Chapter two

“Applicant 204, you're next.” The receptionist called out to Richard, whose palms were already sweaty and his suit a tad bit tight from the anxiety that threatened to choke him. Over a thousand people came for the job interview, he needed this job. Richard answered each question thrown at him, with deliberation, and left no stone unturned with his speech. “That will be all, Mr. Richard.” He was requested to leave the meeting room for another interviewee. But Richard did not fail to notice how impressed the gray haired man sent an impressive look his way.

Copper & Brass, was not exactly his dream work place, but half bread was better than none. He walked towards the bus stop, rejuvenated and filled with optimism. He had his wife to thank for filling him with hope even when he saw no way out. Sierra was his angel in human form. He did a mental note to stop at her favorite pastry store to get her some croissant with the few nickels and dimes he saved up for rainy days.

Richard had no idea where the boost came from, but there was no way in hell he was going to be rejected. The amazed glances and satisfied nod he received ascertained his stance. His phone buzzed again, this time the caller had an ID. His happy mood was completely drenched by the name that appeared on his phone screen. “Humphrey Devon.” His brother-in-law and a thorn in his flesh. Humphrey was no different from his mother-in-law. He had an uncanny resemblance to a slithering snake.

Reminiscing on the old days, Richard remembered the nights he would sleep on the cold ground while Humphrey snored loudly on his bed. Humphrey had always been a bully who never got reprimanded for his actions. Now, he was a spoiled brat that mooched off his parent's wealth. 

“What took you so long to pick my call, you dumb son of a b**ch.” Humphrey cursed out, his voice slurred and high-pitched like that of a lady. Richard fought the urge to reply to his aggression and vile statements as he kept mute, his tongue-tied and lips sealed. “What do you want, Humphrey?” Richard halted in his steps to the bus station, the rest of his day entirely ruined. He knew what was coming, the old book of emotional destruction aimed at Richard had become part and parcel of his very existence. He was, immune to it.

“I will be straight with you, you son of a b**ch! You are a leech who lacks the financial capacity and emotional stability to take care of my sister as well as cater for her needs. Therefore, the family has unanimously agreed to disown Sierra if you don't draft a divorce paper by tomorrow to leave her.” Richard's fist was curled up and ready to rip Humphrey into shreds, but he held it all in, as he hung unto the almost non-existent self-control he possessed. “Oh, before I forget. Sierra is pregnant and in an unstable condition. You should know, since you are the one who put the bun in the oven. Think about it, a broke guy with no money having two liabilities.” Humphrey cackled, enjoying his taunts and unfiltered words that sent him in a frenzy of emotions.

Richard, bewildered and confused at Sierra's actions, wife chose him to be the last person to know of their child. He recollected his thoughts, fighting the urge not to breakdown in the heart of the city. He inhaled all the oxygen his lungs could take in, the air soothing his haywire nerves. Richard was more than ready to end the futile call that only riled him up and made him question his role as the head of his household.

But Humphrey was only beginning. Richard believed that a world of power, money, and opportunity was conserved only for the rich. The poor only ate their leftovers and lived off their disposed waste. So at an early age, he learned to be contented and be grateful for the leftover crumbs on his plate. Little did he know that the rich envied the poor as well. Words failed him to describe the revelation that came from the loose tongue of Humphrey Devon.

“A little advice Richard, if you want to have at least a piece of cheese on your plate, you will do the right thing. I hear Copper and Brass enjoyed your interview and were impressed, but too bad…” Humphrey snickered, a munching sound following his foul words. That son of a b**ch had some popcorn on the side as he crunched on it with every uncensored words he spat out of his mouth. Richard had become his new form of entertainment.

“How the hell do you know of my interview with Copper and Brass?" His question came out as an aggressive growl, as his unbridled anger simmered at the surface. Richard, at this point, had lost every ounce of self-control he had in him, he craved  a retaliation. He wanted to know who stalked him and watched his every move. “You worthless clown, you don't mess with Lady Carolina Devon and get away with it. You messed with her daughter and think you will dance in the field of dandelions, huh?. Even if you apply to work in a company that is about to go bankrupt, you will still get rejected because the lady says so.” Then it hit him, the series of rejections and turned down applications even with his long list of qualifications were the evil doings of Lady Carolina.

She was ready to stoop so low, just to raid his measly life for her egoistic gratification. Richard heaved and heaved again. His chest resonated with the gut-wrenching pain he felt as it moved on it's on accord. He held unto his erratic chest, ready to give in to the indescribable feeling that overwhelmed him. For goodness’ sake, she was the only motherly figure he had. Even though, she wasn't his biological mom, she accorded her the respect she deserved.

“Send Sierra home by tomorrow, or get ready for more torments.” Humphrey finally ended the call, leaving Richard in a dilemma with his current mental state of mind. He held unto his suitcase, the weight of the piled up documents in his worn leather suitcase, made him realize how stupid he was. No matter how many job adverts he circled in the daily news ads, the Devon's would always be two steps ahead of him. Richard, blinded with the rage of his said reality, poured out his aggression on the poor suitcase.

Exhausted from the stomps and hits he transferred on the battered suitcase on the floor, he knees went to the floor, the overwhelming feeling of frustration, anger, fury all but choked him up. Richard always kept his head high in the toughest of situations, but this was different.

Soaked with his sweat and completely drained from the revelation he had to take in, he walked dejectedly towards the bus station. Richard tagged himself an Alpha male, but with a child in the picture and no feasible work in view, he had to let Sierra go. These were desperate times that called for desperate measures.

He stood there trying to figure what to do just in case plan A did not go as planned when he noticed an outstanding limited edition of the Lincoln Limousine that was to be introduced to the car market sometime next year parked a few meters away from him. What shook him were the well - clad men in suits who stepped out of the Limousine. They were an estimate of seven.

Richard ignored the scene and made his way to his destination when he noticed their sync movement towards his direction. Richard had no time to recollect his thoughts or raise an alarm when a black sac covered his head and blurred his vision. He struggled with the firm hands that forced his head into the car, but it was all to no avail. They were obviously well-trained for situations of this nature.

Richard was terrified, as the car zoomed off to an unknown destination. His blurred vision only made it difficult for him to decipher the swerves and cuts that were taken. The thought of being kidnapped, sent him into a state of worry, not for himself, but for Sierra and their unborn child. The car finally halted with a screech and Richard was brought out of the car and led down a trail that echoed with each footstep he made.

The two men who held him, to his surprise, were gentle, careful, and subtle. He expected the opposite, but it felt like they were more of allies than the alleged foes. The cold air was replaced with the warmth of what Richard asserted to be a room. The black bag was taken off his sweaty face, and the light that filled his vision caused him to squint a little as he took in his environment.

The house was decent for a torture room and the decor aesthetically pleasing. A gray - headed man with an oak walking stick, headed towards where his stood with the bodyguards that hijacked him from the street, his face as red as a tomato. He looked like he was ready to shoot them all dead as he roared like an angry lion at the bodyguards.

“Who let you treat our young master in such an unruly manner!?"