2024-08-30 16:54:52“Get him cleaned up!” the chief commanded the officer. “And bring him to my office. Now.”
The officer, along with another that had just arrived, scrambled to obey. They lifted Matthew and half-dragged him to the station's medical room where they hastily patched up his wounds, cleaned the blood and urine with a wet rag, then wore him old, lost and found clothes.
Although he was too dazed to comprehend what was happening, Matthew had caught snippets of their nervous conversation. Who was this Harold Wellington and why had he come for him? Matthew had no friends in high places, no connections to power. It made no sense.
Within minutes, he was ushered into the chief's office where a man in an expensive tailored suit stood by the window, holding a briefcase. He had dark hair, and his eyes were sharp behind his pair of glasses as he assessed Matthew.
‘Who is this?’ Matthew wondered. ‘What is going on?’
“You harmed him,” the man said to the police chief once he was done with his assessment.
“Nah, we didn't,” the chief lied. “He got into a fight and took the brunt of it.”
“That doesn't look like a fight. That looks like he was beaten up, assaulted, and from the amount of cuts and bruises, it was done by a considerable number of men.”
“He attacked a man and the man beat him up!” the chief opposed. “The kid's a terrible fighter with guts that doesn't match his strength.”
The man with the briefcase returned his gaze to Matthew, and his tone softened. “Is that what happened, Matthew?” he asked.
Still completely dazzled by all of this, Matthew glanced at the chief, who had a warning in his eyes. Normally, Matthew would succumb to this warning and lie, but something about the man standing before him made him believe he could trust him.
“No,” his answer came. “He locked me inside a cell and had me beaten up by a gang of prisoners… One of them— one of them urinated on me.”
A look of disgust, anger and disbelief painted itself on the man's face. He turned to the chief. “And this happened in your station. Under your watch?”
The Chief swallowed hard, beads of sweat forming on his brow. “Okay listen. It wasn't supposed to go that far.”
“That far?!” the man yelled. “How far was it supposed to go? Not only is this unacceptable, it's illegal!”
“The kid needed to be taught a lesson. He attacked Darrell Ferguson. You know how powerful the Fergusons are, Mr. Wellington.”
“The Fergusons?!!!” Wellington's voice thundered. “Is that the family you are afraid of? You are a fool. There are more powerful families to fear, and you have just crossed the most powerful of all.”
The chief blinked, confused. “Family? What are you talking about? He’s just a car washer.”
Wellington did not say anything to him. He turned on his heel and walked out of the office, pulling his phone from his pocket as he did. Once in the hallway, he selected a number from his important contact list and made a call.
Minutes later he returned to the office, a stern look on his face, and not long after, the phone on the table rang. The chief glanced at the phone, then at Mr. Wellington.
“Pick it,” Wellington said to him. “That should be the councilman.”
The chief’s heart sank. The councilman, one of the most influential figures in the country, calling him now, after everything that had just transpired? What exactly was happening? What powerful family had he crossed?
“Councilman,” he began once he picked the phone.
“What is this I hear, Chief Edmund?!” The councilman’s voice roared at the other end of the line. “How dare you touch a member of the Houston family? Do you have any idea what you’ve done? Are you not aware of how powerful they are?!”
“The Houstons?!” Chief Edmund’s eyes widened. The powerful family that owned the legendary Houston Empire? The family name that carried immense weight, synonymous with power, influence, and untouchable status.
No, it's not possible! Why would a Houston be working as a car washer?
“Sir. There— there is no Houston here,” he stammered. “Only a mere car washer.”
“You fool!” the councilman thundered. “You have no idea what you have done! Effective immediately, you’ve been relieved of your duties. You will be lucky if you aren’t facing criminal charges by the end of the day. Pack your things and get out of that station right this instant!”
And then the line went dead, leaving the chief standing there, the phone still pressed to his ear as he realized his life just crumbled before him under the power of the Houston Family.
His knees buckled and he fell to the floor, begging Matthew to forgive him.
“I had no idea who you were! Please, please! Forgive me! I can not lose my job! I can not go to prison!”
Matthew stared down at him, confused as to what was going on. Wellington opened the door and gestured for Matthew. “Come on, Matthew," he said, his tone much gentler now. “Let’s get you out of here.”
Matthew nodded and walked towards the ajar door.
“As for you,” Wellington looked down at the pitiful figure of the chief. “Everyone knows that the Houston Family never forgets. This is what you deserve.”
He evacuated the room with Matthew and slammed the door, leaving the pathetic chief crying on his knees.
