Slade to Herondale: A Son-in-law's Rise to Power

Allen Slade was engrossed in his phone, his fingers flickering up and down the screen when his mother-in-law stormed in unannounced, and he flinched.

"Why is the house so unclean!" she screamed in disgust like a lion ready to pounce on its prey. She was never satisfied with his cleaning whenever she came for visits.

Ever since Allen lost his job two weeks after his wedding, he has been at the mercy of his wife Katherine and her family, depending on them for survival.

"Are you deaf?!" She screamed louder this time, her ruffled breath easily heard.

His eyes scanned the job listings on his phone for what felt like a thousand times that day as he was already tired of depending on the Wellingtons and his small cleaning job. Just one job was all it would take to change his life and he wasn't going to quit.

"I'm sorry, I was so busy and I wasn't expecting you this early," he apologized hastily, while silently wishing she would end it.

"A jobless thing like you that doesn't even have a reasonable job is busy?" she asked, laughing in a mocking tone. "What do you expect my daughter to eat when she comes back from a long and stressful day of working hard because of your uselessness?" she added, making herself comfortable on the sofa, her face displaying an ugly grin. "I've told Katherine to leave you. You do not deserve her!"

Allen's heart sank, sadness overwhelmed him but he was already used to her unending rants and complaining so he quickly left for the kitchen to prepare some food. While he was on it, Katherine's car honked from outside notifying them that she was back from work. Unlike him, Katherine was successful, working in a million dollar company which was able to pay for their bills.

After exchanging pleasantries with her mother, she met Allen in the kitchen. His mood brightened immediately he sighted her in her corporate black dress, her stilettos announcing her arrival. She pushed her long black hair slightly to a corner, her brown eyes reflecting in the light and her light make up enhancing her beauty. His eyes fell on the Birkin bag she claimed her rich boss gifted her, and he tightened his fists as a scoff left his lips.

"Why would she take gifts from him? He is just her boss and there's nothing going on behind the scenes right?" his mind raced.

"You still accept gifts from him. Don't you?" He finally asked, slumping on the kitchen counter in disappointment.

"You obviously can't afford it so why wouldn't I take it from someone who can?" Katherine responded, rolling her eyes.

"Katherine, I always tell you to be patient. I will change our lives one day,' Allen said, as he stirred the food on the cooker, a hopeful smile crept to his face.

"You want to change our lives with your cleaning job?" She replied with a scoff, taking off her stilettos and flinging them to a corner. "Pick these up when you're done!" she said, rolling her eyes and pointing at the stilettos on the floor.

Allen was eager to change his situation and surprise Katherine. He had been saving up to buy her a gift for their anniversary which was the next day. He imagined how happy she would be after receiving his gift as he arranged the food on a tray.

He could feel his mother in law's eyes assessing his worn out shirt before shaking her head in disappointment. He served her with a bold smile then left for his room to continue his job search.

"I must make money and win the Wellingtons over," he muttered, as he pushed the door open.

The next morning, he got up very early to clean and prepare breakfast for Katherine. He had taken the day off from work because of the anniversary but Katherine on the other hand seemed to have forgotten.

She stomped her feet loudly as she walked down the stairs, heading for the dining table.

"Allen, can't you cook any faster?" she asked, jerking her head towards the direction of the kitchen. "I don't want to be late!"

"Coming...coming," Allen responded in a loud tone as he rushed out with varieties of meals. The aroma of the food filled the house.

"What are all these for?" Katherine asked, unimpressed, her mouth slightly curved to a smirk.

"Don't tell me you forgot our anniversary day again," Allen said calmly as he arranged the meals on the table. She forgot every year.

"You mean the cursed day I got tied to you!" She raged, her gaze cold and detached. "I've lost my appetite," she said, slamming her hands on the table and then making her way to the door.

"At least eat. I spent hours making this please," he begged, his head down with two hands holding the table for support, as she shut the door loudly. He could hear the sound of her car driving out.

"What will I do with all this food?" he muttered, as he watched her drive out through the window.

Just then, he saw his poor old neighbor walking across the street.

"Hey Mr Calloway. Wait," he waved, trying to get his attention. When the man saw him, his face lit up with excitement.

Allen quickly packaged the food as the old man walked slowly towards his house.

"Thank you, son," the old man said with gratitude as Allen handed it over to him. Allen made it a norm to give him food and other things he needed.

"Don't worry Mr Calloway," Allen said. "When I make money, you will never go hungry."

"Soon my boy. I know you mean well for me," the old man said with joy before leaving. Allen watched him go until he was no longer in sight.

He remembered he was supposed to get Katherine's gift from the store before she returned home. He put on his old shirt and a pair of boots, squeezing three hundred dollar notes in his palms with a smile as he made way to the store.

