Mr. Azure(Part 2)

Mr. Azure seemed unusually quiet, sipping his coffee occasionally and looking out the window as the suburbs flew past. The tension in the car was at its highest, and I couldn't shake the feeling that this meeting was more than just a casual breakfast to discuss business. Every now and then, he would glance at me, as if trying to gauge my thoughts or perhaps waiting for me to break the silence.

"We're here not just to drink coffee, but to talk freely, away from the eyes and ears of the city," he said, his voice calm but carrying an underlying seriousness. "I want to understand your vision, Alex, and see how it aligns with my own."

The slight chill of the morning air did little to cool my nerves, but it was clear that this meeting could set the tone for our future collaboration—or confrontation.

Mr. Azure kept glancing over, his excitement barely contained, while I struggled to keep my eyes open.

"Alex? Are you not curious?" Mr. Azure asked, his voice tinged with anticipation.

I looked at him through half-lidded eyes, stifling a yawn. "Guess I am," I replied noncommittally.

"Really?" He sounded disappointed, as if expecting more enthusiasm.

I straightened up a bit, trying to muster some energy. "I'm curious as to why we couldn't save this for around noon," I said, hoping he'd sense my need for a few more hours of sleep.

Mr. Azure's smile didn't waver as he turned his gaze back to the road. "We're visiting the place where the Azure fortune was started," he revealed, his voice filled with pride.

The announcement should have sparked more interest, but the early hour weighed heavily on me. However, knowing the significance of the destination, I braced myself for what was to come, curious about the roots of Mr. Azure's empire yet wishing the timing had been more considerate.

I vaguely recalled that it all began back in the 1600s when the Azure family led a small French colony here. There was this tea shop, a remnant left behind by the British after they pulled back. It was famous for its unique teas and brewing techniques, and royal treasures that mysteriously disappeared, never to be found. Rumor had it that the Azure family had a hand in the disappearance of these valuables, using the profits from the secret sales to lay the financial foundation for what would eventually become the towering Azure Group. Mr Azure even got rid of his own brother to take over.

Why were we here, why now?

"Is the tea shop still here?" I asked, curiosity piqued.

"How do you know about the tea shop?" Mr. Azure raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised.

"My dad had me study many people as a kid," I explained. "You were one of them. Plus, a partner's history isn't something I should be ignorant about."

"So this is how you're earning points with me, huh?" Mr. Azure laughed. "No one I know really knows how this money started being made. Right now, the tea shop is being transformed into a history museum. I donated it because it's meaningful to history. Thanks to that, I don't have to spend a dime keeping up with it anymore."

"If it's a museum, is your history there as well?" I asked, intrigued by the thought.

"Would I leave the fact that I come from a line of privateers on record?" Mr. Azure retorted with a smirk.

"Your family stole the tea and everyone knew," I pointed out.

"Small thefts are criticized and labeled as bad, yet big crimes often get overlooked. Do you know why this is?" Mr. Azure posed the question, turning it into a teaching moment.

"Because it's hard to mess with a big thing," I responded, trying to grasp the full scope of his implication.

"No, it's because these big thefts are only done by those who hold legitimate power. If you repay some of the stolen money, people will often look the other way," Mr. Azure explained, revealing the collusion between business and politics, highlighting a dark truth about power dynamics.

"Then if you stole the tea—"

"Yes, it was shared among the powerful people. With that money, my ancestors started a factory and a small company. They barely had time to count how much money they were making back then. Generation after generation invested all they had to expand the company; now it's all about making sure nothing messes it up for a hundred more years," Mr. Azure said.

"Then did you part with your brother to save the Azure Group?" I asked. It was an inflammatory question, yes, but if he was capable of turning his back on his family, he was capable of betraying me.

"You even know about that? I did it to survive," Mr. Azure sighed. "It was a different time. Back then, my brother was in a higher position than me as a manager. The Azure Group was the target of many overseas, so it was either me or him. There was no way I'd let the Azure Group be forcefully acquired by outsiders, so I sold my brother off as tribute."

