THE URBAN PHOENIX: Arthur Salvatore's rise from the ashes.

CHAPTER 4

HE DID NOT know who sent the text as he got on the next flight leaving for Connecticut. He could barely afford the economy seat and had to borrow some money from some of his friends at school.

As the plane took off, Arthur started the calculations in his head and figured that he would have to work for two months before he would gather up the money to pay back. Luckily, it was unlikely that his friends would embarrass him for the money, but he did not like to be in debt so he planned to pay back as soon as possible.

He rubbed his eye socket and tried to sleep amidst the clutter going on around him on the plane. He was packed between a woman with a kid and an old woman. When he approached the air hostess for a seat change, she had scoffed. Then she gave him a once-over glance and walked away without answering. Arthur had resigned to his fate and since it was not a really long flight, he was prepared to endure it through.

He closed his eyes and his mind went back to the text, "Your grandmother is dead. Come back home."

There were no details on what killed her. Maybe it was her heart again.

He sighed. He knew the mansion would be unbearable without her to protect him, but he could not ignore the text and just stay in New York while they buried her. He wanted to pay his last respects.

ALMOST TWO HOURS later, Arthur stopped the taxi in front of the gates of the mansion. He paid his fare, which was the last money he had, apart from his return fight ticket money. As he walked through the gates, he could see that the mansion was already bubbling with little activity. The news had spread amongst the high society members. He counted numerous Porsche cars, rolls Royse and Bentleys parked all over the front yard.

"It seems like I was the last to be informed," Arthur said as he walked slowly.

"Oi," A fat man called to Arthur. "There happens to be a mess in a hallway. Someone spilled a glass of champagne."

Arthur looked at the man, not knowing what to say or do.

"Well, what are you standing there doing?" The man asked, "Aren't you a cleaner of the Salvatores? Go clean it up." The man walked away, muttering, "Such insolence."

Arthur stood, dumbstruck for a few seconds, then he shook his head, chuckled, and walked in the other direction. He was looking for any member of his family, even if it was Clarence, his stepmother.

He walked into the grand foyer of the house where more people were present. He heard the familiar laughter before he saw the person.

The huge, bulky figure of Liam, his stepbrother came into view.

"Ah, Arthur," Liam's voice boomed. "Nobody thought you would make it."

Liam stood an arm's width apart from Arthur. He was a tall man, almost 6 foot 5 inches, and weighed heavy. He was dressed stylishly in a designer suit compared to Arthur's cheap worn-out shirt and chinos trousers.

"Why wouldn't I?" Arthur asked, "She was my grandmother too."

Liam scoffed. "Yeah, right. And yet you work two jobs. Mother told me that you are a cleaner in New York. How is the job holding up?"

A thin, long-necked woman stopped as she walked past, "Did someone say cleaner?" She asked. Her eyes immediately focused on Arthur, "There is a mess in a room on the right. I don't know what they were thinking when they poured some soup all over the place." And she walked on without waiting for an answer.

Arthur was getting angrier. He marched off. Liam hurried after him, "Don't take it to heart, Arthur," Liam said as he dogged Arthur's step. "You look a bit… unkempt that's all."

Arthur didn't say anything.

Liam continued, "Listen. It's nothing that can't be solved if only you would kiss your father's shoes and accept a job in the family's empire."

"A job?" Arthur scoffed. "He offered me either the position of a doorman in one of the companies in Boston or that of the mansion cleaner."

"Well," Liam said, raising his shoulders, "You have to start somewhere, right?"

Arthur scoffed. "Look where you started."

"That's because your father loves my mother… and hates yours." Liam laughed.

Arthur was fuming as he entered his room and slammed the door. He sighed and dropped his small backpack on the floor. He considered what Liam had said. Maybe he should kiss his father's shoes and accept whatever position he was being offered.

Maybe Liam was right, he thought to himself. Although they could not be considered friends, Liam had never made Arthur feel bad. Just a few mocking jest made in joke, and they didn't see so often.

It was not like Arthur's other stepbrother, Logan Salvatore. From the day that Logan had been born, just one year after his father married Clarence, Logan had hated Arthur. Even as a baby. It was obvious, and he was the baby and most loved of the house - although he was just 1 year younger than Arthur.

Arthur made conscious effort to avoid Logan when he could, but he was bound to run into him at some point in the funeral. He remained in his room until he was sure that everyone was gone and the funeral was over.

What was left now before Arthur left back for New York was the reading of the will. The family's lawyer, Mr Halsen, was going to take charge of that duty.

A small knock sounded on Arthur's door, rousing him from his half-sleep. He opened the door to see a maid.

"I'm sorry sir," The maid said, "The family is gathering downstairs and your attention is needed."

Arthur nodded and walked downstairs. He looked odd. He looked like an old model car from the 1940s parked with the most recent Ferrari and Lamborghinis. He stood out like a sore thumb.

Clarence chuckled when she saw his disheveled appearance. "Are you ready to accept the job offer your father gave you?" She asked.

