Hollywood Zenith

" H-how is this- Where did you get this?" Charles began stuttering, witnessing the video.

" Let\'s just say that I got an anonymous tip. Some secrets are best kept hidden, don\'t you agree?" Samuel said with a sinister smile.

" Bastard! Do you know who you are messing with?" Charles roared. His old bones still had some fight left in them but not enough to scare someone like Samuel.

" I know exactly who you are, a pervert with a slight inkling of pain. I am impressed you kept it hidden for all these years. I wonder how the public will react to this video file."

" I am a British noble! Even Rothschild are no match for us; I can have you six feet under with a single order!" Charles was still unable to admit defeat.

" Old man, you have to get on with the programs. I could have resorted to violence, but I chose to give you a chance. Oh, This is only the first file. You have to see the others. I wonder if Queen would revoke your title if I showed it to her. She and I are close like that." He changed the file; this time, Roderick was in compromising positions.

It was inevitable that the girls were not so keen on being with him, as evident by the disgust on their faces. Samuel kept changing the file while the vigor in Charles\'s eyes was depleted. Finally, he asked the question which Samuel had been waiting for.

" What do you want?" His voice was meek, like a puppy who had lost all hope.

" Nothing much. I just have two demands if you fail to meet my expectations. I will erase your family along with its hundred-year-old legacy. It will be the biggest scandal this country will ever witness for a long time." Samuel said while looking him dead in the eyes.

" I understand. What are these demands?"

" First, you will hand over the Glory Media company to my Achilles firm, no question asked. As for the payment, let\'s just say you are donating it in good faith for the betterment of humanity. Don\'t worry the money will go toward the victim and their families." Samuel shrugged.

" Okay, what about your next demand?" Charles had no way out of this situation. Glory Group was a large corporation that spearheaded four independent labels, which included ZY Recording Studio, which Adele was a part of.

After he acquired the Warner music group, he would have control over one of the most influential media companies in the world. This was without counting his plans that were still going on for the Asian markets.

" Your oldest son, I want him to pay for all the crimes he has committed up until this day. He will have to make a press conference tonight which confesses everything." Samuel was smiling the whole time looking at Charles\'s face.

" Roderick, no, not my son! Why? I can give you more of my companies. Please." With that cold, sinister expression, Charles knew he was dealing with the demon. His son was the heir that he had cultivated since his birth. How could he just give him away? Confessing about his crimes would put him behind bars for the rest of his life!

" I didn\'t give you a choice. This is my demand."

" No, why? Why are you doing this? Did my family offend you somehow? He is my son! How can- please" He was slobbering and saying things that didn\'t make much sense. He was already on his knees, trying to make himself more pitiful.

But Samuel was not very merciful toward those who bare their fangs at his people. He was no longer a little boy who didn\'t know right from wrong. Over the years, he learned that softness in one\'s heart could be a fatal weakness.

" Choose! Do you want to save your family or your son? And if you want to blame someone, blame yourself for not teaching your son the right things in life. Don\'t take my words lightly; your son could still live inside the prison, unlike what other things I had in my mind for him here." He looked down at the old man who was gritting his teeth, fuming angrily.

" I ACCEPT IT! I ACCEPT YOUR DEMANDS!" Charles bowed his head, signifying his defeat. With this, he also cemented the fate of Roderick, his oldest son. He had never suffered such shame in his life; he blamed Samuel but was furious with his son, who brought this monster to their doorstep!

" Good. You have five hours. I expect my demands to be met in that time frame."

" Yes.."

" Go on now. You have a lot of things to do today."

Samuel saw the old man scurry away with his tail between his legs. The company matters would take some time, but who could stop him if he declared the company his own? Besides, he was more looking forward to how Charles would make his son admit his sins.

It would be a family drama that people would happily pay money to watch. Samuel called the Glory media and arranged an emergency meeting on behalf of Charles, after which he leisurely enjoyed more golfing sessions with the team.

...

...

...

"Where is that bastard!?" Charles shouted as soon as he arrived at his family mansion.

" Bastard? Sir-" guards were confused. They had never seen him this angry.

" That bastard son of mine, Roderick! Where is he?"

" Young master is waiting for you in the living room. We located him as you ordered." They bowed, but Charles was already gone inside.

He grabbed one of the vases from the decoration; he thought honestly about beating him to death! As soon as he spotted his son, he threw it in his direction, narrowly missing his head.

" What the fuck? Who dares- father?" Roderick got up yelling just to see his father glaring at him intensely.

" You ungrateful fool! Do you know what you have done?" Charles yelled. Hearing his commotion, his wife also came to see his husband looking for something besides the fireplace.

" Father, did something happen? Why are you shouting?" Roderick acted concerned. Seeing his father\'s red eyes, he feared his blood pressure flaring up more than anything.

Charles managed to find an iron rod and approached his son. He began hitting him violently without answering anything. It\'s like he had gone mad or something.

" Aah, father. Wait, oww. stop." Roderick tried to calm him down just to be struck by another blow. He howled in pain, trying to block with his hands.

" Charles! Are you insane? Why are you hitting our boy?" His wife came and grabbed him from behind, ending his streak.

" Unhard me! I am not finished with him!" Charles tried to free himself, but some guards also came to retrain him, seeing his behavior.

" Calm down! What the hell is wrong with you?" His wife slapped his shoulder, trying to get him to snap out of it.

" What\'s wrong with me? WHAT\'S WRONG WITH ME? This cretin tried to destroy our whole family! Now we don\'t have any face left for the world to show!"

" Fater, I really don\'t know what you are talking about. I promise I didn\'t do anything." Roderick tried to pull up his sore body. Surprisingly, even in rage, Charles avoided his face because he knew his son had to face some cameras later this evening.

" You offended a Rothschild! Now, we have to take responsibility for it. How did you manage to achieve that is beyond me."

" Rothschild? Responsibilities?"

" There must be some misunderstanding. Please sit down; we can talk about it-"

" There is nothing to be done now. Samuel Rothschild came to meet me; personally, I accepted his demands. You just have to comply with his wishes." His anger had subsided a little, but he still gave death glares to his son.

" Father, I never met that person before, I promise!" Roderick was a prudent person. It was a coincidence that he targeted Adele but still didn\'t know about it.

Charles told them about what had transpired between him and Samuel. Of course, he omitted the damning evidence he had toward him, just mentioning the files about Roderick. He also told them about his demands.

" What! Why is he targeting Roderick? More importantly, how does he know so much about him?" His wife was baffled. They had pulled quite some strings to make everything go away.

" He wants me to... Father, how can you agree to it? I will never do it! We have so much wealth! Isn\'t that enough compensation?"

" He is right. Don\'t we have that prime land in the city\'s heart too? We can-"

" You fool! It\'s over! Don\'t you understand me? Besides, they don\'t lack money! Roderick, you have to do it. The family\'s future depends on it." Charles said calmly like he sympathized with a dead dog on the streets. He had to secure his and everyone\'s else future; once everything died down, he could try to get his son out.

" No, Father! I am the heir, the next Earl! If I do this, I can never inherit your seat." Roderick was adamant.

" You don\'t have a choice. Believe me, if this leaks out our family title can be revoked! It\'s time you own up to your mistakes."

" Charles..." His wife didn\'t know what to say. She knew how serious the situation was. No mother thought their son was evil, but she had started changing her mind. Where exactly did she go wrong raising him? She kept wondering about it.