Young Prince

3. Young prince

~When the leaves fall. I thought it was all over. However, it’s just getting started. ~ Alex’s inner voice after his Uncle (who he thought was his father) died.

***

Night creeps in, stands up there, and has risen as the stage of time, with the stars as the beautiful decoration of the universe. Tonight has paved the way for the poor young man this afternoon. And now the luxury car took him to a place he had never been before. Like a miracle in one night, everything can change.

Nothing is impossible in this world. You could say this is not a miracle but a delayed luck for Alex. Being the son of an Arab prince is indeed his hand line. That is, his life is not a sudden miracle, but a delayed miracle.

“We’ve arrived, young master,” Marco said as he opened the car door, “this hotel belongs to the young master’s biological father. And he lives in the penthouse hotel. Top floor.”

What??? Penthouse??? Alex got out of the car holding his backpack. His face looked up. Gaze at the height of the hotel. Five star hotel in South Jakarta.

The Westiny. All this time Alex had fantasized about a luxury hotel and entered it. It’s like a dream to him. But the man said, this hotel belongs to his father? His real father? What? Alex really never thought. If his father is not an ordinary Arab. Upon entering the hotel, everyone there bowed respectfully to him.

“Welcome, young master.” They call me young master? Alex said in his mind. The hotel door opened and closed automatically. Marco pressed the elevator. Several bodyguards also got into the elevator. And Alex was still glued. Look here and there. How luxurious this hotel is. The lights shine bright and never go out.

“Young master, come on in,” Marco said. Alex finally got into the elevator as well.

CLICK~ The elevator stops. They had reached the top floor. Penthouse. They were greeted by thousands of uniformed servants. Luxurious lights. Bling-bling ornaments graced Alex’s eyes. Everything is silver and gold. Oh, what a luxury. Is this my house? Alex muttered under his breath.

“This will be the Young Master’s house,” Marco said. Two male servants took off Alex’s dirty clothes. Then took Alex into the bathroom. And it’s very broad. They prepared warm water in a large bath with fragrance and some liquid herbal soap mixture.

Alex likes the smell. Smells very masculine. The male servants poured shampoo over Alex’s hair. And bathed Alex as if Alex had never bathed. They served Alex like a young prince.

“Why did you bathe me? I can shower by myself. Please, leave me,” said Alex a little nervous and embarrassed. Then they came out of the bathroom without a word. Closing the door and letting Alex shower alone inside. They have everything ready. All kinds of soaps, facial cleansers, calf cleansers, underarm cleansers, all COMPLETE!

“Crazy! Is my biological father this rich?” said Alex trying to pat his face, “I wasn’t dreaming right? Or am I already in another realm? Am I in heaven now?” The waiters also put on classical music.

The music played softly and quietly in Alex’s ears. Then, the maids gave Alex a towel. After bathing. And one of the maids dried Alex’s hair with a towel. Alex was seated in a place with mirrors everywhere. Like a giant dressing room.

Then came the maid again, she cut Alex’s messy hair. He looked good at cutting hair. Is he the specialty barber here? Alex muttered. The maid also gave Alex a proper dress. Looks elegant, neat, and age-appropriate Alex. Maybe they’re the special stylists there too.

“The big master is waiting in his room,” Marco said, “oh yes, I’m Marco. The company secretary and the Master’s personal assistant for over twenty years.”

“Okay,” Alex just nodded. Every now and then he looked at himself in the mirrors spread wide around him. His handsomeness is getting brighter.

“Please come in, young master,” Marco said. The door was wide open. There lined the maidservants and men. Just as much as in the antechamber of the penthouse.

The room was very wide. There is a bed in the middle. It looked very small, because of the size of my father’s room. And there are luxurious chairs lined up neatly. They were full of fancy candles and lamps. Someone was sitting with their back to the door. Wearing a luxurious golden yellow suit.

“Go all of you. Close the door. Let me and my son talk privately,” said the voice firmly. All the maids came out. Except for Marco. Apparently, the great master is a disciplined and undeniable person. Alex walked awkwardly in front of him.

“Sit down,” said the man with the thick mustache and beard. The man sat with great authority. Staring at Alex closely. Alex sat nervously. It was the first time he met his biological father.

“I heard your uncle died?” the old master asked him. Alex nodded. “Yeah? What do you want? You have dumped me.” Mr. Waleed didn’t answer right away. He looked calm and not angry at all.

“You’re wrong young man… It’s your uncle who won’t let me take you. I only have 4 children. Two sons in Arabia, one son in Dubai, and one son in Indonesia. And it’s you. Stay here, instead of you living outside. Like a rat about to die!”

