REGAN RAY UNBOWED

Chapter Seven

He took a deep breath, trying to compose himself. He wouldn't let them see him rattled. "Fine, Alfred," he said, his voice deceptively calm, "We'll leave. But this isn't over. I'm not giving up on my family's restaurant so easily, you haven’t seen the last of me." He turned towards Anny, who had been watching the exchange with a mixture of fear and growing determination.

"Anny," he said softly, "Let's go." He gave her a small reassuring nod, trying to convey more confidence than he felt. As they walked out of the restaurant, Regan couldn't shake the feeling of defeat gnawing at his insides. The restaurant, the heart of his family’s legacy was slipping away, not with a bang but with a calculated smirk and a few well-placed lies.

Outside, the midday sun seemed unusually harsh, casting long, distorted shadows. Anny followed Regan to his bike, her steps hesitant, mirroring his own confused emotions. "Regan," she said, her voice barely a whisper, "What are we going to do? He really is the owner now, isn't he? We are losing the restaurant, our jobs, everything…”

Regan leaned against his bike, his gaze fixed on the restaurant, his mind replaying the scene that had just unfolded. He couldn't believe his step-father, the man he had always despised, had succeeded in doing this. He knew, deep down, that Alfred wasn't simply being cruel for the sake of it, there was always a bigger prize that he aimed for, and that’s what made Regan’s blood boil, he had to figure out what it was this time.

"I don't know, Anny," he admitted, the exhaustion evident in his voice, "But we are not going to give up. We are going to get the restaurant back, we have to. My mother worked so hard, she sacrificed everything to make this a success, and I’m not going to let a leech like Alfred ruin that."

He paused, thinking for a moment, a plan slowly taking shape in his mind. "We need proof, Anny. We need to find out what Alfred’s really up to, how he got his hands on the restaurant. There has to be something we're missing, some detail he’s hiding."

He looked at her, his eyes blazing with a renewed sense of purpose. "I need you to stay with me, Anny, this is going to be a long fight."

Anny, seeing the familiar spark in his eyes, felt a surge of hope. Regan wasn’t going to give up, he never does. She nodded, her own fear replaced with a steely resolve. "I'm with you, Regan, whatever you need, I’m in. We'll figure this out, together."

Regan gave her a small smile, a real smile this time, a genuine thank you for her unwavering loyalty and friendship. He then pulled out his phone.

“I need to call Jeff first,” Regan said, scrolling through his contact list. He needed his friend, even if they had a disagreement. Jeff was his ride-or-die, he’d always had his back and Regan knew he couldn't go through this without him. He knew Jeff wouldn't abandon him during a crisis like this. After two rings, Jeff picked up.

“Regan, what’s going on? I saw the commotion in the restaurant,” Jeff said, his voice filled with worry. “I tried to reach you but your phone was off, are you okay?”

“I’m fine, Jeff, sort of,” Regan sighed, his frustration still palpable in his voice. “Alfred showed up, he’s claiming to be the new owner. He wants us gone. It's a mess, Jeff, a whole mess.”

Jeff was silent for a moment, absorbing the gravity of the situation. "That old geezer? How? That doesn't make sense. He wouldn't have the money."

“I know, that's what I'm saying, Jeff. It’s all a set-up, but I don’t know what he’s playing at yet. I need to get the restaurant back, Jeff, I can’t let him win.”

“What do you need me to do, Regan? I'm in this with you. We’ll figure it out together, as always.” Jeff's words, filled with his familiar enthusiasm, were a welcome wave of support.

Regan felt a sense of relief wash over him. He had Jeff on his side, and that was always a powerful weapon. "We need to investigate, Jeff, we need to find out how Alfred was able to buy the restaurant, there has to be something fishy going on. This is not just about me anymore, this is about my mother’s legacy. We need to dig deep, find some evidence that would prove it’s a fake. Can you meet me later?”

“I am on it, tell me where, and when, I will be there,” Jeff responded with determination, a new sense of purpose in his voice.

Regan smiled, the grim determination returning to his face. "Okay Jeff. I will call you when I have everything figured out. Just be ready” he said, as he hung up. He turned to Anny, her eyes filled with hope. "First we need to look into the papers, let’s figure out how he got his hands on the restaurant so quickly." Regan started his bike, the engine roaring to life, as if echoing his own burning resolve. This wasn't the end. It was just the beginning. They would fight back. They would reclaim what was theirs.

As Regan rode on his bike, the cool breeze felt good for a moment. It was a peaceful feeling, but only for a little while. He wasn't sure how he would beat Alfred, but he knew he would do it, no matter what. He had to reclaim the restaurant, not just for himself, but for his family, for his mother's legacy. He might not know the plan yet, but one thing was certain: this wasn't over, it was just the beginning. This time, however, it would be smarter and more calculated, and definitely with a twist of revenge.