took him in and raised him as theirs. They never had a child throughout their matrimonial life but the child they named Kade was more than a child to them. From infancy, he had been a blessing but in the neighborhood and in business dealings. Their decisions were made in his presence and with his suggestions. On the day of his graduation from high school, they all had an accident of which he was the only survivor. He mourned for two years before assuming full responsibility of the Wilson Empire at age 17.

Now 27, he had efficiently handled the business which was now at its peak. Internationally, the Win Wilson Enterprises was known. He had not thought of marrying until he met Nora Wegner. A secretary of a multi-billion international company, she caught his heart with her intelligence and good manners. Today, as he prepared for work, the only thing that was in his mind was one thing – proposal to Nora.