“Is this a Joke?”
Ryker thought to himself. It seemed like a joke or better still a dream. He couldn’t call it a prank because it was way too expensive to call it a prank so it was better concluded to be a dream.How in the world is he an heir to a trillion-dollar company? An ordinary house boy who was trying to fit into the world. It was too good to be true. Even though it was coming from the most powerful man in the world, it was hard to take in.“I know it’s difficult to take in” Lord Hunter brought him out of his thought “But that’s your true identity, who you are. You’re not destined to be a loser or someone who can’t make it in life, No!” He nodded his head in disagreement.“Your future had been written and documented to be the next heir of Acme Corporations”“No no no no, I don’t want to hear that” Ryker stood up angrily waving his hand at Lord Hunter who was still seated. “This is all a mistake or a mix-up. I’m sorry but I have to go” He said with a shaky breathy, his voice trembling.It was very hard for Ryker to believe what he just heard after all he had gone through. It would take him time to accept his identity, Lord Hunter thought to himself. He stood to his feet and obstructed Ryker from leaving.“Listen to me son, I understand if you need time to process this but I want you to do something for me” He paused to see if Ryker was with him, Ryker wondered what he wanted him to do.Lord Hunter dipped his hand into his inner suit pocket and brought out a golden card which he handed over to him “Take this. I need no fortune-teller to tell me that you’ve suffered for so long and that suffering got to stop. I’m sorry for not coming out earlier than this”Ryker collected the card with a confused look and stared at the golden card. He recalled holding and using a black card which was owned by his boss many times but he had never held or used a golden card. “How much is inside?”“Try it out yourself and see” Lord Hunter with a smirk on his face returned and stared at Ryker as he walked out of the room.Lord Hunter simply shook his head and concluded that Ryker was just like his father.******************************************Ryker walked out of Hunter’s mansion only to find out that he was inside the Acme estate. He recollected accompanying the wife of his boss, Queen Elizabeth to visit one of her influential friends. He remembered he had to wait for hours under the sun till she was done. Then all of a sudden, he was made to know that he happens to be the CEO of Acme corporation which means he owns Acme estate.That was too good to be true.And speaking of Elizabeth, he knew he was in trouble for not getting home yesterday. It was like she was designed or created in life to frustrate him. She almost made him believe that all rich women are nothing but evil but that fact was untrue. Many of her friends were nice and kind, unlike Queen Elizabeth. There was one day, Ryker’s grandmother was sick, and he needed to go home. Elizabeth didn’t grant his permission and she was keen to her words. Jenny so kindhearted volunteered to go help her. She took her to the hospital and paid for her hospital bills and drugs.Ryker had to snap out of his thought as soon as he got to the main road. He hailed a taxi going towards the Gatewood’s house. Thirty minutes, he was dropped in front of the house.The Gatewood’s house happens to be a big mansion with many features. The exterior part of the house presents itself as a magnificent architectural masterpiece, reflecting a blend of classic and contemporary styles. The driveway lined with perfectly manicured gardens and towering palm trees lead to an imposing entrance gate made of ornate wrought iron.As you pass through the gate, a sweeping driveway leads to an awe-inspiring mansionBut with all these features, it was nothing compared to Lord Hunter’s mansion or better still a Castle*************************Ryker walked towards the gate and through the openings of the gate, He noticed an empty compound. He was aware the cars were parked in the garage. In other to notify Charles the gateman, he stepped away from the gate and moved to an object on his right. He tapped on a button which initiated a communication in two seconds.“Who’s there?” A middle-aged man voiced out“It’s me Charles’ Ryker responded coldly. His countenance portrayed how tired he was.Instead of unlocking the gate automatically after hearing it was Ryker, Charles dressed in his Blue shirt and black trouser, accompanied by his black cap on his head, walked out of his room some meters from the gate and headed for Ryker who was still waiting for the gate to open.“Good Morning Charles” Ryker greeted as Charles approached the gate“Good morning Ryker. What happened? Why didn’t you return home as promised?” He was not done when he noticed a small bandage on Ryker’s forehead “What happened to you? Why are you taped?”Ryker let out a long sigh “It’s a long story and sorry for not coming back yesterday. Just kindly open the gate for me. I need to get in and rest”Charles in return shook his head with a disappointed look “I’m sorry I can’t”Ryker wondered why“Since you didn’t arrive back yesterday, Madam ordered me not to open the gate for you and besides Jake already spilled the beans. So, you don’t have to hide from me”Ryker grunted in anger and cursed under his breath “That son of a bitch”Why in the world will he report what transpired between them to his mother? Jake took Sandra away from him. As if that was not enough, the next in line was his job. But it’s not fair. Because how wealthy a man is doesn’t give him the right to trample on others.Charles was sorry for him. He was aware of the maltreatment Ryker experienced from the Gatewoods.