MONARCH OF BILLIONS: CAPITAL CONQUEST

The sound of dishes being placed on the glass table filled the dinning room as Christopher, wearing an apron, served food to the three persons seated beside the table. His father in-law; Carlson Sebastian, his mother in-law; Victoria-Helson Sebastian, and finally his wife; Helene.

Christopher was a stay-at-home husband, not by his choice, but on the collective decision made by his wife and in-laws.

“Helene, Mom, Dad. Dinner's ready. Today I made your favorite. Spaghetti with meatballs and Oregano sauce.” Christopher said with a smile on his face as he set the dishes on the table, one could see the excitement on his face. But neither of the persons seated beside the table spared him a glance. Helene was glued to her phone, chatting with who knows who. His mother in-law took a spoon and scooped some oregano sauce, meanwhile his father in-law kept on reading the newspaper.

Victoria tasted the sauce, dropped the spoon on the table and turned to Christopher, “This again? Tell me Chris, don't you know how to cook anything else?” She glanced at Helene, “Our Helene has business dinners with investors and clients all the time, she wants something fresh when she gets home.” She turned back to him, “But you keep making the same dishes, it's just disgusting.”

Christopher sat opposite them, he picked his fork and said, “Mom, Helene said she wanted this last month, I just spent a long time perfecting the recipe.”

Helene finally dropped the phone and took a fork, “Enough, Enough, can we eat without this talk?” she turned to Christopher, “All you do is hang around the kitchen. No matter how good the food tastes, you're still useless if you can't even earn a single dollar.”

At that moment, Carlson, his father in-law, placed the newspaper on the table and looked toward Christopher, “What the Sebastians need, is a son-in-law who can match us in business. Not a live-in cook.”

Christopher didn't take their words seriously, this wasn't the first nor the second time they've talked to him in such manner, so he still turned to his wife, “Helene, what would you like to eat? I'll make it for you.”

But Helene simply scoffed, “No need.” She then opened her purse and brought out a folded paper, and placed it the table. She shifted it towards him. “Christopher, am done with you. All you can do is cook and do the laundry, a maid can do the same. You're a good for nothing, unlike Mr Robins I met recently, who can get funding for the company with one phone call.” She stared him hard in the face, “Today at noon, he's taking me to a Micheline restaurant. I do hope you're taking the hint. You're not good enough for me anymore.”

Christopher was shocked, and immediately sat up straight, staring at Helene with a confused expression, “What did you just say!?”

“Didn't you hear?” Victoria cut him off, “My daughter's telling you to pack your things and leave. Everything you eat, wear, and use. It all comes from the Sebastians. Just look at you, and you think you can still cling to Helene?” She scoffed, “Not to mention the fact we still have to pay the hospital bills for your soon-to-be corpse of a sister.”

Christopher was speechless for a few seconds, one could see the confusion in his eyes. He immediately turned to Helene, “Helene, be honest, in these five years, have I ever failed your family, or failed you in any way?” He asked and pointed at her, “When your grandmother had a stroke and was bedridden, who took care of her day and night? Your study abroad application, who prepared all the documents? And now you want a divorce?”

Helene frowned and equally stood up, “Don't make it sound so nice, you did all these voluntarily. You talk as if the Sebastian family rose to society because of you. Then since you're so capable, you should leave with nothing.” She spoke with so much seriousness that made it certain she meant what she said.

Christopher was stunned even further, “Me? Leave with nothing?” Suddenly his face twisted with anger, he struck the table with his palm, “I founded the company you're working in. I bought this house. Even the car is mine as well.”

Helene simply put on a smug on her face, “What will you do, sue us? Tsk! Chris, the law needs evidence. The company's legal representative is my Mom. The house deed is under my father's name. The car is under my brother's name. What do you have? Back then when your startup failed, my family took you in, and you lived off us for five years, not to mention we also took on the responsibility of helping you take care of your sister that's been in coma for three years now. I never asked for a dime in living expenses. Isn't that more than enough.”

Christopher chuckled a bit, and stared at Helene as if staring at a fool, “My startup failed? Have you forgotten, back then you said I should transfer the company to your family, so I could focus on taking care of the home and visiting my sister at the hospital. I cooked and cleaned for you everyday.” The anger was now bubbling inside him, “Five Years!! Five Whole Years!! Goddamnit Helene! Are you braindead or is something fucken wrong with you!”

At that moment, Carlson Sebastian finally spoke up, “Cooking and cleaning,” he scoffed, “What man does that and still has the nerve to talk. Look at you, you're only twenty-seven, but you look fifty. It's embarrassing for the Sebastians.” He spoke with feigned grieve as if his family had been burdened with Christopher's presence.

Christopher sighed, he knew they'd already unanimously agreed to kick him out. There was no point arguing any further, “Fine, we can divorce, but give me back the patent, and that algorithm that doubled the company's market value. I wrote that too.”

Helene simply scoffed at his words, “Does it have your name on it? The patent belongs to the company, and the company is my family's.” She then looked at her watch, “Chris, I'll say this one last time. Sign the papers.”

“No!” Christopher said in a firm voice, “I have given you everything. If I leave now, I leave with nothing, and my sister will suffer for this.” He stared straight into Helene's eyes, “You think I'm stupid enough to give up everything I have?”

Helene smiled, “Yes you are.” She then cupped her hand to a fist and rested her chin on it, “Right now, we can take this matter to court, and even if we're in the wrong, we have the funds to drag the case for as long as we want. Tell me Chris, do you even have the money to pay for your sister's hospital bills, talk more of hiring a lawyer for a case?” She then put on a pitiful expression, “Leave now, and perhaps you'll still have the chance to fix your pathetic self and keep your sister safe.”

Christopher stared at her for almost ten seconds, rage bubbling inside him. In anger, Christopher picked up the pen, “Fine.” He signed his name and signature on the divorce paper. And immediately, Victoria stood up, “Now take your junk and get out.”

In less than five minutes, Christopher had packed all his clothes in his suitcass and was heading to the door. He was leaving behind everything he had worked for.

From an orphan boy who had nothing to his name, Christopher had started a small tech company after selling his family house. He had also taken in his younger sister. They were all that's left of their family after a tragic accident claimed the lives of their parents. He worked day and night to stabilize the company and take care of his sister. But then, things changed when he met and fell in love with Helene Sebastian. Her family wasn't rich, but they weren't poor either. The two of them dated and got married five years ago. Two years later, His sister, Allison, suddenly fell ill. Within a few weeks of the illness she fell into a coma. That was when Helene had suggested Christopher transfer the company to her family, she reasoned that due to Christopher's background, the company may not soar as it's supposed to, and he could also take the time to stay by his sister's side and help her regain consciousness. Putting his trust in her, Christopher had the legal team transfer the company to the Sebastians. When Christopher was about to buy a house, they had suggested it be put in the Sebastians name, this way it'll be a family house. Christopher saw no harm in it. And even the car was put in Garrick, Helene brother’s name. And now he was being kicked out by the very same people he'd trusted.

Unknown to Christopher who was in deep thoughts about what the future might hold as he walked on the street, a speeding luxury car, who's driver had more or less lost control of the brakes, was hurtling towards him.