Getting there, he went straight to the necklace section. The lights in the store shone brightly reflecting on the beautiful pieces of jewelry which caught his attention but he couldn't afford most of them.

"Quit searching, Allen. It's obvious you can't afford any," a female voice said from behind him.

He turned to see Katherine's younger sister Karina staring at him and his eyes fell on the store's logo inscribed boldly on her shirt. He fought silently with himself, not wanting to strike a conversation with Karina. "Be calm Allen," he mumbled.

"I'm still searching," he said, looking at the pieces again, his hands trembling.

"You can't even afford good clothes and you want a piece from our collection?" She said, laughing at him. "You never cease to embarrass my sister every time and anywhere!"

Allen ignored her as he continued with his search. Karina was a troublemaker and she tried to make him miserable whenever she saw him.

"Paupers like you go for these cheap ones," she said again, bringing out another collection," her eyes fixed on him with disgust. "I'm sure Katherine will hate you after giving her this. You have the chance to give up now."

He almost gave up when his eyes fell on a simple piece. It was just two hundred and eighty dollars.

Ignoring her insults, he quickly removed it and went to make payment. "Pack this up for me," he told the cashier, with a bright smile, impatiently tapping his feet.

Leaving the store, he pushed his way through the bustling street, holding the package close to his chest. "Katherine will be so happy when I show her this," he muttered. Luckily, the remaining twenty dollars was just enough to take him home.

Katherine's car was parked outside when he got there. He wasn't expecting her home so early but was eager to see the smile on her face so he hurriedly headed for the front door. As he pushed it opened, the house echoed with strange sounds coming from Katherine's room.

He froze, as his hand gripped the package tightly. His mind could think of a thousand things happening but he silently wished it was something else-maybe the sound of a movie. With every step he took, the sound got louder and it was Katherine's voice.

"mh...don't stop," she pleaded from inside, with a quiver in her voice. His heart raced faster as he pushed the door open.

Clothes and underwear lay carelessly on the floor as his gaze landed on Katherine and a huge man on top thrusting in and out of her. She held onto him tightly with muffled moans of pleasure escaping her lips.

"I could give you what that poor husband of yours can't give you," the man said, still thrusting with all his might.

"He is useless. I don't need him!" Katherine responded, her fingers digging deep into the man's skin.

The two were unaware of Allen's presence in the room.

Allen stood there, his hands trembling and his legs weak. Cold sweat rolled swiftly down his neck. "It can't be. She promised me," was all he could mutter. Tired of the show, he screamed.

"Ka...Katherine!" Allen blurted out. The package fell from his hand, making a sound that got their attention. The two hurriedly separated from each other like they had seen a ghost.

"Allen, what are you doing here?" She asked, startled trying to cover her body glistened with sweat.

"Seriously..who is this guy? You're cheating on me with him?" Allen asked again, unable to believe what he had just seen. He still wanted to wake up from the terrible dream.

"Shut up and get out, Allen. You will not talk to my boss like that!" her voice sliced through the silence, her fingers pointing directly at his face.

Allen couldn't believe she wasn't remorseful. She just told him to shut up when she was in bed with the same man she told him not to worry about!

"You heard the lady. Get out!" the strange man chipped in, his large built and well defined muscles took Allen off balance. The light shone on his face making it clearer for Allen to see.

Katherine, we've not had sex in two years but you're in bed with another man?" he asked, tightening his fists in disbelief. "To make it worse, it's your boss!"

"I can't lay in bed with someone who stinks of poverty," she replied, turning her head to the other side of the room.

Hearing that, Allen staggered backwards, his breath hitched, his chest thumping louder than it ever had. "Besides, today is our anniversary and I got you a gift," he managed to say, picking up the package from the floor and handing it over to her. He thought it would change her mind.

She collected it reluctantly as she let out a laugh. "You mean this cheap thing," she said again, throwing it on his face.

His heart fell.

"My mother was right. You're good for nothing!" She said again, shaking her head in disappointment.

"Katherine please," he pleaded, tears already gathering around his eyelids.

"This is what we call expensive," she said, showing Allen the ring on her finger. "Ryan proposed to me and we're getting married," she said again leaning in for a kiss with the man.

"I'm your husband. You're still married to me!" Allen argued.

"I can fix that," Katherine said, picking up an envelope from the drawer and handing it over to him.

His fingers trembled as he opened the envelope, the tears began to flow freely when he read the contents.

"You...you want a divorce?" He stammered, unable to believe his eyes.

"Sign it quickly. I'm tired of keeping up with you," she pushed, handing him a pen.

"Poor boy!" Ryan called out. "With my money I can have your wife and there is nothing you can do," Ryan said, groping Katherine with his large palms and she did not resist. Anger built up in Allen as the urge to punch Ryan overwhelmed him.

