After the Boss left, Brock came into the room, but first asking for my permission. "May I enter, Young Master Gabriel?" he asked, his voice formal and respectful, with a hint of caution.
I was taken aback by his sudden change in behavior. "Uh, yes, come in," I replied, still trying to process what was happening. I couldn't believe that Brock, the same person who had dragged me away from the orphanage like a dog, was now treating me with such respect.
Brock entered the room, his hands together behind him and standing by the door on guard, like a soldier waiting for orders. "Young Master Gabriel, you're requested to get ready, lunch would be ready soon," he informed me, his eyes fixed on mine with an unnerving intensity.
I walked up towards him, confusion etched on my face. "Why are you acting so formal, Mr. Brock?" I asked, trying to understand what was going on. "This wasn't how you treated me back there when taking me away. You were so rough and rude, but now you're acting like I'm your master or something."
Brock's expression didn't change, but his eyes flickered for a moment, like a flash of lightning on a stormy night. "I'm sorry for the inconveniences, Young Master," he said, his voice still formal, but with a hint of remorse. "Punish me for my actions if you deem pleased. Back there, I was following command, but now, I have only one master, and that's you."
I was taken aback by his words. What did he mean by "only one master"? And why was he treating me with so much respect all of a sudden? I felt like I was living in a dream, where everything was upside down and nothing made sense.
"What's going on, Mr. Brock?" I asked, trying to get to the bottom of things. "Why are you acting like this? You're not the same person who dragged me away from the orphanage."
Brock's expression remained unchanged, but his eyes seemed to cloud over for a moment, like a shadow passing over the sun. "I've been instructed to treat you with the utmost respect, Young Master," he said. "You're no longer just a boy from the orphanage. You're...different now."
I frowned, feeling a sense of unease. What did he mean by "different"? And who had instructed him to treat me like this? I felt like I was trapped in a web of secrets and lies, and I didn't know how to escape.
"Who instructed you to treat me like this?" I asked, trying to press for more information.
Brock's eyes flickered again, and for a moment, I thought I saw a glimmer of fear in them. "The Boss, Young Master," he replied. "He's the one who gave me instructions on how to treat you."
I nodded, trying to process everything. It seemed like there was more going on here than I initially thought. And I was determined to find out what it was.
As I was walking to the dining room, having Brock escorting me from behind, I couldn't help but feel a sense of curiosity and trepidation. Who were the other boys I would be meeting? And what was the purpose of this gathering? The grandeur of the dining room only added to my sense of wonder. The high ceilings, the crystal chandeliers, and the long dining table that seemed to stretch on forever all contributed to an atmosphere of opulence and refinement.
As we entered the dining room, I saw four other boys, each with their own guardian standing behind them. They looked just as curious and apprehensive as I did, and we all exchanged tentative glances. The other boys seemed to be sizing me up, and I couldn't help but do the same. Liam, the boy to my right, looked confident and self-assured, with a hint of a smile playing on his lips. Michael, the boy next to him, looked more reserved, his eyes fixed on the table in front of him. Myers, the boy to my left, looked like he was trying to make a good impression, his eyes darting back and forth between the Boss's chair and the rest of us. Phillips, the youngest of the group, looked like he was trying to hide behind his guardian, his eyes wide with fear.
We all took a seat at the table, sitting in a straight line beside each other. Brock stood strong and tall behind me, his eyes fixed on the Boss's chair. The other guardians stood behind their respective charges, their faces expressionless.
The room was silent, the only sound the soft hum of the chandeliers above us. It was as if we were all waiting for something to happen, for some signal to be given.
And then, the Boss made a grand entrance into the room, his presence commanding attention. He walked to the head of the table, his eyes surveying us with a keen gaze. He took his seat, his movements deliberate and calculated.
"Welcome, boys," he said, his voice booming through the room. "I trust you're all settling in well. I'd like to take a moment to introduce you to each other, as you'll be spending a lot of time together in the coming weeks."
He nodded to each of us in turn, his eyes lingering on each face.
"To my right, we have Liam. He's a bright young man with a talent for strategy. He's been with us for a few weeks now, and has already shown great promise."
Liam smiled, looking pleased with himself.
"Next to him is Michael. He's our second son. He's been working with us for a few days now, and has already proven himself to be invaluable."
Michael nodded, his eyes still fixed on the table.
"Then we have Myers. He shows great promise in the field of medicine. He's been studying hard, and I have no doubt he'll make a fine doctor one day."
Myers smiled, looking relieved.
"Phillips is our youngest member, but don't let his age fool you - he's a prodigy when it comes to mathematics. He's been working with us for a few days now, and has already shown a natural talent."
Phillips looked up, his eyes wide with fear.
"And finally, we have Gabriel. I'm sure you'll all get to know each other very well in the coming weeks."
I nodded, feeling a sense of trepidation. What did the Boss have planned for us? And what lay ahead?