Chapter 1

Chapter 1

The lights in the hall glittered gloriously, sending shimmering sparkles of gold and crystals. 

It was a night dedicated to Mr. Ferdinand Blackwood, marking his sixtieth birthday. The most prominent, influential, and rich people in Manhattan filled every corner of the hall. 

Alexander rushed into the hall, dumping his bag at the entrance. He was late. They were going to kill him. He needed to get to the birthday toast on time. He bumped into his wife on the way.

“Hey, where have you been?”

“Hope I didn't miss it?” he asked hurriedly as his wife, Maya, helped him fix his collar and adjust his tie.

“No, you arrived just in time, everyone's waiting” Maya said to him as she walked him down to where the Blackwood family was gathered.

Maya is Mr. Blackwood's first daughter. She had gotten married to Alex against the will of her family all because she loved him. He was the only man who had shown her what actual love meant.

Her dad didn't treat her like the eldest that she was. He did let her work for him and manage most of his companies, but after Maya decided to marry Alex, his attitude towards her changed completely.

They got to the standpoint, where everyone was gathered. Everyone except Alex had a bag in their hand. He guessed they were presents. He has forgotten to get something for his father-in-law.

Even if he did, he wasn't sure it would matter to him. His was going to be the cheapest and undervalued. 

“Here comes the doodle husband” one of Maya's brothers, Philip joked. They all chuckled, watching as he got to them.

“Hey, Maya, didn't you tell your doodle husband of a man the dress code? Why did he come up here in rags” Elias, Maya's second brother chirped in.

Maya held onto Alex's hands and lashed back at them. “You should mind the way you speak to my husband. He's a part of this family” 

The microphone entered into their ears as it came on. Mr. Ferdinand walked up to the podium and the crowd began striking their glasses with metal cutleries. 

“Thank you all, for honoring my invitation,” he started his speech. He made it very brief and got down from the podium, walking into the circle of his family.

One after the other, they unboxed their presents for him. “This is what I got you Dad,” Elias Blackwood presented a diamond wristwatch. It glittered like the stars in the sky.

“You have always made me proud, Elias” Mr Blackwood let him out the watch in his hand. 

“It's worth two million dollars. I'm sure puddle husband here wouldn't be able to get that even if he did ten different works in a day,” Elias mocked, causing them to burst into laughter.

“Here, Dad, from your favorite brand, Gucci,” Philip unraveled the masterpiece shoe from its box. Mr. Blackwoods’ smile grew wider as he pulled Philip into a tight hug. 

“You know just what my feet need right now. I have been too busy to visit the Gucci brand” Mr. Blackwood held Philips’ hand in his, still smiling at him.

“Dad,” Alexander chirped in.

Everyone's attention traveled in his direction. 

In the Blackwoods’ family, every person, don, daughter, son-in-law or daughter-in-law, and grandchildren, referred to Mr. Blackwood as a dad.

Mr. Blackwood's anger could be seen hovering below his eyes. 

Was Alex going to present him with one of those stupid gifts? Just to embarrass him before his guest. The last time he gave him a wristwatch, Elias had to test if it was real gold, and it turned out to be fake. Right in the public.

“Could I ask for a favor?” Alex added. His voice was nothing compared to a whisper. Philip and Elias burst into uncontrollable laughter. It filled the hall, drawing the attention of the guests.

“You've got nerves, puddle husband,” Philip mocked, striking Alex's shoulder with his finger.

Elias unhooked the microphone from its stand and went to him. He placed it below Alex's lips, smiling at his little mischief. “Go on Alex, I'm sure Daddy here wants to hear what you want to beg for,” he said into the microphone.

Alex's heart sank. This wasn't the first time he had asked Mr. Blackwood for a favor. The last time he did, he promised it to be the last. But this time, it was urgent and necessary.

He felt Maya's hand over his shoulders and she pulled him to her height. “What do you think you're doing Alex? Don't ruin daddy's birthday. It will only get him mad” she whispered into his ear.

“Let him speak,” Mr. Blackwood instructed. 

Alex felt the weight of their eyes staring at him. He tried moving his lips off the microphone, but Elias held his head still. “Go on, tell Daddy what you need”

 He needed this. He didn't care what they said or did to him, but Alex knew he needed it. “Please — I know I promised that that would be the last time I asked for money. But I need some cash to help Mrs. Sarah. She is sick and they they can't continue her chemo without cash”

The hall was dead silent for seconds. Everyone waited to see Mr. Blackwood's next line of action. 

Mr Blackwood knew he was before his guest. He didn't want to appear like that mean, arrogant father-in-law. He slowly walked up to Alex.

With a smile on his face, he inched closer to him. “How dare you try to embarrass me publicly?” he said, still smiling as he looked into the crowd. “Follow me Alexander” he instructed.

He took the microphone from Elias. “Thank you, New York. Have a splendid night” he said and walked out of the room. Alex followed behind, likewise the Blackwoods.

The moment they got out of sight, Mr Blackwood drove his palm hard into Alex's face. “How dare you, Alexander!”

“Dad, please,” Maya pleaded. “Alex wasn't thinking. You have me to blame for that,”

“Of course I do! Everyone refused your marriage to this good-for-nothing man. And yet you claimed you loved him. Look at the embarrassment you have brought into my household!”

“Dad, he's my husband”

“Quiet” Mr Blackwood barked at her. Maya could hear her siblings giggling behind her. She gave them an evil glare, trying to remind them she was older than them.

“I am disappointed in you, Maya Blackwood! You either divorce this man you call a husband or get ready to lose all I have given to –”

“Good evening Mr. Blackwood,” a voice interrupted their conversation. It was Jacob Brown. Seen as the royalty of Gold and Ravish, the majestic building where Mr. Blackwood, his entire family, and other influential people lived.

“I apologize on Alex's behalf. I understand what it feels like to have nothing and come from nothing. Let me handle him,” Jacob sounded mockingly. “Happy birthday Mr. Blackwood” he smiled and he went to him and hugged him.

“Thank you, Jacob,” Mr. Blackwood said.

Alex could feel his heart squeeze, preventing the proper flow of blood. His lungs were getting stiff. He needed air. He needed to clear his head. They weren't going to be his last hope. He needed to find another means to raise Mrs. Sarah's bill.

He walked out of the hallway immediately, into the grasslands right in front of the majestic building. His head ached. His thoughts were getting interrupted by the noise from the street nearby.

He felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He brought it out and looked at the number. An unknown caller. He answered the phone. “A deep masculine voice came from the other end of the call.

“ Finally, I got to you,” the voice said.

“Who are you?” Alex couldn't identify the voice.

“ It's me Alex, Gerald, your brother