THE LOATHSOME SON-IN-LAW

STEPPED ON THE COBRA'S TAIL

Most hotels in Arkansas City are patronised by the rich, but the Palace Hotel is meant only for the super-rich. 

Constructed over a hectare of land, with gorgeous buildings, gymnastics and spa, shopping mall, cafeterias and bar.  The Palace Hotel is a place to be when you have lots of cash to spend.

Apart from his younger days when Brian had brought all his family here, Andrew had never passed the main gate and always stood at the roadside to watch those lucky enough to afford the exorbitant price of their items, as they drove in and out of this hotel. 

Because of his designer shirt, trousers and expensive golden wristwatch, the security at the gate side bowed to welcome him into the hotel, and a waiter quickly scurried to his side as soon as he sat on one of the magnificent cushion chairs. 

"I am here for your order, sir," the waiter announced as he placed the Menu list in his front. 

"Get me a plate of fried rice, with full chicken and a bottle of champagne."

"Right, away sir."

"It's good to be rich," Andrew muttered as he straightened the crumbled part of his shirt, and his mouth was filled with saliva when the sumptuous meal arrived in a few minutes. 

He had finished the rice and was devouring the carcass of the chicken when he heard a familiar voice at the entrance of the hotel cafeteria.

"That is the poor desperate guy I was telling you about," Stevenson announced, laughed hysterically and nudged his two friends towards Andrew's seat.

Andrew saw them coming, shrugged and was back on his meal without batting an eye.

"Hello, my rival. How did you enter this luxurious hotel?"

"What is your concern about that?"

"Because I know you are a thief and had probably stolen your in-law's money to enjoy your miserable life... Did Andrea know you are here?"

"Get lost, and let me enjoy my meal in peace."

Instead of getting lost as suggested by Andrew, Steveson sat in his front, gestured to his friends to sit at the two remaining chairs, and the men were in a circle when he raised his voice, "This young man here is the son-in-law of the O'Connor's family, and I am happy to announce that his son belongs to me."

The cafeteria was silent as a cemetery in the middle of the night after Stevenson's announcement, and the place burst into giggling after.

"Hahaha!"

"You mean you have been fucking his wife and even impregnated her?"

"Yes. I always have copulation with her inside their matrimonial bed, and guess what?"

"What?"

"She moaned like a bitch?"

"Hahaha!"

"Now tell us and stop putting us in suspense."

"Okay, I will," Stevenson giggled for a while, shook his head as tears fell down the blue collar of his suit, and cried out after, " he often helped in heating the water for our baths after the hardcore sex, and he will be more than happy to prepare us two cups of tea to regain our strength for more sex."

"Oh my goodness!"

"What a miserable fellow."

Andrew ignored all their taunts until he consumed all his meal, swallowed all the wine, and belched with satisfaction.

"I won't help in begging your wife when your theft is found out," Stevenson announced with a sly smile. 

Andrew smiled back and cried out, "How much is my money? Waiter. 

"A minute, Sir."

"I need to tell you that I enjoyed your women's pavilion. As tight as new, and she even told me you are a one-minute type and always spilt your juice even before you put it in her."

"Gush!"

"Poor man!"

"Little wonder the miserable woman is cheating on him." 

"Lucky you. You are fucking someone's wife in their matrimonial room."

"Yeah. I am always lucky."

"Your money is fifty thousand dollars," the waiter arrived at Andrew's side, bowed and mumbled. 

"Take my credit card and remove your payment, then serve these three gentlemen something to eat as well."

"How much did you have inside your account that you want to feed the three of us? You are a clown, Andrew." Stevenson spat as he let out.

"Can you imagine?" 

"He stole two cartoons of liquor some days ago, fell down the stairs and had a broken leg. And I have to leave my enjoyment to help him out of his pitiable condition." 

"He must have stolen someone's credit card. Otherwise, how will a poor man like him have it?"

"Let's put him to shame with his braggadocio," one of Stevenson's friends announced, turned towards the waiter and said, "Bring me the most expensive dish on your menu!"

"That will be a high roller sushi roll, and it goes for fifty thousand dollars, Sir!"

"Give it to him," Andrew mumbled with a smile."

"Since he can afford to pay for that, I need two shots of the most expensive wine in your wine store."

"That is Chateau Lafite 1869, and a shot goes for one hundred thousand dollars."

"Give it to him."

"And last but not least," Stevenson announced, paused, cock a  smile and said, " I want the most expensive meal and a shot of Chateau Margaux 1787."

"Both go for one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, Sir."

"And serve him as well."

"Few minutes sir," the waiters bowed, looked mystified at the latest richest man in town, and quickly scurried out of sight.

"Please enjoy your meal, gentlemen," Andrew mumbled, paused and announced in a loud voice, "Mr Stevenson is right. He had been having sex with my woman, even in my presence... But he isn't the first man, and neither will he be the last. Just like me, my learned lawyer here is just a tool of pleasure in our wife's hands."

"Hahaha!"

"I love your humour!"

"Only a fool will fight to kill himself because of fake love...  Enjoy yourself, Mr, Andrew-."

"Andrew O'Connor."

"Mr Andrew O'Connor is a perfect gentleman, and his maturity is worthy to emulate."

Andrew seemed to be enjoying the attraction, and this made him stand up, point his finger towards Stevenson and cry out, "He is our family lawyer, and our family wealth is in his custody. But as a sharp man, he thinks sleeping with my wife will give him access to all the O'Connor's wealth."

"That's a breach of trust."

"Human's mind is filled with desirous desire."

"Yet, he still has the effrontery to insult me, quite unbelievable!" Andrew exclaimed, sighed and sat with his fixed smile.

"He is right. That lawyer must be a horrible man for insulting a man, after fornicating with his wife."

"To think he is their family lawyer!"

Stevenson and his friends were ashamed of the turn of events, and the three men stood up from Andrew's sight, and wobbled out, even before their order was served.

"Waiter-. I think my friends here aren't hungry anymore... Kindly give me back my credit card."

"A moment sir."

Andrew was out of the Cafeteria after, and without being told, he knew he just stepped on the tail of a cobra.

Stevenson is a notorious man in Arkansas, and since his job made him relate with almost all the good, the bad, and the ugly of Arkansas City, the fear of safety is the utmost in the mind of the loathsome son-in-law as he stepped into the Mall to buy a befitting flower to put on Brian's tombstone.