Secret Affair

Bet

The fear of losing everything hit him like a tsunami. He had no clue what to do to salvage the situation because it got out of hand quicker than he expected, it suddenly felt as if the universe was working against him. He had made up his mind to visit his grandfather's mansion and talk some sense into the old man, beg him to reconsider if that is what it would take, and if that failed, he would ask to be allowed to pack his stuff from his room. He knew he would get a good price from selling most of the things. He knew how much everything was worth when he acquired them. Although he might not be able to get as much from selling them, he hoped to get a good dealer who would know what each of his things were worth and offer something close to their original prices. He hadn't used most of them more than once or twice. With the money, he could buy less expensive products, rent an apartment, and live a little comfortably for a little while until he got a corporate job or something reasonable. He had everything planned out in his head and was already making a list of things he would buy once everything was sold off. Nothing, however, prepared him for the shock he got when he opened the door to his room. It was as if no one had lived there before, everything had been cleared out, leaving the room bare. He stormed back to the lounge to confront his grandfather or ex-grandfather, in this case, to demand an explanation. But the old man was calm when reminding him that, since Ryan was no longer a member of the Alvarez family, he had no right over anything within the mansion, and when Ryan tried to argue, Richard only disagreed more and insisted that everything was procured with his money, so by right, he was technically the owner of it all. This did not sit right with Ryan, who had difficulty hiding his pain because, right now, he had nowhere to turn. This was his last option. He realized too late that he had depended too much on his grandfather's wealth and hadn't prepared for something like this, if only he could go back in time and have a do over. The past few days he had spent away was hell. He didn't believe he would last that long either. He also had so much time to think, he knew he had to supersede his grandfather's business and wash off all his humiliation, but as soon as he got into town, and saw what was being broadcast on the news, his resolve faltered. His grandfather is too powerful to be made an enemy.

His grandfather seemed to be enjoying boxing him into a corner, and what was worse, Ryan had no way to counterattack. Once again, he resolved to make his grandfather pay. The problem was how he would do that.

"I have a proposal," Richard announced, after regarding his grandson carefully. The boy seemed to have lost all will to fight for what he believed was his birthright.

"I am not interested," Ryan said angrily, getting up and ready to walk out of the house for the last time.

"I am afraid you would say that, anyway, it was nice knowing you," Richard said unfazed, leisurely drinking tea, watching the boy with interest and acting as if this wasn't an important matter. He half expected the boy would storm off like he did on his birthday. He knew how stubborn the boy could get, but until he learned some manners, Richard had no desire to back down. He would push the boy off the cliff if that is what it takes. Ryan turned around and started to walk off, but stopped after a few steps. Where was he going? All his friends wouldn't pick up his call, and those that picked were doing it to mock him. This only ascertained the might of Richard. There was no harm in listening to what the old man had to say, it was up to Ryan if he would accept or reject it.

"What was your proposal about anyway?" he asked in a small voice, but Richard heard, he set down his cup carefully and cleared his throat. Ryan couldn't believe the man before him was the same old man that always did everything he asked. There was a time when this man had doted on him unconditionally and would do anything for him, even before he asked. Now, however, the man seemed like a different person entirely.

"I thought you were not interested," Richard said in amusement, but Ryan remained quiet. There was no point arguing anything with him now. "There is a way you could get some money out of me," Richard began, and watched the boy's reaction. He was listening intently now. "The grant set up in your name for school can not be withdrawn, I hope you know that?" the old man chuckled. He seemed to know exactly what was going on in his grandson's mind, but Ryan had completely forgotten about the grant until now. It was set up against his schooling until he graduated from college. If he had thought about this earlier, maybe he could have been able to withdraw it all.

"Is that your proposal?" Ryan asked unbelievably, this was nothing new. Whatever the old man was saying did not make any sense to him.

"That's part of it. Since it has already been paid, you could go back to school and get your degree, no?" the man stopped again to note that the boy was paying rapt attention. He hadn't counted on it because Ryan had been adamant about attending college, saying he didn't know the point. But that was before he became poor. The Ryan of the present time was having a mixed reaction now. During his time away from home, a few people had ridiculed him by saying he was a college drop out and some even said he was uneducated. Of course, fights broke out, and he ended up losing his job. But he had been thinking about going back to school and the opportunity had been presented on a platter. He only had to pretend to be considering it.

