Chapter 277 The Reverse Card
At the Matthews headquarters,
The chief of security who went out of his office after lunch, observed everyone looking in one direction. Following their line of sight, he was shocked by Alvin. It had been years, how could he forget Alvin anyway?
He rushed up to him and greeted, "Second young master…" He paused looking at the mini version of their cold second young master. Anyway, both ignored the man and went towards the gates.
Whoever heard the man's respectful voice, started murmuring about Alvin. They had heard from old employees that the second son of Casper was strikingly more gorgeous than the President, Liam Matthews. They hadn't believed it before, now they couldn't believe their sight.
The Chief of security never received any kind of orders to stop Alvin from entering the company. So he clapped his hand, signaling the guards to open the electronic gates.
The row of gates jerked open at once. When they realized the little imposing boy next to Alvin, they couldn't help but discuss regarding the relationship between Alvin and the boy, "Who could be the little boy?"
"He couldn't be Alvin Matthews's son!!!" There was disbelief in the tone.
"I have heard only about President Matthews's daughter."
"Wasn't Alvin Matthews said to be in the states."
"Hmmm, the boy must be Alvin Matthews's son."
"The Dalton and Matthews must have broken up because of the boy."
"Is Alvin Matthews married?"
"Is the boy born out of wedlock?" There were a lot more questions, theories, and assumptions.
Soon the news of Alvin Matthews with a little boy spread among the employees. Secretary Harrison too received the news when they were in a meeting.
He whispered to Casper, "Chairman, Second Young master is here with Anya Owen's son." He guessed the little boy as Anya Owen's son.
Casper's eyes narrowed hearing his secretary. The speaker of the meeting panicked, assuming Casper disliked something in the project, and stammered, "C-chairman Matthews, we will redo it." He lowered his head as if waiting to be sentenced.
Other attendees nervously looked into their laptops, waiting to be snapped by Casper. That's when they noticed a message about Alvin Matthews and a little boy in the company.
The eerie silence filled the room. Casper's mind ran wild thinking of numerous possibilities behind Alvin's arrival. If it was business-related why would he bring the little boy?
If it's about Anya Owen's visit to the Imperial University, the presence of the little boy was still unnecessary. And importantly, he couldn't support Anya's decision.
Provoking Gianna was dangerous in the current situation. He was keeping tight reins over her, stopping her from meeting anybody unrequired or speaking over phone calls. But he couldn't underestimate her.
Then again, Alvin wasn't the type to appear there to ask for help. To save his face, Casper had gone forward to invest in Alvin's start-up. If not in the past, Alvin would rather pressure him in his ways to get his work done.
What could it be?
'The little boy?'
Casper clenched his fist recalling Gianna mentioning Zane as their grandson to get rid of the cops.
Casper rose from the chair abruptly. 'Grandson?' His eyes undoubtedly glinted. The desire for the next heir was too deep and strong in him and his mother. He couldn't let the Matthews family end at his sons, especially when Liam was showing no interest in having another baby.
Casper recalled the fearless and confident little boy he had faced in front of the elevator. He grabbed his mobile from the table and rushed out without a word.
The meeting attendees looked at each other. Casper's behavior was a bit odd. If they had done something, he would reprimand them harshly instead of just leaving. They looked at each other in perplexity.
Secretary Harrison announced as he followed Casper, "The meeting is adjourned."
….
The senior staff of secretaries identified Alvin whose intimidating presence let nobody approach them. Father and son entered the chairman's office room at their leisure.
Although Zane looked too young to understand anything, he noticed people talking about them and they were fearful of his father. "Does Mommy like your father?" Zane asked to confirm as they will be meeting his paternal grandfather. He will have to act accordingly.
"No." Alvin's curt response sounded as he seated in front of the desk and crossed his legs.
Zane grabbed a magazine from the coffee table and sat down on the couch. He crossed his legs and looked at the cover picture of the magazine. 'Liam Matthews.'
The man looked good, but not as much as Alvin. Zane asked without raising his head, 'Chipmunk Monster's brother?'
