The Son-in-law they never wanted

Asher

*** *** ***

"You should drop by the hospital today." Alina said, drinking a cup of coffee as she prepared for work.

She is working as a manager in one of her grandfather's company and under her rule, it flourished more than everyone's.

"The hospital?" Ryan raised an eyebrow, still in his sleeping robe, "Why?"

 "Because it is your responsibility, especially as Grandma Joan is your patient."

  "No, she's not my patient. I only helped with the little knowledge I had."

"And because it is your job as a son in law." Alina continued, as if Ryan did not just talk.

"You know how much she doesn't want to see me."

Alina smacked her lips together, making her lip stick even, "That never stopped you."

"Yes, but..."

"No butss.... Also, stop by the market and get fruits for grannie."

"I don't have money with me."

"I left some money on the dressing table in our room."

"Does that mean I can move back to the room now?" Ryan asks.

Alina glares at him in response and walks out instead. "Bye." She added by the door before slamming it shut.

 Ryan walks back to their room, true to her words, she left some money on the dressing table, including a transport card, meaning she has recharged it.

  After finished the house chores and cooking himself a meal, he made a mental note to cook one of her favorites when he comes back. Grabbing the money, he left the house and head to the hospital.

"Hello Grandma Joan." He said stoically.

 Grandma Joan glanced at him, staring him down, just like always, he looked unkempt.

"What are you doing here?" She fired, "Your wife isn't here?"

"I'm glad to see you are fine. I just dropped by to say hello." Ryan continued, dropping the fresh fruits by her table stand.

"Are you?" Grandma Joan glared at him, "If you think I am going to thank you for saving my life, you must be mistaken."

Ryan kept a straight face, he wasn't expecting her to appreciate him infact if she had, he would have requested her mental health was checked.

"You should be discharged today." He tells her.

"You are not my doctor." She fired at him, angry he is not reacting in anyway or showing some kind of emotion.

The ward opened allowing Aunt Sasha in, "Reannd?? What are you doing here alone with Grandma Joan."

"If that's all, I'll be on my way now." Ryan dipped his head a little, backing out of the hospital.

"Why were you here in the first place?" Sasha yelled, "if anything happens to my grandma you will be held responsible!!"

Ryan ignores their rants and left the room, walking out of the hospital.

He took the bus, heading to the next destination in his mind..

When he got to the cemetery, he noticed someone standing by his parent's grave. He checked his wristwatch first, it wasn't time yet, then who was it by his parent's grave.

He contemplated going ahead or not, it could be one of the family members but neither of them have visited since the day his parents were buried.

   Improvising, Ryan paid a cemetery cleaner to exchange clothes with him then he walked up to his parents grave, holding a sweeper and parker.

  "Hi.." he greeted the person, noticing it was someone in his early twenties, probably 24 at most. The person had a neat suit one and looked like he was sincerely paying respects to his parents' grave, that made him frown inwardly.

"Who are you?" He wanted to ask bit instead, he did as if he wanted to clean the spotless grave.

"Family of the deceased?" He asked instead.

"Not, not really." The person answered in a silky voice.

From his voice, Ryan deduced it was someone from a rich family or probably self made rich.

  "Who are you then?" Ryan asks a little too tightly.

 "I'm sorry, is there a problem?" The guy asked with a frown plastered on his face.

"No... But I was anyone who is not family shouldn't be allowed near the grave." Ryan snaps.

",Oh.... I was asked to meet someone here, my boss, as soon as he is here, I'll be on my way." The person replied and took out his phone, sending a text to his boss.

 Ryan phone beeped that instant.

 They both exchanged eye glance as Ryan brought out his phone.

 "Asher??" Ryan asks, his voice had little bit of surprise underlying it.

"Boss!!" Asher grinned, bowing his head a little, "I didn't recognize you. It's been really long. Why are you in a cleaner's uniform?"

"You came early." Ryan stated.

"You hate unpunctuality."

"There's a coffee shop around, let's go there and talk." Ryan told him, "We should be careful."

 "After you Boss." Asher grinned, weirdly happy to his boss.

After his parents' death, Ryan had vanished into thin air, leaving almost everything in Asher's care and asking him to also keep a low profile running the company.

They had barely spoke to each other so he was really surprised when Ryan had called him out of the blues and asked him to meet up.

He mentally berated himself for not recognizing Ryan on time.

 "How have you been doing sir?"

"Successfully pretending on to exist."

"You look lean than usual." Asher noted, "your muscles are the only thing about you now. Sorry but you really look like a crazy and poor stricken man."

"I didn't call you to take note of my features."

"Sorry sir."

"How's the family coming up, any suspicious activity?"

"No, they are still trying to find ways to take over the company and a loophole in your parents will."

"Three years later and they are still on that?" Ryan chuckled, "Don't they ever give up?"

Three years ago, after his parents' death, everyone in the family had want to claim his parents' wealth for themselves what they didn't know was that everything was willed to him and although, they had claimed Ryan dead, the judge and said until Ryan's dead body was found, no one can have access to anything.

 "What's next now boss? Any plan? I am sure you must have a reason for calling me out after years."

"It's time for us to make our move. You should be ready to meet anywhere and next time, can you come in more casual clothes?" Ryan commented, eyeing the clearly expensive tailored suit on Asher's body.

"I just... Sure, of course boss."

 "Good."

"But I don't have to necessary look similar to you right?" Asher queried, showing his distaste obviously.

Ryan ignores his question, "Here is your first job, change the name of the company of everything from Galvani to Novalni and stop the low profile on your part."

Asher frowned, "Are you not ready to let them know you are alive?"

"No... Not yet time. Continue being the face for me."

"Ohh... Okay... Is that all?" Asher asks standing up, "people are staring at us.

"I need everything you can get on Alex Morbian, the commissioner's son."

Asher nods, "Okay sir." He answered and turned to leave.

 "Asher?" Ryan called, just as he got to the door.

Asher turned and noticed Ryan stretching his palms to him.

He stared at Ryan, confusedly. "I'm sorry, I don't understand."

"I need some cash!"

Asher eyes widened then stared at Ryan sympathetically, he must really be suffering, imagine him asking for money.

He removed his wallet and gave it to Ryan.

Ryan clutched his hands in the process, gripping it tightly, "The next time you look at me that way, it'll be the end of you."