Rise of the Unwanted Son-In-law

CHAPTER 2 : SYSTEM ACTIVATE.

Approximately ten meters from the Oceania Corporation, in an alley filled with trash cans, the lifeless body of a young man lay there in eternal silence.

There was no heartbeat, no movement. The once ironed white shirt was now bloody and muddy. It had already been a few minutes since the deed was done, yet no one came to take a look. A life was snuffed out just like that. But in that ominous, sorrowful situation, a miraculous thing was happening... Even though he was confirmed dead by his assailants, and his heart had stopped beating, somehow his mind was still working.. or rather something else was going on in his subconscious mind.

«Data collection complete. The host matches the requirements of the system. Host's current status: Deceased. Injecting revitalization serum to the Host. Host current status: critical. Injecting advanced healing serum into the Host. Host current status: Salvageable. System booting is in progress. Time required: One hour thirty minutes.»

Thump. Thump. Thump.

The heart in the lifeless body began beating once more. Colour began returning to the pale face of the young man. His wounds healed at astonishing speed, his fingers twitched and finally, his eyelids opened.

“Ugh! I feel like I have been run over by a bus.” Damien slowly sat up and rubbed his head. Only then did he notice the bloodstained white shirt he was wearing, his watch was already smashed to pieces, but surprisingly his phone was still in good shape. He picked up the phone and saw that it was switched off, he tried switching it on but only got a pop-up message

«System booting in progress. Time required: One hour.»

Damien suddenly remembered why he was here, where he was going and what had transpired earlier. Although he would truly like to go home and get some medication the interview at Oceania simply can't wait.

Standing up from the muddy floor, Damien did his best to clean his clothes and look approachable.

“Darn it! I have to get to the company as soon as possible!” Damien cursed internally. He had no choice but to hurry off to his previous destination even in his bloodied shirt and muddied pants.

                        *

A three-storey building with sky-blue exterior paint. Oceania was a recently started corporation in urgent need of manpower, as such Damien was certain he would be accepted. Before going in, he had begged the security to lend him a shirt and pants, he claimed he had been in an accident but as he was in urgent need of the job, he came here instead of going to the hospital. The security guard had lent him a white shirt and black pants, Damien thanked the man, wore it and rushed off into the building. He was told by the receptionist to wait in the lobby while the other job seekers were being interviewed.

“Damien Hawks!?” the female receptionist who had told him to wait at the lobby called out to him.

“That's me. Is it my turn now?” he asked with hopeful eyes.

“I am sorry Mister Hawks, but the manager said I should tell you that we have no more vacancy. He apologizes for any inconvenience he may have caused you.” the female receptionist said politely.

“Oh!” Damien said. He didn't say anything further. He already knew what had happened; they must have gotten word about his feud with the Roach family. Damien turned around without saying anything else. He went back to the security guard to return the clothes, but the security guard on seeing his downcast expression knew he hadn't gotten the job. Taking pity on Damien, he told him to keep the clothes as it would be unhealthy to walk around in dirty and bloodied clothes. Damien thanked him and left the company building. He felt he needed somewhere to sit and drink. He only had about twenty dollars with him.

Sigh!

“Might as well settle for a cup of coffee and soda biscuits.” he thought to himself. He took a left turn towards a well-known restaurant. It wasn't a high-class restaurant for high-tier families, but it wasn't a slump restaurant either.

“I was hoping to get a job today. I'm I destined to fail?”

                           *

Damien walked into a restaurant, got a seat and ordered coffee. Just then a lady in her early twenties came along. Seeing the familiar face, Damien's downcast expression deepened more; 'Here comes trouble'

“Oh if it isn't Damien Hawks. Didn't fancy seeing you here?” a cute voice sounded in front of him.

“Hello, Helen.” Damien greeted unenthusiastically. Helen Patel, Damien's former classmate and crush. She had once told him that unless he could make a million dollars before graduation, she would never accept him. When she heard Damien had married the heiress of a second class family and moved to a mansion, she was furious, but then when news got out that Damien had offended someone he shouldn't have, she was the first person to leap in joy.

“Still searching for a job?” Helen said and sat down opposite Damien without seeking out his permission.

“Will you mind me ordering wine and steak?” she asked him in a sincere tone, but she feigned surprise as if she had just remembered something.

“Oh, goodness me, I forgot, you have no money on you. My bad.”

Damien stared at her with conflicted emotions.

'Could this day get any worse!?'