I'm back! If any of you are thinking that Chase come back to the family anytime soon, mark my words, not happening. So here is the next chapter!
**Chase's POV**
Isabelle sipped at her coffee, looking slightly tense. We were on a commercial break right now, but we will be on air anytime now. I looked around, seeing media cameras everywhere.
But suddenly, I spot something familiar. A Davenport high-tech camera. I now know for sure. They think that I am Chase Davenport.
Suddenly, I stood up straighter, alert and the exact opposite of relaxed. I looked down at my chair, pulse checks on the neck of my chair, fingerprint identifiers on the arm rests. I needed to do this while being subtle.
I pulled my blazer tighter around me, and said, "Isn't it chilly in here?"
Isabelle gave a distracted smile while going through her papers. "Hmm? Yeah."
I called my secretary over and told him to get a scarf and mittens. He brought them to me, and I put them on. Nobody would be suspicious; it was a cold January day.
The camera man came over and shouted loudly.
"Ok, we're live in 3, 2, 1, 0" He gave a thumbs up and smiled.
Isabelle then started with a signature smile, "Welcome back to our exclusive interview with Chase Vickers, young billionaire. So tell me Chase, do you ever…"
I leaned back, and let my muscles go limp. I am the smartest man on earth, I wasn't going back to the place where I was taken for granted so easily.
**Leo's POV**
"Nooo!" Douglas yelled, throwing his headphones onto the table. "Why did I make him the smartest guy on earth?"
"Douglas, you made me strong, and Bree fast. When it came to chase you kinda ran out of options and gave him smarts," Adam replied.
I placed my head in my hand and sighed. I was frustrated as well. He avoided every question so far, and now even our technology. As the went back on a break, I connected to Isabelle.
"Isabelle, he blocked he fingerprint identifiers and our pulse check"
"Wait, you rigged his chair with technology"
"Yes!"
"ohhhhh"
"Look all we can do is wait for the hard questions, and hope for the best."
"Ok"
An idea popped in my head. "Hey Adam. It's kind of cold in here. Why don't you turn up the heat?"
"ok, to what?"
"Let's go up to 80 degrees."
"Ok, but if you say it's too cold, don't say I didn't warn you," Adam said with his usual incorrect and random answer
The stress was killing me. But even if I get one answer, It'll be worth it.
**Bree's POV**
I looked at the TV with mild interest. Davenport Industries was holding an interview with the great Chase Vickers. I walked onto the balcony. I was on short business trip to Singapore, to introduce my fashion line here. We were already in 28 countries worldwide, and I was on my way to being number one.
"Hey Angeline, ask Roger whether we are performing tomorrow or Thursday."
"Of course."
I glanced back at the TV and saw Chase talking animatedly,
The TV switched back to the interviewer.
Something was off. She seemed familiar.
"…And that was how I decided to create Chase Innovations. How's that for an answer, Isabelle?" Chase finished.
"Amazing." Isabelle answered with a clear, charming voice.
Isabelle. That voice. I knew her. I'm sure of it. Suddenly a memory came back to me.
"Hey Bree! Can you teach me how to punch that guy over there? He can be soooo annoying." a girl with blonde hair that was messily pinned up ran over to me.
"Just charm him with your words. I mean that's you speciality right?" I answered.
"I could, but I want to see him in pain."
"Those are dark words coming from a 14-year-old bionic kid living on a high-tech bionic island."
"You don't know how much boys can be a pain in a neck."
I glanced at Chase, Adam, Leo, Mr. Davenport, and Douglas using wires to electrocute each other.
"I was raised in a basement for 16 years with only three boys as company. I think I have a pretty good idea."
"Well? A little help please?"
"Make him a fool in front of everyone with your talking. The only thing that hurts more than actual pain is humiliation."
"Hmmm… that's a good idea! Thanks Bree!"
Mere minutes later I see the person Isabelle was pointing at wearing a clown outfit. And from the way he keeps trying to pull it off, it's glued on.
I chuckled. "I have taught well," I said to myself and went to stop Adam, Chase, Leo, Mr. Davenport, and Douglas from shocking each other unconscious.
Isabelle was one of my bionic students. She was a genius at using words to manipulate others, and had a very rare talent. If Mr. Davenport was using her to interview Chase, he must be thinking that Chase Vickers is his son! Excitement filled through me. I saw Chase at least once a week, and I could finally talk to my little brother again.
A secretary walked in. "You have to get ready for a meeting in 15 minutes, Miss Henderson."
I contemplated for a moment. I suddenly saw Chase laughing on the TV. "Cancel it. I'm not coming."
