Just like that, the school year ended.
There were two more weeks before the rock climbing competition and for convenience sake, Kyle had rented the penthouse suite at Hotel Y. All of the Elite Five members were staying with him as Master Shifu's place couldn't fit them all comfortably.
Right now, they were all entering the room and Xing Han has his mouth wide open. It wasn't that he had never been in a hotel before, but this would be the first time he was in a penthouse. Without his parents. With his brothers and sister. It was a dream come true!
He excitedly dropped his suitcase and started running all around the place, checking out the rooms and bathroom. Then he pointed excitedly to a spiral staircase that led to a loft, his eyes sparkling and without a word, he ran up.
At the top, he grinned, slipped his legs over the banister and slid down. Luckily, there was nothing at the end of the post so Xing Han landed on the ground with his hands up in the air, swaying slightly.
"I've ALWAYS wanted to do that!!" he grinned at them.
Whenever he had to follow his parents on their business trips (which weren't often), he had to maintain decorum. Here, he could be himself.
Kyle laughed, patted Xing Han on the shoulder and said, "Just be make sure you don't fart on your way down, okay? You'll be smelling it as you slide down."
Xing Han gave him the side eye, "Why would you even think about that?!"
Kyle just smiled and shrugged.
Sam was the only 'normal' person around and this was the first time he was experiencing such show of wealth. Even though he knew about their backgrounds, the others were so grounded and were never pretentious about it that he often forgot.
Now, however, he could see what a huge difference in the lifestyle they had. Following Kyle was a good decision even though he had been reluctant at first. Kyle had assured him that Sam did not need to worry about the expenses but it didn't mean Sam liked it. It was as if he was freeloading or taking advantage of Kyle.
Kyle simply told him that whether Sam joined them or not, he would have spent the same amount of money. It had taken some time, but Kyle finally managed to convince him. He had even gone to talk to his parents, who were rather excited and touched at the opportunity Kyle was presenting to Sam.
Sam had to admit. It was rather intimidating. At the same time, however, Sam was feeling excited. He had always seen Kyle as a normal (albeit genius) student but now, he's going to see Kyle in a whole new world. Would Kyle be any different?
The main reason why all of the Elite Five were gathered at the penthouse was to follow and observe or help Kyle when he made his visits to Company LV. It had all been in the recommendations report Kyle had given Principal Godric concerning the future prospects of the research that the Sage Class members were doing.
Incidentally, Company LV was the subsidiary company that Patrick, his father, had directed him to study and make a report of. Thinking about it, Kyle realised that whenever he thought of their father, he would always refer to him by name.
He couldn't quite look at his father, as his father. However, when he's talking to him, Kyle would naturally be mindful and still refer to him respectfully as "Father". He shook his head ruefully at that thought.
Thinking of the situation now, Kyle thought back on the report he had submitted to Principal Godric.
Kay needed to know more of the companies that were under the Smith Industries name, so her presence was important as well. Her current research was on the various companies of Smith Industries. She was pinpointing which areas were profitable and which were not - and why. Observing Company LV would be beneficial to her data.
Company LV was a company that produced paraffin wax, which is used in the packaging of frozen foods. One component in the production of the wax is actually oil. Thus, as Ali's family was in the oil industry, Ali was interested to know how the company obtained the oil and the cost of it. Although gasoline was the main product from oil and it was their biggest source of income, it was not the only thing. Ali wanted to know all of the products and the differences it entailed with regards to business. Thus, Ali following Kyle and studying Company LV was a given.
For Xing Han, he was interested to learn from Kyle in identifying the weaknesses of a company - which was essentially what Kyle was doing for his report. Hence, Xing Han following Kyle was a no brainer.
As for Sam? Kyle was someone he was studying - the way he interacted with people, the way he studied people and so forth. He had been observing Kyle in the school setting and observing him in a work setting would provide invaluable information.
Kyle was saying, "You guys just choose your rooms. There's two at the loft and two down here. Kay and I are sharing the biggest room down here, of course, but the rest is yours."
Without a doubt, Xing Han was taking the room at the loft and he ran up while asking, "What about the rest of our stuff? When will it arrive?"
