Pauper's Yearning Read online

  Contact me at [email protected] .

  All characters are fictional and eighteen years or older.

  *****

  Table of Contents

  Part One

  Caleb quickly opened his eyes as soon as he heard the little clock on the table ringing. He hastily jumped out of bed, pushing the button to make it stop. It was 5 AM . Another day had started for him with completely new house chores and any services that would be asked of him.

  Caleb Kavanaugh had turned 18 years just a few weeks back. He was a high school graduate and though he had graduated at the top of his class, he has been unable to go to university due to lack of financial capacity to sponsor himself.

  He had finished high school and that same year he had lost his lovely mother to the cold hands of death. She had died because Caleb's uncle, his father's brother Gregory had refused to pay any money to begin the treatment. It was such a painful event and Caleb really misses both his parents a lot. He had lost his father at the age of 10 and since that time he had been suffering with his mother until she died.

  Though they were poor, his mother did domestic work and helped educate him. He really appreciates her for her sacrifice and one day, Caleb might just go to the university and create a better life for himself. Being an only child of his parents, Caleb had to endure all the pain alone. He had been lucky his uncle and his wife and kids had allowed him to stay in the house.

  Caleb recalled the love his mother had for him and how she used to go out of her way just to make sure that he went to school. He will never forget her no matter what. He remembered how she used to kiss him every morning, but he quickly dropped his reverie, he had to get breakfast ready before any of his Uncle's family woke up,

  He washed his face, went back to the bedroom and changed into an old shirt which looked a little too big on him and an old cargo short and rushed downstairs.

  His aunt had specifically told him to cook bacon, toasted buns, fresh homemade juice and fruits. Just as he was serving the last plate he heard footsteps coming from the stairs. It was a really large house and he was all the way in the dining room but he could hear the footsteps and they were drawing nearer.

  Suddenly, the door opened revealing his uncle Gregory and his wife Tiffany who were dressed elegantly. They never even bothered to buy clothes for him yet they were really rich with 2 Companies and a restaurant. Tiffany was putting on a blue skirt with a blue jacket and her blonde hair was tied into a ponytail on the other hand, Gregory was wearing a brown designer's suit that made him look fatter than he was.

  Gregory and Tiffany were really beautiful but Caleb failed to understand the reason why they hated him a lot. They used to have the same hatred for his father and mother but their hatred kept on increasing. They were blood brothers and Caleb had failed to understand why Gregory was so mad at his father and once he had asked him before he died.

  His father had told him that Caleb's grandfather used to like Caleb's father more than Gregory that made Gregory mad and he's been like that even when he became rich, he made sure his brother suffered. He married a wicked woman who diverted her wickedness to her two children. The guy has even refused to take Caleb to the university.

  "I hope this food is nice," Gregory groaned, eyeing Caleb in a way that made him quiver.

  "What do you expect when you have a spoilt little brat for a nephew," Tiffany said in a hoarse voice as she grabbed the chair. "His bitch of a mother spoilt him a lot. It was the reason why she died a bitch."

  Both Gregory and Tiffany laughed as Caleb felt tears building in his eyes. They insulted his mother at the chance they got and it made Caleb to be heartbroken.

  "Morning," Harriet made a grand entrance in the dining room and she grimaced her face as soon as she saw Caleb. She was 23, putting on a brown designer's dress with all her thighs exposed. It was such a short dress. Her chocolate brown short hair was well combed making her face looking bright. She was wearing the highest of the heels Caleb had ever seen on her.

  "Morning," William, a guy who really troubled Caleb announced grabbing a chair and looking at Caleb as if he was the most disgusting guy he had ever seen. He was the twin brother of Harriet, gay and boasted about it.

  William was engaged to Preston Vermont, an heir from one of the richest, powerful and most influential families in Cordovia. Cordovia was a culture rich country where most families were closely knit.

  Just to say, Caleb was gay. He had known it since 15 when he got strong feelings for a school mate. He had been in relationships before but they all failed because he was looking for love while the guys wanted his ass. He is still a pure virgin though, waiting for the right guy. He really admires William though because he's in a relationship with Preston though the guy has an attitude. How is anyone able to put up with him, Caleb thought. God!

  Caleb has never seen Preston face to face because the guy was abroad and he came back to the country just a few months back after he inherited his family wealth from his mother's custody. Apparently, William and he had met in the university and they have been dating for four years till they decided to get engaged just the previous month. In another month, they would be married and Caleb would have at least one burden lifted off his shoulder, hopefully.

  "What the fuck is this?" William yelled, throwing the spoon and knife hard on the floor it made Caleb shiver.

  "It's...its bacon," Caleb stammered, his heart racing. "I fried it just the way you like it, golden brown."

  "Are you calling me a liar?" William yelled. "When I say it doesn't taste like bacon...then it's not bacon."

  Caleb felt tears rushing in his eyes but he managed to refrain them from coming out.

