The Uncanny Archer Williams: New Money Era

CHAPTER EIGHT

A few minutes passed between the arranged couple. Archer was silent, contemplating about a good conversation starter. He was impressed with her but he didn’t seem to know much about her, apart from the fact that she was the daughter of the Lord of Keringham.

Following his experience with his ex wife and her family, he wanted to know about her family too, but the awkwardness between them stopped him from speaking. He was in fact waiting for Tangie to at least say something.

“Hm hm” he cleared his throat softly. Tangie sat up, staring at him.

“Uh…” she started.

“I don’t know if this is too early, but…” she paused.

Even though she was a confident, rich woman, and Archer was dressed in shabby clothing, something in her just felt submissive to him. He had the kind of personality that seemed to intimidate her, and more so, the fact that she was feeling something for him. She nervously began to fiddle with her fingers, smiling shyly.

 

“But…?” Archer nudged her on, sensing her hesitation.

 

“But, we can’t sit here forever…” she blurted out, smiling wryly, “I know you just came out of prison so you may not have a place to stay…”

 

Oh, if she knew that he was richer than anyone she ever knew joined together, maybe she wouldn’t have said anything. Archer had a mansion waiting for him at the White Plains- a massive estate area he inherited from Master Wood. How could he not have where to stay? But Archer nodded, and smiled wryly.

 

“So… would you like to go home with me?” Tangie asked shyly. “Let’s go home, you can meet my family, my father…”

 

“Family” Archer sighed quietly, hoping the Sullivans were nothing like the Austins. For some reason, he felt nervous about meeting the Sullivans, Master Wood had taught him that the first impression mattered in everything. He looked around himself and he was dressed in poor clothes, he would appear in the house of the Lord, looking shabby.

 

“You’ve already been announced as my fiancé, I don’t think you can escape it now.” Tangie explained, sensing his reluctance.

 

His Master’s voice, “…the Sullivans are your new family!” echoed in his head and he quickly reconsidered his reluctance.

“Let’s do it…” he said, after all he was divorced, he didn’t see why not. Besides, his Master’s orders were the most important thing for him now.

“Are you ready?” Tangie asked.

 

Archer smiled softly, “sure.”

 

 

The ride to the Manor of the Keringham Lord was a long ride from the cafeteria where Tangie had found him, and he was surprised, remembering that she said it was her investigations that led her to him.

“This is a long way from home” he finally commented.

 

“We are almost there” Tangie replied, smiling sheepishly. Just as she finished her sentence, Archer looked up and a massive gate appeared before him. Their convoy stopped outside the gate and the gate glided open on its own.

The convoy drove in and Archer was awed by the beauty of the place Tangie called home. It was not like any of the new buildings in Utah. This building had a vintage castle aura to it, it was a proper castle, manned and decorated with nature and fountains in the right places.

 

“I hope you find the place comfortable” Tangie said.

 

Archer nodded, concealing his nervousness.

Together, they walked towards the main building and were immediately stopped by the sight of an event happening in the lobby. The Sullivan family were gathered at a long rectangle table, with a man that looked like a King sitting at the head.

“That’s my grandfather up there…” Tangie whispered, “he’s the lord of Keringham.”

“The old man enjoys hosting parties… I’m guessing this is one of his reunions!” Tangie teased as she spoke to Archer.

 

She stepped into the hall where everyone could see her and her grandfather, Lord Sullivan immediately noticed the man beside her. He broke into a hearty laughter, cheering them on,

“Look who we have here!” Lord Sullivan exclaimed. He didn’t care about Archer’s clothes, he only trusted Master Wood’s recommendation for him. If Master Wood had given up a good payment in exchange for this man to marry his granddaughter, then there must be something about him.

“Join us!” The Lord said, “please sit down…”

But not everybody shared in the Lord’s excitement. Tangie’s parents were brewing in anger at the appearance of their daughter’s supposed fiancé. They were expecting that Tangie’s fiancé would be one of the wealthiest top tier families, after all they were the Sullivans.

 

“Why is he dressed like that?!” Tangie’s mother, Mrs Matthew Sullivan whispered to her husband, and the man gave Archer a stern stare, glaring at him in a demeaning manner.

“He can’t be rich and still be in those clothes… I’m disappointed and disgusted” Tangie’s mother continued.

Even though she was whispering, her voice was audible enough for the people sitting next to her. They soon began to look down on Archer, sneering secretly at him.

 

Archer began to feel uncomfortable with their eyes on him, but he remained composed, focusing only on his Master’s words, “remain calm in all situation, that’s how you take control.”

“What do you do, Young man?” Mr Matthew asked, hoping that he could save face with his profession even if he wasn’t well dressed.

 

Archer hesitated for a while, and a strange feeling of awkwardness overcame him. Saying he just came out of prison would be a total damage to his image and that of Master Wood, so he remained quiet, thinking carefully of what to say. Tangie nudged him gently, smiling softly, even though she was nervous too because she knew the truth.

 

“I’m unemployed for now, sir” Archer replied.

 

Before he could finish the statement, the gathered family bursted into laughter, laughing at his words.

“Unemployed?” Someone said,

“He means he is jobless” another one explained.

All these only made Mr and Mrs Mathew Sullivan furious and embarrassed.

“Why must my Tangie marry such a man?!” Mrs Mathew blurted out angrily, her voice was quivering with disapproval.

“He looks nothing like the standard for my daughter, how can I let her marry such a loser?!”

 

The Lord Sullivan frowned at Mrs Mathew and shook his head in disapproval of her words.

“Appearance isn’t everything, Margaret!” Lord Sullivan bellowed.

“He may not look like the best choice for Tangie, but he is the very best. Give it time, you’ll get to understand.”

 

Tangie smiled satisfactorily, she was grateful that her grandfather stood up for Archer.

 

“Tangie dear” Lord Sullivan called,

“Pour him a drink so we can get on with the Reunion.”

Tangie did as she was told and her parents had no other option but to swallow their opinions.

The Family Reunion continued, and important topics were raised at the table. Archer was surprised that a family reunion included such important business decisions, but he was impressed. He remained quiet and listened attentively to the discussion with interest.

 

“We must make the decision to either go with Sterling Group or Brian Foundation.”

“An alliance with The Sterling Group will take us to a new level, if we can collaborate with them then, we will be known internationally.” Lord Sullivan proposed,

“But the Brian Foundation is also as prestigious as Sterling Group. If we go with the Brian Foundation, we will be endearing the hearts of citizens to us.” Mr Matthew Sullivan argued.

 

“The Sterling Group would be the best choice…” Archer contributed,

The table went quiet instantly, and everyone turned to him. Archer moved to explain why he had suggested The Sterling Group, but before he could say anything. The silence in the hall was broken with gossips and mockery.

“What does he know?” Some people said, chuckling dryly.

“He’s probably just going with Grandpa because he likes him…” Tangie’s cousin sneered.

 

Archer kept quiet and turned to Tangie, and she gave him a pleading look, “please don’t say anything else” she whispered, “you don’t know these things…”

 

“Ooooh?!!!” Someone at the table shouted, calling everyone’s attention to him.

“What is it, Uncle Bernard?” Tangie asked,

 

Bernard turned the phone screen for everyone to see before saying,

 

“Sterling Group is launching a CURE for ASTHMA!”