Adam Bailon a shrewd merchant if you could call him one, was not in any way the kind of person you'd think would establish a dynasty that would span several generations and grow to become one of the most powerful families in the country the one percent of the one percent the top brass. Albeit the contributions of future Bailon can in no way be discounted it was Adam Bailon who began the dynasty.
His appearance is inconsequential Bailon Retail company his biggest achievement however is of most importance as it is this ratty little company that grew the Bailon's wealth and status since the 1800s leading to the wealth and authority they possess until current.
If he were still alive at least he would say the reason for the wild success is the simple rule he put as a basic requirements for his descendants to inherit Bailon inc. it didn't matter whether the first child was a boy or girl they would have the utmost right as heir to the company provided and here is the defining factor; they would have a child of their own stemming directly from the Bailon bloodline. If not then the following sibling or relative would be heir.
Simon Bailon the current Patriarch intelligent, cunning, businessman to the bone was also subject to this rule despite all his authority he followed to it to the letter. Blessed with three children direct descendants: Alyssa, Rena, and Elina in that exact order, out of all three Rena's genetics probably mirrored their father the most in intellect, cunning, business tactics and all other qualities that made Simon perhaps the most successful owner yet having not one but two children married to an acceptable man having a good family name not to mention she worked herself to the bone for her father and Bailon inc. By all means she was the next owner and CEO that is until her elder sister Alyssa long since thought to be barren gave birth to a son threatening her title. Simon had not yet announced the next heir, tensions ran rampant within the family Rena despised Alyssa and by extension Michael.
Alyssa drove a red Honda Buick it glided silently across the tarmac road at a speedy pace Seasons Private school loomed far back, she stared ahead taking indeterminate glances at Michael who sat in the passenger seat quietly his gaze trained through the window as cars zipped by
"Do you want some ice cream?" she asked suddenly "I feel like getting some" she remarked Michael did not say anything.
'School was over the moment Ms. Elaine sent me to the nurse they are too afraid to let me stay despite having no actual problem, now my absence from class will further draw attention. He thought sourly 'if I'd gone back to class it would have been dismissed easily, at this point I might just as well move to the nurse's office for class.
The car turned off the highway into a more secluded sealed road, a large silver gate stood at the end on either side thick leafy fences just before the enclosed gate a small black cylinder a meter from the ground atop of it a rhombus shaped black box with an inlaid screen, Alyssa stopped beside it and pulled out her ID and slid it upside on the black screen upside facing down, a red line moved on the screen scanning her ID the gate slid open to the left.
People at the Bismith community took their security pretty seriously sinking several thousands of dollars into their security systems. Despite the apparent secluded appearance one wrong move and they would be surrounded by cops in minutes, Alyssa drove through as the gate fully opened the road elevated then dropped into the compound.
The Bismith Community the land of the rich and well-off in fact even most upper middle class families could not afford to live in the estate everyone was rich in every sense of the word. the silver gate slowly closed behind them as soon as they were a few meters away. The road ahead lay paved light silver, lonely winding in large curves they passed gate after gate but the actual houses could not be seen from the large road only glimpses of the upper parts of probably large mansions hidden in the middle of the estates some had brick walls while others leafy fences obscuring direct sight of the riches beyond each gate had a black cylinder structure similar to the one on the front gate.
Alyssa drove ahead without so much as a glance at the tall gates the air seemed lighter like it was a totally different world from the one they came from.
The Manor perhaps the biggest of all of them it, even from a distance it was a massive thing sat perched on a hill. The house seemed to loom over the others with a round top side, Bailon Manor extended each side having the exterior of a 19th Century European abbey combined with Germanic architecture.
Its walls were bathed in creamy white in the afternoon sun it shone perfectly, all around it a sea of green extended down ward at the far side a large grove of trees bordering on being a forest, beside it sparkling reflections of the sun that could only be a large lake. The lightness in the air Michael knew was a result of the trees and the careful maintenance of the grounds by the extensive array of staff.
The road dipped then raised a bit their car approached a gate to the manor, it was large even compared to the other Bismith homes startling golden round bars it was simple yet extravagant at its center expertly in small almost unnoticeable etches were made that seen together formed a a large
B
it blended perfectly, there was no black cylinder near it Alyssa barely looked at it the gate opened automatically to let them into the estate.
Alyssa stopped the car just five hundred feet from the front entrance in between stood a large round fountain with at its center a jet of water is spewed under pressure back into the water forming a flower like pattern with a ring of water rippling at the surface of the waters.
"Stay here" Alyssa proclaimed leaving the car windows down she closes the door behind her, besides the sound of water hitting water the estate was quiet no one in sight the driveway from the gate goes around the fountain and joins the road its paved surface brown.
Michael craned his neck peering around the hill staring directly at the house it seemed to go on at a length away, the roof is almost unnoticeable up close.
He had seen the Bailon manor a very few number of times in his limited young experience not that he cared that much anyway. Voices came from up the manor.
Looking a the side view mirror Michael saw two people coming towards the car one was Alyssa the other a tall man. African-American completely bald; well built with a slender body, the white shirt he wore stuck to him lining the muscles constituting his upper body, he walked in an easy stride light steps one had to be blind not to notice the athleticism in him. Smiling the man's teeth reflected the sun light further appraising his dark skin.
Liam Alesworth entered the back seat while Alyssa the driver's seat, "Hello Little man." He beamed brightly at Michael ruffling his soft curly hair his face distantly resembled Michael's the only difference being Michael's light tone brown skin "Hi dad." Michael spoke lowly 'Heard you had a rough day at school bud." "How're you holding up."
His brows creased, eyes deep dark a light shone in them even with concern drawing lines on his face Liam's handsome polite face trained on Michael "I am fine dad." He answered timidly feeling uncomfortable under his father's gaze.
"Your grandfather says hi"
"Nice of him to talk through you" Alyssa retorted, she started the car driving around the fountain looping back, Michael could see silver steps heading up to the large doors to the Manor then the road back to the gate. Liam probably not wanting to delve further into the matter in-front of Michael quickly changes the subject
"How was your day at work?"
Michael tuned them out preferring the view of the road through the window, the gates open automatically until they were back on the busy road.
A black Toyota Prius drove a steadily a few cars behind them 'Have I seen that car before, it seems familiar was there not a similar car behind us before mum turned the road towards Bismith?'
Michael squinted at the plate numbers KAR-098-YT, 'This doesn't feel right' Alyssa and Liam were lost in their own conversation Michael doubted they had noticed their tail 'this could be problematic but must be dealt with later' he thoughtfully dismissed it for it was too far away to see the driver and his head was beginning to ache he fell asleep.