Rise of the big bad son-in-law

Chapter nine.

Adolphus stormed back and forth across the living room with a glass of whiskey in his hand despite the early hour, muttering curses under his breath every few seconds.

“This is ridiculous,” he snapped bitterly. “Absolutely ridiculous.” 

Evelyn sat on a couch nearby, legs crossed neatly, as she calmly reviewed documents. Unlike Adolphus, she looked perfectly composed, almost unaffected by his outburst.

But Adolphus clearly wanted a reaction.

“I’m speaking to you, Evelyn,” he growled irritably.

“And I can hear you perfectly fine,” she replied without looking up. “The entire mansion can.”

That only irritated him further.

He scoffed loudly, throwing himself onto the sofa opposite her. “I still can’t believe this nonsense. Jamal refuses to offer me a position in the company like I’m some outsider begging for scraps.”

At that, Evelyn finally lifted her eyes from the tablet. “You are not qualified for any executive position in the company,” she said calmly.

Adolphus stared at her in disbelief before laughing harshly. “Not qualified?” he repeated. “You’ve got to be joking.”

“I’m not.”

“Oh, so suddenly qualifications matter now?” he sneered. “That’s interesting, because the current CEO was literally picked up from prison.”

Evelyn’s expression remained unchanged. “Jamal’s situation and yours are entirely different.”

Adolphus chuckled mockingly. “Different how? Please enlighten me.”

Evelyn placed the tablet down carefully before looking up to face him. “Because unlike you, Jamal actually has experience running a business.” 

Adolphus's eyes narrowed instantly. “Excuse me?”

“I ran a complete background check on him before his release,” Evelyn continued. “Before his bankruptcy, Jamal owned and managed a successful company for years. Reports showed consistent profits, his downfall came from one devastating financial loss, not incompetence.”

Adolphus clenched his jaw tightly.

“And besides,” Evelyn added, “it’s only been a few days since he officially stepped into the company, yet several departments have already shown improvement under his leadership.”

“That means nothing,” Adolphus snapped.

“It means he knows what he’s doing.”

“He got lucky!”

“No,” Evelyn corrected immediately. "Jamal is disciplined from what I can see, there’s a difference.”

Adolphus slammed his glass down violently onto the table.

“And what about me?” he barked. “I stayed with Grandpa until the very end! I was there beside him while Jamal was out there disgracing the family name!”

Evelyn looked at him for a long moment before scoffing.

“You only came to stay with Mr. Lincoln after you learned about his illness.”

Adolphus stiffened as the words hit him hard.  

“You hoped your sudden devotion would convince him to hand the company to you.”

“That’s not true.” Adolphus sneered. 

“It is,” she replied immediately. “And Mr. Lincoln knew it too.”

Adolphus’s nostrils flared. “You have no right to speak to me like that.”

“I have every right,” Evelyn stood her ground. “I worked beside your grandfather for years. I know exactly what he wanted for this company.”

“And you think that should’ve been Jamal?” he scoffed bitterly. “A man who was rotting in prison days ago?”

“Yes.”

Adolphus looked genuinely stunned for a second seeing how much Evelyn trusted Jamal despite just knowing him for a few days, it horrified him. 

"And you should know that your grandfather watched Jamal quietly for years.” Evelyn added and Adolphus frowned. 

“What?”

“He kept tabs on him from a distance,” Evelyn revealed. “His businesses, his conduct, the way he treated people, how he handled success and failure, everything necessary.”

“That old man barely knew him!”

“He knew enough.”

Adolphus shot up from the couch angrily. “No,” he hissed. “No, this is unfair.”

He began pacing again. “I gave years to this family! YEARS!” he shouted. “And suddenly some random grandson appears from nowhere and takes everything?”

“He is not random,” Evelyn said. “He is Collins Lincoln’s direct heir.”

“And I’m his blood too!”

“You’re his nephew.”

Adolphus laughed dryly, dragging a hand down his face. “This is unbelievable,” he muttered bitterly. “Absolutely unbelievable.”

Evelyn watched him silently for a moment. “You need to let this go.” she mumbled. 

His head snapped toward her. “Let it go?”

“Yes.”

His laugh this time sounded almost crazed.

“So I should just sit back and watch him enjoy everything that should’ve been mine?”

“It was never yours Adolphus." 

That sentence completely shattered whatever patience Adolphus had left.

His face darkened instantly. “You know what?” he said coldly. “You’re all making a huge mistake.”

Evelyn sighed softly. “Adolphus... ”

“No,” he cut her off abruptly. “I mean it.”

He pointed toward the staircase angrily. “That man doesn’t belong here. He doesn’t understand this world. He doesn’t understand this family. And if nobody is willing to fix this situation…”

His voice lowered dangerously.

