Extraordinary Jackson Ryder

05: The Jinxed Photo

Jackson's ears perked up. Did that old hag follow him here?

Shit! What if she had discovered who he was?

"No." Slade read through his thoughts. “The woman seems to have a back injury, and she's swearing not to leave until she meets Doctor Jack.” 

Jackson clenched his teeth in frustration. News of his exceptional medical abilities had spread across the city. Almost every day someone would barge in, demanding to see him at all costs. 

"What should we do, Boss? She's throwing a very loud tantrum." Slade asked again. 

Jackson cracked his brain. Then he thought of something. "Get me the mask, my kit and some anesthetic needles." 

He grabbed his coat, just as Slade returned with the instruments. 

Jackson made his way into the guest sitting room. 

Anna Wilson was still screaming in a livid voice. "I need to see Doctor Jack! My back really hurts since I had an accident this morning, I can barely manage to stand. Please help me. I'll pay any amount!"

"Ma'am, you have to understand, the Doctor isn’t-" two men were trying to restrain her when he arrived. 

"Here I am, Mrs Wilson." Jackson waved the men off.

She froze for a moment before shaking her head vigorously. "T. . .That voice. No. Can never be him."

Jackson scoffed inwardly. He knew what she was thinking. "This way, ma'am.” He led her to a smaller checkup room where they usually received patients. The matriarch had to lie face down on a bed for inspection.

"How did the accident happen?" Jackson asked, pressing against her spine. 

"It was that useless son-in-law of mine. He pushed and tried to hit me, I stumbled and- ah!"

"Does it hurt?"

"Yes. Yes! That place hurts the most!" The matriarch shrieked, pain in her voice. 

Jackson continued. "Your son-in law pushed you, and?" 

"Yes, that idiot bullied us before- ah! It hurts! Doctor Jack!" She was on the verge of tears.

“Done.” He smiled gently, helping her up and handing her a glass of water. 

Jackson returned to his seat. "Vertebral fibrosis. It’s already eating away at your spine. Very soon, it would degenerate completely, and you could lose all movement abilities!"

Her face turned ashen. "W. . .What can I do, doctor? Any remedies? I don’t want to be stuck in a wheelchair forever.”

Jackson rolled up his sleeves. "Well, we'll have to-"

"What's that?" Anna cut him off, her eyes on his forearm tattoo. "Jackson also has a similar-" she paused, looking into his eyes. "Are you-?"

Her eyes widened in panic when she saw the familiar glint. “Jackson?”

"Fuck!" He swore under his breath, immediately reaching for the anesthetic needles.

The matriarch fell unconscious, her walking stick hitting the floor with a loud thud. 

As he walked around the table, his eyes fell on an engraved marking on the stick. 

Jackson glanced closer, removing the cap of the walking stick. It was the exact same Logo his father was using the day he disappeared!

How did it get into Anna Wilson’s possession?

Jackson glanced back at the woman, quickly rummaging through her bag. 

Like he expected, he found a small diary that belonged to Luka and even a Versace handkerchief his father had gifted Luka a few days before he disappeared. 

Jackson picked up study keys just as Slade rushed over. "Boss."

"Have some men clean up the storage and throw her there. I have somewhere to go."

.

Jackson arrived at the Wilson’s residence, clad in black from head to toe. He knew the mapout of the mansion, so he was able to sneak in, avoiding all the helpers along the way. 

He arrived at the study, unlocked it with the key and closed it gently. Flicking on the lights, he hurried to the center mahogany table.

In the past, he’d been to this study a few times with his father, to visit Luka. But now that the man was dead, his son, Morgan was in charge. 

First, he went through all the documents on the table. Deeds of transfer of small companies to the Wilsons name. A few minor lawsuits. In the lockers, he found papers of houses and lands acquired legally and illegally by the family.

Morgan was a greedy man after all. 

Jackson hurried to a secret compartment on the right shelf. He recalled Luka unlocking it one time they visited. Jackson pressed a button, and it came open. 

It was empty except for a photo- a picture of Paul and Luka.

His father’s picture was heavily crossed with red and black markers. The person had done it with so much anger that the pen poked holes into photo. 

Jackson was shocked to the marrow, he'd never felt so much waves of animosity from just seeing a single picture. 

