The Rise Of Nicholas Hensaw

Chapter 16

Nicklaus tried to avoid Frederick because he didn't want to be delayed from getting water to his sister. He successfully entered the room where water and other refreshments were stored.

After grabbing a bottle of water, he walked out, unaware that Frederick was waiting outside the door for him.

"You think you can just walk past me? You must be delusional!" Frederick's voice echoed in his ears.

"Not now, Frederick. I'm not in the mood for your games or trouble," Nicklaus said, attempting to walk past him unsuccessfully.

"Don't think you can walk past me without paying my ten dollars! I want that money from you," Frederick said with a scowl, but Nicklaus didn't want to engage.

"Can I pay you some other time? You know I wouldn't delay if I had the money," Nicklaus said, but Frederick was unwilling to listen.

Frowning, he positioned himself directly in front of Nicklaus. "When do you plan to pay me? When you die of starvation? I know you don't even have money for food, and I'm sure you owe this hospital a fortune."

"That's none of your business, Frederick. If that's what concerns you, then I'd suggest you leave me alone. You could even pay my hospital bills yourself—I shouldn't owe someone like you ten dollars since you're supposedly successful. Ten dollars should be nothing to you!" Nicklaus replied, noticing people beginning to gather around them.

Nicklaus checked his watch—he didn't want to keep his sister waiting, and he was curious about why the Fin family had sent three men to retrieve him from the hospital.

"Why can't you just pay it? I gave you two options, remember? Either pay the money or wash my car, but you chose to go begging instead. That's what you are—a beggar!" Frederick declared.

The nurse who had mocked and harassed Nicklaus earlier approached the scene. Having been embarrassed when Dr. Stevens defended Nicklaus, she saw this as her chance for revenge.

"I heard the reporters came to interview Dr. Gabriel, not you. I'm sure Dr. Stevens made a mistake—you're not the one he meant to congratulate," she said.

Nicklaus ignored her and immediately regretted coming out of the room at this moment.

"I don't have time to argue with either of you. If you'll excuse me, unlike both of you, I have important matters to attend to," he said.

Frederick became instantly angry, furrowing his brow and clenching his fists. "What important matters? You should be planning how to wash my car because there's nothing about you worth even a dollar."

"Frederick, I never asked you to pay that money for me. You did it voluntarily," Nicklaus said with a straight face.

"That doesn't mean it was free—you have to work for it. I've left my car unwashed because I planned to pay the car wash attendant with that money," Frederick replied, and the nurse nodded in agreement.

"Yes, since he used the money to clear your debt, I think it's only fair that you wash his car as repayment," she said.

Making up his mind, Nicklaus decided to walk past them regardless of whether they allowed it.

"Frederick, I'll wash your car when it's convenient for me," Nicklaus said, pushing Frederick's hand away.

"How dare you!" Frederick yelled, following behind Nicklaus.

Nicklaus had no choice but to ignore him, walking toward his sister's room while carrying the water.

"Stop right there, Nicklaus. You think you're important now?" Frederick asked, but Nicklaus continued ignoring him—Frederick was the least of his concerns.

As Nicklaus reached the door, he placed his hand on the handle and was about to open it when Frederick stopped him, dragging him away from the door.

Nicklaus raised his eyebrows. "What's wrong with you? What is this?" he asked. Not only was he being harassed, but people were staring and judging him.

"You know what? I don't want you washing my car anymore! Just pay me back my money!" Frederick shouted.

As he was yelling, his sister's room door opened.

"Mr. Henshaw, we've been waiting for you. Is there a problem?" the man in the blue suit asked.

Nicklaus shook his head and was about to enter the room when Frederick stopped him by grabbing his arm.

"What do you think you're doing? Are you deaf? Didn't you hear me say you need to pay me before doing anything else?" Frederick demanded.

"What do you mean, sir?" the man in the blue suit intervened.

"This is none of your business. I'm talking to Nicklaus, not you," Frederick snapped.

"I owe him ten dollars for something I never asked him to pay. I was supposed to pay a taxi driver three dollars, but he intervened and paid ten dollars," Nicklaus explained, since Frederick was preventing him from moving.

"Ten dollars?" the man in blue asked to confirm.

"Yes," Nicklaus responded.

"Sir, I'm Earl, butler of the Fin family," he said.

The moment Frederick heard "Fin," he was stunned.

"What? Fin?" he asked, seeking confirmation.