The formidable son-in-law

Chapter 4

Mr. Dandelion grabbed Mark's hand with a smile on his face. 

"Welcome boy," he shook Mark's hand. Mark bow to the man before him. He looked at Mr. Dandelion clearly and he questioned all he had been told about Dandelion. 

Right beside Mr. Dandelion is his grandson. His grandson looks strong and healthy but still could not be compared to his grandfather's shape. Mr. Dandelion was tall enough that Mark had to raise his head slightly up to see the man's facial features. 

Since he got to Merrydam, he had not been afraid of anyone or surprised by anything. Not even the way he was treated by the security guards. But he is rather surprised and a bit scared by Dandelion. 

Dandelion has the facial features of what he had always classified as a real man. Just the perfect body. And a very big smile on his face. A smile that intimidates Mark

"Thank you sir!" He replied and returned his smile. 

"Glad you made it. Let's go inside," Dandelion walked towards his car. Mark didn't follow immediately. Dandelion's butler opened his car and Dandelion entered. 

"Come in!" He ordered. Mark felt Dandelion voice resonating deep within him. The voice of the man that he was directed to by his master. He carried his legs as fast as he could and moved to the car. 

"Let's go," Dandelion ordered his driver. 

Mark looked outside and saw Dandelion's grandsom fuming with anger. But Mark and Dandelion's card didn't wait for him. They drove further into the compound. 

"Did he tell you about how he saved me?" Dandelion asked Mark. Mark didn't answer. He was still surprised at how Dandelion took him pass all the family members who sat in the living room. Mark bow to them while passing but they ignored him. No one answered him. It was expected. A man dressed as shabby as he is should not expect replies from other members of such a wealthy. 

"He did. My master told me all about it. I was surprised but it was interesting," Mark replied. 

"Hmm!" Dandelion sighed. An awkward silence came in. Dandelion drank the bottle of wine before him. His eyes were on Mark. Mark didn't know how to react. If he was to keep talking or not. Dandelion did not seem like a man of many words. Mark held his bottle of wine dearly. 

The butler stood behind Mark. He tapped him. Mark turned back and looked at him. The butler nodded his head and pointed at Mark's pocket. Mark looked at himself.

"Oh! My bad," he apologized and brought out a well packed letter that he had in his pocket. 

"Hmm. Thank you. Now, Henry will take you to where you will clean yourself," Mr. Dandelion said. He stood up. He walked slowly towards a door, opened it and went in.

"After me," Henry, the butler called Mark. Mark followed him. While walking in the corridor, Mark looked around. The pictures hung on the wall were similar to what he had seen in his master's room. They are pictures of Mr. Dandelion. The things he had done while he was young. The pictures made Mark realise what sort of man Dandelion is. One that take pride in what he does, some people might mistake it for being proud. 

Henry opened a room and entered. 

"This room has been specially provided for you, to suit your needs,"  Henry said. 

"Ah! Thank you," Mark stammered. He smiled and now at Henry. Henry returned with a bow and left the room. Mark walked to the bed. He jumped on the bed, and immediately he jumped up. 

He felt his body could stain the bed, he wouldn't want to stain the bed. At least, that would make him see favour from Mr. Dandelion. Maybe one day, after he returns to his Master, Mr. Dandelion would miss him, and call him back. 

He rushed to the bathroom, and took his bath. 

Mark came out of his bedroom. He saw Henry waiting for him. 

"I thought you left," Mark asked. 

"I did."

"What do you want?" 

"You spent quite a long time in the bathroom," Henry said. Mark chuckled. 

"I was really dirty. So I had to take care of myself," he replied. He cleaned his face with the towel before him. The fragrance was calming. 

"That's fine. Mr. Dandelion ask you to join him for Dinner," Henry informed him. 

"Oh! Alright. Till then."

"Dinner is now!" 

"Uhm… it's 6pm," Mark argued. 

"That's dinner time," Henry replied. Mark was a bit confused. It was too early for dinner. At times, for him, dinner can be by 10pm or even 11pm. It sounds strange hearing dinner would be by 6pm. Before morning, he knew he would be angry. 

"I will join you soon," Mark replied. He opened a box where he saw clothes earlier, and picked a shirt and a long denim jeans from it. 

"I will be waiting right outside," Henry left the room. Mark picked up the clothes and dressed up as fast as he could, and in two minutes, he was outside. 

"I am done," Mark called Henry. Henry nodded, and led him towards the dining room. 

Both of them got into the dining room, and Mark would have swore that he was in an entirely new house. The length of the room was not something he expected to be within the house. 

Even the amount of people sitting before the table, were over twenty. It seemed like Mr. Dandelion was feeding a whole street. 

"Oi, Mark!" Mr. Dandelion called him. Everyone's attention drew towards Mark. Mark could feel everyone's eyes on him. He wished he could get swallowed by the ground. His fingers got wet and his heart skipped a beat. 

"Come here," Dandelion said. Henry pushed him. Mark walked towards Mr. Dandelion by not raising his eyes at all. He only raised his head to know how close he is to Mr dandelion. He made sure his eyes didn't meet with anyone else. 

Mark got close to Mr. Dandelion, and sat beside him. 

"Dad, who is he?" A young boy cried out. 

"I don't know yet," a man's voice replied. Mark didn't look up. 

"Everyone, this is Mark. He is the son of a friend," Dandelion said. 

"Welcome Mark!" Some kids replied. Mark smiled at them. 

"Henry, call the others, and get the kids out of here," Mr. Dandelion said. 

"Okay sir!" Henry replied. He pressed a bell and some nannies and maids came in. They took the kids out. 

"Father, who is he?" A man asked. Mark was focused on the food. He hadn't eaten in a while. He also hadn't had good food in a while. 

"Like I said, he is the son of a friend," Dandelion replied. 

"Yeah, but…" 

"Oh! Also, he will be the one that will get married to Anna!" Mr. Dandelion replied.