Extraordinary Jackson Ryder

08: I'll Never Accept Him as the Master!

The footsteps approaching pulled up dread in Jackson’s heart, but he managed to keep his stoic expression.    

"Mr. Robins has arrived with a companion." A guard announced at the door before the two men stepped in. 

Jackson didn't miss the sudden drain of color on Kenneth’s face. He got up, eyes on the first man that stepped in. "Y. . .You're here?"

"Of course, I should. Didn't think you could leave me out, did you?" The tall man replied, before striding forward to stop in front of Jackson. 

Jet-black hair, strong jawline and small sunken eyes that scrutinized Jackson’s entire outfit before coming back up to his face. "You sure look like a Ryder. I'm Owen Robins, a current shareholder at the Hutton Group, and one of your father’s confidant. Nice to meet you."

Jackson accepted the handshake, a strange feeling twirling in the pit of his stomach.

Owen exchanged another glance with Kenneth before taking his seat. "What're you still doing there standing by the door?" He squinted at a younger man still at the door. 

Morgan Wilson. 

Jackson sized him up. He was tall, with broad shoulders and alert eyes having a striking resemblance to Luka. Morgan had spent most of his life abroad, and had only returned a few years prior, never bothering himself with the Wilsons. There was no way he would know Jackson was once married to his sister.

"Well, nice to see that the meeting was going to be held without me today." He flashed his teeth, settling right beside Kenneth.

"I didn't invite you for a reason!" Kenneth slammed his glass on the table. "Your actions from the last time have left us feeling suspicious, and you suddenly want to belong and be invited? Never!"

A small smile curled on Morgan’s lips. "Well, I'm here already. Deal with it." He made his way over to the table, taking a seat right opposite Jackson, ice-cold eyes scrutinizing him the way Robins had done, just that his expression was totally blank. 

"So, you're the new kid, huh?" He snorted. 

"He's Master Ryder to you!" Kenneth banged the table. "You don't want to get on my nerves, Wilson. Watch your tongue."

"I wonder why the so-called Master can't speak up for himself." Morgan picked up a glass of wine.

Kenneth glared at him, but Owen relaxed on the chair with a lazy expression.

Jackson's heart lurched. He was seated among some of the most powerful men in Chicago. One of whom had conspired to kill his father. They were all Masters at deception and hiding their true motives behind a façade. Jackson wasn’t fooled.  

“Old Kenneth. You really do not expect me to accept a random stranger as my Master.” Morgan said.

“He’s the Master’s only heir and that’s that.” Kenneth hissed.

“For fuck’s sake, it's not just by blood relations, old man!” Morgan slammed his glass. “What about doggedness, smarts and the ability to be a true leader? Listen. I will never accept him as my superior based on just a piece of paper!"

"You traitor!" Kenneth flew into a rage. "No wonder your father was condemned by the Master! You-”

"How about we have a duel?" Jackson asked in a cold voice, cutting Kenneth off.

He actually reasoned along Morgan’s words. It would be folly to accept him as the Master when they’re barely convinced of his skills and prowess. 

"Oh, really?" Morgan’s face lit up. "Don't expect me to go easy on you."

"No, Jackson. You can't do that!” Kenneth jumped in with a worried expression. “Morgan is a trained Martial arts lord that won the black belt 5 times!"

"Who says I haven't won any?" Jackson ignored him, pulling his chair back to get up. 

Owen still wore his lazy expression, twirling his drink without a word. 

At Morgan’s orders, Liam prepared the ring room where special wrestling were watched by VVIP members. 

They all moved, Owen and Kenneth settling on the chair with re-filled wine glasses.

At the signal of the referee, Jackson expected Morgan to come all out at him, but he didn't.

Right. He wasn't as dumb as Kane. 

They went in circles for a while, before Jackson threw a punch and an uppercut at him. Morgan dodged effortlessly, using Jackson’s down moment to send loads of punches to his abdomen. 

Morgan kept punching and punching, his hits so rapid that Jack found it hard to keep his balance. He staggered backwards, raised his legs to hit Morgan’s chest.

"Ahhh." Morgan was propelled backwards by the force and he staggered, coughing up blood. "I really have to say, your punch holds power!"

He came at Jackson with a ferocious speed, but Jackson was able to dodge, standing to the side to give him a brutal kick. 