  "I'm sorry," Caleb muttered. "I thought..."

  "You thought what?" Tiffany furiously stood up, pointing angrily at Caleb. "I gave you a simple task just to cook ordinary bacon and you couldn't do it."

  "What I meant was that I tasted it myself." Caleb muttered. "There is no way the taste is bad."

  William sighed impatiently. "You are really stupid."

  "What do you expect?" Harriet laughed teasingly as she pushed her breakfast plate away from her. "He never used to have bacon when he was living with his mother."

  "Bitch of a mother," Tiffany hollered. "She was a bitch and I have no idea why your brother married a bitch producing such an awful offspring." Tiffany said, looking down at her husband who was slowly standing up.

  "Just look at him," Harriet said, moving her hand up and down Caleb. "He is so damn ugly, stupid and poor."

  "Please," Gregory muttered, his face looking sympathetically. "Don't talk about him like that." He was looking straight at Caleb nodding his head as if he was feeling bad.

  Caleb was surprised. Did his uncle just defend him? He had no idea whether it was a reality or just a dream. It had never happened before.

  Then Gregory laughed. "What I meant was you don't have to remind the guy." He laughed. "He knows that he looks like he is from mass."

  They all laughed while Caleb's tears fell to his face. He felt such pain but it was bearable. He had experienced something worse than that and he was used to it anyway.

  "Look, he's crying." William said after a long teasing laugh. "Maybe he needs he needs some pampering."

  "Who is going to give him that?" Tiffany laughed. "I don't look like I am a bitch hugger, do I?"

  "No, honey," Gregory laughed. "You don't look like that at all. You are better than that."

  They laughed for a minute while Caleb cried but he was still hoping for the best. He prayed for a knight in shining armor to rescue him from this suffering. Caleb asked himself if love only existed in fairytales or if it was only possible between the rich.

  If William as bad as he was had someone he real
ly loved what of Caleb who was good. Where was his prince charming?

  "Anyway, it's pointless talking to him." William said with a serious face. Caleb knew he would get a beating for cooking such bad breakfast.

  "We are going to work hungry." Harriet yelled in his face. "I hope you are happy now."

  "Don't worry sweetie," Tiffany said sweetly. "We'll grab a bite at the restaurant before we go to the company. At least we'll have enough energy for work."

  Harriet smiled.

  "By the way, I wanna have stovetop Macaroni and cheese for dinner so cook it before we return this evening." Tiffany instructed as she moved out of the chair.

  "I don't have the ingredients." Caleb sobbed.

  "Here," Gregory threw a lot of money at his face. "Buy all the food items needed, fill that fridge. Buy all the groceries."

  Caleb didn't know if he had the time to clean the whole house and buy the groceries. It was so little. Usually his aunt bought the groceries but he knew that if he didn't finish his work on time, he would get a beating and if he didn't cook on time, he would be dead meat.

  Caleb rubbed his eyes. "I'm sorry, but I don't think I'll have the time to clean up and go to the..."

  "I don't care." Tiffany yelled. "And let me warn you..." She pointed her fingers at him. "...let me find the house completely clean, all the groceries bought and the food cooked. You know exactly how I can be."

  After warning him, they all left and Caleb was left standing in the dining room. He wanted to scream, shout, cry and run but he couldn't afford to waste any more time. He picked up the money, quickly cleared the table, washed the plates and then cleaned the whole house, did laundry and even made their beds.

  There was no worker in the house. His aunt had fired all of them except for two security guards at the gate. She said that she didn't need any house workers when she had one, Caleb.

  By the time he was done, it was 2 pm and he was glad he finished his work quickly. He still had shopping to do and then cook. Out of the money that was given, he made a budget of all the food items that would be needed in the house and he realized he still had a few left to enable him a return journey home.

  Caleb was getting scared because he knew that he wouldn't cook his dinner before they reached home. He prepared his body for a beating. He was used to it anyway.

  Caleb quickly went and took a shower and stood in the mirror looking at his reflection. He had dark long hair all the way to his back like his mother, piercing blue eyes like his father and his physique was absolutely stunning. He looked at his face from the mirror and though they had called him ugly, he saw himself really handsome, more handsome than both his Uncle and his cousin.

  As much as he wanted to admire himself, he had to get ready. He got dressed into an old faded blue jean and an old brown T-shirt that his mother had bought him years ago and old blue sneakers that still looked Hmmm...at least well and headed out the door.

  He quickly got out of the large compound and ran to the supermarket. It took about an hour before he reached the supermarket and he was breathing so heavily trying to catch his breath after a long run.

  Once he got to the supermarket he wasted no time looking around. He still didn't understand why his aunt made him come to the supermarket, as if he was not in so much trouble already. He started at one end of the store and worked his way through all the isles ending at the chocolates. He stopped and looked at the chocolates, a favorite treat that he hadn't had in two years. He just had no money to buy it and he had no time for the supermarket.

