Doctor Ryan and His Healing System

Chapter 23: Business Slows Down

The moment Ryan walked into the ice cream parlor he understood the situation. If he had known in advance that the scarred man would take such vindictive action against him, he would have killed him the other day, in Sherry’s flat.

The scared man felt emboldened by the onlookers, and he was still lying on the ground and moaning in pain when Ryan arrived beside his table.

“Get up!” Ryan snapped. “You are acting like a spoiled child.”

The scarred man remained where he was. “I’ll sue you.” He moaned as he groped his belly. “Your ice cream is poisonous.” As he looked around the room, he begged for sympathy with his eyes.

The other customers were not easily won over, though. They had had all eaten the same ice cream, and not only were they not sick, but they felt better than ever.

“How could you say that?” a pretty girl asked. “Do you have proof?” Several days ago, she had been fat and covered in freckles. Thanks to the ice cream, though, she was thin and her complexion was clear. “I don’t think so. So, get up and stop making a scene.”

“What do you mean?” The scarred man snarled. “Are you saying that I’m faking a stomachache? I cannot be the only one who feels sick! Who else feels sick…?” He looked around frantically. When no one came forward, he asked why he would fake being poisoned.

“Maybe you are looking to get some form of compensation,” one of the customers suggested. “Or perhaps you are mentally ill…”

The second answer struck a chord with the other customers and they began to kick him all over his body. Once he was thoroughly beaten, everyone returned to their seats.

Ryan looked down at the scarred man and smirked. “I hope you have learned your lesson,” he said.

The scarred man managed to stand up, and without answering the question, he ran out of the building. As he reached the door, the spontaneous applause broke in the ice cream parlor. This incident proved that Ryan’s ice cream had won the trust and favor of all of the customers. Once the scarred man was gone, he raised his hand for silence and said, “I would like to thank everyone for their trust and support. To show my gratitude, the next scoop is in me!”

***

It was not long before almost everyone in Edmonton knew that Ryan had made himself an enemy of Marcos.

Then, when the scarred man told Marcos about what had happened in the ice cream parlor, he had flown into a great rage. He was so angry that he kicked a chair. “How dare he insult you like this?” he growled. “Doesn’t he know that you work for me?”

“He doesn’t care,” the scarred man exclaimed. “I mean no disrespect, but I told you that already…”

The anger in Marcos’s heart flared up and he said, “This will not go unchecked. I can promise you that. I am going to teach Ryan a lesson in person.”

***

Ryan’s business had been doing better than he could have ever imagined. He had established good relations with a lot of regular customers. However, ever since his dispute with the scarred man, less people were coming in every day.

On one of her leisure days, Linnet decided to stop at Forest Creamery and visit Ryan. She thought that the place would be crowded, and he would be busy, so she was surprised to find him sitting alone drinking coffee. Despite the lack of business, though, he did not seem bothered.  

Linnet felt annoyed by Ryan’s unconcerned attitude. “What’s the matter with you?” she demanded. “You have offended Marcos. That is a big problem.”

Ryan shrugged. “I am not afraid of him,” he said. “And once this business between us has passed, my shops will be busier than ever. You’ll see.”

Linnet knew Ryan was a truly remarkable young man. He was a great doctor, pianist, archer, and business owner, but that did not mean that he was capable of dealing with Marcos – at least that is what she thought.

Ryan saw the doubt written all over her face and he frowned. “And you still don’t trust me…” Tears welled up in his eyes as this occurred to him. “This is nothing to worry about. If Marcos tries anything, I will kill him.”

Linnet found his words ridiculous. She saw that she was hurting him, but she cared more about his life than his feelings. “Do you have any idea what you are talking about?” she asked. “Marcos is not someone that can be easily killed.”

“I can handle it,” Ryan snapped. “Just mind your own business.”

“Then I guess there is nothing more to be said,” she said. Then she kissed him on the cheek and left without another word.

Shortly after Linnet left, Ryan’s number one scooper walked through the door. She walked over to where he was sitting and said, “Mr. Jones. I need to talk to you.” She sounded nervous, and as she sat across from him, she lowered her head to avoid making eye contact with him.

“What is it?” Ryan asked.

“I want to quit my job,” she replied.

Ryan knew this scooper well. She came from a poor family. He had hired her and paid her a decent salary out of sympathy, and she had done everything she could to prove that she could do just as good – and maybe even better – than the other scoopers, who had all been born with silver spoons in their mouths.

“What’s wrong?” he asked. “Do you expect a higher salary?” He already paid her eight thousand dollars a month, which was much higher than the industry standard.

She shook her head to refute his speculation. “No,” she said. “It’s not about money. Your conflict with Marcos worries me… That’s all. I don’t feel safe coming to work…”

Ryan frowned and said, “I am disappointed, but I respect your decision. Know this, though: Once you leave here, there is no coming back.”

“I understand.” The scooper hung her head in shame and walked away.