Chapter 26: Surprise

"Good afternoon, Mr Kane," The head of the security guard greeted politely as Kane stepped into the lobby of his father's office building.

"Good afternoon to you too, Mike," Kane replied with a smile as he patted on the bulky guard's shoulder. "I have an appointment with my dad today," He punched the elevator button on the wall. After a few seconds waiting, the elevator bell rang, its door was opened and several office employees walked out.

"Well, he might want to appoint you as the new CEO , " Mike joked. He had knew the young man ever since he was a kid, and had genuinely like him despite the notorious reputation of the eldest Helmsley is hugely loathed by his grandfather and his own parents.

"Wish me luck," Kane winked as he stepped into the opened elevator. "That if my grandpa doesn't kill me first," He pressed the button of the floor where his father's office is located.

"You got it," Mike gave a thumbs up sign before the elevator door was fully closed. As Kane stood in the the elevator ascending, he pondered what could have been the reason his father instructed him to meet him at the Authority office after school hours.

It had been strange because it was Monday, and his father was supposed to show up at Kane's school today to meet up with the principle for transfer documentation since he was scheduled to fly to Washington by tomorrow. But his father did not appear at all until Kane received a text from Hunter telling him to see him at his office after school ends.

Kane wondered if it had something to do with the military school affair, but yesterday Hunter had patched things up with Steve. He had actually accompanied Steve to the airport, and when he returned home, he announced that after they had a serious talk, Steve eventually decided to let go and they had dropped the whole drunk matter. And Kane still would going to the school as per their agreement before. Kane was not surprised by the decision. Today was supposed to be his last day at the public school, but now he doubted it because since his father seemed to have a change of plans, he still wasn't officially transferred.

Finally he reached the level of his dad's office and the elevator halted open, and Kane stepped out, heading straight towards his father's secretary lounge. There were only few employees were lingering around, most of them probably still were having lunch break.

"Hi Kane," Beth, his father's secretary called out cheerfully. "Your dad is waiting for you," She grinned.

"Hi,Beth,thanks. Going out for lunch?" Kane asked, noticing she had her handbag and coat in her hand. Beth nodded.

"Yes, " She walked past him. "I'll see you around," She said, pecking Kane's cheek with a small kiss.

"Alright," Kane replied, and walked towards Hunter's office door. He knocked a few times. "Dad? "He called.

"Come in," Hunter's brisk voice echoed from the inside. Kane opened the door, padded into the room to find his father was sitting on the couch in the corner of the room. His face looked serious.

"You want to see me?" Kane asked nervously. He could sense something was not right. Something is terribly wrong judging from his father's unhappy looks.

"Yes. Sit down."Hunter ordered. Kane slowly took a seat in front of his father.

"I want to talk to you about Steve and what happened yesterday, and the other yesterday." Hunter started .

"Okay?" Kane responded, his answer sounded like a question back.

"Well, you know I drove Steve to the airport yesterday, and we had a drink before his flight. And we talked about a lot of stuff. Stuff that made me staying awake last night thinking about it over and over again," Hunter said calmly.

'And?" Kane's heart was pounding.

"Steve told me he actually remember what had took place last night." Hunter said. "Well after he had some kind of strong coffee drink, he said he had remember everything. Does it ring any bell to you?"

Kane felt the color draining from his face. He gulped, but was too speechless to say anything.

"He told me that he suspected you had spiked our dinner that night, thus causing us to be sleeping like dead person. And the thing with the minister? It was your friend Mark, am I right? Because after Steve realized that the minister was a fake, you had doped him too, throwing him in the garage and then you took the alcohol, you dumped them beside him to make him look like he was drunk. At least that was what Steve perceived." Hunter continued , staring at his son's deadpale face.

"I want you to be honest with me. Please? Is that true, what Steve suggested? What are you planning that night?" Hunter asked , but his voice was gentler this time.

"You caught me, dad." Kane finally answered. "Everything Steve told you is true. I did all of that. Mark helped me." He confessed.

"But for what? "Hunter was confused. "What did you expect?"

"I.. I was going to a party that night. Mark and I had planned it before. And since I was grounded, I had no choice but to use the trick." Kane admitted ."But I did not intend to kill any of you or anything. I'm just keeping you down so I can sneak out that night. But then Steve appeared and he ruined everything. He knew I was about to go somewhere but he insisted that he knew I was grounded, so he felt it was his duty to sustain the punishment since you and mom, technically were not there. I have no choice. I called Mark and we set up the plan to get rid of him, and Grandpa as well."

"All because you desperately need to go to a party?" Hunter almost let out a laugh. "You know what, son, you could have ask me if you want to go out with your friends."

"But I was grounded, remember? Like you and mom would really give me permission." Kane muttered.