Arthur paid her no mind. There was a loud scoff from behind him. He turned to see the slim figure of Logan strut into the room. He had on a pair of golden-framed spectacles and a snobbish air around him. He looked like Arthur like he was a piece of shit, "What is he doing here?" He asked nobody in particular.

Arthur was about to reply but the family lawyer, a middle-aged, balding man cane in and said, "Let us go into the study, please."

The family moved into the large study that once belonged to Arthur's grandfather.

They took their seats as Mr Halsen opened up his briefcase. He cleared his throat and maintained eye contact with each member of the family in the room. They were not much.

Arthur's father, Edward Salvatore, was the only child of Isabella and Luigi Salvatore.

There was a first wife, who disappeared after 1 year and 6 months, leaving her child - Arthur - behind.

Then there was his current wife, Arthur's stepmother. Clarence, who had had a son out of wedlock before.

Liam, Arthur's stepbrother and Clarence's son whom she had convinced Edward to adopt and he did.

Then Logan, the son of Edward and Clarence. He was the star of the house and the one that everyone adored.

And finally, there is Arthur. The nobody of the family.

"I am not sure any of you knows the expanse of the Salvatore wealth," Mr. Halsen started, "The family wealth is, in a word, vast."

He adjusted the glasses on his face. The room was silent and the air was heavy with tension. He cleared his throat before he continued, "I will read the will passed on from Late Mr. Luigi Salvatore the Third to his wife, Late Mrs. Isabella Salavtore, and it goes as follows…" He unrolled a very thick parchment of paper and started reading. After the boring parts about donations of different charities and environmental funds, it got to the part everyone was waiting for.

"I leave 5 million dollars to my son, Mr Edward Salvatore. I hope he doubles and triples that amount to something greater than himself.

I leave his first wife, Maria, 3 million dollars.

I leave his current wife, Clarence Salvatore with 4 million dollars.

I leave my adopted grandson, Liam Salvatore with 10 million dollars and my other grandson, Logan Salvatore, I leave him with 15 million dollars and a penthouse in California.

To the rest of the properties, both in cash funds, landed property, and everything else in the Salvatore's name, I leave to my grandson, Arthur Salvatore. I hope with everything, you will come to see that material things do not define you and I know he has acquired the wisdom over the years to manage it properly." Mr. Halsen looked up from the paper and stared at Arthur, "That means that you have both the funds of your mother – who is unavailable – and all the rest that your grandmother left for you."

It took everyone almost a minute for their brain to process what they had just heard.

"Let me see that," Edward snapped. He snatched the will from Mr. Halsen's hands and scanned it. Then he turned to Arthur, "You little piece of shit, You scammed that old woman."

Arthur was still dumbstruck, "What?"

"A measly 4 million dollars?" Clarence shrieked. "What will 4 million dollars do?"

"Shut it, woman!" Edward snapped. "Arthur, I want you to transfer it all to me now!" He took a menacing step towards Arthur, "And you are going to do it! Now!"

"Hold it, Mr. Salvatore," The Lawyer interjected. He stepped in between Edward and Arthur. "You can't do that. It's against the law."

Edward looked from the lawyer to Arthur and then in a cold voice, he said, "I disown you!"

"Are you sure you want to go on with that?" Mr. Halsey asked.

Edward's harsh breath was the only sound in the room, even Clarence was quiet.

"Because in the case where anything was to happen to your son, you would not be the next of kin or anything…" Halsey said.

Edward glared at Arthur for a long while before he stormed out, brushing past the lawyer and slamming the door behind him.

Liam chuckled and stood up, he patted Arthur's arm as he walked by. Logan sat still and quiet on the couch. His gaze raked over Arthur without exposing anything that he was feeling. He had a lazy, smug smile on his lips.

Mr. Halsen packed his briefcase and as he locked it, he said, "Come. Walk with me, Arthur."

Arthur struggled to his feet, he was still in a haze and was not quite grasping what was happening.

As they walked out of the study, they heard Clarence moan, "I already had plans to renovate the house."

Mr Halsen stopped and turned to look at her, "You will not touch anything in this house unless Arthur tells you to. He owns it now." And they walked out, leaving Clarence to wallow in her tears. Mr. Halsen chuckled as they made their way to his old car, "You can even send them out if you want." He said.

Arthur shook his head, "What? No no, I can't let my father go homeless," He looked back at the huge mansion and said to himself. "You mean I own this now?"

"And many more across the world," Mr. Halsen said, "The family's financial manager should talk to you soon."

Arthur nodded.

Mr Halsen took out a small black box and handed it to Arthur, "Your grandmother wanted you to have this."

Arthur collected it and opened it. It was the gold and black obsidian necklace that his grandmother had been very fond of.

"The inscription on the obsidian is the logo of your family. It holds power."

Arthur rubbed it fondly, just as he had seen his grandmother do.

Mr. Halsen got into his car and started the engine. "Don't forget, Arthur Salvatore," He called as he drove away, "You are now a very wealthy man!"