RISE OF THE ULTIMATE SON IN LAW: KEVIN WILLIAMS

STARTING TO BE ON TOP

CHAPTER SEVEN

Kevin picked his phone and dialed the number of the person who left him with nothing two years ago.

The old man’s voice resonated with a deep timbre that carried the weight of years of wisdom and experience.

“Kevin! I knew you would call…”

Kevin responded impatiently,

“Hello Grandpa, let’s not waste time with fake formalities. I’m calling to let you know that I can help solve the crisis of Williams family with my money but in exchange for that, I have two conditions. One, before six o’clock tonight, you will give me a DreamLover necklace. Second, at the down town family branch, there is a person named Blakely, I want him removed immediately.”

Still sitting on his motorbike, Kevin hung up the phone with his grandpa and said to himself,

“The tables have turned! Now I have all the power… this is going to be so much fun.”

Just then, Kevin received a text message from his wife Lily. Kevin took a deep breath and read,

“I’m sorry about our call earlier. I really wish things could feel like they used to between us. But, I wanted to remind you about my family gathering tonight. Could you please put up something new to wear? You know how judgmental my family members can be… it would mean a lot if you leave a good impression since I already have so much pressure from them about my job. Thank you.”

Kevin smiled as he typed back,

“Of course… anything for you. I promise to make you and your family proud tonight, I love you.”

Kevin got up from his motorbike and looked straight ahead at the luxury neighborhood in front of him.

What Lily didn’t know was that Kevin had just arrived at the Golden main buildings also known as the most luxurious neighborhood in Veridonia.

Minutes later…

Kevin was sitting on a familiar couch and standing at the opposite side of the room was Kevin’s uncle, Mathew. He took a deep breath before speaking,

“Your grandfather couldn’t be here so he sent me in his place.”

Kevin stayed sitting on the couch as his father’s brother stepped forward and gave him an awkward hug,

“It’s good to see you, nephew. You look very different than the last time we spoke. If anything I would say that, you look like you have been enjoying your freedom. This sabbatical has done wonders for you.”

Uncle Mathew continued

Kevin rolled his eyes,

“Are we calling me being kicked out of the family a sabbatical now?”

His uncle smiled softly,

“Kevin, I want you to know that I never meant for that to happen and it was just an unfortunate…”

Kevin interrupted,

“I am not here to hear about the past so let’s just focus on the presence. How much does the Williams family need?”

Always used to being in charge, Uncle Mathew pursed his lips and answered,

“Actually… it’s not a lot of money”

Kevin raised his eyebrows,

“How much is… ‘Not a lot’ Uncle Mathew?”

“Twelve billion”

Kevin was speechless,

“…”

He then laughed,

“Twelve billion isn’t a lot of money!? You kicked me out of the family for investing a lot less than that…”

Uncle Mathew paused,

“Well, we were wrong. It turns out that your bad investment is the only thing that can save our family’s dynasty. Can we borrow Twelve Billion dollars?”

Kevin stood up and replied,

“I suddenly remembered that I have something very important to do. Don’t worry I’ll see myself out.”

Uncle Mathew quickly stopped him,

“If you don’t give us the Twelve billion, the Williams family legacy will be destroyed. Kevin please I’m begging you… you are part of this family and you are the only one that can save us from going bankrupt. I already asked my men to complete the two requests that you mentioned. So, please you can’t leave now… I’ll do anything.”

Kevin replied calmly to the man, revealing his charming smile,

“Uncle, it’s not that I don’t want the Williams family to get through this crisis but if I’m being honest, I don’t think I have twelve billion dollars to give you.”

Mathew was impatient now,

“Kevin, are you seriously going to play dumb with me right now? Have you not checked the value of your stocks? Your grandfather and I know that the twenty percent of the shares you invested in the Sunset Haven group is worth at least Forty billion dollars now and the value is going up as we speak!”

Uncle Mathew paused for a moment and softened his tone,

“Kevin, you lost every conscience but you must not forget that you are also a member of the William’s family. This is your legacy that I’m trying to protect.”

Kevin felt his heart beat raise as he talked to himself,

“I have over Forty billion dollars!? Just this morning I had only fifty dollars in my savings… this is a dream come true! I can finally build my empire.”

After a long silence, Kevin replied calmly to the man he once feared,

“Uncle, you didn’t seem to care about my legacy when you kicked me out of the family two years ago. Why should care about it now?”

Uncle Mathew was speechless as Kevin continued,

“I have a wife now! Did you know that? We got engaged the day that you decided to desert me. I’m a son in-law to another family. Why should I show loyalty to you over them?”

Kevin clenched his fist tightly and finished,

“If it wasn’t for the fact that you were all going bankrupt, I don’t think you would have ever reached out to me again. You left me for dead now why should I bring you back to life?”

