Chapter 5

“Is this a Joke?”

Ryker thought to himself. It seemed like a joke or better still a dream. He couldn’t call it a prank because it was way too expensive to call it a prank so it was better concluded to be a dream.

How in the world is he an heir to a trillion-dollar company? An ordinary house boy who was trying to fit into the world. It was too good to be true. Even though it was coming from the most powerful man in the world, it was hard to take in.

“I know it’s difficult to take in” Lord Hunter brought him out of his thought “But that’s your true identity, who you are. You’re not destined to be a loser or someone who can’t make it in life, No!” He nodded his head in disagreement.

“Your future had been written and documented to be the next heir of Acme Corporations”

“No no no no, I don’t want to hear that” Ryker stood up angrily waving his hand at Lord Hunter who was still seated. “This is all a mistake or a mix-up. I’m sorry but I have to go” He said with a shaky breathy, his voice trembling.

It was very hard for Ryker to believe what he just heard after all he had gone through. It would take him time to accept his identity, Lord Hunter thought to himself. He stood to his feet and obstructed Ryker from leaving.

“Listen to me son, I understand if you need time to process this but I want you to do something for me” He paused to see if Ryker was with him, Ryker wondered what he wanted him to do.

Lord Hunter dipped his hand into his inner suit pocket and brought out a golden card which he handed over to him “Take this. I need no fortune-teller to tell me that you’ve suffered for so long and that suffering got to stop. I’m sorry for not coming out earlier than this”

Ryker collected the card with a confused look and stared at the golden card. He recalled holding and using a black card which was owned by his boss many times but he had never held or used a golden card. “How much is inside?”

“Try it out yourself and see” Lord Hunter with a smirk on his face returned and stared at Ryker as he walked out of the room.

Lord Hunter simply shook his head and concluded that Ryker was just like his father.

******************************************

Ryker walked out of Hunter’s mansion only to find out that he was inside the Acme estate. He recollected accompanying the wife of his boss, Queen Elizabeth to visit one of her influential friends. He remembered he had to wait for hours under the sun till she was done. Then all of a sudden, he was made to know that he happens to be the CEO of Acme corporation which means he owns Acme estate.

That was too good to be true.

And speaking of Elizabeth, he knew he was in trouble for not getting home yesterday. It was like she was designed or created in life to frustrate him. She almost made him believe that all rich women are nothing but evil but that fact was untrue. Many of her friends were nice and kind, unlike Queen Elizabeth. There was one day, Ryker’s grandmother was sick, and he needed to go home. Elizabeth didn’t grant his permission and she was keen to her words. Jenny so kindhearted volunteered to go help her. She took her to the hospital and paid for her hospital bills and drugs.

Ryker had to snap out of his thought as soon as he got to the main road. He hailed a taxi going towards the Gatewood’s house. Thirty minutes, he was dropped in front of the house.

The Gatewood’s house happens to be a big mansion with many features. The exterior part of the house presents itself as a magnificent architectural masterpiece, reflecting a blend of classic and contemporary styles. The driveway lined with perfectly manicured gardens and towering palm trees lead to an imposing entrance gate made of ornate wrought iron.

As you pass through the gate, a sweeping driveway leads to an awe-inspiring mansion

But with all these features, it was nothing compared to Lord Hunter’s mansion or better still a Castle

*************************

Ryker walked towards the gate and through the openings of the gate, He noticed an empty compound. He was aware the cars were parked in the garage. In other to notify Charles the gateman, he stepped away from the gate and moved to an object on his right. He tapped on a button which initiated a communication in two seconds.

“Who’s there?” A middle-aged man voiced out

“It’s me Charles’ Ryker responded coldly. His countenance portrayed how tired he was.

Instead of unlocking the gate automatically after hearing it was Ryker, Charles dressed in his Blue shirt and black trouser, accompanied by his black cap on his head, walked out of his room some meters from the gate and headed for Ryker who was still waiting for the gate to open.

“Good Morning Charles” Ryker greeted as Charles approached the gate

“Good morning Ryker. What happened? Why didn’t you return home as promised?” He was not done when he noticed a small bandage on Ryker’s forehead “What happened to you? Why are you taped?”

Ryker let out a long sigh “It’s a long story and sorry for not coming back yesterday. Just kindly open the gate for me. I need to get in and rest”

Charles in return shook his head with a disappointed look “I’m sorry I can’t”

Ryker wondered why

“Since you didn’t arrive back yesterday, Madam ordered me not to open the gate for you and besides Jake already spilled the beans. So, you don’t have to hide from me”

Ryker grunted in anger and cursed under his breath “That son of a bitch”

Why in the world will he report what transpired between them to his mother? Jake took Sandra away from him. As if that was not enough, the next in line was his job. But it’s not fair. Because how wealthy a man is doesn’t give him the right to trample on others.

Charles was sorry for him. He was aware of the maltreatment Ryker experienced from the Gatewoods.

“Please Charles, let me in. I’ll simply plead with Madam and I’m sure she’ll forgive me”

Ryker knew it was a lie. There was no way she was going to forgive him. All he wanted to do his sneak inside and to his room.

Charles was adamant in his word “I’m sorry Ryker but I can’t. If I let you in, I’ll lose my job and I can’t afford to lose the only thing that feeds my family”

Ryker understood. Charles happens to be a family man with three kids. His salary was not up to what Ryker gets.

At this point, Ryker wished Jenny was around. He hated the fact that she went to an event in Chicago. If she was around, none of this would have happened. Jenny and Elizbeth were like enemies in the house, two different breeds who disagree in almost everything and anything. Jenny almost had the upper hand only because she was loved by her Dad. Lord William loved his daughter so much that he could do anything for her but as for Jake, Lord William considered him as the black sheep of the family, though he supported him in his bad deeds and this was because of Elizabeth.

Ryker decided to leave when there was nothing he could do not when he spotted a car ahead speeding towards his direction. Just straining both eyes a little, he noticed it was one of the Gatewood’s cars. Not just any car but the exact one Jenny took for her event.

Ryker became so glad that his organs were leaping and at the same time twirling for joy.