The following day, Jackson woke up in his bed. What surprised him were the two emerald eyes staring at him. Her soft voice tickled his ears.

“Good morning!”

Her luscious lips touched his cheek, leaving a wet sensation on his skin. With blood filling his head, turning his face crimson, he uttered. 

“Good morning…”

The girl buried herself in his arms. A comfortable warmth produced by their bare skins under the sheets excited them both. Wasting no time, Naomi got on top of him and landed a long kiss on his lips. Jackson could only embrace her and accept it.

***

A week has passed since the events at Jade Palace. The Adams Family pleaded multiple times at the bank, but Mr. Pearl refused to meet with them. Rake Adams approached Naomi at her family’s restaurant, hoping to reconcile. Instead, she proudly kicked him out.

As for the Kraft family, they had daily meetings, trying to figure out ways to regain the young man from the Raven family as their son-in-law. 

The days went on like this, when the Rikelia Group announced their newest project with five billion as the prime investment. The Alpha Tower, as they called it, would be the new subsidiary of the group in Southfield, with a mysterious new CEO.

Every family rejoiced. Any who could gain from a single piece of the large pie would grant them immense power in the city. News spread like wildfire. From newspapers to social networks.

After a few hours, they didn’t even remember what Jackson did at the engagement party of Hannah Kraft and Rake Adams. This news was more exciting and fulfilling. For their pockets, that is.

The announcement appeared as a godsend for several families who struggled against the bigger ones. Such a family were the Ravens. Even though five years prior they had a good thing going, after their loss, they dropped from one of the top families to a lower rank.

The Raven estate buzzed. It was as if life came back to them, and blood filled their veins. A young man ran through the corridors until he reached the yard. He stood in front of the gate of the main building and shouted at the top of his lungs. “Patriarch!”

Through a pair of enormous wooden doors, a man raised his eyebrows. 

“What’s going on?”

A woman next to him with waist-long raven hair giggled.

“It appears someone wants to talk to you…”

“Let them in…”

The massive gate creaked open, and the young man rushed inside. He kneeled in front of the gray-haired man and lowered his gaze. “Patriarch, thank you for seeing me!”

“What is it?”

“Rikelia Group, sir, announced a fifty billion project in Southfield!”

The man’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Chance! This is our chance!”

He stood up and commanded the young man. 

“Gather all the family members! We are having an urgent meeting!”

***

In the domineering main building of the Raven estate, as per request, the key figures of the family gathered one after the other. The patriarch sat at the head of the table whereas the rest, each picked one of the remaining seats.

The oldest of the sons looked grimly at the old patriarch and scoffed. 

“What is it this time, old man?”

His daughter tried a different approach, though she still sounded condescending.

“Don’t pay attention to this mindless son of yours, father. Gather your thoughts and tell us the reason behind you summoning us.”

The woman with the waist-long raven hair glared at them. She is the patriarch's wife, but those children were not her own. With a domineering voice, he garnered their attention.

 “The Rikelia Group announced a project for which we must take part in. Alpha Tower in Southfield is our family’s only chance to rebound from the pits your idiot brother sent us!”

A knock at the door interrupted his speech. Everyone turned their heads. A young girl, a servant at the estate, walked through the door. “I apologize for interrupting the patriarch, but a young man by the name of Jackson asked for an audience…”

Everyone chuckled at the name, but their expressions soon turned sour when they glanced at the old man, who was fuming with rage.

“What is that bastard doing here…?”

Jackson walked in wearing a cheap suit. As soon as they saw him, uncles and cousins burst out laughing. Jackson paid them no mind and walked in front of them. He politely bowed. 

“Good evening, grandfather!”

The old man coldly sneered. “What are you doing here?”

“I need the Patriarch’s help with a job!”

The first uncle smacked his hand on the table and jumped out of his seat, knocking back the chair.

“You are out of your mind!”

“You dare venture in like you own the place after everything your father did, and you have the nerve to ask the patriarch for a favor?”

“That’s right, get out on your own before we have you kicked out, like the dog you are!”

His father laughed. “That’s good, Irwin!”

Jackson looked at his second uncle and aunt. “You feel the same way?”

Irwin had veins pop on his forehead. Filled with anger, he approached Jackson and grabbed his collar.

“Don’t ignore me, pest. Learn your place!”

Jackson brushed off Irwin's hands and walked closer to the table. He let out a sigh and uttered.

“I guess the patriarch doesn’t care about the new project from the Rikelia Group…”

Jackson turned around to leave. As soon as they heard the Rikelia Group, their eyes widened in surprise. The old Patriarch’s ears perked. He hurriedly stood up. 

“W-Wait! What do you mean?”

Jackson had his back turned, and they didn’t see the smirk on his face. Of course, they didn’t know Jackson owned the project. As the new mysterious CEO of Alpha Tower, he asked Mr Pearl and everyone involved not to disclose his identity.

The patriarch’s face distorted when Jackson went out the door. He thought it over for a few seconds..

“Quick, get him back here!”

After a while, the servant girl returned with Jackson, who showed a displeased look on his face.

“You better not play a trick with us!”

“I’m also a member of this family. I just want to help.”

The patriarch didn’t want to seem too eager. After letting several seconds pass, he uttered. “Alright, what do you know about the project?”

Jackson walked to the grand table in the middle of the room. He pulled a chair, groaning while sitting down.

“Well, I don’t mind telling you, but my feet hurt! Can cousin Irwin massage them first?”

Irwin’s face distorted. Blood rushed to his head, making his face crimson.

“Huh?!”

He snapped his fingers, signaling Irwin to rub Jackson’s feet.

Unable to go against the patriarch’s wishes, Irwin did as he told him. Jackson looked down at him and sneered.

“Look who’s groveling at my feet…”

Irwin gritted his teeth. He couldn’t ignore what his grandfather asked of him.

“Watch it, peasant!”

The patriarch interrupted Jackson, and with the back of his hand, slapped Irwin across the face. The young man dropped to the ground by the unexpected strike on his face.

His father stood up in anger. “Old man, what are you doing?!”