***

His father took a sip of the cold drink in his right hand. He looked very dignified in Alex’s eyes. Really, he really was like Father in a fairy tale to him.

“Do you know who I am?” Alex shook his head.

“You really are this rich?” he asked casually. But that question, it was Marco who answered.

“The great master is Prince Waleed Alan Tabarak, one of the Arab princes. Have oil companies everywhere. Apart from hotels and properties, Mr. Pangeran Waleed also has an Indonesian branch of oil companies.”

What? He’s an Arab prince? Does that mean I’m a prince too? Alex muttered. Alex didn’t believe this.

“How old are you? It seems you are still in school,” said Mr. Waleed. “Sixteen years.”

“Ohh... that means you can become a CEO. So I don’t have to bother living here. The previous CEO I just fired too. He corrupted oil drilling project funds,” he said. Then put the glass on the table.

TEK! Sounds firm. When he put down the glass. Alex looked at the glass. Then looked at Mr. Waleed’s face.

“What? Am I the CEO?” asked Alex.

“Yes. Don’t you want to?” Mr Waleed frowned.

“I want to...”

“You were the same as Talal back then. Talal dares to become CEO of a Dubai branch of an oil company. He was only 17 years old at that time. You can too. In a little while, you will grow old right?” Marco handed a paper to Mr. Waleed.

Letter of transfer from the previous CEO position to the new CEO. The previous CEO was not a family member, but an ordinary person.

“You are my heir here. All the companies I own in Indonesia are yours. So you don’t have to bother fighting over your late mother’s old house. Your cousins kicked you out, right?” Alex looked down. Remembering those bitter memories. It hurts.

“That house belongs to your mother. As my wedding dowry to him,” Mr Waleed recalled, “I don’t like my flesh and blood being trampled on like trash.” The big lord looked very angry. His teeth clenched. Rattling.

“I am old. My only hope is in my sons. There’s no way I’m constantly traveling far and minding my own business. Start strong, don’t be weak. Learn! All my children must be great and brave. Use everything you have now.” Alex looked at Waleed’s face. He didn’t dare look the charismatic man in the eye. Mr. Waleed took the pen from his pocket. He was about to get ready to write something on the paper.

“Your name is now Alex Waleed Alan Tabarak. No longer Alex Rustam Wijaya. I heard you got kicked out of school too? And accused of being a thief?” Alex nodded again.

“Why do you know everything about me?” asked Alex in surprise. His face showed sadness. Endless annoyance.

“I’m always watching you even if you’re not by my side,” said Mr. Waleed. Then he did the autograph. Then, Marco gave the paper to Alex.

“Now, young master, please sign. For a new identity later. Let me take care of it,” Marco said with a big smile. Alex stared fixedly at the paper.

Signature Founder & Commissioner, Prince Waleed Alan Tabarak Then on the left it says...

Signature, CEO, Prince Alex Waleed Alan Tabarak.

“It’s been a long time since your name was registered in the Saudi state. Because I’m not an irresponsible man. Everyone in the palace knows that I have a young son and wife in Indonesia,” he said.

Alex signed the transfer letter. Marco took the paper again. Then save it in a folder.

“Never share your wealth with your evil cousins. They have kicked you out. And they don’t have any rights,” said Mr Waleed, “all the companies here are under the control of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. So be careful. I don’t like irresponsibility!”

“Okay, sir...” Alex said nervously.

“Just call me daddy.” “Okay Dad...” Alex felt awkward.

“I will return to Saudi tomorrow. I come here every month to check on the company. You stay in this penthouse. You enjoy everything. If you need anything. There are those servants.”

Rows of servants there, men and women. They went back in after Marco opened the door to his father’s private room.

“And he is your secretary now,” Waleed pointed at Marco, “Mr Marco will accompany you to lead the company. Divide your school time and come to the office.”

“Okay, Dad,” he said again. Turns out his biological father wasn’t bad at all. Even though in Alex’s imagination, his biological father would take care of him. However, it turns out that he divided the wealth fairly. As it turned out, he had been watching Alex for a long time. He didn’t really leave himself.

“Here I provide 1 Alfard car, 2 BMW and 1 Jaguard. You can use it. Free! And remember yes, you have to take care of it and be responsible. I don’t like irresponsible men. If you want, you can buy any new car you like out of your salary. Don’t waste your time. Learn the right way.”

“Okay, Dad.” That was all Alex could say.

“I also want you to go back to the school that kicked you out. Of course with your new name and identity, right? Don’t you want to repay them?” his father asked. Good idea!

They must have been surprised to see Alex back at school. With a new name and new identity. Of course with a new look. Alex had already imagined what would happen if he went back to school at the same school, a school that kicked him out like worthless trash.

***