Suddenly, he heard voices outside. He closed the compartment quickly, hiding behind the shelf. 

"Come on, darling. You promised to take me on a tour of the whole house." Jackson could hear Isaac’s voice.

"But this is my father’s study, Isaac. Apart from my brother, no one else is permitted to go in."

"Well, you're not a random person, are you?" Isaac gave a low laughter, pulling her closer. 

Jackson heard the sound of kisses. Isaac whispered a few things to Miranda and she giggled, turning to insert her keys into the lock. 

"It's open?" She gasped in shock. "That's weird. Grandma must have also left the lights on."

"Woww." Isaac held her waist as they walked in. "That table must be made of mahogany, I can tell its very sturdy just with a glance."

"I guess so." Miranda shrugged. "Why don't we browse some books? My father has everything- business, personal development, humor, thriller, romance and even horror!"

Jackson could see them from where he was hiding.

Isaac wasn't so enthusiastic about what she was saying, his eyes were on a blue folder. "This." He picked it up, rummaging through.

Both their backs facing him, Jackson tiptoed out, hiding behind each shelf carefully. As he got out, hurrying down the stairs, he bumped into someone.

"Ahh! Are you blind?" It was Kate again. 

Her eyes widened in shock. "You! What're you doing here? Did you come to steal?" Her shrill voice was loud enough, and soon some helpers rushed over. 

"How dare you show your horrible face here?" Debra was passing with another helper. "Haven't you caused enough harm to our family, you idiot!"

Jackson shook his head. The matriarch didn't take his advice to discipline the little girl’s mouth. 

"Look, I only came to get something I forgot, get out of my way!"

"What's going on here?" Miranda asked from behind him, her eyes falling on him. "You!"

Isaac was also pissed off beside her. "Why the hell are you here again? Are you stalking my wife-to-be? Didn't you sign the divorce with your hands?"

"Wife-to-be?" Jackson scoffed in mockery. "When the Wilsons are done using you, they’ll dump you like hot coal!"

Isaac's face paled, and he subconsciously glanced at Miranda in shock. 

"You vile creature!" He shot daggers at Jackson, pressing a button on his phone.

And like air, a dozen burly men surrounded Jackson and dragged him down to the sitting room. 

Isaac came smirking. "You surely didn't think I would let you go after hitting me that day?"

"Sure! Future brother-in-law doesn't seem like a man to let his enemies go so easily!" Debra huffed, taking a seat on the couch to watch the drama about to unfold. 

Jackson was forced down on his knees, while Isaac grabbed his hair roughly, going on and on about how he hated his guts. 

"Poor Grandma is being endangered." Jackson smirked up at Miranda. 

"Grandma went to visit a doctor! Stop saying nonsense." Debra waved him off. 

Isaac retrieved a pistol, tracing it around his face slowly. Jackson gritted his teeth, opening his mouth to speak.

But a helper rushed in, whispering something to Miranda whose face went pale. “Oh my goodness!”

"What was that?" They were all startled. 

"The Hutton Group have concluded the stakeholders meeting, and the companies that won the Axel Contract are about to be announced on TV.”

The air hung with tension as Miranda switched on the News Channel. Everyone knew how important the Axel Contract was to her company, Exquisite Corps. 

Isaac was the General Manager at the Hutton’s company factory, and he normally recommends suitable companies to the higher ups to be awarded the contract.

Most times, it goes smoothly because they trusted his judgment. Therefore Isaac was confident that Miranda had gotten the deal, he patted her with a smile.

Jackson only smirked. "You can reassure her all you want, but the Hutton Group would never sign a contract with your company!"

"Shut up!” Debra was the one that yelled. “Who are you to predict such a thing?"

Jackson kicked both guards beside him, getting on his feet. "Soon enough, you'll know who I am." The fierce aura in his eyes sent them all to the edge. 

"W. . .What do you mean?" Miranda spoke up. 

“Who exactly is this idiot to counter my words?” Isaac let out a short laughter. “How about we make a bet?”

Jackson smiled. "If the Hutton Group announces her as the winner of the contract, I'll bow and kowtow 10 times! If not, not only would you kowtow, you'll also slap yourself 10 times!"

"Deal!" Isaac beamed, a fierce smirk on his lips.