RICHARD’S POV“Richard, are you sure you’re feeling alright?” Dennis’s voice crackled through the phone, a hint of amusement in his tone. “You know the Van Der Lins aren’t actually in the consortium, right? They’ve been trying to weasel their way in for years, but no luck so far.” I froze, my finger hovering over the “End Call” button. Wait, what? Had I misheard him? Was this some kind of elaborate joke?“Dennis, you’re messing with me, right?” I asked, my voice tight. He chuckled, a low rumble that did little to ease my apprehension. “Son, I wouldn’t joke about something like this. Those consortium spots are like gold dust. People would kill to get their hands on one.”“Right,” I muttered, feeling a wave of relief wash over me. “Of course. I'm just making sure we were on the same page.” For a moment, I stood there, phone pressed to my ear, trying to process this unexpected turn of events. The Van Der Lins weren't even in the consortium. They were just wannabes, puffing o
RICHARD’S POV The old bat did a complete one-eighty. Gone was the fire-breathing dragon, replaced with a surprisingly convincing imitation of a gracious hostess. "Richard, dear," she chirped, gesturing towards a plush armchair. "Please, sit down. Make yourself comfortable." I smirked, hiding my amusement behind a carefully constructed façade of polite compliance. The old bird was a piece of work, I’d give her that. Adaptable, too. Amelia looked like she'd just witnessed a unicorn tap-dancing on a rainbow. Relief flooded her features, washing away the fear and anxiety that had been clinging to her like a shroud. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. Her eyes, however, spoke volumes. Gratitude shone in their depths, warm and genuine. Van Der Lin, meanwhile, had finally managed to dislodge his jaw from the floor. He sputtered a few incoherent curses, something about "gold-digging hussies" and "knowing my place," before stumbling out of the house in a flurry
RICHARD’S POV “Father!” Grandma White, Amelia’s grandmother, trilled, practically levitating from her seat in excitement. “You’re back early!” Amelia’s grandfather, a tall, imposing figure with a shock of white hair and eyes that could cut diamonds, strode into the room like he owned the place. Which, considering this was his house, wasn’t entirely inaccurate. Introductions were made, handshakes exchanged. I plastered on my most charming smile, doing my best to exude an air of polite respectability. The old man, however, wasn't easily swayed by charm, even charm as potent as mine. He subjected me to a scrutiny so intense I could practically feel my skin prickling under his gaze. "So, Richard," he began, his voice a gravelly baritone that spoke of countless board meetings and ruthless business deals. “Tell me about your family. What line of work are your parents in?” “My mother,” I said, choosing my words carefully, “is…retired. And my father…” I paused, letting the silen
RICHARD’S POV “An illegitimate son?”Amelia’s grandfather echoed. "Yeah," I said, trying to sound nonchalant. "Turns out, I’m kind of… his kid, anyway." I mentally cringed, wishing I had a shot of whiskey. Or ten. Amelia squeezed my hand reassuringly under the table. Her touch was the only thing keeping me from bolting out of the room.Amelia’s grandmother looked like she could curdle milk with a glare and narrowed her eyes. "Kind of?" she practically hissed. "What on earth is 'kind of' a son? Are you a half-baked loaf of bread, boy?"I took a deep breath. “Okay, fine. Not ‘kind of’. I’m his illegitimate son.” There. I said it again. The words hung in the air like a bad smell. Amelia’s parents exchanged nervous glances. Her aunt choked on her tea, sending a spray of tea stains across the tablecloth. This was going great.Silence descended upon the room, punctuated only by the ticking of the grandfather clock in the corner. I could practically hear Amelia's grandmother's blood pre
RICHARD’S POV “Shit! Grandpa!” Amelia screamed, rushing to his side."Great, now you've killed the oldman," I muttered, more to myself than anyone else. I rushed to his side to help him up."Shut up!" the thug leader snappedThe thug loomed over Tom, a pistol glinting like a bad omen in his hand. "One billion," he boomed, his voice the gravelly remnants of too many cigarettes and too few moral principles. "Interest on the little twerp's debt."Amelia tried to reason. "Sir, one million was the original agreement. We simply…”The thug cut her off with a snort. "Sweetheart, agreements are for suckers. Now, you've got two options: cough up the cash or watch your brother take a permanent nap."Tom was visibly shaking. “I–I'll get the money, just give me some time.”The leader grabbed him by the collar. “You've had some time, and now time's up.”I swear, I’ve seen calmer hostage situations in bad action movies. One minute we were talking about some old gambling debt, the next minute grand
Richard's POV The thug leader stood before me, his bravado fading fast. He glanced around, looking for a way out. I smirked. “What’s the matter, tough guy? Lost your nerve?” “Back off, man!” he shouted, but his voice cracked. “Not a chance,” I said, stepping closer. “You messed with the wrong family.” He swung at me, but his punch was slow and desperate. I dodged it easily and landed a solid right hook to his jaw. He stumbled back, clutching his face. “Is that all you got?” I taunted. “I expected more from the big bad thug.” He tried to rush me again, but I was ready. I grabbed his arm, twisted it behind his back, and slammed him into the wall. “Let’s make this simple,” I said, my voice low and menacing. “You leave Amelia and her family alone, or I’ll break every bone in your body.” “Okay, okay!” he gasped, struggling to breathe. “Just let me go!” “Do you promise?” I tightened my grip, making him wince in pain. “Yes! I promise!” he shouted, his voice panicked. I released
RICHARD’S POV I hadn't invited Dennis, the consortium chairman, to my father's house yet. This was the second task my father had given me and my stepbrothers. Time was ticking, and I knew I had to move fast. So, I jumped into my car and sped to the headquarters. Here I was, back in the opulent shark tank of Consortium HQ, my palms slicker than a politician's promises. This whole "befriend the chairman" charade my old man had concocted felt more like a suicide mission than a family bonding exercise. "Alright, Richard," I muttered to myself, smoothing down my rumpled suit. "Second task, Operation Butter Up Dennis. Let's do this.” With a deep breath, I swaggered towards the receptionist, a woman whose smile could make diamonds jealous. "Hi there, sunshine," I chirped, channeling my inner witt. "Richard Thorne here. See if you can work your magic and get me a quick chat with the big cheese himself, Mr. Dennis." Her smile faltered for a millisecond, then returned, a touch less dazzli
I marched up to the secretary's desk, ignoring the disgruntled sighs from the others in the waiting area. They could wait. I had a chairman to charm."Excuse me," I said, leaning casually on the desk. "Is Mr. Dennis available, by any chance? I have a feeling he'd much rather chat with me than these...gentlemen."The secretary flustered, pushing her glasses up her nose. "I'm sorry, sir, but Mr. Dennis is a very busy man. All appointments must be made through...""I'm sure he can spare a few minutes," I insisted, my voice taking on a persuasive tone. "Tell him it's about a matter of utmost urgency. And maybe mention that I'm far more interesting company than those two clowns out there."She hesitated, clearly torn between protocol and my undeniable charisma. It’s a gift, I swear. Finally, she caved."Very well, sir. What name shall I give?""Richard. Richard Thorne." And with a final wink, I added, "He'll know who to expect.""Oh, look who thinks he can charm his way to the