The Masked Son-In-Law

The heat was unbearable. . .

Dylan felt a bead of sweat slowly dripping down his neck and sacrificed itself through the cotton confine of his already damp polo shirt. He strategically fanned a piece of paper at his face looking up at the clustered sky, the last thing he wanted was for rain to fall, his whole body seemed to be melting.

Hours later wind whistled across the city, the sky screamed of darkness and thunder rant aloud. Shortly after the water starts to dribble, Dylan rushed into Crescent's company, his hand covering his head, drenched in rain he hung his cloak on the rack and stepped forward to the lobby. His eyes scanned around.

"I told you, Francis, didn't I tell you it was Dylan I saw." A voice teased.

Francis gives Wayne a silly look and set down his glass on the table by his left. "You're the new janitor?" The ladies laughed, handing the mopping stick and bucket to him.

Dylan gives the familiar woman a bitter look while he hung his head at the menacing look of his in-laws. "Stop it, Sarah, everyone knows Dylan couldn't make it to the finals that's why he is there like that. It's not his fault, is it?" Wayne croaked.

"Get to work! Your head should be hung low instead of the glare!" Dylan glances at the other woman, Sarah. Reluctantly Dylan moved to the side, he soaked the mop, his right hand running through his hair dribbling it backwards.

"Don't stand there, start with the cleaning," Wayne warned. "Or we will never get to breathe with your sight."

"Isn't he your brother-in-law?" Sarah said.

Francis grinned with disgust. "I'd get mad at you Sarah, but you're right."

Dylan married into the Bush family. The Bush family were exceptionally rich and was part of the consortium along with the other five prestigious families of Stone Hill, Sarah crept her way to become Wayne's friend although she proved more annoying, as Dylan's childhood friend.

Dylan looked at Sarah as she blinked at him with hate, images rushed in. Dylan still couldn't get over how she shut him out completely and warned him that he should not try to bring their bond up again. The past was in the past.

Dylan looked around. “Okay, I’m overwhelmed by the sheer amount of stuff in this room, so I’m going to need detailed instructions.''

"Janitors don't need instructions, do they? You're lucky to be here. Get moping, stick your tongue to the roof of your mouth while we save our time and take in a fresh breath."

"Sarah," Dylan called.

"Shut the fuck up." She warned, exchanging her legs. "Don't you dare call me! Add some respect, should you! I mean. Look at you, how could you be a janitor?" She hissed. "You could have been something better but you're good for nothing."

Sarah slowly detaches herself from the faux leather couch she sat on and makes her way with the glass of wine in her hand through to Dylan.

Dylan's eyes squealed, screaming in shock suddenly as the water washed down his body, his head was soaked in water and his white polo shirt turned to wine, he looks humiliated.

He closed his eyes trying to imagine he was standing under the shower, his teeth gnashed together. The cold feel against his skin comforted him but today he would not have given an arm for this humiliation.

"S- Sarah." Wayne's friend called from the seat, and her shocked expression turned into a genuine smile. "That bastard deserves nothing better."

A faint smile broke between Francis and Wayne as they stared at each other with smug witt and then focused on Dylan that was soaked in filth, Dylan frowned at the cocky smirk they were giving him.

"Where is the cleaner?" Francis asked to change the subject with a mocking smirk.

"He's standing before you." They laughed.

"Oh, I forgot. But don't worry brother in law

Before anyone else could interrupt. Wayne rigs the notice and then she comes running down with another set of mop and bucket.

"I don't understand why you are like this. Dylan is a clown and deserves no respect. He's married into your family instead of placing him at the low level he deserves you're still being nice to him."

"Don't laugh at him, it's not easy to be good for nothing."

"He thinks it's a job already."

Dylan slowly turned around the head to the door, his old shoe wet with the water made a mocking sound when their distasteful glare met Dylan's calm eyes, Wayne suddenly shouts causing the room to growl in her voice.

"It's over for you! You have no place here anymore, I dare you to step out of the door."

Narrowing his eyes, Dylan stood on his track. He had to think it through, he was barely surviving and for him to be able to get this job, he could recall the pain, mocking and hurdles he stuffed through.

"At least I should get cleaned," Dylan said. "I reek, you wouldn't want to get infected." He turn to Sarah, she hissed and continue pressing her phone.

Taking the silence from Wayne as an answer Dylan turned on his heels and walked down the office hallway when he bumped his shoulder with a slender-looking man who gave him a condescending side eye before walking in another direction.

Dylan slammed the towel in his hand against the toilet mirror and clenched the faucet, water flushed and the only sound he could hear was the teasing hum of the humiliation.

"Darn it!'' he screams. His hand rubbed through his face downward, his arms were in a strong grip on the table, and beside him on his right was another shirt to change into since he will be taking the other one to the dry cleaner. He was the janitor but his works were hundred times more humiliating than anyone without qualification.

"Dylan, you need to be home right now, Mother has gotten another arrest. It's serious."

Dylan scanned the message and gave a pale look at his phone and tightened his grip around it, knowing how critical things are at work and that he needs his salary before next week he couldn't go away without permission.

"He also helps in my house with house chores. That is how I got to know he can't trim the garden, he is pathetic and useless anyway, other than entertainment he's sure to fit for nothing." Francis picks a glass from the table

"I get annoyed anytime he comes asking for advances." Wayne waved her hands in the air. "Like he's the only one that has family issues. I have a daddy issue. I don't let that get to me." She rolls her eyes.

"The office reeks, father . . ."It hits Wayne, she is the firstborn of the Bush family and as an acting chairperson helped to get Dylan a chance at her place.

"Wayne, I thought your father is abroad settling the bills and doesn't bother what you do."

