It was supposed to be a normal day at the Wayne enterprises, the same routine meetings with the chair holders, the same back and forth with the partners, the same brainstorming with my assistants, it was supposed to pass just like any other day, but for one private meeting.

My father arrived before the meeting started,

" Glad to see you're back to your normal life, son " my father said as soon as he entered the meeting room.

" You call this a normal life dad, that's why you gave up your position to me, ha? " I teased him.

" What? I can't retire just like the normal people, I have worked so hard for this family, I owe you this " he said.

" In this job, there is no retirement " I said.

" Yeah, that's the ugly truth. You look nervous son?" My father said.

" Yeah, I think so, I'm about to meet the man that almost took my life " I said.

" Just be patient James, we want to work this out without shedding more blood, I almost lost you last time " my father said.

" I will try father, but in no way I'm gonna give up the orphanage land, on my dead body " I said, making myself clear.

" Don't worry, the police investigated him, all eyes are on him now " my father said.

" Yeah, the same police that ruled him out as a suspect? " I said.

" I know, of course a man like him wouldn't leave an evidence behind, that's why they hire professional hittmen " my father said.

" I know Dad, I just don't know how people would go to great lengths to take something that doesn't even belong to them....... " I said, as my secretary interrupted me.

" Mr Wayne, Mr Falcone is here " she said.

" Let him.... " I said, I couldn't even finish my sentence as he suddenly stormed in.

" James, my boy " Falcone said.

Carmine Falcone was a man in his late fifties, everything about his look was white, his skin, his hair, his clothes, he just loved the white color, which was on the contrary of what his heart was.

But in my head everything about him screamed.....blood.

" I'm not your boy " I said, glaring at him.

" Why so angry son? " He said smiling.

" Angry?? Your men put a bullet through my head, are you crazy? " I said.

" Bruce, your son is calling me crazy, do you like this? " He said to my father.

" No.....no....James be polite " my father said.

" Okay...what do you want ? " I asked Falcone.

" The land " he said, looking me directly in the eyes.

" On my dead body " I said, throwing his staring back at him.

" Watch what you wish for!!! " Falcone said.

" Falcone.....Falcone..maybe we can work something out here, why the rush? " My father said, trying to break the tension in the room.

" Nothing without giving me this piece of land will work, this is my only offer " Falcone said.

" And I will never give it to you to build a casino on it to make millions while hundreds of orphans are in deep need of of it " I explained.

" I don't care, I've done a lot of services for this family in the past I want my part of the deal " Falcone said.

" What services? " I asked him.

" Okay, the past is in the the past, we need to focus on the aim of our meeting today " My father prevented him from answering me, and they gave each other that weird look that I couldn't understand, like they had a mutual agreement on not telling me the truth.

" Okay, I understand Bruce, just give me this land and I promise you will never see me again " Falcone said.

" James, maybe you could give him this piece of land, and build the orphanage in another place " my father suggested.

" No way dad, that was possible before he tried to kill me, now this is impossible " I said.

" Who said I tried to kill you? " Falcone said.

" Then what was it? A man of yours was cleaning his gun and a bullet accidentally came out and ended up in my head? " I said sarcastically.

" James, that was a warning, if I wanted you dead, you would be dead already " Falcone said.

" That's it, get the hell out of my office, I don't want to see your face again " I yelled at him.

" Okay, okay, I'll get out, but next time, I'll make sure you won't end up in hospital, next time you will end up in coffin " he said before storming out.

" Why did you do this son? Why did you have to be stubborn? " My father said.

" I can't do it father, I can't do it, I can't give what is supposed to be the orphans' to this killer " I said.

" I understand son, I'm just afraid he would do something to hurt you " my father said.

" Don't worry father, I'll ask Matt to hire more bodyguards " I tried to reassure him.

" I'll leave now son " my father said.

" Why the rush? A new love? " I said, trying to lighten up the atmosphere.

" Oh no, I'm too old for this " my father said.

" Okay, then wait for me I'm also leaving " I said.

" Why? The thing you told me about? " My father said.

" Yes, dad " I said.

" Are you sure son? " He asked.

" More than sure, it's my opportunity, I lost it ten years ago, I can't lose it again " I said.

" It's your life son, do what you want with it, as long as you're happy, I'll be happy " my father said.

After 10 minutes we were standing together in front of the Wayne tower waiting for our driver to come by,

" Son, I want you to know how proud I'm of you, my marriage to your mother did give me one pleasure, and that's you, you did the right thing today son " my father said.

" Why are you telling me this........? " I couldn't finish my sentence, when I heard shots fired, the next moment, my father was pushing me away.

The security guards started to shoot back at the source of the bullets, after ten minutes of screaming and panic in the street, everything went silent, dead silent.

I was on the ground covering my head with my hands, my father was lying next to me.

" Dad, are you...? " The blood on his white stopped me.

" Oh God, dad..... " I screamed.

" It's.....okay..... " My father said.

" No, it's not, you are bleeding " in a minute his white shirt became red, despite my pressure on the source of bleeding.

" Call 911 " I screamed to the passerbys.

" James....I want...you......to know....that....I did....one...right thing.....in life.......you son " he said.

" Don't talk dad, it's gonna be okay, the ambulance will be here anytime " I tried to reassure him.

" She...is....a good....girl........." He couldn't complete his sentence, he lost his consciousness.

" Dad.....Dad...please...say something....please..I'm sorry...it's my fault, please dad...stay with me " I begged him.

After a minute, the ambulance arrived.

Three paramedics came out, put him on a stretcher and took him inside, I wanted to go in with them but they stopped me,

" Please sir, you can't, we want to do our job " one of the paramedics said.

They took him inside the ambulance, and closed the door behind them, after 15 minutes they came out,

" I'm sorry sir, we lost him " one of the paramedics said.

" What do you mean you lost him? " I asked in denial.

" He couldn't make it, he lost a lot of blood and..... " He said before I stopped him.

" And you couldn't do your job? Ha, tell me? " I yelled at him grabbing by the collar.

" Sir, sir, I understand your sorrow but we did our job, it's his fate sir, we are sorry " the other paramedic said, freeing his colleague from my grib.

" But 30 minutes ago he was okay, he was speaking to me, it wasn't supposed to be him, he took the bullet for me, it was supposed to be me " I yelled.

" I'm sorry for your loss sir, but we need to take him to the forinsics for the autopsy " one of the paramedics said.

" No, you are not taking him anywhere..... " I said before Matt's voice- my assistant- stopped me.

" Sir let them do their job, it's for the sake of finding the truth " Matt said.

" He is gone " I said.

" I know sir, I'm sorry, now come with me " Matt said.

He put me in a car, and drove for about 30 minutes, until we arrived at an apartment complex.

" Sir, you will go up to the third floor, knock on the door on the right, I need you to stay away for some time, I'll call you before the funeral " Matt said.

I didn't say a word, I didn't have much life in me to reject, I trusted him, he was my father's assistant, now he is mine, I had to trust him.

I followed his instructions, then I found myself face to face with Jannah.