I can't tell if that was greed or self-preservation or just the need to protect. I mean, a betrayal was still a betrayal. "Interesting."

"Would you sell your own blood family to protect the trust?" Mr. Azure asked.

"In a heartbeat," I said without hesitation. "I don't have any children so I can't speak for that, but I'd sell everyone in my family very quickly to be rid of them."

Mr. Azure looked impressed. "Including Jasper?"

"He isn't blood and he's not valuable enough yet for anyone with real power to care about," I said.

Mr. Azure spent a few seconds in thought. "I guess he does fly under the radar. No way a common street cop would even understand what we do."

"Exactly, it'd be a complete waste of time," I said. As harsh as that sounded, it was incredibly true and the only reason people haven't come for him already.

"Here we are," Mr. Azure announced as we pulled up outside a large colonial-style home. The building exuded an aura of antiquity, its architecture reminiscent of the 1700s, though it was well-maintained and imposing.

Mr. Azure led me past the guards, and we entered the building without any hassle. The museum was quiet, devoid of visitors at this hour, with only the night guards still present. One of them greeted us before opening a heavily padlocked door that led to a staircase descending into the basement.

Descending the stairs felt like stepping back in time, similar to leafing through my grandfather's old albums. It seemed like a place where Mr. Azure and his ancestors had stored their memories from childhood.

"This is quite the collection," I remarked, glancing around at the myriad of artifacts and old photographs that decorated the room.

"Not even my daughter has seen this place," Mr. Azure commented casually.

"What does that mean?" I asked, sensing a deeper implication in his words. His statement suggested that this visit held more significance than a simple tour and history lesson. Not to mention we haven't discussed any business at all.

"It means that I regard you as the golden child I've always wanted and a successor," Mr. Azure explained, his voice echoing slightly in the vast, artifact-filled basement.

"Oh, should I call you dad then?" I joked, turning my attention back to the aged pictures spread across the table.

"You know, most people would be kissing my feet by now just because I acknowledged them," Mr. Azure muttered under his breath, a hint of amusement in his tone.

"I'm not most people. And what's there to kiss your feet over? More work being pushed onto me?" I scoffed, my gaze still fixed on the black and white photos from the 1920s. It was striking how much Mr. Azure resembled his great-grandfather.

"Can I adopt you then?"

"Sure, whatever."

Mr. Azure laughed heartily, the sound resonating off the stone walls. "I was going to do a whole big ceremony too, but I figured you'd find it too childish."

"You were right to think that. I don't understand all that extra stuff," I replied, my interest piqued by an old leather-bound journal.

"I'll announce the adoption on Monday then," Mr. Azure said suddenly, catching me off guard. I thought he was joking.

"Your daughter? Is she okay with that?" The last thing I wanted was a succession fight. I'd heard enough stories about young heirs ending up disabled or scarred for life from such conflicts.

"Fortunately for you, she'd rather things be this way so she can stay with her dumb boyfriend. I swear the man has had several lobotomies. Just make sure you take good care of those two, and it won't be much of a hassle, except for a few annoying calls," Mr. Azure sighed, shaking his head slightly.

"That's-"

"And we'll do a peaceful father-son partnership on Media City," he added, as if it were an afterthought.

"Is me being your son the only way you'd be comfortable with that decision?" I asked, trying to gauge his sincerity.

"No, like I said earlier, you're the child I've always wanted. Let's sign papers and make some calls," Mr. Azure said, standing up and stretching his back slightly.

"What I meant was-"

"Even if I wasn't planning on adopting you, I'd still find a way to partner on this." That was all the assurance I needed.

"Let's do this then." I smiled at him.

The process involved getting notarized statements from both sides expressing our desire for the adoption and sending registered letters to notify my parents and Mr. Azure's adult daughter. These parties had to be informed, but they had no rights or input into the process.

Mr. Azure, being who he was, managed to set everything up to be approved by the next morning over the phone. "Well, son, let's get you back home. After all, we need to be ready for your debut. Make sure to rest well this weekend. It's only up from here," he concluded, a rare softness in his voice as we headed back to the car.