  Looking at those chocolates brought so many sad memories of his mother but once there, he remembered harsh words and insults his uncle and family had rained down on his dead mother. It got him so angry to the point where he removed his hands from the trolley, gripped his hair in anger and then let go, swinging his hand so fast in the air.

  "Uh!" Caleb screamed but then he felt his hand hitting something really hard and it got him scared.

  "Ouch!" Caleb heard someone shout in pain. Oh no, he had hit someone and he felt really scared. He had no idea how the person's reaction would be. He was dead, he was really dead.

  Caleb quickly turned and saw the man facing down, touching his head and groaning. Caleb didn't do it intentionally and he didn't see the man's face.

  "I am sorry," Caleb stuttered. "I didn't see you. I..."

  "Hey!" Caleb heard a deep voice from behind and he quickly turned to see two huge men dressed all black with glasses and he knew that they were probably guards.

  "Do you know what you just did?" One of the guards shouted making Caleb quiver. "How dare you lay you filthy fingers on our boss? Do you even know who he is? I'm sure you did that on purpose but I am going to show you that our boss is not to be messed with."

  "I am sorry," Caleb muttered. "I swear to you that I didn't see him. Please..."

  "No begging will..."

  "I'll handle it." Caleb heard the voice from behind him and he quickly turned. It was the same man he had hit and he got more scared as soon as he saw that face. It was Preston Vermont, fucking Preston Vermont. Caleb knew he was screwed, he was really screwed. Preston had his hand on the spot Caleb had hit him and he was fuming and Caleb could see it from his green eyes. He was really handsome just like Caleb knew, dark short hair and he was breathing so heavily.

  "I am sorry," Caleb muttered, hoping for Preston to hear him out. "I promise that I didn't mean..."

  "How dare you?" Preston yelled in his manly voice. A voice that got straight to Caleb's adrenal gland and released so much adrenaline he could feel it taking effect and he really got scared like he had never been.

  "Please, I am..."

  "Do you know whom you have just hit?" Preston yelled. Caleb thanked his lucky stars there were no people who paid attention. "I have tried to be nice, stood in for selfies with fans, given autographs but this is too much. Were you trying to get my attention?" Preston asked. "You almost broke my head. Now how about I teach you a lesson that will..."

  "Please," Caleb hollered tears flooding his face. He was really scared. He quickly knelt down in front of the tall handsome hunk and sobbed. "I have said sorry but if that's not enough you can punish me if you want."

  "I know what you are trying to do." Preston chuckled feeling his pain subside. "You are trying to show me those crocodile tears so that you can escape my punishment but guess what," Preston said as he grabbed the boy so tightly and got him up. "I know how to..." Preston trailed off as soon as he looked into the boy's eyes. Those weren't crocodile tears, they were real and the boy was crying for real. He felt so bad and his heart softened.

  "I know that I have hurt you but believe me it wasn't intentional." Caleb cried. "I should have been more careful. I made a mistake laying my dirty hands on you and I probably deserve any punishment you want to give to me but please show a little mercy. I am just a simple, poor, wretched boy and I am no match for you. If you have any sympathy please," Caleb put his hands together as he felt Preston' grip get softer.

  "Let me go. I promise I won't do it again. I'm so sorry." Caleb was scared and tears made his face wet. He couldn't even raise his face to stare Preston in the eyes.

  Preston was defeated right there. He had never felt so bad for scaring an innocent boy like that. He wanted to hug him and keep him comfortable, tell him sorry and compensate him but he couldn't do it. He had no freaking idea why he had snapped at the boy. Maybe he had even been telling the truth. What kind of man was he?

  "I am sorry," Preston said softly, feeling some form of emotions run down his spine. "I didn't mean to scare you. It's just that I got hurt and I spoke in anger."

  "Please, sir," Caleb sobbed. "It's my fault and..."

  "No, I shouldn't have reacted the way I did. And for that I am really sorry." Preston said, pouring his heart out to the boy. "Please, don't cry anymore."

  "I am sorry," Caleb apologized, sobbing after every second. "Forgive me."

  "Alright," Preston muttered. "I forgive you but stop c
rying already."

  Caleb raised his face to see Preston staring in his blue eyes and he saw sympathy. He hadn't seen kind of eyes for a long time. He wanted to stop crying but he couldn't do it. The tears just flowed like a fountain.

  Preston got really emotional when he saw the state he was in. He had put the boy in that situation and he was going to fix it. He took a handkerchief from his pocket and without hesitation took it to the boy's face and began rubbing his tears.

  Caleb had no idea what was going on but he couldn't seem to stop it. In fact he found the scene rather amusing and it got to him. Feeling Preston rubbing his tears so lovingly made his heart race, his blood passed through his veins at a fast rate and adrenaline took over and made him weak. No one had ever shown him such kind gesture and it scared him big time. He didn't even know what was happening but the tears stopped flowing.