"What's in it for me?" Ryan, thinking he could utilize this opportunity to fork out some cash from the stingy old man, asked eagerly.

"Oh, you are not doing me any favor here. I am sponsoring your education. You will get a degree, that's already a big price to pay for someone you don't share a relationship with, don't you agree?" said Richard gleefully. He was enjoying the conflicted look on his grandson's face. He had never known the boy to be speechless before, it seemed staying away from home was indeed a great thing after all. "Well, are you going to attend or shall I cancel it?"

"I am thinking about it, give me a minute," all the wheels in Ryan's head were turning at the same time. He thought about the things he could achieve once he graduated.

"I bet you won't be able to hold out until graduation anyway, so I might as well just cancel," Richard jeered. This annoyed Ryan more than he cared to admit. He was going to accept to go until he figured something out for himself, but now that Richard was making it seem like he was bound to fail even before he started, Ryan felt the need to prove the old man wrong.

"What if I graduate?" Ryan asked to be sure what was at stake. He knew he had nothing more to lose anyway.

"I don't think you could, you tend to look for an easy way out of every situation like a coward," Richard said without batting an eye. He was going to provoke the boy.

"But what if I graduate?" Ryan asked again.

"Well, I will give you a place to stay and a job with a steady income, I don't think you would anyway," Richard said, as if daring him.

"If I do graduate, regardless of what my grade it..." Ryan was saying, but was cut short.

"No, you will have to graduate with credits at least," Richard cut in.

"If I do indeed graduate with credits, I want the penthouse on ALZ," Ryan blurted.

"Done, not that you would anyway, so I won't be wasting money," Richard said, indirectly telling the boy he would no doubt fail anyway.

"Why are you doing this to me?" Ryan finally asked. He was getting tired of the old man's games. He hated himself, but right now, he hated his grandfather even more.

"I could ask the same of you," Richard asked, walking up to stand up close in front of the boy who had been standing since the beginning of this conversation. Ryan was still dripping wet from the rain and the old man made no effort to offer him a towel to dry himself. For a split second, a dark thought filtered through Ryan's mind. What if he killed the old man and lived quietly? But he would be the first suspect if the old man died, and he became rich overnight after the announcement that he had been disinherited from the Alvarez family wealth. It just doesn't seem right. A lot of questions would be asked. Questions like where to hide the body? How he was going to live comfortably and with a clear conscience after killing his only living family member popped up in his mind before thinking about the perfect murder weapon. Ryan was no killer, quickly disregarding the thought because, the mere thought of killing another scared him. He still hates the old man, but he doesn't hate him enough to want him dead. The thought of killing another scared him. The evil voice wouldn't go away and suggested he could kill himself instead. That way, he would stop worrying, but Ryan loved life too much to consider dying. Besides, he still has debts of grudges to settle, he can't die yet. Both of them regarded each other for a while before Ryan finally spoke, he would prove his grandfather wrong.

"Just so you know, I would not study any course of your choice," Ryan said.

"Fine, the question is. Do you have what it takes to get a degree?" Richard asked again with a broad smile.

"I guess we will have to wait to find out," Ryan said and made to leave again before his grandfather's voice stopped him.

"Are you not going to ask for details to access your grant?"

"Do I need to? Once I mention your name, it should be sorted out," Ryan said and left. He was too tired to keep arguing, and it didn't look like the old man had any intention of offering him food or a place to stay. From now on, he is on his own. Once outside the house, the sky looked gloomy, but Ryan had a purpose now, so he wasn't so sad as he was when he first arrived. The rain had stopped, but there was high humidity in the air. He was still very cold and had no idea where he was supposed to go from there, but since there was a grant in his name at the university, all he had to do was apply for a course that he had zero interest in, and pass it with credits. All he had to do was graduate. It is very crucial that he proves the old man wrong at any cost.