The Rise of Arthur Ryan

"Ryan"!! Barbara Walter screamed out. Ryan ran from the kitchen to answer his mother in law's call in the dinning room who was seated with all the family members.

"Yes ma'am" he responded looking facing his head down.

"How many times have I warned you not to put extra cheese in my spaghetti?" Barbara, his mother in law yelled out.

"Uh.. I'm... I didn't put extra put extra cheese on your plate ma'am, there must be a mistake somewhere." Ryan tried to peep to the plate.

"So are you trying to say I'm lying or something? are you out of your mind? Have you suddenly gone nuts?" Barbara asked, still screaming.

"That's okay mum, maybe Ryan made a mistake, but you don't hate cheese that bad so I guess you could still manage it." Kayla, Ryan wife chipped in.

Barbara gave Ryan a deadly stare, eyeing his manly structure from the top of his head to the sole of his feet.

"You're lucky your wife saved you, I would have given you a severe punishment." She said.

"I'm so sorry ma, it won't repeat itself again." Ryan responded, packing up the used dishes.

"Uh.. you good for nothing brother in law, take this plate out of here and get me cake for dessert, a glass of cranberry juice and a steak." Caleb called out just as Ryan was about to leave.

Ryan's anger growing. Who does he think he is to talk to me and order me around like a slave boy?

"Okay Caleb but there isn't any raw meet for the steak." Ryan took a deep breath and said.

"What has that got to do with me? Go get some from the local supermarket or do I need to tell you everything?" Caleb stood up angrily.

Walking towards Ryan, Caleb continued. "You've been getting on my nerves these few days and I won't be afraid to lash out on you if you become unbearable, get out of this house and go get me my steak!"

"With all due respect, you cannot speak to me in such manner, I'm your brother in law not your..."

Tah! Tah!! Tah!!

Caleb slapped Ryan before he could finish talking.

Without saying a word,Ryan gave Kayla a serious and disappointing look and stormed out of the house.

"Look, you all need to be more calm on Ryan, I know he's poor and all but that doesn't dispute the fact that he's still my husband." Kayla cleared her throat to say.

"What stupid husband, I ask you Kayla, what husband." Barbara mockingly asked

"You've been married to that loser for four years and there is nothing to show for it." Cedric, Kayla's dad pointed out.

"No child." Caleb chipped "He doesn't have a job either." Veekee, Caleb's wife added "Look it's high time you start getting serious with Marvin Bryce. I mean, look at him. He's everything a woman like you would love to be with. He's ambitious, good looking, responsible... I can't start mentioning all these good qualities but just look at him." Barbara said.

"See, mum and the rest of you all seated. Marvin is just a friend, there's nothing serious between the both of us and speaking of children, my husband and I don't have any problem with the fact that we've been married for four years without a child." Kayla said and left the table before anyone could say anything again.

**********

Outside the Walter mansion, Ryan was going to and fro the street. The markets don't open on Sunday and Caleb knew that. Ryan found a lonely side of the street and picked up his phone to call his best friend, Eugene. In less than two rings, he picked the call.

"The best lover of all time." Eugene said excitedly and laughed.

"Oh please spare me the tease."

"This ain't no tease young man, you're a real lover because if you aren't, you wouldn't leave your luxurious lifestyle for a lower one for someone who doesn't really love you." Eugene said, still laughing.

"She does! Kayla loves me!" Ryan immediately said.

"Look, enough of all these love these and that. How's the company, how's it going over there." He added.

"Well, if you may know, the company is doing very well In fact the brand ambassador of Tom Ford came to the company two days ago and ranked us best in styling and modeling, for the fourth time in a row." Eugene spilled.

"Hmm, that's impressive. My dad's really handling his company well. Speaking of my dad... how's he doing? I haven't been able to reach him for a while." Ryan asked.

"Oh he's fine but... he has health issues. He assured us he'll be fine and it's just the normal thing that comes with old age."

"Okay tell him I called and I also asked of him."

"Alright young master."

"Also, I need a favour from you."

"Anything for you young master." Ryan didn't like it when Eugene called him young master because he's his best friend and he didn't want their non business conversations to be formal.

"I've told you severally don't call me...."

"Young master." Eugene completed with a long laugh.

"F*ck you. What I wanted to say was... my anniversary is in two days time and I want to finally tell my wife who I really am."

"It's about time! I wonder why you didn't do that a long time ago." Eugene said happily.

"Shut up!" Ryan immediately stopped him and Eugene laughed.

"The Walter family have insulted me enough and I feel Kayla has been loyal since the first day we met so I want to give her a big surprise for our anniversary this year." Ryan continued.

"There's something I need you to do for me." Ryan said.

"What's that." Eugene asked, curious.

"I need you to go to the best jewelry makers in Nexarville and craft a pink ring with taafeite stone."

"Holy moly! That's so f*cking expensive man. They cost not less than thirty five thousand f*cking dollars carat per gemstone." Eugene screamed out.

"Don't scream in my ears young man, I know how much they cost and in fact I'll be needing two rings of the exact kind."

"Who am I to stop the son and co owner of the biggest fashion company in the whole of Nexarville and neighboring states. Your wish is my command best friend."

"Yh.. sure when everything is done let me know so I'll settle the bills. I have to go now, the Walter family will be wondering where I've been."

"Bye slave boy." Eugene laughed before ending the call.

'I can't wait to reveal myself to this family and prove them wrong. Kayla.. I really love Kayla but recently she's been acting strange. She no longer sleeps on bed with me. She doesn't even feel bad for the way her family members mock me. I hope this reveal would change everything between us and rekindle our love'

Beep beep beep.

Ryan's phone rang, interrupting his thoughts.

"You son of a bitch! Where have you been? Where's my steak? The whole family has been waiting for you to do the dishes and make dinner." Ofcourse, it was his arrogant and annoying brother in law, Caleb.

"I'll be home soon." Ryan responded with a nonchalant attitude as he proceeded to walk home.