Uncle Mathew was silent for a few seconds then he said in a deep voice,

“Kevin I know what we did was wrong and I apologize to you on behalf of the family. We messed up but I’m begging you, your family needs you. The Williams dynasty will fall without your help.”

He paused for a moment as if he was making some kind of important decision.

Finally he looked up to Kevin with a firm gaze,

“Kevin you are willing to help the Williams family, I can help you become the president of the William’s media. All that it will take me is one day to formalize the formalities. Tomorrow, you’ll be able to take over the position. You will have your own company…”

Kevin smirked,

“Isn’t William’s media your wife’s company? You’re always quick to giving out other people’s property for your own benefit, aren’t you?”

Mathew countered,

“She would gladly give it to you to save the family’s company… William’s media is one of our most profitable profile companies. It’s the largest and most successful entertainment company in the whole of Veridonia. Think of all the celebs that we’ve signed, it will all be yours.”

Grinning his teeth, Kevin nodded and said,

“I accept your conditions. William’s media will be my first acquisition in my journey to create my own family empire but for now, I really need to leave. I have somewhere very important to be.”

Uncle Mathew paused,

“So, do we have a…”

Kevin interrupted,

“Yes! We have a deal.”

Uncle Mathew nodded,

“Thank you. I wasn’t sure you would help despite everything we did to you. I can’t even express how much this means to the family.”

Kevin smiled,

“We’re families and I hope this will help all of us remember that family is more important than money.”

Mathew nodded again,

“I might be two years late, but I have learnt that lesson.”

 Leaving his family’s mansion, Kevin looked at his watch

“Oh no! I’ll be late for my high school re-union.”

Stepping on his motorbike, Kevin began driving as he thought to himself

“This will be the first time that I’ve seen everyone since we graduated. It’s been years. I’m really excited to go to the re-union and show them the man that I’ve become.”

Driving back home to change, Kevin smiled

“My luck is changing… I can feel it. By the end of today I’ll earn my family’s respect, my old classmates envy, my in-laws approval and most importantly, my wife’s love.”

On the other side of town, Lily walked down the hallway of the office and her co-workers giggling, she saw some of them looking at their phones and gaggling.

Through their gaps between them, Lily saw the video they were watching and was too ashamed to continue.

It was a video showing Kevin riding a smashed motorbike.

One of Lily’s co-workers smirked,

“This is so embarrassing. How is our chairwoman married to a man who rides a broken down motorbike? It looks like something you would find in a dump!”

Someone else cut in,

“I  know! He is such a loser. It’s a miracle that they haven’t divorced yet…”

A tiny girl took a sip of water and interrupted,

“You’ll never guess what I heard earlier… He said he was going to buy the real DreamLover necklace for the chairman!

They all erupted into laughter,

“The real DreamLover necklace? Ridiculous! We’ve seen what he drives… how in the world would he be able to afford something as rare and luxurious like that? He isn’t just broke, he is delusional! Such an idiot.”

They all broke into laughter again until one of them turned, saw Lily and gasped,

“Chairman! So sorry… we didn’t know you were here.”

Lily paused and calmly replied,

“It seems like there are lots of things you don’t know. Maybe you should be more careful the next time you call someone an idiot.”

“We’re really sorry chairman… we will return to our desks immediately.”

Lily’s co-workers apologized

Feeling overwhelmed, Lily quickly returned to her office and closed the door.

Sitting down, she started sobbing as she thought to herself

“I know that Kevin isn’t an idiot. I just wish that he’d remember the man he used to be… maybe we can give our relationship a go then. I really don’t want to give up on him yet.”

When Kevin returned home, he opened the door and saw his mother in-law’s dull face, sitting in the living room watching TV.

When she heard the door, she opened her mouth and called him,

“Kevin, come here! I need to ask you something.”

Kevin nodded and quickly sat on the sofa next to Martha.

Martha continued,

“Kevin you and Lily have been married for two years now and still no grandchildren! Does your family have any genetic history or issues with fertility?”

“Hummm… No, my parents are very healthy and I’ve never heard of any genetic disease in our family”

Kevin nervously replied.

Martha raised the corners of her eyes and crossed her arms,

“Really? Come to think of it, it’s really weird that I don’t know anything about your parents. Maybe we should schedule a doctor’s appointment for you and your parents to get tested. That way we’ll if there are any bad genes on your side.”

Kevin awkwardly responded,

“There’s no need mom. I am very sure of my health… no need to waste money.”

Martha snapped,

“Why are you being so defensive? All that I’m asking is for your parents to get a checkup. Honestly Kevin, it’s for their own good. You know what, I won’t take no for an answer! Now, I have to go run an errand but I’ll see you tonight at the get-together.”

After his mother in-law left the room, Kevin shook his head and checked his watch,

“I need to change ASAP. I’ll deal with my mother in-law issue later but right now, I have a class re-union to attend.”