Chapter 6; Kimbap
2064 Words
Tim walked into the room and flicked his tongue at the sight before him. Grace was trying to feed Ryan a spoon of hot soup but the latter was trying to help himself instead.
"You're treating the young man like a kid. He can eat a bowl of soup on his own you know?" Tim said taking a seat by the sofa.
Tim took a look around the room, it was the exact way it was years ago.
Ryan didn't change anything. Not even the ridiculous painting of a hamster on the wall.
"You're just jealous that I never feed you" Grace snapped.
"Jealous? I am hale and hearty! Why would I need to be fed by you? I can eat all by myself you know" Tim defended.
"Do take care of yourself, Ryan. You had us all worried about you"
"I'm not worried," Tim said, eyeing Ryan with a hint of jealousy.
"I'm alright now. Grace" Ryan said trying to convince the old lady to let him talk to Tim alone.
"Make sure you take that warm bath okay?" She asked
"I will," Ryan said.
Grace stood on her feet and darts Tim a knowing look
"If he bothers you, let me know so I can kick his ancient butt out of the room okay dear?" Grace spoke to Ryan sweetly.
Ryan nodded and noticed Tim's dark look.
"Good night my dear" Grace placed a kiss on his forehead and was soon out of the room.
"It must feel good. Being on her good side" Tim teased.
"Uhm" Ryan admitted.
" you arrogant boy!" Tim scolded.
"Leo came to pick me up. Did you know I was in an accident?" He asked.
Leo was never sent out of the mansion unless it was security-based and besides, Leo never takes vacations.
"Someone sent me a message that you were in danger.."
"It's Eli," Ryan said without much thought. Tim nodded in approval.
Eli was the one who carried out all the dirty work for the family and had a soft spot for Ryan.
It was only reasonable that he had warned them ahead of time.
"You don't even look like you were in a near-death situation" Tim eyes Ryan suspiciously. "Are you sure you are human?" He asked.
"I got a picture of the driver and his plate number"
"That's good. Send it to Leo and let him find out who that pest is so I can break his leg and make him crippled!" Tim said with all seriousness.
"I will. I have a favour to ask".
" Ask. Anything at all"
"Queens Empire."
Tim stared at Ryan for while and massage his brows.
"The empire…. It's been a long time since she last had a CEO and the place is out of money…"
Ryan showed Tim his platinum card.
"I'll use his own money to rebuild what he ruined," Ryan said
Tim chuckled and pats Ryan for his sharpness.
"That's more like it. I'll make preparations tonight. By tomorrow, the empire is yours" Tim assured.
"Thank you"
"But the press. They might have a bit of unsettled history with the empire you see.."
"What history?" He asked
"You see, if you start Queen's empire, the name will surely call in our investors you see. The whole story of owing our staff a lot of money wasn't that good a picture and you might have to deal with that if you are to start it up again.
"I'll handle everything, Tim. I promise" Ryan said.
"It's all yours" Tim assured.
" The board of directors will be an entirely new set of people."Ryan analyzed
"I was going to mention that. Those so-called boards sold me out to the press back then!"
"You shouldn't have withheld their salaries" Ryan's honesty was one thing Tim admired about the young lad. He would never say things to get on your good side. He would rather speak the truth and be on your bad side.
"Queens had a lot of loans to pay the bank you see. I was hoping to expand the institute and gain more income" Tim sighed.
"In the end, I had to sell those properties to repay the bank. Now the queen's account is empty!" He said, with a bit of hurt in his eyes. His son had convinced the board of directors to invest in his company instead.
Robin was no son of his. He was an opponent in that line of business and he made that very clear by ruining the company that fed him and brought him this far...
"I'll send you the contact list of all my investors. A few of them owe me you know. They would gladly support the company. So don't you worry" Tim assured.
"You would need to hire some experts boy. Queen was no regular business you see"
I'll handle that"
"Of course"
"And one more thing. I'm not sure Grace is going to like this idea" Ryan said a bit sceptical.
"You want to move out? I knew you were going to say so soon enough" Tim said. He was the only one who could get into Ryan's head and figure out what he was thinking.
"I'll make her come to terms with that change so don't worry" Tim assured as he made his way out the door.
"Make sure you take that warm bath. Grace will roast me alive if she finds out you didn't" Tim said as though pleading with Ryan.
Ryan exhaled as soon as Tim stepped out of the door. He was right on track and a step closer to his plan. He had better take that bath if he doesn't want to catch a cold
****
"What?!" Grace's voice echoed in the living area as she turned her gaze towards Ryan in shock.
"Is that true? You want to live alone?" She asked holding Ryan's arm.
Her eyes were full of concern for her grandson. He had just returned from an extreme cold not long ago.
It was last night
But it still wasn't that long ago.