"Later this evening," Kyle answered, "They'll also unpack and all. Dinner will be delivered every night at 8pm but we get our own lunch."
Kyle handed them a menu, saying, "Here are the choices for the week. Just indicate which meal you want for the entire week. No pork please since Ali is here. And don't worry, Ali. Everything other than the pork is halal."
Ali waved his hand at them, saying, "Don't worry about me. I'm the only one who needs halal food. You guys can take whatever you want. It's not like I'm going to sin just watching you eat."
"Yeah, we know that," Kyle said, "But it's not like we're going to die just because we don't have pork or ham for two weeks or so. It'll be more fun if everyone can share whatever we eat, right?"
Ali smiled and nodded. It truly didn't bother him about the pork issue and he didn't like it if his lifestyle inconvenienced others. He was the one who was Muslim and not them, and it was up to him to work around them. Having heard what Kyle said though, warmed his heart.
Kyle was just like this. This was why Kyle was his brother. This was why Ali would be willing to do anything for Kyle. It was a vow he had made to himself, ever since that first day Kyle had saved him when he had been bullied. Kyle was his idol and his source of inspiration.
Kyle watched all of them making their choices and he smiled. These were his brothers, who were always there for him. He would always be there for them as well. As he looked on, he was determined more than ever to make sure that they would always be together. His eyes glinted with seriousness but there was a tinge of worry in it as well.
[Are you starting to feel guilty, brother?]
Kyle didn't answer at first, taking a deep breath. The recommendations he had given to have them follow him around wasn't purely for them. It was also for him.
[No, not really] Kyle said [But it does feel a bit unsettling]
[You know that this is the best method]
[Yes, I know. I know that this is the best way in the long run so that is why I'm still doing it but I feel bad because I know they'll do it without question. All these plans and schemes make me feel like I'm playing with them and not trust them.]
[I know, brother. I know. I feel the same way]
Kyle sighed and pushed down the slight guilt he was feeling. It was his dream to have all of the Elite Five work with him but he didn't want to ask directly. He knew that if he did, they would agree immediately even if it meant creating problems with their families. They trusted him and his judgment that much.
But Kyle didn't want that.
He wanted to show them the sort of opportunities that working with him would offer them, and their families. He wanted them to see it, recognise it and start thinking about it - so that when he finally brings up the matter and proposal to them, it would be something that they had already been considering. It would be something that their families would see through their interaction together, thus making the future collaboration smoother.
Right now, their paths appeared to be so different and would never meet. Kyle didn't believe so. He felt that each of them had their own strengths which actually complimented and completed each other. However, he didn't want to be the one that actually tells them that they were. He wanted them to realise it for themselves.
Was he manipulating his own friends?
His head was saying 'No' as this was merely showing the way of a future collaboration but his heart? His heart did feel pain at having to resort to such a method.
Breaking out of his thoughts that were starting to make him feel depressed, he compiled all their orders and would be giving it to the hotel staff later.
"Alright, here's the deal," Kyle said once that was all settled, "We'll be going to Company LV tomorrow. We'll meet up with the CEO first, look at all the departments and also attend one or two meetings."
"What sort of meetings?" asked Ali.
"One is a pitch for future investment and one is its normal monthly office meeting," Kyle said, "We're just there to observe."
"Are they really going to give you a full disclosure though?" asked Sam, "After all, you may be the Smith Heir but you're still just 13."
"They should be open," said Kyle, "Though I know they won't be. It's not because I am 13, but it's due to the fact that since the company is suffering a loss, heads will roll. Who would give anyone the tools to do so?"
Then Kyle gave a slight smirk as he leaned back on the chair, saying, "They'll most likely underestimate me, try to hoodwink me and most likely spout nonsense."
Kyle's smirk became a grin then as something cold flashed in his eyes, "What I do will depend on how far they'll go."
There was a slight chill in the air as Kyle said that, and the others shivered involuntarily. Kyle looked like a sleeping demon at that point - and what made it worse was that he actually looked like he couldn't wait to slaughter people. Figuratively speaking of course.
Or was it?