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The Inheritor Of The Houston Empire 5• The Houston Family
Matthew sat on the black, plush leather seat inside an expensive Jeep that was being driven by a stern chauffeur. In his mind, he was trying to put together the events that had just happened because none of it made sense to him.Maybe one of the men had hit his head so hard and he was imagining all of this. Beside him was Harold Wellington, the powerful lawyer who for some reason had come to his rescue. Although he felt too overwhelmed to ask them, Matthew needed his questions to be answered.“Why are you helping me?” Matthew finally asked Wellington. “I don’t even know who you are.”Wellington glanced at him briefly, an assuring look on his face. “I understand how confused and overwhelmed you might be after all of this. But I assure you it will be fine, Matthew. My name is Harold Wellington. I'm your family's lawyer—your true family, the Houston family.”Matthew blinked. “Houston family? I've heard that a lot today. I don't know who they are so I don't understand what you're talking
The Inheritor Of The Houston Empire 6• We Will See Whose Face Will Be Laughed At
“So because you are the manager of some family business then you think you can mock me?” Matthew asked with a voice that even though was calm, carried his frustration of everything he had been through today.“Ah, so the hick can talk, hm?” Spencer Delacroix mocked, a shark-like grin on his face. “You should learn to watch your mouth. My family is very powerful. We even have deep ties with the Houston family, which is even why I'm here; to discuss business and cooperation. But instead, I have to endure the presence of a beggar like you, sullying this reception hall with your rags.”“You are the one who should learn to watch his mouth,” Wellington said with a stern voice. “The Delacroix family is a small enterprise, your family is barely worth half of the Houston family’s wealth. The matriarch of the family hasn’t even granted you an audience, and yet you dare to humiliate the young master of the Houston family?”Spencer's eyes widened with amusement and he glanced at Matthew, who was s
The Inheritor Of The Houston Empire 7• The Matriarch's Wrath
The presence of the matriarch commanded the utmost respect. She hadn't even said a word, and yet an aura oozed out of her as she walked into the reception hall. She was dressed in an elegant but understated suit, and she walked royally as though she was twenty years younger. Her hair was silver and had been impeccably styled and packed behind her head. The bodyguards that had opened the door for her walked dauntlessly by her sides and scanned the room with their military eyes. Spencer Delacroix gulped. But realizing that this was the woman he needed to impress, he did not waste any time, he rushed forward eagerly, walking past Wellington and Matthew, desperate to make a good impression despite the earlier fiasco. “Mrs Houston!” he said with a big smile. “It’s an honor to see you! I am Spenc—” But the old lady didn’t so much as glance in his direction. It was almost like he wasn't even there, like his presence was meaningless compared to the grandness of the matriarch. Her shar
The Inheritor Of The Houston Empire 8• Billionaire Card
Inside the Delacroix family’s corporate office, the atmosphere was thick with tension. Spencer Delacroix stood in front of his father in his office, heart pounding, knowing how strict his father was and how much he'd fucked up.Across the large mahogany desk, Edgar Delacroix was glaring at his son with disappointment and anger. A slim, shrewd man in a suit was standing beside him, he was John Lockhart, their family lawyer, and in his hand was a file.“Father, I’m so sorry,” Spencer begged. “I did not realize wh—”“Shut up, Spencer!” Edgar roared. “Shut up and listen to Mr. Lockhart and what he has to say. You must realize the consequences of what you have done. He will list all the names of the powerful families that have severed their ties with the Delacroix business — our business!”Spencer's heart dropped.“Go ahead, Mr. Lockhart.”The shrewd lawyer turned over a page on the file. “The Valences, the Turners, the Maronis, the Carters, the Davidsons, and the Wests,” the lawyer announ
The Inheritor Of The Houston Empire 9• CEO
“Mrs Houston, I can't… I can't accept this amount of money. It's too much,” Matthew stuttered, too dumbfounded to take the card. The old lady chuckled softly, but her face still held seriousness in it. “Listen to me, Matthew. It’s understandable to feel overwhelmed. But as the heir to the Houston Empire, you have taken over a burden of responsibility. It’s important that you learn to spend your wealth, but spend it wisely. Money is a tool—a powerful one—and as a Houson, it’s essential that you use it. Secure not only your future but also the future of our family and our Empire.” She gave him the card and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “This money represents the hard work and sacrifices of our family, even more than that, it represents the struggle we went through in our search for you. It’s your responsibility to honor that legacy, and with time, you’ll learn how to spend, invest, and grow this fortune. But for now, take it one step at a time. Accept this gift with peace
The Inheritor Of The Houston Empire 10 • Look Her In The Eyes
Matthew was surprised to see them standing behind him, he looked at Darrell, anger bubbling within his chest, and then at Ashley. He never thought the day would come when he would look her in the eyes and feel nothing but disgust.The look on Darrell’s face mirrored that of Ashley's, they were both wondering what a common car washer like Matthew would be doing in a fine establishment like this. Darrell quickly concluded that perhaps he was here to apply for a new job as a cleaner or maybe even a carwasher and so he stuck his hand in his pocket and scoffed, shaking his head lightly.Matthew stepped forward. “What are you two doing here?” he asked.Darrell scrunched his face in disgust as he glared at Matthew, looking him head to toe like he was a church rat. “I should be the one asking you, last I checked, they don’t hire low lives like you around here.”Ashley held on to Darrell tighter with a sense of pride and she adjusted. “If you must know, my boyfriend is so influential, he’s her
The Inheritor Of The Houston Empire 11 • Do As He Says!
