The Inheritor Of The Houston Empire

10 • Look Her In The Eyes

Matthew was surprised to see them standing behind him, he looked at Darrell, anger bubbling within his chest, and then at Ashley. He never thought the day would come when he would look her in the eyes and feel nothing but disgust.

The look on Darrell’s face mirrored that of Ashley's, they were both wondering what a common car washer like Matthew would be doing in a fine establishment like this. Darrell quickly concluded that perhaps he was here to apply for a new job as a cleaner or maybe even a carwasher and so he stuck his hand in his pocket and scoffed, shaking his head lightly.

Matthew stepped forward. “What are you two doing here?” he asked.

Darrell scrunched his face in disgust as he glared at Matthew, looking him head to toe like he was a church rat. “I should be the one asking you, last I checked, they don’t hire low lives like you around here.”

Ashley held on to Darrell tighter with a sense of pride and she adjusted. “If you must know, my boyfriend is so influential, he’s here to see the CEO of the Houston family company to seek a business partnership,” she boasted with shoulders raised high.

His eyes caught how Darrell and Ashley locked hands and he felt infuriated. How could she just throw all this away like it meant nothing? She even had the guts to rub it in his face. After all these years of dating her, he was just beginning to realize just how despicable she was as a person.

To some extent, he berated himself for failing to see the signs.

He took a deep breath and turned around, making his way into the office building without paying them any further attention. Darrell and Ashley who were still standing outside were shocked, how could he have the effrontery to waltz into the Houston office.

“Would you look at that fool, does he think just anyone can come here to beg for money?” Darrell sneered, shaking his head.

“He must think wearing a suit could automatically make people take him seriously, how simple minded of him,” Ashley said, also shaking her head. A wicked smile formed Om Darrell's face and he couldn’t wait to witness the shame that Matt would go through when security got a hold of him.

“It’s almost a shame I won’t be here when they bundle him out and throw him in the streets like the nobody that he is.”

Ashley felt second hand embarrassment for Matthew so she decided to step forward and go talk to him.

She moved faster so she could catch up with him and she grabbed his shoulder, tugging him so he could stop and turn around. His face twisted in anger because of the sudden interruption.

“Matthew, you should leave.”

He was stunned. “What?” he managed to let out after a few seconds.

“Are you deaf? I said you should leave, what in the world do you think you’re doing here?”

His nostrils flared as he exhaled. “If you must know, I came here to work, so can you stop bothering me?” he spat.

“Work?” Darrell, who had just stepped inside and had overheard their conversation, remarked. He took a few steps forward, arms folded against his chest. “What kind of work would a pauper like you do in this fine establishment?”

Matthew wanted to open his mouth and speak but he shut it when he realized that there was no need for him to try and prove himself to a man like Darrell, it wasn’t worth it. So he turned around and was about to walk away, deciding that silence was the best answer.

“You’re nothing but a car washer who isn’t even qualified to clean the toilet of the Houston family, so get lost and don’t cause a scene here.” Darrell smiled wickedly.

They were expecting Matthew to be downcast but much to their surprise, he was beaming from ear to ear, smiling triumphantly. Matthew remembered his grandmother’s words, that he was the heir to the family empire, meaning that he would become a figure of importance in the company soon.

He turned around confidently, “You said you came here because you want a business partnership?” he began.

Ashley and her boyfriend shared a confused look, unsure as to where he was going with this.

Matthew smiled, “Well, be rest assured that you won’t get the deal. The CEO of such a prestigious company surely can’t work with useless trash like you.”