Chapter 4

“How the hell do you know that name?”

The anger was vivid in his voice. Ryker didn’t mind the fact that he was talking to the most popular and fearful man on the surface. He felt pained and hurtful at the same time, his heart beating faster than normal. The last time he heard that name was like 20 years ago.

Grayson Lee Bryon was Ryker’s late father who died in a motor accident. He loved both parents dearly but his father, Grayson, was his favorite. His connection with his mom was okay, family related but his relationship with Grayson was way more than father to son. Ryker remembered his father treating him like an adult even at age 7. They’ll watch games together, go to fun places, sit beside him on the sickbed, and make sure he tucked him to bed. Grayson promised to be there with and for him but he couldn’t fulfil that promise.

His world crumbled ever since he lost his dad. He tried to forget about his father which was however difficult but suddenly, not just anyone but the most popular business icon mentions his dad’s full name.

Lord Hunter was aware that Ryker needed answers but he tried to pacify him, also forcing him to take his meal. Ryker took a few bites of the meal and he could swear it was different from the meals he ate at the gate-wood's home. Since he happens to be the chef, he concluded that he needed to learn more aspects of the cooking world.

“Now can you tell me what’s going on?”

Ryker started guessing the reason why Lord Hunter rescued him. Maybe he owed his dad a favor and rescuing him from those thugs was him repaying the favor. But his concern was, how did he know his dad?

Lord Hunter first of all checked his watch. He had an appointment in an hour so whatever he had to explain mustn’t exceed an hour. He cleared his throat and started

“Way before your father Grayson met your mom, Grayson and I were close friends, right from High school. A year before your dad got married to your mom, he got a jackpot in the business world and almost became the only manufacturer and exporter of energy resources” Lord Hunter paused for five seconds to see if Ryker was getting him.

“Now get this, Grayson was not the only importer and exporter of energy resources back then, no!” He shook his head “he had a competitor, someone who saw Grayson as a hindrance in getting his prize”

“Prize?” Ryker wondered with a narrowed face

“Every ten years, The MER Corporations (Manufacturing Energy Resources) runs a survey on the best manufacturing and exporting industries. Grayson’s company had every probability of winning over 500 million support fund from MER but his competitor couldn’t stand the fact that his subordinate who he trained to be a successful businessman was about to top the board chart ahead of him”

Ryker was lost with his explanation. The terminologies were starting to get him crazy

“Hold on for a sec and let me get this. My dad was trained by this competitor”

Lord Hunter nodded in affirmation “Yeah but not only trained but they were close friends”

“Then what happened” Ryker was eager to know the end of the story

“Some weeks before the survey was completed, Grayson was trailed by some gangs known to be the assassin” Lord Hunter paused and gazed at the ceiling with a sad smile. He made a quick thought about his late closest friend “Grayson, the nicest man I’ve ever met had one bad habit. He was known for his stubbornness”

He returned his gaze to Ryker who felt like he already knew the end of the story

“I and your mother urged Grayson to run to a very far country and lay low for the meantime but Grayson was adamant. He loved his family and he wasn’t ready to give up on them.”

That sounded like his dad, Ryker thought to himself. At a young age, Ryker got to understand the family’s love through his dad. He taught him the importance of loving the family despite all odds.

“Before the death of your parent” Lord Hunter continued after seeing he had thirty minutes left “Grayson entrusted two of his prized possession to me and I made a promise to him to look after them with my life”

“Two of his prized possession?” Ryker wondered what it could be

“Yea. The first was you” Lord Hunter paused as soon as he noticed that expected look on Ryker’s face. In his mind, Ryker was like ‘What the fuck is this old lad talking about?'

Lord Hunter stood up this time, unbuttoned his suit, and finally rested on the wooden carved chair.

“From the day your father died, I’ve been keeping an eye on you. From your entry to junior high school till the very last day in college, was with my knowledge. That was how I could rescue you from those thugs”

“But wait a second” Ryker voiced, holding his breath for a second before speaking “Saying you’ve been watching over me since the death of my parents means you had the idea that I was suffering, isn’t it that?” Ryker tried to suppress his rising anger. All his life, the world saw him as nothing, he was insulted, denigrated, and deprived of many things, only to find out that there was someone out there, powerful enough to change his life around.

Lord Hunter fully understood Ryker’s pain but for every action, there is a reason

“I understand your pain Ryker, but I want you to know there was a reason”

Ryker was bewildered and pissed at his reply that he stood up and barked at Lord Hunter “I became a nobody in life ever since the death of my parent. I became something that anyone could use and later dump like garbage. Even my goddamn girlfriend cheated on me because she saw me as a low life, a pauper, a fucking loser who was destined not to make it life” The tears were visible in his eyes. He sniffled, staring at Lord Hunter with so much revulsion. The pain was hurting him so much that words couldn’t escape from his mouth.

Lord Hunter was not happy with Ryker’s reaction. He walked towards him, held him by the shoulder with a remorseful look on his face

“Son, for every action, there’s a reason. Your father loved you so much, he wanted to keep you safe. That’s why he begged me as a friend not to help you”

Ryker was thunderstruck at his statement. He turned sideways and shot an unbelievable glare at Lord Hunter, thinking of how stupid he sounded. Why will his dad love him so much and still didn’t want anyone to help him?

It was as if Lord Hunter was reading his thought “Yeah I know it sounds ridiculous son but your father was hated by people that they wanted him dead. He was so great in the business world that he was envied by his supposed partners and friends. He knew if you trod in the same path as he did, the same thing that happened to him will happen to you. So, I took an oath to make sure I look after you and that when you’re ready, I’m to enclose your true identity”

Ryker rose a brow at him and scoffed “What true identity do I have other than being a failure”

Lord Hunter gave a tiny smile after considering the words of Ryker stupid only if he figured out who he was.

“Firstly, you must think I’m the real owner of Acme Corporations but let me break it to you, I’m not”

“Then who is?”

Lord Hunter sighed and replied coldly “Grayson was the real owner of Acme Corporation”

Ryker’s Jaw dropped “My dad?”

“Yeah” he affirmed with a slight nod “Ever before your father hit the jackpot, acme was his underground creation. Being his trusted friend, he made me his personal assistant, let’s just call it a case of bodyguard. Then Acme went boom after Grayson hit the jackpot. Your father knew what was coming. He then entrusted the company to my possession. He told me to tell you all these when you are ready but I couldn’t hold on to the fact that you’re out there suffering when you’re not meant to”

Ryker was starting to put pieces together but he didn’t want to conclude on what was in his mind

“Wait a minute, Ready for what?”

Ryker was waiting for the next word, perhaps a word that would change his life for good.

“Ready to be the next heir of Acme Corporations. Ryker, you are the true heir of Acme Corporations”