Orphaned Son-in-law is Billionaire Heir

Ch. 6- The Challenge

The Kuranda mansion's grand meeting room felt suffocating as family members filed in, their faces masks of barely concealed anticipation. Elder Dundarra sat at the head of the massive mahogany table like a king holding court, while the family hierarchy displayed itself in seating arrangements.

Kirra and Connor stood near the back with the other lesser family members, their lack of chairs a clear reminder of their status. Whispers floated through the room like poison.

"Look at poor Kirra, standing there with her charity project husband," Aunt Kakadu murmured loud enough to be heard.

"I still can't believe she had to marry that orphanage janitor just to qualify for business leadership," Uncle Jarrah replied with a snicker.

"Desperate times, desperate measures," someone else added. "Though I suppose even a trained monkey is better than no husband at all."

Elder Dundarra's gavel cracked against the table, silencing the chatter. "Family! We're here tonight to discuss expanding our business presence in Melbourne's financial district."

All eyes focused on the patriarch as he continued. "I've decided we need a new office building from Jarrah Properties to elevate our company's image. Their downtown locations are exactly what we need to compete with the big players."

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the room.

"Now," Dundarra's eyes swept across the assembled relatives, "I need someone to handle this negotiation. It's a significant responsibility that could determine our family's business future."

Suddenly, every gaze found somewhere else to land. Papers rustled. Throats cleared. The silence stretched uncomfortably.

"Come now," Dundarra's voice carried a warning edge, "surely one of you is confident enough to take on Jarrah Properties?"

More silence.

Bandicoot suddenly straightened in his chair, his face lighting up with false inspiration. "Actually, Elder Dundarra, I believe Kirra has already expressed interest in this very opportunity!"

All eyes snapped to Kirra, who looked stunned. "What? I never said—"

"Oh, but you did!" Milla jumped in smoothly, her voice dripping with fake sweetness. "Just last week, you were boasting about how easy it would be to negotiate with Jarrah Properties!"

"That's completely untrue!" Kirra protested.

Bandicoot nodded vigorously. "She even claimed she could get a fifty percent discount because her husband knows people there from his... charity work."

Snickers erupted around the room.

"Charity work?" Uncle Jarrah laughed. "You mean emptying bedpans at the orphanage?"

"Maybe he befriended the janitors at Jarrah Properties too!" Aunt Kakadu cackled.

Elder Dundarra's eyebrows rose with interest. "Is this true, Kirra? You have connections at Jarrah Properties through your... husband?"

"No! I never said any of that!" Kirra's voice rose desperately.

"Now, now, dear cousin," Milla's tone was sickeningly patronizing, "there's no need to be modest. We all heard you bragging about how Connor's orphanage connections could help the family business."

"Orphanage connections?" someone whispered loudly. "What kind of connections could a charity worker possibly have?"

"Maybe he knows other beggars who work there!" came another voice, followed by cruel laughter.

Wonga shot to her feet. "This is ridiculous! My daughter never made such claims!"

"Are you calling us liars, Aunt Wonga?" Bandicoot's voice carried mock offense. "That's quite serious."

"We all heard her," agreed Cousin Numbat, joining the conspiracy. "She was very confident about getting special treatment."

More relatives began nodding and murmuring agreement, the lie spreading like wildfire.

"Wait a minute," Milla said with calculated timing, "unless... Kirra, you're not trying to back out because you want to keep the leftover money for yourself, are you?"

The room erupted in gasps and accusations.

"Keep the money?" Elder Dundarra's voice thundered.

"Well," Milla continued with false reluctance, "if she gets a fifty percent discount like she claimed, there would be quite a lot left over. Perfect for a struggling orphanage helper and his wife..."

"How dare you!" Kirra's face flushed red. "I would never steal from the family!"

"Then why won't you accept the challenge?" Bandicoot pressed. "Unless your boasting was all hot air?"

"She's gotten too big for her britches," Uncle Jarrah declared. "That's what happens when middle-class families try to play with the big leagues!"

"Exactly! She married that human garbage and now thinks she's something special!" Aunt Kakadu added venomously.

"Maybe her orphanage husband filled her head with delusions of grandeur!" another voice called out.

Connor stood silently beside Kirra, his face expressionless as the family tore into his wife like a pack of wolves.

Elder Dundarra slammed his gavel again. "ENOUGH! Kirra, step forward!"

Kirra approached the table on unsteady legs, Connor following behind like a shadow.

"Since you've apparently made such bold claims about your connections and abilities," Dundarra's voice was ice-cold, "I'm giving you the opportunity to prove them."

"Elder Dundarra, please listen—"

"I'm offering you five million dollars to purchase an office building from Jarrah Properties," he continued, ignoring her protests. "That should be more than enough for someone with your supposed insider connections and fifty percent discount."

"Five million?" Kirra's voice cracked. "But Elder Dundarra, Jarrah Properties buildings are worth at least fifteen million—"

"Are you questioning my business judgment, girl?" Dundarra's eyes flashed dangerously.

"No, sir, but—"

"Five million is generous! Jarrah Properties should be grateful we're even considering buying from them!"

The family members nodded agreement, feeding off their patriarch's confidence.

"But if the discount is as large as you claimed," Milla added sweetly, "five million should be plenty, shouldn't it?"

Trapped, Kirra looked around desperately for support, but found only hostile faces and cruel smiles.

"Well?" Dundarra demanded. "Will you honor your boastful claims, or admit you're nothing but an incompetent liar?"

"I... I never made those claims..."

"Then you're calling your cousins liars?" Dundarra's voice rose to a roar. "Accept the challenge or get out of the family business entirely!"

"And take your pathetic orphanage-worker husband with you!" Uncle Jarrah added with a sneer.

"Yes! Both of you parasites can crawl back to whatever gutter you came from!" Aunt Kakadu cackled.

Kirra's face went white as the implications hit her. Losing her position in the family business would invalidate the entire reason for their marriage. Connor would be left with nothing, their arrangement meaningless.

The room fell silent except for the sound of Kirra's rapid breathing.

Suddenly, Connor stepped forward, his voice calm and confident. "It's a deal."

Every head turned toward him in shock.

"Connor, no!" Kirra whispered.

"Kirra will buy the office building with five million dollars," Connor declared, meeting Elder Dundarra's surprised gaze directly.

The orphanage helper had just accepted an impossible challenge, and the room held its collective breath in stunned silence.