The Rich Son-In-Law

Chapter 2: Abduction.

Aaron arrived to Amanda's scolding. "You useless imbecile! Where have you been? Can't you see how hungry I am?" Amanda spat. As always, Aaron ignored her. He looked toward the living room. Sarah sat quietly on the couch, watching TV, or at least that's what it looked like. Aaron noticed she seemed lost in thought. He began making the meal while Amanda continued to scold him. After a while, Amanda decided she had bothered Aaron long enough and went over to the couch to speak with Sarah. "So, how did it go? Did you speak to Marcus?" Amanda asked eagerly. Sarah paused for a second and said, "Not here, Mom." She glanced toward the kitchen. Amanda noticed this and sneered, "Are you worried about, him!? He's useless. It's not like he could help you through this. Instead of worrying about his opinion, you should find a way to get on Marcus's good side." Sarah sighed; she didn't want to argue with her mother today. "Yes, I spoke to him," Sarah said. "He was willing to help us."

"That's good," Amanda said excitedly. Sarah wasn't as enthusiastic as she was. "What will Grandma think if she finds out that we got a bailout?" Sarah said with concern. "That old hag may be annoying, but she's not stupid. She knows how businesses work, and a bailout is part of business," Amanda retorted. "Marcus also wants me to go out with him," Sarah said, clearly upset by the idea. Amanda didn't see what was wrong with that. "You should agree," Amanda stated. "No! Mother, of course not!" Sarah replied, exasperated. "Did you forget I am married?"

"Oh, come now, honey! You can't actually be talking about your worthless husband over there," Amanda retorted. "Why won't you just divorce him already?"

"Mom, I don't want to have this conversation today," Sarah said with a sigh. Amanda, seeing her daughter's irritation, decided not to push the topic. Instead, she went back to the kitchen to scold Aaron even more. After dinner, Sarah went straight to sleep while Aaron lay awake, thinking about how he could help her with her problems. While in bed, Aaron stared at the strange card the wounded man had given him. He was confused as to why the man seemed to prioritize the card over his own life. Maybe the man knew he was dying and wanted to ensure his belongings would be returned to his loved ones safely, Aaron thought. He decided to put the card away and head to sleep.

When Aaron woke up, he found that Sarah had already left. He began his morning routine by making breakfast for Amanda and then cleaning the house. When he was finished, Aaron decided he would visit the wounded man at the hospital.

Upon arriving at the hospital, he went straight to the man's room, and when he opened the door, he was shocked to find that he was not there. Aaron rushed to the receptionist's desk to ask about the man's whereabouts. She typed away at her keyboard and checked the monitor. After looking at the screen for a while, she turned to Aaron with a sombre face and said calmly, "I am so sorry, sir, but I'm afraid he did not make it." Aaron was disheartened by the news; his previous efforts were in vain. Realizing there was no reason to be at the hospital anymore he decided to leave; he thanked the nurse and walked away dejectedly. He didn't know the stranger, but he hoped that he managed to save him. Aaron decided to head home and prepares dinner for his nagging mother-in-law. He felt depressed and useless. "I can't stand up to Amanda or any of the Prescotts, I can't help my wife when she's going through a crisis, and I couldn't help that man yesterday. Maybe Amanda was right; I'm absolutely worthless," Aaron thought.

As he got closer to the parking lot, a black Rolls-Royce pulled up in front of him followed by two other cars. A man dressed in all black stepped out. "Are you Mister Aaron Turner?" he asked. Aaron was confused about how he knew his name and became cautious. "Who are you?" he asked. Instead of answering, the man signalled for two large men to grab Aaron.

"Hey, what are you doing!?" Aaron shouted, trying to fight the two men, but it was no use; they easily subdued him and shoved him into one of the luxury cars.

Aaron was scared. Who were these men, and why were they interested in him? He had nothing valuable on him. As Aaron wondered where they were headed, the car pulled up in front of the Phoenix Hotel. He was shocked; the Phoenix Hotel was considered the most luxurious and expensive hotel in the city.

Aaron was taken to the top floor of the building, arriving at the royal suite. He sat there, anxiously waiting for the man in the black suit to explain the bizarre situation. Richard, the well-dressed man, took a seat across from him. His presence was dark and intimidating, as if he were a gatekeeper of secrets. "I know you must have a lot of question," Richard began, his voice steady yet carrying a weight that made Aaron uneasy. "I will explain everything about this particular situation. My name is Richard Whitney; I am the Administrator of Eternal Bank."

