The man slammed his hands down on the coffee table angrily, spilling the coffee on the table in the process when he heard Ryan's statement. But he paid no mind to it, instead he glared with frostiness in his eyes at Ryan and bellowed.
"Don't go too far, Ryan! Remember that you are also an Anderson!".
Disgust appeared on Ryan's face on hearing the word 'Anderson'.
"You are really good at claiming relatives, aren't you? How can I be related to the great Anderson family? I am just an orphan and an ordinary businessman", He said with a hint of sarcasm though you could tell by the look on his face that he meant what he said.
"You? An ordinary businessman? Do you think that just because you are cleaning up the evidence of your involvement in the underground that it will be fine? Then I tell you no way!".
Ryan smirked cruelly at the man before he leaned forward slightly and looked the man directly in his eyes, "And who are you to tell me that? You can't even save your empire from destruction but you still have the mind to pay attention to my business? Seems like I have to intensify my actions so that you no longer have the time to poke your nose into things that you shouldn't!"
The man eyes flashed with deep coldness at his words and then like a completely new person, a kind and genial smile appeared on his face as he looked with warmth at him. He said with the tone of an elder admonishing the younger generation,
"Ryan, we are afterall family. We shouldn't let outsiders see us as a joke!"
Ryan tsked on seeing the transformation of the man into a kind elder but he believed none of it because he knew that this man was just acting. He probably understood that hard approach wouldn't work so he decided to take the soft approach. But did he really think he was that stupid to be convinced of his half baked acting?
More so, if the man could do a good job of hiding the chilliness and hatred in his eyes, he would maybe believe him more. This man hated him to the core but who wouldn't hate the person who plans to topple down the empire he had spent his whole life building?
But he could still act like he cared for him, should he admire the man or be terrified by him? Afterall, this kind of enemy who could still remain composed even when he wanted to kill you many times over in his heart was the most terrifying!
That being said, when has he ever being afraid of anyone?! He could act all his like but it depended on him to cooperate, right?
While he was last in thoughts, the man's voice pulled him back as he heard him continue saying in an helpless tone.
"If it was really up to me, I would have chosen to support you as the heir because you took after me the most. But as you know the family tradition makes my hands tied up. The eldest son will become the heir to the family and take up an official position while the second son is to take over the underground business and protect the family's interest".
Ryan almost laughed at loud at his self-righteous words.
"I take after you the most? Protect the family's interest?", He repeated as he chewed those words carefully in his mouth before glancing with disdain and mockery at the man spatting out between his lips.
"But isn't it because I supposedly take after you the most that you hate me? Hate that I'll become like you… Hate that i would kill you like you killed your father and elder brother… Or was I wrong... since you were just a second son just like me!"
The man whose face had turned sinister the moment he began speaking completely dropped his act after he finished. Where could you find the kindness or warmth on his face, he was now just like an enraged beast as he looked with cruelty in his eyes at Ryan spat out, "Do not forget I am your father! Show me some respect!"
Ryan's had a calm look on his face as he said, "Father? Respect? Are you worthy? And what family tradition? Didn't you pick that useless heir of yours just because he was easier to control? Also what do you mean by 'protect the family's interest? Are you trying to make me laugh by making it sound so… lofty? It is just doing your family's dirty work: getting rid of your political enemies, exposing and also threatening them with their secrets.. So don't make yourself sound much nobler than you actually are, okay? 'Coz its really disgusting!"
The man's face turned livid especially when he heard the ridicule and dismissiveness in his words. He, who was the Patriarch of the the Anderson's which was a aristocratic family who have been officials for generations continues to suffer a loss with the son had been supressing! How could be take it?!
Ryan's mood which had been initially sullen felt much brighter when he saw the expression on the Mr. Anderson's face though the expression on his face still didn't change.
Mr. Anderson suddenly raised his head and looked at him with a calculating glint in his eyes, "Don't you care about that little girlfriend of yours anymore? I heard you guys broke up".
The moment Ryan heard him mention Selena, his laid back attitude completely disappeared as a very sinister and dark look appeared on his face making even Mr. Anderson afraid.
"If you want your beloved empire to topple down much more faster, you could try and touch her. I am sure your political enemies would be interested in why one of the most dangerous mafia in the world is related to your family."
Slight fear appeared in his eyes when he heard Ryan's statement as he knew he would really do what he said if he dares touch Selena but he feigned undauntedness and gritted out.
"You dare! Aren't you afraid you would also be implicated?"
"It doesn't matter if i am implicated or not but you can try and touch my bottom line! I don't mind fighting to death with you..", Ryan said as he stood up and buttoned his suit properly staring down at him. He knew what Mr. Anderson was most afraid of and that was his empire turning into nothing overnight, so he used it to threaten him. It wouldn't be enough to stop him from stretching out his hands to Selena but it would be enough to buy time until he had all the evidence to destroy them completely!
He no longer looked at the man who was still sitting down with a dark face and walked out of the private room.