From Ashes To Billions

Chapter 10: Foul Play

Adrian cleared his throat. “Officers, there seems to be a misunderstanding and if you don't mind, I'd like us to resolve the issue amicably,” He sighed. “Not at the station. I have a lot of things to take care of around here,”

"There’s no explanation to justify your shamelessness. Move it,” The head officer frowned, waving the document in his face.

The act irked Adrian and he narrowed a brow in warning. “I won't have you speak to me negligently,” He paused to make sure his warning sank in, then continued. “Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to take a look at the will you claimed to be my grandfather's,”

The lawyer hesitated for a minute, then he carefully shook his head. “Let's talk at the station if you have any complaints,”

Adrian scoffed without a word. He sensed foul play, but beneath his amusement, there was this deep anger lurking somewhere, threatening to explode.

His eyes darted until they landed on Ryan. How did this bastard know anything about his inheritance? Was he responsible for his grandfather's death?

The will was fake and he knew it. His grandfather wouldn't be so careless as to let a bunch of miscreants into his life to steal his private information and tamper with his will.

Knowing that Ryan was behind this setup made him so angry that he almost reached out and smacked him in the face. Such a shallow thing for a grown-up ass man to do.

“Officers, I mean no offense, but unless you're ready to lose your job, I advise that you quit thinking irrationally and act properly. This is a funeral ground. Don't you have any respect?”

“The late president had no personal connections with you. He is not your grandfather as you claim. Don't you think you're the one acting irrationally here? You have no right to play victim, so start moving before I add resisting arrest to your list of charges,” The head officer challenged.

“Don't say what you don't know,” Felix warned.

Adrian threw his head back. “Let's make a bet then. If I'm found guilty of any of the bullshit you accused me of, I'll gladly accept punishment, but if not, I'll have no choice but to strip y'all of your jobs with just a phone call. Deal?”

His gaze landed on Ryan. “Pray this isn't an arranged plot by you because it won't be funny,”

The head officer searched Adrian's eyes, not knowing whether to believe him or not. If this was the truth and Adrian had the power to strip him of his job, then he was screwed. But then again, how could Adrian be telling the truth when there was a copy of the late president's will? He was confused.

“I'll give you two minutes to prove your innocence…”

“Or else?” Adrian asked.

“Or else, I'll have to use force to take you away. What would it be?”

Adrian clenched his jaws and excused himself. He disappeared into an adjoining room and returned moments later holding a briefcase.

“Here,” He said, handing over the documents to the head officer who collected them with a suspicious look.

As he read through the content, horror spread through his face. He squeezed the papers in his hands as if afraid it'd develop wings and fly away.

Slowly, he lifted his head to meet Adrian's eyes. “H…how did you get your hands on this?”

Adrian frowned, irritation coursing through him. “Am I supposed to answer that? Why don't you compare the two documents and let's see who's telling the truth,”

“What's going on?” Ryan asked, but before anyone could react, he snatched the documents and went through them. His eyes wide open like saucers, then he blinked twice as he didn't know how else to express his shock.

Really? What was going on?

“The shock on your faces tells me you're aware of the truth,” Adrian said. “Compared to the bullshit you threatened me with, the document I just gave you has my grandfather's legal seal on it, including my signature as witness and new president of Nilean Group,” He grabbed the fake document from the officer's hand and waved it in their faces. “This other seal looks forged to me. Don't you agree, Ryan?”

“What are you trying to say? That doesn't prove anything?” Ryan eyed, desperate to put on a tough front.

“Oh yes, but it does,” Adrian objected. “The audacity of you to show up with a fake lawyer and a fake document in front of me. Is this your pathetic way of trying to send me back to jail? Well fun fact, you failed woefully at the game,”

Seeing he was cornered, the head officer made to speak, but Adrian beat him to it. “Too bad we already made a deal. You see, I'm a man of my word,”

“What do you mean?”

“That you've been relieved of your jobs as incapable officers of the law.” He turned to the lawyer who was almost fidgeting. “You'll receive a suit from my lawyer soon for defamation of character. Trust me, this is a serious case and I won't drop the charges,”

“Wait, Adrian, what do you think…” Ryan attempted to speak, but the words barely escaped his mouth when Adrian shouted. “Come in,”

The whole place was suddenly surrounded by police sirens and Ryan looked on in shock to see police cars lining up before them. His eyes widened even more as they walked forward, their guns dangling in their pockets.

He swallowed. f**k it, he was screwed.

Adrian folded his arms and watched without remorse as the men were dragged away.

“Ad…Adrian, no! Don't do this! Look I'm sorry, it was such a foolish thing to prank you in such a manner! I'm sorry for disrespecting your grandfather!” Ryan begged, almost kneeling.

Adrian liked that. He liked how weak Ryan looked and sounded. It was like balm to soothe his aching heart.

“I don't want to go to jail!”

“Music to my ears,” Adrian scoffed and walked away as the constant begging of Ryan and his fake lawyer irritated him.

He could bet that the lawyer didn't have a license. He might not even have finished law school, who knows? Ryan hired someone as clueless as him.

“I'll see to it that they're punished for their crimes, young Master,” Felix said and Adrian nodded.

After a moment of silence, the words slipped out of Adrian's mouth. “Keep a good eye on Ryan. I feel somehow he might be responsible for my grandfather's sudden demise,”

“There's no evidence, young Master. There has to be something concrete we can use against him,” Felix said, causing Adrian to frown.

After a pause, he continued shakily, not knowing how to say his next words in a way that wouldn't affect Adrian.

Gathering the courage, he proceeded. “Young master, this news might come as a shock to you, but you have a younger sister who was kidnapped when you were just a little boy,” His voice turned softer. “After years of searching, I finally picked up a signal. She…is…alive.”