Chapter 13

Melody opened the door and Smith stepped in. She shut the door and they both walked to the living room and stopped. "good evening, boss". Smith greeted. Melody just nodded and took a seat.

"Have a seat, Smith. You don't have to wait for me to tell you, you are always welcomed here". She said and Smith smiled at her before taking a seat opposite Melody.

"You said there was something of mine you would like to return to me in your message, what is it?" she asked.

Smith puts his hand into his coat's pocket and brought out a small black and gold box and extended it to her. She took the box and scrutinized it for a while trying to remember where she might have seen it before.

After a few seconds had gone by a memory flashed in her head. She remembered seeing something similar in her father's study once. Before he locked it away he told her that one day she will be the one watching over it but he did not go into detail about it.

Back then she was only a child and did not understand what her father was doing not even when he asked for her fingerprint for the safe which he used to lock it up.

Returning her focus to Smith she asked, "What is this?" Smith looked at her and smiled before answering, "It is the seal of the Nova clan. Anyone in possession of it gets the full support and loyalty of the members of the clan".

"Whoever has it gets full control of the Nova clan businesses. Your father's businesses. He would also get control of the underworld forces operating under the Nova clan". He stopped and looked at her for a while and continued.

"Melody, you are the rightful heir to your father's empire, the rightful heir of the Nova clan accept this and take your rightful place on the throne that has always been yours. It is time the clan gets to know that George Nova's daughter is still alive". He said.

"What you are saying is that no one has full control of the Nova clan, not even my uncle, Jacob Nova?" Melody asked.

"Not even him. Everyone will listen to you after you meet them during the weekend". Smith responded.

The room got quiet for a minute with none saying a word "I accept it. But tell me, how did you get the seal?" Melody asked breaking the silence in the room.

"The night of the incident, Mr. James went into the study and took the box. He left the main mansion that very night to find me and handed it to me after that retired". Smith replied.

Melody was at once surprised, "Butler James gave it to you and then retired!" Melody said and Smith nodded. "Why did he retire?" she asked.

"He blames himself for your death. He said you were right under his nose and he failed to see it coming and failed to protect you, he was no longer fit to be called a butler. I understood how he felt because I too felt the same way back then". Smith explained.

"Did you tell him about me?" she asked.

"No. I am the only one who knew about your being alive. No one else". Smith replied.

"I want to meet him. Both of you are the only people that can still call family". Melody said and Smith nodded in agreement.

"I will let him know the whole truth then". Smith said. Melody smiled at him as her hands subconsciously started playing with the box in hand.

"Thank you, Smith, for everything you have done for my family and me in particular". She said with a smile.

He smiled back at her and rose to his feet. " I will take my leave now. Take care of yourself". He said and started walking towards the door.

********

At the Frost mansion, Damian was sitting in his study and going through some documents he brought home from work when his housekeeper sister Beatrice knocked on the door and came in shortly.

"Young master". She greeted.

"Why are you here, sister Beatrice?" he asked without looking at her.

"Mr. Reign and Mr. Asher are here to see you". She informed. "Let them in". He said and the woman bowed and left right after.

Soon the door was pushed open and Ezekiel and Lloyd came in and sat across him. He stopped what he was doing and focused on them. "What did you find?" he asked.

Lloyd dropped a file on the desk and Damian picked it up and opened it. The file contained some documents and old photos of Melody. " Where did you get this?" he asked again.

"From the information, we gathered long ago about all of Diana's friends. Miss Nova was one of those". Lloyd replied and Damian nodded in remembrance.

He puts the file aside and turned to Ezekiel, "What about you?"

"Something big is going on down there.". Ezekiel said and everyone's attention was now solely on him to hear what he has to say.

"It's about the Nova clan. I heard that Shadow, the right-hand man of late George Nova has returned and he is calling all the old members to gather once again and also recruiting new members. There will be a gathering this weekend to welcome their new leader".

The room became silent so that even a pin drop from a distance would be heard. "When did he return?" Damian asked. "Two days ago". Ezekiel answered.

Damian was in deep thought after he heard Ezekiel's response, he remembered the call Melody made in the car about meeting some people during the weekend, and all the pieces were finally connected.

Melody showed up with the name 'Nova' as her last name and the Nova clan's most trusted ambassador shows up after disappearing for so many years. It couldn't be a coincidence. Melody truly is the Clan's leader.

"Do you think he has the seal that Jacob Nova has been looking for? I mean the new leader". Lloyd asked snapping Damian back from his train of thought.

"Most likely. For Shadow to show up to welcome him it only means that he has it". Ezekiel reasoned out his thoughts.

"What do think Damian?" Lloyd asked Damian who was surprisingly quiet.