Contrast his hurriedness, when Casper entered his office, he looked dignified and overbearing. His eyes fell on Alvin's back who had made himself comfortable.
Stepping inside, his eyes brushed over the room and fell on the little man who was seriously reading something in a business magazine. Although there was excitement, how could he forget how Alvin and Anya humiliated him? So he behaved.
He has to bring Alvin back to the Matthews family. His plan wasn't to control Alvin anymore but to smoothen the future of the Matthews family and the companies. So he has to play his pawns carefully.
Pretending like nothing, he sat on his swivel black leather chair. He again caught Zane from the corner of his eyes and looked at Alvin. Father and son's eyes finally met.
The eyes which usually held annoyance and coldness were empty as if Alvin didn't care about anything related to Casper. And that made Casper uneasy.
Secretary Harrison could sense the tension in the air. He asked respectfully, "Second Young master, would like to…"
Casper cut him off and sneered, "What are you here for?"
Harrison: "…"
Casper wanted to hold the peace flag with his second son. Then why was he speaking like he was sitting in a prickling seat?
Alvin looked at his father. He needs to agitate his father a bit before coming to the plan. And there were numerous ways to agitate him. But he chose the one that will shake Casper. He lazily fished an envelope from his jacket and threw it in front of Casper to read.
Casper was alarmed looking at Alvin's inscrutableness. He removed the papers maintaining his composure. He just went through the subject of the paper, his eyes burned red as they widened in rage.
He tore the paper and snarled at Alvin, "I am your father. Get that straight in your head." He threw the papers breathing heavily, glaring at Alvin.
He was thinking of bringing Alvin to the Matthews family with Anya and Zane. Whereas his son brought him a letter of emancipation. Emancipation is a process of being set free from legal, social, or political restrictions from the family and the parents.
p
The emancipation letter would have made Gianna celebrate in glory but Casper. The latter glanced at startled Zane, Alvin's action could take away from the possible or only heir of the Matthews family. The long-protected Matthews image would be stained as everyone would want to know the reason and dig up the information.
Casper scowled at Alvin. Didn't Gianna say Alvin and Anya wanted their part of shares from the Matthews family? How did it turn out this way?
Exactly, Alvin knew Gianna would irritate Casper in such a way. Thus he played the reverse card. Well, he wouldn't mind getting rid of the Matthews family from his back. However, the Matthews are too proud to let that happen.
"Father!?" Alvin scorned looking at him trying to claim his right. "Were you?"
Casper indeed gave his name and acknowledged him publicly. He also gave all the allowances a son of a family would get.
However, nobody in the family accepted Alvin and Casper didn't care. Alvin lived in the Matthews mansion as a mistake. A mistake that was ridiculed by every member of the Matthews family.
Casper was infuriated. He gave him his name, and place to stay. Sent him to school, and college, and provided him with food, vehicles, and whatnot.
Didn't he do everything a father should do?
"If not, your mother would have thrown you in the orphanage." Casper roared in fury forgetting Zane was in the room.
Zane was still a little boy after all. He was frightened by witnessing his 'grandfather' shouting at Alvin. However, after hearing Casper's last words, he recalled Janet and looked at Alvin.
He got off the couch and approached them. Casper never cared what he should talk about and what he shouldn't in front of kids. However, looking at Zane's judging eyes, he fell silent.
If he knew his father would shout like a mad man, he wouldn't have brought Zane or asked him to play outside. When Zane stood by him, gazing into his eyes, somehow he understood what Zane was expecting. He gave a faint nod allowing him to speak.
Zane's brows tugged tightly when he faced Casper, "Mr. Matthews, don't you know how to speak in front of a kid?"
Was his little enemy defending him?
Zane crossed his arms and watched the old man who is about the same age as Dennis Owen, "If not, you should watch your age and take care of your health." His voice sounded like advice but he had a gaze of disapproval.
Casper: 😶
Alvin: 😏
Defending him craftily? His little enemy was like his Little Donut.