"Yes but an important person will be down here, I can't afford to let this cheap perfume infect the air." She growled, sticking her hand into her designer's bag, Wendy bringing out a signature perfume.

Startled by that word Dylan shoved his hand into his pocket and turned around deciding to get fresh air on the balcony.

"You're having a wonderful view of the city I see."

Dylan's attention was swung back to the moment by the throaty sound of the man's voice.

"Yes sir." He replied curtly. Visitors like the man; with grey hair and in his Armani handmade suit, one could just by the embodiment he was either the head of the consortium or someone important. Dylan knew fully well that things might get tanky once they spot him the man sighed and turned to leave.

"That is quite hysterical."

"I should get going, sir." Dylan sat on his feet from the balcony with his heart bouncing against his chest, he was careful with the door to not be caught by the man.

"Come to my suite later today down the hall, I have something particularly for you, rag boy." Dylan stops on his track, his hand balling into a fist by his side.

"I have no business with you rich beasts."

"Beasts? How ironic, everyone has a demon, Dylan Carter." The old man's eyes fly to his hand. "It's only something holding you back. So much anger in you yet you take in the poison." He clicked his tongue. "We will meet later in the day." He said confidently.

The man pulled his wheelchair towards the door, his hands dipped into the pocket and he brought out a card, and dropped it on the table.

Dylan's eyes shoot up, he's worked in his in-law company and no one had treated him the way this man had.

He couldn't tell whether this was a mixed signal. Before his mind could chatter the whole situation his phone chimed, Dylan was reminded of the hell hole he was stuck in, he grabbed the office card and ran as fast as his leg could carry him.

"Hey! There is no room to disturb another patient like that!" A nurse said.

"We're sorry Ma'am."

"Save your sorry. Don't stay like this all day, after all, you can't afford the treatment just get out of the hospital and go to some quacks. Arrggh." The nurse rolled her eyes at Katie.

Katie is Dylan's sister and she rushed their mother to the hospital the instant the pain got worse.

"Please nurse, my brother will soon be here." She looked at their itching mother, the pain latching out of the right side of her stomach. "She's suffering if you'd be nice enough to give her something for the pain."

The nurse crinkle her nose and then mocked Katie. "I wouldn't do that! Eventually, people like you rob us off, when she's dead take her home, somehow I figure from your looks you can't afford a proper burial."

"Enough!" The nurse spun around. "You're a health worker and you wish death upon a patient?"

"Patients that keep disturbing everyone in my ward should get at least that as a pain relieve." The nurse's eyes rolled and scanned Dylan. "And who are you? Same pedigree in this sophisticated hospital." She chuckle and glanced at her co-worker.

"Get her treated." Dylan's hand jerked the nurse's collar.

"No bills, no treatment, it's the rule." Immediately a VIP patient arrived the nurse dropped everything and rushed with all the doctors to tend to him.

Between gritted teeth, Dylan let out. "It's your duty, what fucking rule is there to watch someone die?!"

Dylan pulled the ward door open, he rushed back to his sister seated by his mother. "Dylan, what kept you!"

He glanced around and flexed his arm on the bed. "What is wrong with her that the doctor said?" He lowered his voice, his red furious eyes on the woman struggling on the bed.

"It's acute appendix. If the operation is not done today or tomorrow she won't make it." Katie glances down at their resting mother. Dylan gnashed his teeth hard so that his jaws might break.

"There must be another way," Dylan muttered.

"What other way? We can't leave the mother to die like this. . ." Katie stuttered and tears run down her face.

"I will find a way." He wipe his hand across his sister's face and rushed to the door.

He glanced back at Bethel Hospital with displeasure and then dip his hand into his pocket, realizing something he rushed to the company.

"We have Dylan fired, I saw him begging every person that came here today, he's rotten. What use is a portion of rotten food."

"We can't fire him and you know why," she glanced at Francis.

"Even so, Natalie is ashamed of him, she insisted he works, we let that big for nothing to work in Castle because we find it funny to humiliate him and Natalie. She can't speak up in family crucial matters all because she has the insult like him following her like a thunderstorm."

"I refuse, he insulted me and also my clients," Dylan came out and entered the room, to the core of his bone he figured they were not up to anything good.

"I want my salary in advance." He said dryly.

"You've completely become shameless I figured. Dylan back to the pit where you belong! You're fired." Tessa voiced out with hatred.

"What are you waiting for?" She asked. Dylan folds his hand around the card. "Beg until you bleed, there is no second chance for you yhw family is done with. I will inform Natalie that she's been free of your leash, Parasite!"

"Don't bring my wife into this!" He warned.

"Who then? Can't believe there is some bile in you." She draws closer to him. Her finger snapped to the door. "Get out! Piece of stale bread."

Dylan looked down his heart dark and his mind racing hard, if he doesn't get the money for their mother's treatment then he's done, and he won't forgive himself, his hand rubbed his head, then he opened his eyes when something bigger in his head, he's left with one option.

Dylan turned to look around the large suite but the breeze shot reality down his spine that he was not alone there.

"I know you wouldn't miss a chance like this."

"I'm not here for any dramatics, I need your help as you said."

"And I will give you." The old man walked out of the shadow.

Dylan craned his neck, so this man was going to be his angel and help him with the money for his mother's treatment.

The old man cleared his throat. "Become my son, you already know who I am Dylan. I am the head of the consortium, Dorogo Lennox."

Dylan, hit by a rock, made a quick turn around, to his left behind the rock-style table stood an old man. He was really Dorogo, the wealthiest man in the whole of Vegas, he can't believe his ears. He gulped hard but the man continued.

"There is something I want you to do for me once you agree to be my son." Dylan blinked and the bright spotlight dimmed off, his hand traced along the wall, he wasn't sure if he was safe in this strange place or if he was in another mess he had no slightest idea.