The Rise of Arthur McCain

Chapter 3

Janet's face brightened up with the statement. Mission accomplished. Turning to Bryan and Janet, Mr Frank apologized. "I'm sorry for whatever that had transpired between you and this brat. I hope you won't rate us down because of this?" 

"Well, since you apologized, then we accept your apology." Janet replied with a grin as she rolled her eyes at Arthur who was still standing there. "What the hell is this loser still waiting for? Get the heck out of here." Mr. Frank yelled at Arthur who turned around and started walking out. As he stepped out, he saw some of the guests who stood outside their room in order to catch a glimpse of the gossip. On the second that he left, everyone dispersed back to their hotel room.

As Arthur entered the elevator, he could not help but blame his father for the misfortune that had befallen him. After wasting three months of his life in prison, he had also spent two years working in the hotel with nothing to show for it. His eyes had gone red from suppressed tears. If only his mother was still alive, things would not have turned out the way it was. Now another woman was reaping the fruits of her labor. Alighting from the elevator, Arthur met with Harry's mischievous grin. It was a moment of torture for Arthur as his colleague scornfully laughed at him without uttering a word. How did he learn about his sack so soon? Bad news indeed spreads like wildfire.

Ignoring the hater laughing at him, Arthur started towards the entrance door where he met Morris. "I'm sorry about what happened." He sympathized with him and Arthur responded with a nod. "It's fine, this was bound to happen. I was even surprised it took this long."

Leaving the hotel premise with no destination in mind, Arthur wandered the streets of Graben. Walking at the pedestrian lane of the road, Arthur thought he heard a car honk. Since many cars were passing by the road, he did not pay heed. The car honk continued and before he could figure out what was going on, A white Mercedes Benz S class pulled over before him. Arthur decided to wait in order to see the occupants of the vehicle and why they were honking at him.

A man in his late forties alighted from the car. Surprised, Arthur tried to pull back but the man stopped him. "Young master." He called out which made Arthur stare in astonishment. Why did the stranger call him young master? Maybe he was sent by his Father. Arthur decided to tell the man off. 

"Please, go back and tell your boss that I'm not interested in whatever he has to say to me. Since he chose to turn his back on his own blood, I do not want to have anything to do with him." Arthur angrily declared. Furrowing his brows, the man was somewhat confused. However, he still went ahead to introduce himself. "My name is Axel, and I am…"

"Just save yourself the introduction. I'm not interested in whatever you have to say to me." Arthur declared firmly, causing Axel to shake his head. "Can you at least listen to what I have to tell you?" Axel calmly stated. They had just recently learned about Arthur but were shocked to see that he worked in a hotel when his Father was very rich.

Even though he had nowhere to go, it was better for him to sleep under the bridge rather than going back to his unfilial father. All the two years that he worked at the hotel, he was staying at the staff quarters which was why he had nowhere to go to. Arthur could no longer wait and listen to whatever the man had to say so he decided to walk away. 

"Who is Shirley McCain?"

Arthur paused in his step as he heard his late mother's name. "Why did you call my late mother's name? Is this some kind of trick from my Father?"

"Shirley Ramon." Axel ignored Arthur as he called out her Father's name.

Puzzled, Arthur stared at the man. Was the man ok? What's he even talking about? Who was Ramon and how did that become his mother's surname?

"Who are you and what do you want from me?" Now Arthur was asking the right questions rather than making an assumption. 

The man smiled and cleared his throat before speaking. "Like I was saying before you interrupted me. My name is Axel and your grandfather had sent me to fetch you. Carl Ramon, the father of your late mum who happens to be the richest man in the whole of Vienna."

"Huh?" Arthur stared at the man with mouth open. What did he just hear?

Axel nodded his head in curcurrance. 

His grandfather was the richest man in Vienna. How come his mother never mentioned it to him? 

"Well, it's a long story and Carl, your grandfather, is waiting to tell you the story. It's he who has all the answers you seek." Axel explained fervently. He was just a messager and does not have all the information that Arthur needed to hear.

Beckoning him to come and enter the car, Axel opened it. "Young master. Your grandfather awaits you."

Arthur hesitated for a while as he fell into a deep thought. How true could it be? Why did his mother never mention anything about her family? Were they not on good terms? Arthur's thoughts wandered around. A lot of things are running through his mind at the same time.

Staring at Axel, he gave him a reassuring nod beckoning on him to come into the car. Making up his mind, Arthur finally entered the car. 

What worse could happen to him now?