"But Miss Henderson!"
"I don't want to hear it. Tell them if they really want to talk to me, they should reschedule for tomorrow."
"Ok, fine"
I sat back, increased the volume, and watched the show.
**Leo's POV**
I sighed. Whoever decided that this should be a 6-hour continuous interview was an idiot. I then remember, I proposed the idea. Ok, I admit it. I'm an idiot.
Adam was snoring away, and grabbed some cookies to munch. Good thing I stocked the control room with snacks before we started.
"Douglas, we have to pay attention now."
"It's intermission! Why do we pay attention during intermission?!"
"I mean after intermission. Isabelle will ask the tough questions then."
He sighed, and adjusted the voice monitor.
I connected to Isabelle.
"So hello there Izzy."
"Exactly what kind of name is Izzy?"
"You don't like it? Then Belle it is."
"Stop naming me stupid nicknames! If I hear of any of those names again, I will make sure you will end up with a brain dumber than Adam's!"
I gulped, "Okay then, but on a completely unrelated note, if you by any chance, oh I don't know, find a pink note for Izzy in your capsule that says 'from: Leo' on it, it isn't from me ok?"
She sighed. "I can't do this anymore! I'm exhausted and Chase just keeps on talking!"
"Look, just get over with the tough questions, and you can fake faint or something and end the show."
"Yeah, I forgot to ask you this before I agreed to this, but WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME?!"
"A chance to meet the billionaire Chase Vickers?"
"Don't sell me that trash again. I don't care about seeing some billionaire Chase Vickers. We've got one who trains us every day!"
"Oh me? Well, not to brag, but I am a pricey person in the stock market."
"Not you! Mr. Davenport!"
"Oh. Him. Right. Rich guy. Of course."
"Look, Chatterbox Chase is coming and I'll be nice to him, but it's going to be expensive."
"Ugh, fine."
"Good. Now shut up and pay attention" She finished and disconnected.
"Hello, and welcome back after the intermission! So Chase, the world has some questions."
"Throw them at me," Chase answered with a grin.
"Ok," Isabelle started, choosing her word carefully. "You are a role model for many people across the world. Yet, they don't know anything about you other than you are a really rich smart guy. So, people want to relate their everyday problems with yours."
"I can't say I understand," Chase said with an uncertain smile.
"Well, for example, one situation that everybody knows is siblings. I mean, people want to know how you deal with small problems like that. Everyday problems."
Isabelle was going perfectly. Her voice was completely masked with innocence, as if she had no idea that we are his family.
"Well, what do you want me to say."
"You are celebrity, Chase," Isabelle, said, leaning in. "people want bits and pieces of who you really are. Can't you just give us a few?"
Amazing. Her voice was pleading, but not desperate.
When Chase opened and closed his mouth, not knowing what to say, she filled in for him.
"Just simple things like what you like to do in your free time, or your childhood with your siblings…"
The audience cheered at that.
He was trapped. So beautifully trapped. With nowhere to go without raising questions.
"Perfect, Isabelle, just perfect," I whispered into the earpiece. I saw her smile at my remark in the camera.
"I- I… I had a family," he started. I took note of the verb 'had'. "We were the average family, with our crazy ways, and always fighting siblings. We had our strong points, where we were the perfect team, and loved each other more than anything. But we had our weaknesses too. We were exact opposites of each other, and often didn't know when to cross the line. And one day, something in me snapped. I may miss them, but I don't regret the position which I am in now, and I have to say, that was the best decision of my life."
He said the last part, glaring into a camera. He knew we were watching him. And he was warning us. Don't mess with me.
"Any elaboration? Who they are? What was life like with them?" Isabelle tried.
"May I dare say I have no comment?" Chase said with a grin.
It was a useless attempt, made just for the sake of it. We were done. The interview was done. We got the answer to the billion-dollar question: It was him. Period.
I smile slowly spread on my face. Douglas was grinning like he won the lottery. And Adam was wearing that goofy grin again. We then all hugged. We didn't need any words to explain our joy. It was him. Period. It really was him. We had found our Chase Davenport.
**Bree's POV**
I jumped up, my hands covering mouth as tears streamed down my cheeks. We found my brother.
"Angeline, book a plane for tonight to go back to America."
"But the deal with Singapore, we planned this for months!"
"Well tell them the deal is off."
"Ok," she said, and pulled out her phone. "Our office in New York?"
"No, this time, you guys are getting a small vacation. We are going to Mission Creek, California."
So there it is! Tell me what you think. Thank you all who reviewed!
