Chapter 196: Do Me a Favor, Honey!
In the president's office on the twentieth floor of Maple Real Estate, Ryder Clark sat in his office chair, toying with a square ebony box in his hands.
Ever since Ryder Clark snapped it up a while back, it had been locked away in his office drawer.
Today, he finally had some time to examine it.
The ebony box weighed over a pound, and felt pleasantly cool in his hands.
Thar coolness was a distinctive feature of ebony.
He shook it next to his ear.
There was no sound.
It wouldn't open.
He couldn't for the life of him figure out what was inside.
But the meticulous Ryder Clark noticed a small hole at the base of the pitch-black box, about the diameter of a chopstick's end.
Could it be a keyhole?
"Do I need a special key is to unlock this box?" Ryder murmured, stroking his chin.
He remembered how the old man from the Jones family in New York had taken great interest in ebony boxes like this.
Ryder had a strong hunch that this item would play a significant role in his future.
He had to find a way to uncover the secrets of this ebony box.
"I remember Dylan saying he got this box through an antique dealer buddy who dabbles in the grey market. Looks like I need to ask Dylan to make an introduction when I have a moment. That guy might just have a lead!"
Ryder placed the box back in the drawer and locked it up tight.
He pulled out his phone.
Just then, a notification from "Houston Living" popped up.
The headline read: "Houston's Premier Housewarming Gala Awaits Your Attendance!"
Ryder clicked through and skimmed the article.
It turned out the piece was an advert for the Johnson family, hyping up their housewarming party scheduled for September 1st.
It also boasted about the Johnson family's clout in Houston's building materials market, inviting eager collaborators to get in touch.
At the end of the article, there was a note saying that if you shared the post, you might win a chance to attend the gala.
After reading the message, Ryder couldn't help but smirk wryly.
He could see that the Johnson family had set the date for their gala on September 1st to coincide with his and Sarah Johnson's third wedding anniversary.
There was no denying that the Johnsons' approach to publicity would generate significant buzz and conversation.
If everything went well, the Johnson family would solidify their position among Houston's second-tier elite after this event.
Of course, the Johnson family’s business had nothing to do with Ryder Clark.
If they didn't come around to bother him, Ryder Clark wouldn’t stoop to their level and waste his time on petty squabbles.
‘There’s just three days left until the wedding anniversary. I need to get things in order pronto,’ he thought to himself.
...
At noon, at the old Johnson family home.
Grandpa Johnson was swaying leisurely in his rocking chair, the very picture of contentment.
Flanking him on chairs to his left and right were the brothers, Matthew and Lawrence.
And standing directly in front of Grandpa Johnson, awkwardly holding gift boxes, were Ernest and Karen Johnson.
Matthew spoke with a sneer, "Well, color me surprised! I thought you two had forgotten the way home to the Johnsons' and we'd never see you around these parts again!"
Lawrence chimed in, "Seems to me, some folks got a little change in their pockets, started putting on airs, and conveniently chose to forget about their poorer relations!"
The brothers' tag team taunts made Ernest and Karen's blood boil.
They had come to discuss the upcoming housewarming party.
Karen had urged Ernest to call Grandpa Johnson and plead their case, but Grandpa Johnson had insisted the couple come to the Johnsons' in person if there was to be any discussion—otherwise, they could stay clear.
After hearing that, Karen had bitterly cursed Grandpa Johnson's difficult nature.
But the decision was in his hands, and she didn’t want to lose her brother’s respect, so she had no choice but to join Ernest in buying gifts and braving a visit.
When Matthew saw that Ernest and Karen offered no response, he continued trying to provoke them. "Ernest! I heard a juicy tidbit about Karen and Sarah catching you in the act at a hotel yesterday. It was supposed to be a sting on that bastard Ryder Clark, but somehow, it turned out that the guy she caught was you! Is there any truth to that?"
Lawrence Johnson followed up, his words sharp and direct. "Everybody saw that live video. How could it be fake? As your brother, I gotta call you out, man! Look, I know my sister-in-law isn't perfect, but for a member of the Johnson clan to cheat like that—it's downright shameful, don't you think?"
Those pointed words had Ernest and his wife, Karen, blushing to the tips of their ears with embarrassment and rage.
Karen fumed, cursing under her breath about meddling old fools, wishing they would get their comeuppance soon.
At that moment, Grandpa Johnson lifted an eyebrow and sternly reprimanded Matthew and Lawrence. "You two, cut it out. Is that any way to talk to your brother and sister-in-law?"
Matthew and Lawrence exchanged a glance and shut up, though they couldn't hide the smug smirks tugging at their lips.
Grandpa Johnson then turned to Ernest and Karen and got straight to the point. "I know exactly why you two came to your mother with troubles. What? You see the Johnson family's got a fancy villa at Platan Height and you want a piece of it? You want to move in with us?
"Hmph! If only you had thought ahead. I remember very well the things you two have been up up to recently."
Ernest shuddered and awkwardly said, "You've got it all wrong, Mom. We never intended any disrespect!"
Karen quickly added, "For heaven's sake, Mom! You know how the company's being run now. I can't keep up. It's all on Sarah's shoulders! And let's not forget about that good-for-nothing Ryder Clark! It's his fault! If he hadn’t meddled and caused trouble,, the Johnson family wouldn’t be in this mess.
"And honestly, every morning, Ernest and I pray for your health and for our family to reach new heights!"
While her words were a blend of sincerity and flattery, they seemed to hit the right notes with Grandpa Johnson, who softened slightly. "Hmm! You may have a point. I know full well that the true enemy of the Johnson family is that ingrate, Ryder Clark!
"And since you’re his mother-in-law, you should have kicked him out!"
Karen subtly grimaced in response.
She wished more than anyone for Ryder and Sarah Johnson to get a divorce.
She thought about it constantly.
But every attempt had ended in abject failure, leaving her with nothing but bitterness and frustration.
Grandpa Johnson kept talking. "Well, of course, I understand where you're coming from — that Ryder Clark is a tougher nut to crack than we thought. I won't push the issue of Sarah divorcing that jerk anymore.
“If you want your brother's family to attend the housewarming, that will be easy to arrange with just a word from me. You and your husband are welcome to join, and we might even let you stay at the villa for a couple of days in the future!"
Karen's eyes immediately sparkled with anticipation.
Grandpa Johnson, eyes narrowing, continued, "Actually, if you two could do me a small favor, everything I've just mentioned would be yours. What do you say...?"
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