Levi Monroe stood still in the abandoned house, still reeling from the intense encounter that just happened. The mafia men had finally left, leaving him alone with the man who introduced himself as Griffin Gluck and the other men in sleek black suits.
The atmosphere was tensed, and Levi didn't know what to do or what to say. He couldn't shake the image of the Mafia boss's humiliation at the hands of the mysterious men. Even more surprising was the fact that these strangers had not only defused the situation but all paid his debt, of his debt without asking for anything in return.
"Thank you for helping me with those things." He swallowed hard, his voice barely steady as he spoke. "I'm still curious about y'all's identity."
Griffin Gluck, whose presence excused a quiet authority, smiled warmly. He stepped closer, placing a reassuring and on Levi's shoulder.
"Master Monroe, things aren't always what they seem," he said, his voice gentle yet firm. His eyes, though weary, twinkled with secret knowledge.
Levi didn't know what he met. He raised his bows, confused and impatient and couldn't help but press further. "Look, I appreciate the help, but I need to know what's going on here? Who are you people?" He tried to maintain a respectful tone despite his growing frustration.
They were able to put up with the mafias, so who was he? They could easily eliminate him if he spoke to them harshly. He thought.
Griffin Gluck sighed, looking both amused and empathetic. "Patience, my Lord. You'd get to know about everything." He gestured to one of the suited men, who handed him a small, elegant
badge. The old man held it out to Levi. "This," he said, "is the symbol of your heritage. You are the rightful heir to the Monroe Consortium, the largest conglomerate in the world."
Levi stared at the badge, a mixture of disbelief and curiosity washing over him.
"This had to be a joke," he muttered, more to his own hearings. "I've struggled all my life, and now you come to tell me I'm some kind of billionaire heir?"
"It's hard to believe, I know. But your life has already changed. We've been searching for you since you went missing as a child and your parents are deceased now."
"Deceased?!" Levi felt a lump in his throat. He had been raised in the orphanage, never knowing his true origins. He remembered he was given a pendant by the orphanage staff with his surname crested on it, he thought there weren't any real significant. Now he was being told it was one of the most powerful names in the world. "What proof do you have?"
Levi voice cracked up slightly, he needed something concrete, something to ground his surreal experience.
Griffin Gluck nodded to one of the suited men, who promptly whispered in his ear. After a moment, Griffin smiled again. "Check your phone," he said simply.
Levi pulled out his phone and opens his messages. His eyes widened as he read the last notification: a deposit of fifty million dollars into his bank acct. His heart raced, and he could barely breathe. "This…this can't be real," he stammered. "Fifty million what?"
"Consider it as a small gesture to prove our sincerity. There's much more waiting for you." Griffin Gluck said with a small smile.
Levi was stunned into silence. The badge in his hand felt heavier now. He couldn't believe such fortune would be his.
"This badge is a symbol of the Monroe family. As you carry it, you have protected resources of the consortium at your disposal. No one will dare trouble you, not even the authorities." Griffin Gluck informed him.
Clenching the badge tightly, Levi nodded, a mix of emotions swirling within him. Relief, excitement, fear, and confusion washed over him. He had spent all his life struggling, taking off jobs and trying to make ends meet. The idea that he was in fact, wealthy be young his wildest dreams was almost too much to process.
Griffin Gluck, sensing Levi's turmoil, spoke gently. "I know this is overwhelming, but you don't have to make any decisions right now. The house of the Monroe's awaits. Your grandmother will be pleased to meet you, but we will respect your wishes. You can take your time."
Levi hesitate and they both shook hands. "I want to meet my grandmother. Knowing that she's alive is a thing of joy." Levi said, surprising himself with the firmness in his voice. "But not right now. I need time to think."
Griffin Gluck nodded in understanding. "Of course. When you're ready, you can contact us. Well be waiting." He handed Levi a card and an address. "Monroeville," he said. "Will be your residence."
Levi took the card, his mind racing with possibilities and questions. As he was about to leave, one of the suited men opened the car door for him. Levi hesitated for a moment, then nodded gratefully and got in. The ride home was silent, filled with Levi's thought swirling chaotically.
As the car pulled up to his apartment, Levi asked the driver to stop a block away he needed to collect himself before facing anyone else. Thank you," he murmured, before stepping out of the car.
"Remember, Master Monroe," Griffin Gluck said, after the car window rolled down. "You can reach out anytime."
Levi nodded, then turned and walked towards the apartment his girlfriend owned. His mind was a whirlwind of emotions. Could he really be the heir to such a fortune? Why had he been lost all these years? There were so many questions and the answers seemed just out of reach.
As he opened his apartment door, he was met with the sound of laughter. It was his girlfriend, her voice light with carefree. Levi's heart sank. He was too drained to confront her, especially after everything he had just learned. He decided to head straight to bed, hoping to find some peace.
But as he walked down the hallway, he heard another voice; a man's voice. Levi's blood ran cold. He rushed to the bedroom and threw open the door, only to find his girlfriend in bed with another man. The shock and betrayal hit him like a tidal wave. He told there, frozen, as they scrambled to cover themselves. His girlfriend didn't even try to explain, and she flung her hair nonchalantly and all the emotions of the night; relief, confusion and excitement, crashed down in him and all he felt at the moment was a hollow emptiness.
Without a word, Levi turned and left the room. He needed air, space to think. The fact that his girlfriend didn't even bother saying a word made him mad furious. Everything in his life had changed in a matter of hours, and he had no idea what to do next. Levi pulled out the badge and card. He stared at them. What next step was he going to take? His grandmother, was now the right time to meet her?