9 Chapter 9. The Orphan

18 years ago

"Order all the managers to do every product according to the design. I don't want any more mistakes. And one more thing, I don't want any rumors about Isabel, that man has to stay away from my daughter in law," said Gerald Winthrop giving orders to his PA Steven Juliandra. They were in the car from a formal party at a star hotel. Steven only nodded in understanding and took down all the orders of his boss who was sitting next to him.

"I will ask for an extra escort for Mrs. Isabel, Sir." Steven replied and was given a nod by Gerald. Suddenly their car braked so that Gerald almost crashed into the seat in front of him.

"Ah, what's wrong, why did you stop suddenly?" Stevan snapped at the driver in the car. Gerald straightened back up before finally asking the same thing.

"Sorry, Sir, but it looks like I hit someone." Gerald widened his eyes then looked at Steven who was just as surprised as he was.

"Steven, go checking out!"

"Yes, Sir." Steven and the driver immediately got out and walked to the front of the car. There were not so many lights on the street they were passing. Gerald watched from inside the car before Steven finally looked back through the rear windshield.

"Sir, there is a boy who was hit by our car." Gerald frowned. He nodded and also got out of the car. Gerald walked to the front of the car and saw a boy lying on the asphalt road with his bleeding elbows and head from being grazed by his car. Gerald went over and turned the boy's body. He looked very shabby and unkempt at all, his body was thin and his skin was pale.

"We'll take it to the hospital," said Gerald as he carried the little boy into his car. Steven followed his boss and opened the door. Gerald put the little boy in the back seat while Stevan sat beside their driver. Gerald went straight to the hospital to take the boy who was still unconscious.

Arriving at the private hospital, Gerald immediately put the boy into the emergency room. Since he was not seriously injured, the boy could be transferred to the treatment room. And Gerald ordered the Doctor to give the boy a private room. Gerald did not return to the house and instead, he sat on the sofa beside the boy's bed. Steven walked in after finishing hospital administration.

"Find out this boy's identity," Gerald ordered as he folded his arms.

"Yes, Sir," said Steven half looking down.

"James ... brother," murmured the boy softly. Gerald, who was still on his seat, finally stood up and heard the name more clearly. He looked at Steven and gave no expression except to ask with his gaze, who is James?

The next day he returned to the hospital but before entering the room, his PA Steven reported about the boys.

"What did you get?" asked Gerald. Steven nodded and handed Gerald a document.

"Sorry, Sir, the kid turns out to be... " Gerald frowned at his assistant who had stopped talking, hesitating to continue. He was still waiting for Steven to finish his explanation.

"He's Wilda Gotardo's son, Sir." Gerald slightly widened his eyes.

"Abimanyu Gotardo's grandson?"

"That's right, Sir," said Steven, nodding. Gerald looked at the documents Steven brought and everything he said is true.

"Wilda Gotardo Kim ... so he's the son of Kim MinJeong aka Micheal Kim." Gerald closed the document and gave it back to Steven.

"What happened?" Gerald asked as he drew closer to Steven.

"He is unmarried son, Wilda is only a second wife, his marriage was never been acknowledged." Gerald nodded in understanding

"And my son knows all that?" Steven nodded. Gerald swallowed bitterly many times.

"Let's go to the orphanage where he is being fostered, now," said Gerald suddenly

giving orders.

"Yes Sir." Gerald turned towards the exit of the hospital and decided to not wait until the boy he saved has conscious. Gerald headed for the car and several of his bodyguards followed to an orphanage. Arriving at the car, Steven sat next to his boss and was still answering a few questions about the boy.

"Then who is James?" Gerald asked when the car had driven halfway

"There is a boy in the same orphanage named James." Gerald turned his sight tohis PA.

"Does he have an older brother?" Steven shook his head.

"According to the report we had, they are just only raised by the same orphanage, James was taken by his foster parents a week ago, most likely he wanted to follow his friend that's why he ran away from them." Gerald nodded

Not long after, the car arrived in front of a house that was slightly into a village. The house is some distance from some of the surrounding houses. Gerald got out of the car along with another car filled with his bodyguards. While fixing his suits, Gerald entered with the escorts of his people in black suits. When he entered the house, he saw a few small children and toddlers were playing together. They looked very shabby and thin, neglected at all. Gerald didn't look long pause at the poor children, nor was the place was more like a warehouse than a house.

Gerald walked into the manager's office and found the owner of the orphanage. He ordered his bodyguard to hold him and tied it to a chair. After that, they were beating him a few times. He got cuts and bruises everywhere. For a while, he tried to scream but someone from behind held his jaw so he couldn't mutter any sound.

"Take the boys out!" Gerald ordered coldly to one of his bodyguards. The guard nodded once and immediately walked out and closed the office door again. They did not want the children to hear anything from the office. It would be sound very horrible.

"Tell me where you found the boy named Arjoona," asked Gerald standing in front of the owner of the orphanage who was already crying in pain beaten by his bodyguard.