Ryder's Plaything

Author’ POV Middle-aged Marie Santos had a long day. Going about the city trying to conclude the business deal Greg Santos was working on, before his third and most fatal heart attack. The Santos family doctor did warn him to take it easy running all twenty of his construction companies scattered across the country all by himself. But her Greg was a stubborn man and would never let anyone, doctor or not tell him what to do. So when the doctor rambled on and on telling them the Dos and Don'ts that must be strictly adhered to, she saw the subtle scowl on her husband’s face. She could almost guess what he was thinking ‘I need to get to the office before the new products come in’. She smiled painfully, when he winced in his seat from the intense pain striking his weakening heart. It was this same stubbornness that made her love him even, many years ago when they first met. Severally, she turned down going on a date with him and several times more he asked her out on a date. Until she gave in. The same stubbornness Ryder inherited from him. So when the doctor was done grilling them. She knew she had to help Greg to help himself. Gently, she encouraged him to train his young employees that showed grit, zeal with much leadership potentials and entrust them to spearhead the various branches of the Santos Engineering Incorporated. One branch turned to three, and ever since the increase has been sure and steady. And Greg her husband is still alive and breathing. ‘The power of a woman, she would say to herself in the mirror. Controlling a man who detested being controlled’. That was after his first heart attack anyway. Ever since then, to tame his drive to work and work, she used what he treasured most on the face of the earth. To call him to order. Ten year old Ryder had just returned from his private boarding school for the summer holidays and was riding his bike round the driveway of their mansion. Even now, when she closes her eyes sometimes, she could still see how the whole episode played out that fateful day. Greg was seated in his home office which was directly facing the driveway, the polished oak floor to ceiling windows were open to let in some fresh air into the study. Seated behind his huge mahogany desk, her husband was so consumed in his work that he did not hear or see her come in with a cup of hot brewing coffee in hand, to replace the one he had left in the tea cup that had become cold and stale. Then she put her hands gently on his shoulder and almost in a whisper said into his ears. ‘’If you want to see your son take over all you've worked hard for when he is twenty-five, i suggest you stop working so much’’. It was all she said that day and left him his steaming hot coffee on his desk and walked out. Greg Santos was no fool. He knew the woman he married, she was never one to do or say anything if it was not absolutely necessary to be done or said. Above all, he knew she loved her family and would literally do anything to save him and their only son. So, he reluctantly but strategically let go of the day to day running of his chain of construction companies to his young, ambitious and trusted managers. Even though he tightly held the reins of power throughout the entire companies. Bidding his time as the CEO until his son is ready to take over when he turns twenty-five. He made sure his son Ryder Rafael Dos Santos gets the best possible education available. He made sure he was enrolled in the best private boarding schools to groom him properly into the man he ought to be. Marie was glad her husband was listening to her, though she never suggested any business proposition or dictate her plans to him directly. It was always at night. In the bed, when the lights were out and his eyelids heavy with sleep. She would whisper into his ears. Tonight she was tired. But it was absolutely worth every stress she faced today. Looking at it closely though, she didn't have a choice because her husband threatened to attend the contract briefing with the company's new partners himself. Bad heart or not, she didn't want to take a chance with him anyway. So she had to attend the meeting herself. Greg insisted he wanted a family member present, so she went. Even though she was fatigued and tired from her busy day. She still made out time to seat with her husband by the fireplace and recounted every single thing that happened in the office. Then one talk led to another deep into the night, the House keeper had to come down a dozen times to remind both husband and wife of dinner and medication. However, after several pleas and cajoling a grunting Greg Santos was led into his now customized bedroom for a light dinner in bed and his pills. Now alone in the quiet kitchen, Marie decides to pour herself a glass of champagne to relax her nerves before she retires to bed. Also, a glass of champagne puts her in the right mood and helps her to think clearly. Away from the noise and chatters of the day, the night puts her at ease. The chirping insects mingled with the loud choruses of the bullfrogs in the swamp at the back of the mansion. Two and a half glasses later, a satisfied and a little bit tipsy Marie made her way to the Masters bedroom for a hot bath. It was way past midnight before her shower ended. Her room is flooded by the moonlight shining through the floor length glass window that opens unto the balcony. Her spirit is high and she feels like a teenageer in love for the first time. She goes out through the window and stands at the balcony, overlooking the vast Santos land. Her heart is filled with gratitude for all that her little family did have. Holding her heavy robe tight against her body to keep herself warm while enjoying the smooth caress of the wind upon her face. A reflection from a moving object in the garden directly below her window catches her attention. A white squirming bundle was the source of which the reflection came from. A closer look and she couldn't believe what she saw. Oops! A baby by the vegetables.