Ashley was the first to react, she gasped, covering her mouth with her hands as her eyes grew wide, the last thing she expected was for Matthew to talk to Darrell like that. Darrell tightened his teeth, visibly angered, his face was turning red.He balled his fists by his sides, ready to walk over to Matthew and beat him to a pulp but as he proceeded to move forward, Ashley grabbed him by the arm, holding him back. If he caused a scene here, it might just give him a bad name in front of his potential business partners.What would they think of him if he was fighting outside with a pauper? Surely that would be bad for his reputation. Plus, he had heard tales of the powerful no-nonsense matriarch, if he did anything to cross her, he would be done for,He cleared his throat. “Matthew or whatever your name is, I will surely deal with you later.”“I’d like to see you try,” Matthew spat and then turned around, walking away from them. Ashley stood there in shock, wondering what had gotten in
The Inheritor Of The Houston Empire 12 • Chased Away
“He wants to see me?” Elena asked.The secretary nodded.“Well I’m busy now, tell him to wait for me a bit.”The secretary nodded politely and backed away from the door, shutting it gently behind her.That name rang a bell in Matthew’s head and he raised his head, a crease forming between his brows. “Ferguson…” he said the words out loud, testing the name on his lips.Elena nodded. “Yes, we’ve had dealings with them in the past, and I’m sure he’s here to discuss business,” she said, mindlessly sorting through the documents before her.“Discuss business? What kind of business?” he pressed on.Sensing the seriousness in his tone, Elena paused and straightened her back. “Well, we have been running business deals with the Ferguson’s for a while. Truth is, they offer us little to nothing, they’re more or less dependent on us, the only thing we gain is the publicity that comes from our projects together, big names get people talking you know.”“So you’re saying we don’t need to do business
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175 • What the Houstons Want
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174 • No for an Answer
Ashley had kept the camera at a high vantage point in the room, and when she started to undress Matthew and Charles had to look away. To some extent Matthew felt sorry for her, the fact that she had to do things like this just to make money and keep face was sad. But then it was her choice to make, Ashley had always been overly ambitious but not even half as hardworking. She wanted things to be handed to her easily and wouldn't mind doing anything just to get quick money. As usual Richard had used her to relieve his sexual frustrations, and they went on for several minutes. Finally Richard was knocked out after he had climax and he was lying down on the bed with Ashley against his chest.She didn't move an inch and she simply waited for him to sleep off. “Ashley what's up? Is Richard still awake?” Charles asked as he tapped his earpiece so his sound could get transmitted. The tiny sound receiver in her ear screeched to life. “Yes.” She quietly inched away from him, careful not t
173 • In Due Time
Xander's hands gripped the steering tightly as he drove home, eyes fixed on the road ahead. He still didn't know what to make of the conversation that he had just had with Lola. His phone started to ring, disrupting the silence in the car. He raised an eyebrow and looked towards the passenger seat to see who it was, but it was an unknown caller. He wondered who could be trying to contact him so he slowly reached out with his other hand, while he kept one hand on the wheel. He swiped up to accept the call. “Hello, who is this?” He asked, raising one eyebrow. An awkward silence stretched out and it seemed like the person on the other side didn't want to say anything, however he could hear their breathing. “Hello,” he asked again. “Xander,” the masculine voice sounded. His eyes grew wide as his pulse quickened. He knew far too well whose voice it was. “Dad.” He brought his car to a slow stop by the sidewalk. “Where are you?” he asked, the urgency evident in his voice.“Son, I can
172 • Back Against the Wall
Xander was by the balcony when he heard footsteps approaching. He turned to see that it was his mother Martha. “How are you doing son?” She asked in a soft tone.His body tensed up and he couldn't bear to look her in the eyes. “How do you think I'm doing? After finding out everything that I just did, I'm not okay.”“I know that growing up your father never really allowed us to bond, but I hope you know that I love you, I always have.”At that moment it was like a heart broke into a million pieces. He stepped forward and enveloped her in a hug.”They had never shared this kind of vulnerability before. The moment was perfect and they remained like that for a long time.“All those years of enduring torture with him, you should have just left.”“Yes I should have, and you know, I considered it at some point, but the only thing that kept me was you. I knew that if I ever left you Raymond would make sure that I never saw you again.”Now he was beginning to understand his mother more; she e