"I should have told you earlier that your punishment is actually over." Hunter sighed. "After what had took place recently, with all Seth and his friends, and then you helped the little boy Dean reuniting with his father , I had considering giving you a break. If only you had ask me in the first place, you wouldn't have to resort to all of this mess."

"I had nothing else to say, dad. I'm..I'm sorry. You got me, and I'm guilty as charged." Kane admitted helplessly. Maybe he was really getting disowned after this, he thought miserably. Tomorrow they would dump him to the military school and from the day onwards, he would be officially no longer a part of Helmsley-McMahon family.

"As much as I want to be angry with you, however, I don't know why I just don't feel it anymore. Maybe because you had me at nerve like this too may times, Kane." Hunter shook his head.

"I'm sorry I disappointed you." Kane hung his head down. Now he wished he could have gone straight to Washington, and then never looking back after this.

"No. You did not disappoint me." Hunter denied. "Maybe it was me who disappointed you." He stood up from the couch and went towards the glass window that overlooked the busy streets down on the ground. Kane was a little puzzled, but he joined his father , standing side by side as they both gazed outside.

"Why was that? I don't understand, Dad." Kane asked, baffled.

"You know, I had trouble believing Steve. I still want to think that he was rightfully drunk." Hunter said. "But then, a part of me knew you too well, and I was not surprised that you finally confessed me the truth. After all, we all know you are capable of such things. But I'm glad you tell me the truth ."

Kane did not respond, but he listened to his father with all ears.

"The good thing was, Steve forgave you for what you did last night. He actually believed you had your own reasons. And he thought you are pretty smart, too."

"Come on dad. That was Mark's idea. I wasn't smart. I was a failure, like Grandpa told me." Kane let out a bitter laugh. "Can't believe Steve actually able to forgive people who kick his ass. Is that for real?"

"I'm serious. Although I'm pissed for the fact you spiked us with your dinner, but still, you are smart. And the beef was good too." Hunter admitted. "Don't believe what your grandpa says. Everyone else beside him is a failure to him."

"So..what's next dad?" Kane hesitated. "I'm still going to the school, right? Or are you planning to kick me out of your life?Out of..your house?"

Hunter rolled his eyes in surprise and disgust. "Are you seriously thinking that I was that inhuman to my own child?"

Kane shrugged. "You never know." He said, "No. I don't think you are that bad. If Grandpa, yes."

"No, of course I'm not going to disown you. " Hunter laughed at his son's bad joke. "On the contrary, I was thinking that I will not enroll you there anymore."

Kane was extremely surprised. "You gotta be kidding me, Dad. After you caught me guilty of lying and manipulating you and Mom, you are not going to punish me more? Why? Or is it because Steve does not want me near him?"

"It's not about Steve." Hunter said. " It's about me. I want to give you a second chance. To redeem yourself. Because as far as I'm concerned, you had done quite good stuff lately, although you as usual, driving your mom up to the wall. I'm impressed with how you bonded with the Dean kid and made him friends with Seth again. And you skipped school so you can find his dad and bring him back , I realized I never once tell you how proud I am, for everything you did. Although I don't agree with you blackmailing Randy's coach, but still, it's good to have Randy on the soccer team." He confessed reluctantly.

Kane laughed, shaking his head . "Dad, it was nothing. I'm just bored because I was grounded."

"I'm so proud of you. Honest." Hunter said genuinely, wrapping an arm around his son's shoulders.

"Thanks, dad." Kane replied, feeling relieved. He had came to realize that it was the first time that Hunter actually said he was proud of him.

"And Steve asked me this one thing that get me awake all night." Hunter added.

"What was that?" Kane asked eagerly.

"He asked me, am I honestly wanted you to be in the military school? Or I was just entirely giving up on my own kid?" Hunter said. "And I found that I could not answer his question. I could not answer that I could not even sleep last night thinking about it. Steve said once you getting into the school, there would never be a way out. No turning back. If I give you up, then you give up on me too, it's a lose lose situation, he said. And then I realized I don't want to lose you . At least, for now. I don't want to give up on you like your Grandpa did. And..pretty much I hate him too."

"Are you serious dad? You still have hope in me? After all the things I did?" Kane asked again, still reeling from the shock he was having.

"Do I look like I was joking to you?" Hunter rolled his eyes. "I'm serious, of course! But this was the last time alright. Next time you lie to me again, I will make Steve adopt you, okay?"

Kane laughed again, but he could feel he was going to burst into tears of joy. "Oh my god. Dad, I can't believe this." He wiped a tear shedding from his eyes with his fingers. "Thanks for the opportunity you gave to me. I promise, I will not let you down. I'll try to, dad. Thanks again. And I'm sorry, you know, for all the things I did to you and mom. I knew I had always making mom crying and you upset of me, but I promise I won't do that again. I.. I'll try, I promise." He spoke so fast, almost stuttering, but Hunter just smiled.