The force sent Morgan hitting the bars, before he fell face down. 

“Congratulations!” Kenneth stood up, clapping and cheering for him. 

"Are you okay?" Jackson helped Morgan up. No matter what, he was still a business partner. 

"Of course! This was nothing." Morgan flashed him a cruel smile, then turned to face the men. "At least he's proved some parts of my admonition wrong!”

Owen’s lips lifted in a sneer, whispering something to Kenneth whose face turned grim.

All through the fight, they’d been whispering and exchanging glances. But Jackson found something odd. Why did it seem like Kenneth was subservient to Owen?

"Sure, Jackson would serve as a great leader." Owen lifted his glass, the lazy expression no longer on his face. 

They got off the stage, and as they returned to the changing room, Morgan discreetly passed a note to him. 

"What's this?"

"Be careful." Morgan whispered, patting his shoulder before he left. 

Sure enough, Jackson looked to the direction of Morgan’s eyes earlier. There was a hidden camera. 

Jackson glanced down at the paper again.

It seemed this case was a lot more complicated than he thought. He slipped the paper into his pants pocket. 

When he returned, Morgan began to give details of what happened at Calcutta.

One of their malls had a fire incident and totally burnt. Though there was no causalities, there was a lot of injured people, and the company was already preparing compensation.

But the government chose to open an investigation, even raising a sanction against them. They had no choice than to abandon that location for a while. 

"I visited the local governor before I left. There's no indication we’ll be re-issued another certificate to build another shopping mall."

Jackson took in each word, a series of questions forming in his mind.

Owen’s face was unreadable, but Kenneth looked pleased. Morgan’s eyes darted about, a trace of guilt in his expression.

After the briefing, Morgan got an emergency call and quickly left.

Two waiters came in to clear the dishes, one of them mistakenly spilling a little wine on Jackson, so he had to get up to get it cleaned.

When they left, he retrieved his phone and sent a text. "Track his location, phone calls and messages. I need to know where he’s currently headed to."

Kenneth and Owen were too engrossed in their conversations to notice him. 

He’d placed 3 tracking devices on Morgan’s phone and clothes when they undressed before the duel. The device was very tiny and unnoticeable but had the capability to withstand stress, unlock phones and hijack a security system by just being controlled by an expert. 

"Alright." Kenneth stood up. "It was a nice time having the both of you."

"Master Jackson." He turned to bow, then gave a slight nod to Owen. “Thank you for coming.” 

He led them out, through the VVIP lift to the garage. 

"Till we meet again, Mr Ryder." Owen came forward to shake him, then got into his Porsche, zooming off. 

Jackson squinted. "I'll be taking my leave now."

"Master Jackson, we’ve reserved a limited edition G-wagon for you, courtesy Robins and I." Kenneth led him to a shiny silver colored car. 

The car was so beautiful, with great engines and speed limit. But Jackson couldn’t accept it. "I don't quite like it."

"Oh? Then which one would you like? Everything here was your father's." Kenneth gestured to the parking lot filled with several sport-cars. 

Jackson was smarter. He quickly went around, and picked the least luxurious looking car- a black Sedan. "I'll use this one until I get the car I want."

Kenneth didn't seem too happy but he had to oblige. "I'll have the secretary bring the keys now."

Jackson nodded, leaning against the car.

"What did you think of Mr Wilson earlier, Master? He's quite suspicious, isn't it?" Kenneth asked cautiously. 

Jackson only nodded. "Hmm. Yeah. I'm yet to fully grasp what he has to gain though by being a traitor though."

"His father was the only suspect we have regarding your father's death!"

"Are you sure Luka Wilson is dead?" Jackson had to ask.

Kenneth's lips twitched. "Of course, he is! I can have some men escort you to the grave location if you want."

"No need for that." Jackson smirked.

He had his answer already. 

The secretary arrived and he got the keys, and driving off. 

On his way to the base, he received a call from Slade. 

"Boss, we've successfully tracked his location. He's at the TInger's Burial Grounds."

Exactly where Paul and Luka were buried. "Hmm. What else?"

"He's speaking to his father on the phone."

"What?" Jackson suddenly drove the car to a stop. "What did you just say?"

A new recording file popped up on the screen, and after listening, Jackson's gaze went murderously cold. 

It only helped confirm his previous thoughts. 

Luka Wilson was still alive.