"Katherine please. I promise I'll work harder," he begged, kneeling and grabbing her hands softly.

"Slap!" Katherine's palm landed on his cheeks and he landed on the floor. "Work harder?" She scoffed. "You don't have the potential to become rich. You'll die poor and alone," she said again, kicking the package towards him.

"If you don't do what she says, I'll make sure you regret it for the rest of your life!" Ryan warned, still holding Katherine to his embrace.

Rubbing his hands on his burning cheeks, Allen realised no amount of begging would save him so he quietly picked himself up, collected the pen and signed the document.

"You got what you wanted but mark my words, you'll definitely come back begging and by then, you'll regret it!" Allen warned, his eyes cold and full of rage.

"You're nothing and that's all you'll ever be!"

"I left your bags on the balcony," Katherine said, with a laugh.

Allen stormed out in anger, taking his only belongings with him. Many thoughts ran through his mind as he contemplated on calling his only friend Jose to let him spend the night or sleep at the company he worked. He quickly dialed Jose's number on his phone.

"Hello," Jose picked from the other end.

"Hey, man," he started. "I wonder if you could let me crash at your place tonight. Katherine threw me out," he pleaded.

"I thought you said you were planning a surprise for her," Jose asked, confused.

"She surprised me with divorce papers instead," Allen explained.

"I'll tell you more when I get there."

Just then, the sound of screeching tires dragged his attention and a line of at least seven exotic cars drove towards his direction. When they got to where he was standing, they stopped and some men dressed in black rushed out of the vehicles.

His heart raced with him thinking he had committed a crime or something. "Could this day get any worse?" he muttered, bowing his head.

"I'll..I'll call you back man," he told Jose, ending the call, still trying to understand what was going on.

"Greetings young master Herondale!" they chorused, bowing their heads.

"What?!" He asked, confused.

"You've got the wrong person."

"No, you are the one we are looking for," an old man said, walking out of the first car. He couldn't believe who he was seeing dressed in expensive clothes and riding expensive cars.

"Mr Calloway!" he called out loudly, his eyes almost popping out of their sockets. "How is this possible?"

As far as he knew, Mr Calloway was just an old frail neighbour who could barely afford to eat three square meals then how could he afford such luxury cars. These thoughts clouded Allen's mind.

"I'll explain everything when we get to the mansion. Now, you need to hurry. Your grandmother is waiting," the old man said.

"Mansion?"

"Grandmother?" Allen blurted out confused.

"You are the heir to a great fortune and you are needed to claim ownership of your family's wealth but that is all I can say," Mr Calloway explained. "Please, take this diamond ring as a homecoming gift," he added, stretching out a box with a beautiful ring laying inside.

"You mean I'm rich?" Allen asked, partly doubting with excitement building up inside of him as he collected the ring. It was the famous Le Roux ring which costs millions of dollars. "Could it be his biological family?" He wondered, with a smile playing on his lips.

He felt like running back in to tell Katherine that he was finally rich as he couldn't contain his joy.

"What are we waiting for?"

"Let's go," he urged, with a wide smile on his lips, wondering how he moved from being Allen Slade to Allen Herondale in two minutes.

While driving, Allen couldn't help but admire the luxurious car. It all felt like a dream come true. He was served every kind of drink he wanted in just a short drive and they were ready to do anything he wanted as young master Herondale.

In a few minutes, they arrived at a big beautiful building and Allen couldn't believe what he saw. It had a big black gate at the front and a water fountain in the middle. The building itself screamed luxury with hyacinths draped all over it. He was still admiring it when the voices interrupted again.

"Welcome home young master Herondale!" the men in black chorused as they lined up in a perfect arrangement.

They opened the door for him like he was some sort of royalty and Allen couldn't help but feel like one.

"Where is my grandmother? Where is she?" he asked, impatiently. "There is so much I want to know."

"Of course, young master. This way," Mr Calloway said, leading him through a large door. The interior left him in awe. The walls were coated with gold foils and a silver chandelier hung right above his head. The right had stairs and the wall was covered with different artworks.

"These are just some samples from our art gallery. It's one of your family's businesses and it will be yours very soon," Mr Calloway said and a smile crept to Allen's lips.

Allen continued to follow Mr Calloway happily and he led him to another room. The room had luxury and vintage written all over it like it popped out of a seventeenth century castle. An old woman sat there as maids tended to her needs. Immediately she saw him, her eyes brightened like her strength had been renewed.

"My grandson," Madam Ophelia called out with her frail voice, gesturing for Allen to come closer. Her fingers caressed his face gently. "I'm sorry it took so long to find you. It's all thanks to Mr Calloway."

"I have so many questions," Allen finally spoke. "I want to know about my family.

"Who is Mr Calloway?"