171 • Money for the Birkin
Back in the hotel room Edward and Vito had just finished making love to each other and they were resting on the bed. Obviously none of them had seen Vanessa in the lobby. “You are so beautiful Vito,” Edward said to her, stroking her lips. She blushed a little at the compliment. “Thank you,” she said in response. “You should check your phone. I have sent you some of the money for the things that you asked for.”Her eyes grew wide. “You sent me money for the Birkin and the car?” He nodded. She kissed him again multiple times. “Thank you so much.”He got up from the bed and started to dress up, “I need to return home now, they might start to wonder just where I have been.”Vito smiled, “I’ll also return to the condo now.” When Edward was done getting ready he left the room and exited the hotel. He didn't want to leave at the same time with her because he knew that it could easily get people talking. She was on the bed smiling excitedly when she pulled out her phone and called Ashl
170• Anderson Cabrera
He didn't even bother to wait for Vanessa to wake up before he left the hotel room. He got into the cab outside and left. While the driver was still moving towards the hospital where he was supposed to meet with Amelia, since that was where he was told to come meet her, he blocked Vanessa's number immediately.He was hired by Amelia for a mission which he had just completed so now he had no reason to pretend that he was even into Vanessa.The whole time Amelia had hired him as a part of her revenge plan against Vanessa. His real name wasn't even Anderson Cabrera it was just a name he had made up so he could be with Vanessa.When he got to the hospital he had it straight to Amelia's room and she was alone in the room thankfully.“Ma’am what happened to you, it seems like you got into an accident or something.”Amelia immediately brushed it off; she cared more about what he had come to deliver to her. “ Don't forget about it, the most important thing is that I'm alive and I'm recoverin
169 • Surgery Booking
Vanessa drove to the hotel and parked her car outside, she made sure to wear her shades properly as she felt like it would conceal her identity. What she was about to do was very scandalous for somebody of her status. When she got to the reception she looked at the lady. “I need one of the luxury rooms,” she said.The receptionist quickly typed in something on her computer before she raised her head to face Vanessa. "Okay, that will be one thousand dollars.”Vanessa handed over her black card and then the girl immediately swiped it and made the payment. “Please do enjoy your stay here ma'am.”“Oh I will,” Vanessa replied with a smirk on her face. After getting the room details and the key card, she made her way to the elevator and then headed upstairs.When she was there she entered the room. The wooden floors and monochromatic color in the room gave it a very luxurious feel, and the intricate detail to the ceiling design was just stunning. She gently settled on the bed, noticing ho
168 • Catch Feelings
Vanessa walked into the hospital with a wide grin on her face, she was putting on sunshades which he had to adjust.Her assistant Tiffany was holding everything that she had brought and was finding it hard to keep up because the huge flower was obscuring her vision. She was also trying to make sure that the box of chocolates didn't fall from her hand.Vanessa reached the reception and she leaned forward. “Hello there, good day I came to see Amelia Houston.”The receptionist looked up at her. “Good day madam, are you a relative or close friend?”Vanessa's smile faded but she struggled to keep it up. “Yes you can consider me a close family friend.” She felt extremely disgusted for even saying those words out loud. The receptionist quickly typed something into a keyboard before she raised her head again to show her the way. “Ma’am you can just go straight down and then turn to your left, it's room A7.”“Thank you very much darling,” Vanessa said and then she turned to face Tiffany gestu
167 • Safety Guarantee
Xander still had his back flattened against the wall and when he heard what she said he immediately left before he would be spotted.He knew that Lola didn't exactly say anything wrong, but the idea that she still had some residual feelings for Matthew bothered him deeply.He leaned against the wall at the end of the hallway and pretended like he had been there the whole time. “Are you done talking to your grandmother? Was she okay?”Xander nodded slowly. “Let me drop you off at home.”“Oh…” Lola was a bit taken aback, his offer was sudden and brash. “Okay it seems like you have somewhere important you need to be?”“Yeah I need to go to the mansion and take care of some things,” he lied, pressing his hands against the bridge of his nose. She nodded and then they left together. But before she totally exited the hospital, she looked back at Matthew, just to glance at him for a second.Even though Lola knew that feelings didn't just disappear into thin air, and that she would obviously