"Grace, I'll be fine. I promise" Ryan assured. He had his laptop bag strapped on his back and a huge blue box in his hand as he pulls it with him.
"Ryan my dear, you can stay here and monitor the empire. How do I know you wouldn't skip meals?" She asked in worry
"Stop treating him like a child. He knows when he ought to have his meals you know" Tim said glancing up from his newspaper.
"How could you be so heartless? You're sending him off without any remorse!" Grace accused.
"Can you imagine this? Am I to cry because he's leaving?" He asked innocently.
"At least try to convince him!" Grace snapped.
"He's a man now, Grace. He needs his independence you know"
"You are so despicable!" She turned to Ryan "you don't have to move out dear. I'll be at peace when I know that you are doing fine"
"All you have to do is dial his number and check up on him if you are so concerned!" Tim snapped.
Why does Grace adore Ryan more than she adores him? Her husband.
He was the one who would be left for her if the world were to come to an end!
"Ryan" Grace pleaded.
"I have to start on my own. It's only that way I can bring home a lovely lady as your daughter-in-law" Ryan persuaded, hoping his words wouldn't come back to haunt him.
Ryan noticed the resolve in her eyes and how she nodded in approval.
"Where are you moving to? The address?" Grace asked. She wasn't going to let him leave without knowing he wouldn't be sleeping under a bridge.
"I'll be fine Grace. I promise. I'll call you once I get settled okay?" Ryan placed a kiss on her cheek and soon heads out, pulling alone his box.
Grace recalled when Ryan had just walked into their lives. He was so young and good-looking too. Grace had loved him the moment she had set her eyes on him. He was more like a son to her ever since then.
Grace broke down crying.
"How am I supposed to live?" She wailed.
"My only son is going and I don't know where he's headed" she wailed even more and went as far as sitting on the floor.
"How am I supposed to know he's doing well? How do I know he's eating good food? How am I to know? How?!" Grace spoke so loud that Tim had to interfere.
"Alright! I will get you his address so would you stop wailing? It makes my heartache you know?" Tim pleaded as he approached her.
He was a slave to all of her antiques and he couldn't deny that fact.
"You would?" She asked in between her wails.
"Yes, dear. You have my word. You are the only one I want to spend my life with. Of course, I wouldn't let you hurt yourself because of something so minor" Tim said, holding his wife up.
"But he's gone." She whined again.
"He'll be back, don't worry my dear," Tim said.
"How do I know you're not lying to me?!" Grace moved away from him.
"I'm not lying" Tim assured vehemently
"If you are, you might as well keep your own company!" Grace walked out of the living room leaving Tim worried.
"Is she going to be okay?" He wondered. Grace could go as far as wailing all night just to get what she wanted and he couldn't put up with that.
It was bad for his health.
**************
Ryan found it hard to locate the address the consultant gave to him. He had checked online for houses he could get which was far away from the outskirts but a bit close to the Queen's company.
He had gotten one for a very reasonable price and that wasn't that bad too. It wasn't like the huge hall for a living room kind of house that he was used to but a building that was of good standards for a single guy like him.
According to the pictures he saw on the website.
He wasn't that bothered about finding his way if he wasn't in a car.
Tim insisted Ryan took one of the cars in the garage with him or else Grace would have more reasons to fall ill and never talk to him again.
Grace knew how to use her threats and she meant every word of it.
Ryan didn't have a choice; he never knew Leo's sleek USV would become his overnight.
Another relief he had was that he had paid up the bill for the house for a year and six months.
He had nothing to worry about and he had all his resources and money ploughed into the company.
Ryan glanced at the address on his phone screen again and soon realise he was closer to his destination. He sights a man dressed in a blazer and a pair of shorts waving at him; it was the consultant.
Ryan stared at him with disbelief. HE was the Consultant?
He pulled a stop right in front of the gate and got out of the car.
"Mister Ryan?" He asked with a cheesy smile on his face.
"Yes," Ryan replied.
"Good day sir!" the man bowed his head so low that Ryan wondered if he had any bones at all.
"My name is Kimbap. Like the Korean meal Kimbap?" The man said hoping Ryan got what he meant but Ryan stared at him without any reaction.
"It's because I love it so much. This is your house, sir!" Kimbap. pushed a remote control and the gates swing open gently
"Not bad isn't it?" Kimpab said smiling
"The keys," Ryan asked.
"Oh, it's right here" Kimpab pulled out a bunch of keys from his pocket and handed them over to Ryan.
Ryan stared at the rag doll for a key holder. It was old and dirty too.
"Ah, I placed that there so I wouldn't misplace the keys," Kim said laughing nervously.
Ryan yanked it out, frightening Kimpab.. He handed the doll to Kim and collects the remote for the gates.
"I'll take it from here"
Ryan returned to his car and drove into the sufficient parking space.
It suited his taste well. Small and convenient.
- Writer