"Eternal Bank?" Aaron thought to himself, bewildered. Aaron was no finance enthusiast but he had never heard of Eternal Bank, he assumed it might be one of those foreign investment companies. While Aaron was trying to figure out how he fit into all this, Richard continued speaking. "it's not a name you'd find on any official lists or see on billboards. We are not your typical financial institution. Our members are some of the most powerful and influential people in the world, operating behind the scenes, shaping economies and political landscapes while remaining entirely in the shadows. Our work is discreet; our operations are hidden from the eyes of the common man."

Aaron stilled didn't understand, why he had been kidnaped, instead he was being told of a shady organization which he had no ties to. There was something ominous about the way Richard spoke about this so called bank, it felt more like a Financial Mafia than a Bank.

"The man you tried to save yesterday was John Williams," Richard continued, his tone becoming serious. "He was a Gold Member of our institution, the third-highest rank in the bank. Unfortunately, he fell victim to one of his enemies' attacks and... did not survive. Mr. Williams had no living relatives. He was married once, but his marriage ended many years ago. He wanted to leave his wealth and legacy to a worthy successor but could not find anyone who met his criteria."

"In his last moments," Richard said, his eyes sharp and probing, "he sent me a text message with his last wishes. He chose you, Aaron Turner, as his successor. He wanted you to inherit everything—his wealth, his status, and his membership with Eternal Bank."

Aaron's mouth went dry. "Me? Why? I don't understand."

Richard's gaze darkened slightly. "Believe me Mister Turner I don't know why he left you all his wealth but I can tell you that Mr. Williams was a man of strong instincts. He believed in fate and in finding the right person at the right time. Whether he believed you were that person or not I don't know either. Perhaps he saw someone worthy of carrying his legacy forward or he didn't want to just leave his wealth hanging, who knows?"

Aaron could hardly believe what he was hearing, was it really true had he just inherited an enormous fortune or was this some sort of sick prank. Before he could fully process it all, Richard continued.

"Now, about the card," Richard gestured to the golden-edged card Aaron had been carrying since yesterday. "That card is far more than a simple token. It is keyed to its owner. Only the person to whom it was given can activate its power. The card serves as the key—without it, you cannot access the wealth or privileges left behind by Mr. Williams. This is how we ensure the integrity of our system. Once you accept membership, the card will be permanently registered to you, and from that moment on, it will confirm your membership of our bank. No one else can use it so take care not to lose it."

Aaron stared at the card in his hand, its edges glowing faintly, almost as if it pulsed with life. A sense of foreboding gripped him, but he also felt something else—a glimpse of power, of opportunity.

Richard leaned back. "This is your choice, Aaron. Eternal Bank doesn't operate like the world you're familiar with. There are rules, many of them, and membership comes with responsibilities. You will need to remain hidden and discreet. There are consequences for stepping out of line, and we do not tolerate carelessness. However, if you choose to take Mr. Williams' place, you will have resources and power beyond your wildest dreams."

Aaron realized there was no going back. Refusing this offer could mean losing not just the money, but maybe even more—his life, he suspected that if he refused, he would not live the room alive. After a few seconds of thought he spoke. "I accept," Aaron stated, his voice firm, though a knot of anxiety twisted in his stomach.

"Excellent," Richard said. "Everything will be arranged, and you will be notified when the process is complete, a car will come to pick you up in a few days and take you to one of our offices, so be ready. In the meantime, Natalie will assist you with anything you need."

As Aaron looked up, his eyes met a striking woman who had entered the room quietly. Natalie Stirling was unlike anyone he had ever seen—tall, with long, jet-black hair that shimmered in the low light of the suite. Her pale skin had a porcelain-like quality, almost otherworldly, and her piercing green eyes seemed to look straight through him. She wore a sleek black suit with a pencil skirt, the outfit accentuating her sharp, elegant figure. Despite her beauty, there was something cold and efficient about her, as though she were more machine, than human.

Natalie stepped forward, extending a hand to Aaron. "Good day, Mr. Turner. My name is Natalie Stirling, and from this moment onward, I will be your personal assistant."

Her voice was smooth, almost too perfect. She handed him a business card, her nails painted a glossy black that matched her attire. "Here are all my contact details. Feel free to contact me at any time," she said without a trace of emotion.

Aaron took the card and placed it in his pocket, still trying to process the surreal situation he was now entangled in.

Richard stood and gave a formal nod. "Now, Mr. Turner, please wait for us to contact you. Until then, consult Natalie for anything you might need. We'll be in touch."

With that, Richard exited the room, followed by the other men in black suits, leaving only Aaron and Natalie.

Natalie motioned toward the door. "Right this way, sir, again Mister Turner if you need anything, don't hesitate to call me" she said, her tone still cool and professional. Aaron followed her out, feeling as if he had just opened a dangerous door, one that could never be closed ever again.