Instead, he opened his arms to welcome his eldest son." It's ok, son. I love you. Come here."

Kane smiled, embraced his father and hugged him tightly. "Dad, I love you too. And mom. And Randy and Seth. Not Grandpa, though."

Hunter burst into laughter again as he released Kane. "I think that's acceptable." He grinned. "Yeah, I do hate him too." He mumbled to himself.

"What about Mom? " Kane suddenly asked, remembering that he had not seen Stephanie since. "Isn't she going to be mad that you cancel the trip?"

"I told her we need you to babysit your brothers." Hunter shrugged. "She'll lose her mind if I tell her the truth, but Kane, please don't give her bad time."

"Dad, I understand. I completely understand , she had been suffering too much because of me, too. Don't worry, dad, this is between us." Kane assured, squeezing Hunter's palms . "And I don't mind babysitting them , if I had to. Serious."

"I know you do. " Hunter nodded. "I told your mom we had no one applying for the job ," He chuckled, " Truth is, I rejected them all,"

"Or you can tell mom that the candidates are all smoking hot and wears skimpy clothes," Kane grinned, "She'll get afraid they will seduce you and she herself would decline them,"

"That's pretty good idea," Hunter agreed with a smirk, "You are indeed a genius,"

"Hey, I'm a Helmsley, of course I am." Kane bragged, cackling.

Just then, the door was knocked and Stephanie popped in. "Hey mom," Kane beamed when he saw his mother. It was slightly weird that he suddenly realized he was never this excited to see his mother's face before.

"Hi there. So you both are finished with your man talk?" Stephanie asked, knowing that Kane was going to drop by that afternoon. She also knew that her husband was not going to admit Kane into Steve's school anymore because they could not find a babysitter for Seth and Randy, although she was a little upset, she decided to just suck it up.

"Yeah, we are done." Hunter replied . "Actually I just tell Kane that he's not going to go to military school and that he will help babysitting Seth and Randy, right Kane?" He turned to Kane and winked at his son.

"Absolutely," Kane nodded with a wide grin .

"Is something going on here? You two look like were having a good time together," Stephanie was curious. "I don't even remember the last time you were bonding like this,"

"Nothing, " Hunter shrugged. "We resolved some family issues, and I guess it worked out so well." He clapped on Kane's back.

"Totally." Kane nodded. Suddenly he went up to Stephanie and hugged her. Stephanie was bewildered at first, but she slowly hugged her son back anyway. And it was also had just came to her mind that she did not remember the last time Kane had hugged her. Maybe a few years before, but it feels like the first time in her life, she actually had gotten her eldest son back.

"Mom, I love you." Kane told her. "And I'm sorry for all the harsh words I spoke to you. For all the nasty things I did to upset you and dad."

"I..I love you too. Of course I love you. " Stephanie shed a tear , although she was confused why all of sudden Kane acted like this. "And I forgive you."

Hunter went to his wife and son, joined the hugging party and kissed them both tenderly.

"Glad we are together again." He muttered, and both Stephanie and Kane laughed happily.

"Dad, Mom?" Kane asked as they broke apart. "I'm starving. Can you guys take me out for lunch? Please? " He pleaded, making a cute face.

Hunter was surprised. "What, you are not embarrassed to be seen having lunch with your old man?" He teased.

"Why should I be ashamed? " Kane shrugged. "I would be proud instead. Come on guys, what do you say? When the last time you both took me dining out?"

"When you were eight, I think, " Stephanie said, "There was this particular diner we took you out. And you seemed to like it so much, because it's the only restaurant that you did not messing with the food and throwing tantrum, "

"Yeah, I remember. You did not like the fancy restaurants we took you, so we opted for a regular diner, " Hunter confirmed, "And you are quiet the whole time, you seem to enjoy the food so much. And the diner chef adores you like a little god," He recalled .

"I think I remember the place." Kane mused. "Though not the diner cook. But is the place still open Dad? How about we go there?" He suggested.

"That's a good idea. I think it's still open," Hunter answered , grabbing his suit jacket and slipped it on.

"Do you think the cook was still working there?" Stephanie asked as they headed out of the office room. "She might be happy to see Kane again,"

"She might probably has gotten old by now. You think she would me remember me? A chubby monster little boy ?" Kane joked.

"Maybe," Hunter and Stephanie laughed in unison.

The three of the happy family merrily made their way into the elevator, laughing and chatting all the way riding down to the lobby floor.

a'n: I thought i wanted to end the story here, but I decided to write a bonus chapter for the ending part. It was not necessary, but it was a present from me . Enjoy!