“Please Charles, let me in. I’ll simply plead with Madam and I’m sure she’ll forgive me”Ryker knew it was a lie. There was no way she was going to forgive him. All he wanted to do his sneak inside and to his room.Charles was adamant in his word “I’m sorry Ryker but I can’t. If I let you in, I’ll lose my job and I can’t afford to lose the only thing that feeds my family”Ryker understood. Charles happens to be a family man with three kids. His salary was not up to what Ryker gets.At this point, Ryker wished Jenny was around. He hated the fact that she went to an event in Chicago. If she was around, none of this would have happened. Jenny and Elizbeth were like enemies in the house, two different breeds who disagree in almost everything and anything. Jenny almost had the upper hand only because she was loved by her Dad. Lord William loved his daughter so much that he could do anything for her but as for Jake, Lord William considered him as the black sheep of the family, though he supported him in his bad deeds and this was because of Elizabeth.Ryker decided to leave when there was nothing he could do not when he spotted a car ahead speeding towards his direction. Just straining both eyes a little, he noticed it was one of the Gatewood’s cars. Not just any car but the exact one Jenny took for her event.Ryker became so glad that his organs were leaping and at the same time twirling for joy.“Ryker, what’s wrong? What happened to you? why are you outside?”After exchanging pleasantries, Jenny was forced to ask after seeing how bad Ryker looked. He wasn’t feeling okay and his face was beginning to swell.“Jenny it’s a long story and besides Your mom ordered Charles not to open the gate for me” “What fucking right does she have to stop you from entering the house” Jenny's expression changed immediately after hearing Ryker’s reply. She was getting pissed after finding out her mother was behind Ryker being stranded. Without waiting for an explanation, she ordered Ryker to get into her car.Charles was forced to open the gate irrespective of Elizabeth’s order. Jenny drove a bit roughly into the compound and didn’t bother to park in the garage. She was so infuriated that she halted in front of the house and instantly swung the door open. Jenny marched towards the house with Ryker tailing at her back. He knew what was about to happen.Elizabeth was sitting in the living room l
“Ryker! Ryker!” “Oh! not again” Ryker mumbled with a grimace on his face, as he dropped the santoku knife he was using to cut a bunch of carrots. He wanted to ignore the call but hell no he couldn’t. Madam Elizabeth is someone you must not ignore unless you’re in deep love with punishment. Ryker could swear that Elizabeth was trying all her possible best for him not to prepare lunch on time. He knew the consequences of not serving lunch in the dining at exactly 2 pm, especially when Jenny, her only daughter who always took his side was not around.Among the Gatewoods, Jenny was the only nicest among them. She was calm, kind-hearted, sweet, and extremely beautiful. The kind of girl every man would cling on. No one needs a soothsayer to tell that she looked exactly like her mother.But in character, a big fat NO!Madam Elizabeth or as she loved been called Queen Elizabeth happens to be the wife of the one and only founder of Cobalt Enterprises, William Gatewood. Lord William happens to
The blaring of music from the house was the only evidence that Ryker needed to know that his girlfriend, Sandra was celebrating her party. After paying the cab man his fee, he walked towards her apartment with a charming smile on his face. He anticipated the shock on Sandra's face when he opened the door but she was nowhere to be found except for her male and female friends who were either dancing or drinking.Ryker spotted two of her friends he was familiar with. He was hoping for them to tell him her whereabouts.“hey, guys” His voice caught their attention away from whatever they were doing. As they spotted Ryker in front of them, there was an instantaneous jaw-dropper on their face. Ryker understood their reaction. Maybe Sandra informed them about his early decision not to come."What are you doing here?" One of them with enormous makeup on her face asked with a huge glare. Ryker didn't mind the glare. He was aware she disliked him, a lot and it wasn't her fault. Ryker didn't an
Ryker left his ex-girlfriend's apartment into the busy streets. He didn’t even bother to hail a taxi. Using both feet back to Gatewood estate would take him at least thirty to forty minutes but he didn’t care or felt he was punishing himself walking a long distance. All he felt was the sadness he had been having all day. Been humiliated by His Boss, had to ditch his best friend again because of work, and now his girlfriend cheating and breaking up with him just because of Jake. Ryker had been trying to fit into the world as a person but it seemed the world wasn’t meant for him and a factor to that was the Gatewood family.That apart, why was his relationship life different from everyone else? Why does he have to fall victim to love? After all, he had done for her. Ryker could remember clearly, one of those months, he slashed his salary into three. He gave A Thousand and Five Hundred dollars to his grandma, Three Thousand to Sandra, and kept just Five Hundred for himself. He did every
“How the hell do you know that name?” The anger was vivid in his voice. Ryker didn’t mind the fact that he was talking to the most popular and fearful man on the surface. He felt pained and hurtful at the same time, his heart beating faster than normal. The last time he heard that name was like 20 years ago. Grayson Lee Bryon was Ryker’s late father who died in a motor accident. He loved both parents dearly but his father, Grayson, was his favorite. His connection with his mom was okay, family related but his relationship with Grayson was way more than father to son. Ryker remembered his father treating him like an adult even at age 7. They’ll watch games together, go to fun places, sit beside him on the sickbed, and make sure he tucked him to bed. Grayson promised to be there with and for him but he couldn’t fulfil that promise.His world crumbled ever since he lost his dad. He tried to forget about his father which was however difficult but suddenly, not just anyone but the most p