Jackson groaned, blinking his eyes open to meet himself in an uncomfortable position. "What's this?" He frowned, getting up from the sofa where he laid. How did he get here? And why was his head aching so much. He'd barely gotten up when the memory flooded back to him. He had followed Morgan and discovered the hospital where Luka was hiding. So shocked to see him face to face, Jackson wanted to ask him a barrage of questions when someone hit him unconscious. Morgan! It had to be that bastard! "I'll kill you today!" Jackson got up abruptly, pulling against the muscles of his back. He groaned in pain and fell back down.Why did he feel so weak? He also felt pain and aches all over his body. What had they done to him?"Boss, are you in there?" His secretary, Carmen banged hard on the door. "I'm here." Jackson was shocked at how weak his voice sounded. "Come in."The woman's eyes turned huge when she saw him. "What happened to you, Boss?" She pointed at his torn clothes which h
"You're merely a freak that is getting concerned about something that isn't your business, with time you'll learn!" Xander hissed bitterly as Jackson made his way out. In the office, Jackson was restless, wondering how his company got filled with this sort of people in the first place.On the outside, it seemed like Ryder&Wil was waxing stronger but in reality, the company was very close to a big crash. "My father didn't leave the company this way, it deteriorated in the care of Kenneth and that his creepy friend!" Jackson hit his fists angrily on the table. "I have to do something about this, I can't just watch all what my father worked hard for go down the drain!"Jackson settled into his seat to place a call to Slade. He needed reports concerning what really happened at Serlar Malls before he takes his next step. As he was about to pick the phone, his door swung open and two bulky security men barged in. "There's trouble, Boss!" They panted heavily. Jackson felt a deep forebod
"We demand an explanation right now!" The uproar was getting louder and more violent.The security was now struggling to control them. "Call the police!" Jackson ordered. "That would lead to them arresting you, sir. We can't do that.""Arrest me for what?" Jackson asked angrily.He couldn't wait till Slade arrived, these people would have caused irrevocable damage before then! And he couldn't risk laying hands on the women in front of everyone. "Do as he says and call the police! It's better for the trash to take itself out!" Xander shouted. "Aren't you getting things wrong, Mr VP?" Mr Blake had to ask. "We can investigate his identity case later, but for now we have to find a way to stop this crowd, else there will be colossal damage of the company properties!"Xander turned his fierce look at the man, but before he could reply, Anna butted in."Sack him, Jackson Ryder must be relieved of his duties!" She shouted with bulging veins, the crowd echoing her. "For awarding the contra
When everything was calm, Kenneth made his way back to his Porsche in the garage. "All clear." He whispered.The man inside the car nodded. "Interesting drama, there." Kenneth didn't say a word, just escorted the man inside the company through the VVIP lifts.He didn't want anyone seeing them together after such a incident at the company. "I saw Morgan leaving just now, isn't he aware of the meeting you called?" Owen asked. "That scoundrel!" Kenneth frowned. "His input and opinions wouldn't matter anyway."Owen didn't say anything, he just made his way to Kenneth office which had a small conference room. Kenneth pressed the intercom, ordering a secretary to bring in drinks and desserts. Jackson stepped in with Slade a few minutes later. "Are we here to celebrate a feast or find solutions to the problems plaguing my company?" He registered his displeasure angrily. "Calm down, Master. We can still deliberate while having some snacks." Kenneth tried to pacify him. "Where did you e
When everything was calm, Kenneth made his way back to his Porsche in the garage. "All clear." He whispered.The man inside the car nodded. "Interesting drama, there." Kenneth didn't say a word, just escorted the man inside the company through the VVIP lifts.He didn't want anyone seeing them together after such a incident at the company. "I saw Morgan leaving just now, isn't he aware of the meeting you called?" Owen asked. "That scoundrel!" Kenneth frowned. "His input and opinions wouldn't matter anyway."Owen didn't say anything, he just made his way to Kenneth office which had a small conference room. Kenneth pressed the intercom, ordering a secretary to bring in drinks and desserts. Jackson stepped in with Slade a few minutes later. "Are we here to celebrate a feast or find solutions to the problems plaguing my company?" He registered his displeasure angrily. "Calm down, Master. We can still deliberate while having some snacks." Kenneth tried to pacify him. "Where did you e
Jackson woke up the next day to receive a plethora of bad news.Two more malls under Ryder&Wil had caught fire, a supermarket was completely vandalized by hoodlums, and a Hotel was shut down by the government due to careless regard of safety for the public. Jackson sat at the breakfast table for a long time, his mind spinning to different possibilities."Why exactly is this happening at the same time?" His expression grew darker and darker. It couldn't be a mere coincidence.Something has to be wrong somewhere!"Boss, it's almost time for you to leave." Slade interrupted his thoughts. "Have you been able to discover anything about the fire incident that happened at the Serlar Malls?" Jackson asked. "The police are still investigating, and the place has been sealed off public intrusion.""But the way I see it, that investigation will be wrapped up in a few weeks and everything swept under the carpet!" Slade gritted. "Did you meet the manager, staffs or anyone at all?""I did, Boss.
"Ahh, the smell of freshly minted dollar notes turns me on!" The leader of the Alpha Men opened the box to retrieve the wads of cash. "I have a feeling this will be a profitable deal, bring chairs for our guests!" He ordered the others. In no time, table and chairs was set up to the meeting.Jackson and the leader toasting each other to a bottle of wine. "So tell me what you want in exchange for all that cash. We're ready to serve you!""I got this receipt from someone last week." Jackson handed it over. The leader glanced over it lazily, passing it to his men behind. "You guys have an idea what purchase this was?""No.." They all school their heads. Jackson nodded.These men weren't among the people that bought the sculpture and murdered Betty. "Well, that woman took my father's sculpture from his penthouse and sold it to some of your men, I'm only here to offer you this money in exchange for retrieving it. That sculpture means a lot to me!" Jackson said firmly. "Sculpture?" th
Jackson and Slade arrived at the center of the city, making their way into the Central Square. The Serlar Malls was located entirely on a separate stretch of road. It used to be a big building containing all sorts of things needed by humans. Now all that was left was a black, scarred building standing like an eyesore. This was millions of dollars burnt down just like that! Anger flowed through Jackson's veins as he stepped past the caution tape into the Mall. The entire walls were covered with soot up to the roof. Burnt residues of shelves, clothes, goods and food stuffs littered the large hall. The bricks partitioning the hall into subsections had totally collapsed. "I'm 100% confident this fire wasn't caused by a cigar and a glass of alcohol." Slade muttered as he picked some soot from the wall to smell it. "The moment I saw the mall from outside, I already discredited that useless excuse!" Jackson nodded, bending to inspect a pile of iron in one corner. It's color seemed d