A Slumdog Heir

Chapter 5

Chapter 5 

So much for trust and love, Colin thought and gave a wry smile. 

Just then, when he was about to go see what to do with his life, his phone rang.

"Why would anyone be calling at this time?" Colin wondered and decides to not pick up the call. 

The phone rang another 2 to 3 times and Colin finally decides to answer, perhaps it could be important. 

He feared it could be one of the Williams calling to further humiliate him. 

Or give him a piece of their tongue, something he was tired of listening to. 

He had heard enough to last him for a lifetime. 

"Hello" the caller had said at the other end 

"Yes, hello" Colin had answered, he had immediately recognized the caller and it was not who he had feared. 

The voice was one of an elderly man, probably in his late fifties or middle sixties. 

"I just saw the news" he started 

"Of course you did, so much I had to take" Colin answered, his voice sad. 

Besides, he already knew what the caller would say next, talk about Marissa. 

"I warned you about that girl, Marissa but you would never listen" he continued 

"Please, do not start. This is not the time, the least you could do is try to sympathize with me, at the very least" Colin chided 

"Hate to say I told you so but I did" he added 

"Oh, come on. Are we still on this?" 

Colin was fed up with being constantly reminded that he had made this mistake. 

"I hope you are taking it very well then?" He asked 

"Oh, yes" Colin replied 

"Well, call me if you need anything. I am not that bad after all" he jeered 

"Is that why you called?" Colin inquired 

"Ah, no. I like to think I was quite distracted" he admitted 

"I bet you were" Colin mocked 

"Back to business then. It is about time you took up your responsibilities and perform the duties expected of you" he reminded 

"Looks like you almost forgot. I was hoping you'd call the moment you were thrown out" 

"You do not have to remind me that I was thrown out. Besides, I have not forgotten about my responsibilities to the family, I will perform to the best of my abilities" Colin promised 

"Very well then, I will be hearing from you" the man had said 

"And call me..." he man continued 

"...if I need anything" Colin finished, he knew him too well. 

(Flashback) 

It wasn't always like this with Colin. This life of being the center of a joke and jittery was not always the case with him. 

He was born into a life of affluence. Elites like him were not meant to suffer or be forced into a life like this. 

Colin was from an influential family, with top power in society. 

He had lost all benefits to that when he fell in love with Marissa and decided to marry her 3 years ago. 

His family had vehemently refused his marriage to her but perhaps he was blinded by love. 

One major criticism that his family had against Marissa's family was that the Williams family was too poor compared to Colin's family. 

Colin had stood his ground and insisted on it: his marriage to Marissa. 

With lots of meetings and talks, Colin was able to convince his family to let him marry her. 

But, it came with a condition. 

The condition was that if at any point his marriage to Marissa crashed, he would return to his family and work with no excuse. 

(Present Day)  

And to think their marriage did crash, and in the worst possible way. 

"I should have known better, I should have listened, I was warned" Colin screamed, all the memories of how his old life used to be came rushing back at him.

He was pouring his frustration on the walls as he used his bare knuckles to continuously hit the wall until they bled. 

"Calm down, calm down. It's going to be alright, you just need time" Colin said to no one in particular. 

He was only trying to assure himself that it was going to be okay. 

All he had on his mind was revenge, nothing else mattered to him. 

Suddenly, an idea dropped to him and he picks up his phone. 

"Sir..." The elderly man had started.

He had been the family's housekeeper for years, even before Colin was born but still chooses to refer to him as "Sir"

"I remember telling you to stop calling me that but you just wouldn't stop it" a frustrated Colin had admonished 

"I had hoped that you would get used to it" he jeered 

"Well, I have not" Colin retorted 

"Woah, I didn't make your wife leave you" 

"That hurt" I admitted 

"No offense intended, sincerest apologies sir," he said  

"You called, are you on your way back?" He inquired 

"No, not that," Colin said shaking his head in disapproval 

"What is it then? Do not tell me you still want her back" 

"At this point, I am not sure anymore. As much as I try to hate her or regret my decision in marrying her, I simply cannot" 

"How so?" He queried, Colin already knew he had a disgusted look on his face

"I do not know. I just cannot, that doesn't mean I would take her back if she begs" 

"I hope so, I fear you would not think twice should she want to get back to you. She does have a hold on you" 

"More like a spell really, it is the more appropriate word" Colin had corrected 

"I am calling to ask for permission to remain in the city" Colin blurted out

"What? Why?" The housekeeper had asked, confused 

"I believe my work here is not yet done" 

Colin says 

"But, you made a promise. You made a promise, sir and it awaits you" 

He reminded Colin

"I know but I need this" 

Colin insists 

"No, you don't. What exactly are you saying you need?" The housekeeper queried 

"Nothing you need to worry your head about" 

Colin says with a fake smile, not like the house keeper could see it

"I want to know" The housekeeper insisted 

"Look, I just need a little time please" Colin begged

"No, your father would not agree to this" The housekeeper sighs, he was just a servant but he still cared for Colin deeply

"Okay, how about something else"  

"Like what?" The housekeeper inquired, curious to know what Colin was thinking 

"What if I took over the company here?" 

Colin asks

"Are you mad? Forgive my choice of words, sir" The housekeeper quickly corrected 

"Yes. Isn't that what you need me back home? To work?" Colin asked 

"Well, it is not the same thing as..." The housekeeper was saying before Colin cut him short 

"I will take over the biggest company here and make our company the best there is, that I promise you" he gave the house keeper his word with hope that everything will go the way he planned

"Same way you promised to return when the marriage broke off or crashed and look where we are" the housekeeper jeered 

"It is not the same" Colin had defended 

"Tell me what you need to do there" the housekeeper persisted 

"Well, if you must know, I want to get my revenge on the Williams family" 

Colin says adamant 

"Is it worth it?" The housekeeper inquired 

"It is, for my sanity and pride. I would forever regret it if I don't do this now" Colin answered  

"You have three months..." The housekeeper had begun to say and an excited Colin chipped in 

"Thank you, thank you, thank you. I promise you won't regret this" 

Colin finished. 

"You have three months to do whatever it is you have to do. After the three months, I am not sure there is anything I can do to convince your father anymore" the housekeeper finished, sighing

"Three months is more than enough time for me to get my revenge" a smiling Colin had said.