"Then I’ll take matters into my own hands.”

Evelyn’s expression hardened. “Careful with your words, Adolphus." she warned.

But before Adolphus could respond, footsteps suddenly echoed from the staircase.

Both of them turned.

Jamal descended the stairs, dressed charmingly in a fitted black suit.

He adjusted the cuff of his sleeve as he stepped into the living room.

“Good morning,” he greeted casually.

Evelyn nodded politely. “Good morning.”

But Adolphus merely stared at him, the irritation in his eyes deepened almost instantly.

Jamal could practically feel the hostility radiating from him, still, he remained unbothered.

He walked toward the coffee table, picked up his car keys, and checked the time briefly.

“I’ll be leaving for the company now,” he said calmly.

“Of course,” Evelyn replied with a smile. 

But before Jamal could move further, Adolphus suddenly stepped directly into his path, jamal stopped.

Evelyn sighed, bracing herself for the drama about to unfold.

“Jamal,” Adolphus began, forcing a smile that looked painfully fake, “I’m giving you one last chance.”

Jamal raised an eyebrow slightly. “One last chance?”

“To do the right thing.”

“And what exactly is the right thing?”

Adolphus folded his arms. “Give me a position in the company.”

Jamal stared at him quietly for a moment, then he sighed softly. “We’ve already discussed this.”

“No,” Adolphus snapped. “You dismissed it.”

“I answered you.”

“With nonsense.”

Jamal’s expression remained calm. “You are asking for a top executive position in a company you have zero experience managing.”

“And you had experience?” Adolphus shot back instantly. “You were literally sitting in prison!”

Jamal looked at him sternly. “Yes,” he answered calmly. “And before prison, I built and managed a successful company.”

Adolphus clenched his fists in anger. 

“You, however, have never managed anything, at least none that I know of.” Jamal added.

“That doesn’t matter...

“It matters to me.” Jamal cut him off immediately, stepping slightly closer to him. 

“If you are genuinely interested in working at Lincoln Group,” he said evenly, “then apply properly.”

Adolphus blinked. “What?”

“You can join whichever department interests you.”

Adolphus stared at him like he’d lost his mind.

“Start from the lower levels, learn the structure and the operations, generally just gain experience.”

Adolphus let out a loud laugh. “You can’t be serious.”

“I am.”

“You want me to start as some ordinary employee?”

“Yes.”

Adolphus looked utterly offended. “You’ve lost your mind.”

“No,” Jamal replied calmly. “I’m trying to build a stable company.”

“You’re insulting me.”

“I’m giving you an opportunity, Adolphus.”

“To become a rep?” Adolphus barked angrily. “You expect me to embarrass myself like that?”

Jamal’s expression hardened slightly for the first time. “There is nothing embarrassing about earning your position.”

Adolphus glared at him furiously, and Jamal confidently held his gaze.

“If you prove yourself capable, then promotions will come naturally.”

“And if I refuse?”

Jamal shrugged lightly. “Then that’s your decision.”

There was a beat of silence, Adolphus’s chest rose and fell heavily with rage.

“You think you’re better than me now?” he hissed.

Jamal sighed softly. “This isn’t about being better than anyone.”

“Oh, save the humble act.”

Jamal glanced toward Evelyn briefly before looking back at him. “I have work to do.”

He moved to walk past Adolphus, but he grabbed his arm suddenly.

Evelyn immediately stood up seeing that it has crossed into physical altercation.  

“Adolphus,” she warned sternly.

But Jamal simply looked down at the hand gripping his sleeve, slowly, his eyes lifted back to Adolphus.

The calmness in them somehow felt more intimidating to Adolphus.

“Let go,” Jamal said quietly.

For a second, Adolphus hesitated, then he released him roughly.

Jamal straightened his sleeve calmly like nothing happened.

“You’re making a mistake,” Adolphus barked angrily. 

Jamal straightened his suit. “Maybe,” he replied calmly. “But I’d rather make honest mistakes than destroy this company with favoritism.”

That only infuriated Adolphus further. “You won’t last here!” he shouted suddenly. “You hear me? This company will swallow you alive!”

But Jamal didn’t even stop walking. “You sound just like Andrew,” he said casually over his shoulder. 

“And honestly?” he added calmly, “that’s not a compliment.”

Then without another glance back, he walked out of the mansion.

Adolphus stood there breathing heavily, fury written all over his face.

Meanwhile Evelyn slowly picked up her tablet again..“You’re handling this the wrong way,” she said.

Adolphus turned toward her in fury. "Oh, you have no idea how bad it's about to get."