Episode 3

Chapter 3 

"Hey! Stop that! Right now!" A voice had said and they all turned to see a man in his fifties or sixties maybe wearing a tux, standing by the door. 

Heaving a sigh of relief and smiling was Shawn, he was grateful. Using one of his hands behind his back, he dialed a number hoping the old man would show up. 

"Yo, old man, this isn't any of your business. Now get out of here before I do something we both would regret" the bullies' leader implored the old man. The old man only shook his head and smiled. 

"Mate, you better tell this savior of yours to run along now," he threatened, turning back to Shawn. 

"You! I said, get out!" He screamed becoming angry. As he approached the old man, a few men in black suits entered the room. Only then did Shawn see a bit of fear and hesitation in his eyes which he quickly hid away. 

"What y'all want? This is my home, this is my city. Ain't nobody going to come in here and mess up my business. Now, I don't want to repeat myself, get out! Now!" He ordered and no one moved much less say a word. It was like he was almost non-existent. 

"You don't know who you're dealing with. With the snap of my fingers, I could have you all killed" he goaded.  

"My dad owns this city, he owns you. You'll regret this" he bragged but the old man ignored him and walked towards Shawn, bowed, and gently offered Shawn new clothes. 

"Young master, I'm sorry I allowed this to happen. Please, forgive me" the old man said to Shawn, with heads still bowed. 

Smiling, Shawn acknowledged, 

"It's alright, no harm in taking in a few beatings" 

Suddenly, the bullies busted into roaring laughter, finding it funny of course that the man referred to Shawn as "young master" 

"Shawn does know how to put on a show, doesn't he?" The bullies' leader asked sending them into another round of laughter 

"He paid them to act this out, act like thugs to scare us off" one of the bullies had ribbed. 

"He couldn't have been able to afford them even if he tried," the lady said, these were the first words she'd uttered since this started. How calm she looked, almost like she did nothing to Shawn. 

Shawn put his head down in shame, not only did he allow her to make a fool out of him, he did it so cheaply, within minutes. 

Thinking back on stories where great men were being brought down by women, he can only wish he'd learn from them. Now, he had to experience it only that he wasn't so great and his would-be passing. 

"Hey buddy, look here you poor brat," the leader yelled at Shawn. 

"Tell me, how did you pull this off, eh?" He asked jeering 

"I didn't pull anything off, these men work for me," Shawn responded and this only made them laugh harder. 

"They...they work for you?" He asked again, snickering

"Well, not exactly. They work for my father so, they work for me" 

"As actors right? For situations like this?" 

"I don't need you to believe me. Honestly, I love it when people don't believe me, I get used to it. But I'll give you a piece of advice, for the sake of the young lady with you..." 

"So not ever refer to her like that, she is mine. And what were you thinking? Being with her? That you could have her? Your piece of shit..." 

"As he was saying, I'd advise you leave now as my men who await my orders do not have the patience of women and this is making them lose their patience" the old man interjected

"How dare you talk to me in that manner? Are you threatening me old man?" the leader of the bullies inquired, with a face that said he was being tempted.  

"Take it as you will but leave" 

"Old man, ain't no way you get to tell me to leave. This guy thinks I'm here to joke. Boys, let's get this over with quickly" he directed. 

The bullies headed for Shawn but were stopped by the old man. 

"Look here pal, I don't want you having a heart attack on me so I'm is letting you go easy this time, just get out of my way before I lose my mind," the leader of the bullies sassed. 

The old man signaled to the men in black suits and they entered quickly, taking the bullies to the ground, beating and kicking them with some of them apologizing and begging with their leader not giving in.  

"You kicking yet don't know who you're dealing with, you do not" he kept yelling. 

"I tell you what, my father is the most influential man in this city. Just the word and everything you own including both you and your family would be brought down and no one can save you from his or my wrath. I will make sure you pay for this, Shawn" he bragged. 

It's surprising how he still had the strength to keep blabbing and bragging about his father and all he could do. 

For one, Shawn could never do that. He believed that a man's money or power should solely belong to him, this is one of the reasons he has been avoiding being a "benefit child", claiming his dad's money and power as his. He wanted respect, money, and power for himself, one he worked hard for. He worked for an identity, a name, and not go around carrying his dad's weight on his shoulders. And at this point, Shawn was pissed. 

"Dude, you still think that your daddy can save you? You think everything can be handled by daddies?" Shawn queried and he spits on him. 

"You'll regret this," he yakked 

"You know, I used to admire and respect you, seeing how you put up this group and all, running it perfectly. Turns out you're just a daddy's boy after all, and now you've lost all the admiration and respect that I had for you" Shawn purred, shaking his head in disapproval. 

"Young master, what would you want for us to do with them? How will you have us punish them?" The old man asked bowing

"I wanted to let them go, I wanted to. But seeing how loud-mouthed and prideful their leader can be, I changed my mind. I want them, their families to lose everything they have" Shawn answered, furious.

"Is that all, young master?" The old man asked 

"Yes, that would be all" 

"Boys, hand me the phone," the old man said to the men in black suits, motioning to them with his hands. 

"Hello" he started with the bullies watching keenly, about to find out what the "old pal" could do.