Broken Ties

Chapter Two

Ralph was driving himself, and Emilie to the Money Bin,where Emilie knew Scrooge would be.
"I can't wait to work for Mr.McDuck. I wonder what kind of job I'll get?"Ralph asked Emilie.
"Don't get too excited,Scrooge is a very stern boss."said Emilie.
"Yeah.But I'm sure I'll get a job working for Mr.McDuck if you're vouching for me."
Emilie simply sighed, and proceeded to stare out the window.It was like a repeat of when Gladstone found out she was pregnant with Paul.Despite what Emilie told him,he was so certain that their children would get along so perfectly.
He was wrong.Paul's first reaction when he saw Claire was proof of that.Then there was Claire's jealousy at all the attention Paul was getting when he was a baby.Then Paul learned to walk, and talk,that's when the sibling rivalry really began.And that's when Emilie decided to have her ovaries removed.
Ralph made it to the Money Bin.It was bigger than he expected.Ralph knew it was big,everybody said so, but he didn't expect it to be this big.
"Are you going to keep gawking,or are you going to drive into the parking garage?"asked Emilie.
"Wait,there's a parking garage?"asked Ralph in shock.
"A small one."
Ralph kept driving until he got to the parking garage,which was surprisingly easy to find, and as Emilie pointed out, it was a small parking garage.But it didn't make it any less impressive to Ralph.
"Would you stop gawking?!"Emilie snapped at Ralph as they exited his car. "I'm trying to get you a job here, and I wouldn't be able to if you keep acting like you're part of a tour group."
"Sorry, I just never thought I would ever be here in the Money Bin. I mean,didn't you act like this when you first entered the Money Bin?"said Ralph.
"No. I was too nervous to be impressed by everything. I was impressed after I got hired by Scrooge."
"Oh."
Emilie, and Ralph entered the elevator which would lead them to Scrooge's office.Emilie knew that she probably upset Ralph, but she didn't want him to embarrass himself.As she said before,Scrooge McDuck wasn't a man that was to impress,especially when it came to work.Emilie was lucky that she managed to get Ralph an interview with him.
"We're here."said Emilie when they arrived at the level of Scrooge's office.
The two of them walked towards Scrooge's office.Ralph was about to put his hand on the doorknob only for Emilie to knock it away.Emilie instead knocked on the door.
"Come in."came Scrooge's voice.
Emilie, and Ralph walked in.It brought back memories to Emilie,when she was first interviewed by Scrooge McDuck, and how she was shocked that he actually considered her due to how young she was.And now here she was,trying to get her cousin-in-law a job.It was amazing how time flies.
"Mr.McDuck,this is my cousin's soon to be ex-husband,Ralph-"began Emilie.
"Stop.Let the man speak for himself."said Scrooge.
"Okay."said Ralph,sitting in the chair on the opposite side of the desk that Scrooge was sitting at.This wasn't what Ralph expected.
"Well, I came into Duckburg a few days with my daughter because my wife,Gloria-"began Ralph.
"I don't want your life story! I want to know what you can do!What value you are to me!"Scrooge partly yelled at Ralph.
"I work in real estate."
Scrooge looked thoughtful at this information.Scrooge may have owned all of Duckburg, but people still brought property.Property that could be useful to him.
'Perhaps he could be useful to me.' thought Scrooge.
But he had to make sure.Scrooge wasn't going to hire some random guy because he was related to an employee of his.
"Can you tell me which real estate is profitable right now?"Scrooge asked Ralph.
"Oh,yes."said Ralph,hoping this meant that he got the job.
"Uh-Mr.McDuck,we may have a slight situation."said Emilie,who was staring out the window.
"What do you mean slight situation?"asked Scrooge,getting up to see what Emilie was looking at.Ralph stayed where he was.He didn't want to jeopardize the opportunity to get this job.
"Bless me bagpipes!" Scrooge screamed when he looked out the window.
Ralph couldn't help himself.Emilie described it as "a slight situation", but the way Scrooge reacted implied that was an understatement.Either not or Emilie was trying to break bad news in a good way.
"A fire!"screamed Ralph when he,himself,looked out the window. "But how?"
Yes,how?indeed......

-

Annebelle only had Betty to attract men.Men her age,men who would be sympathetic to the fact that she was a "struggling" single mother.But she didn't count on Betty's needs, and attending to them herself.
Knowing full well Emilie had her own children to keep care of,Annebelle decided to have Donald keep care of Betty.After all,he kept care of his deadbeat sister's kids after she abandoned them,so naturally he would be happy to do it for her,right?
Sadly,no.Donald eventually realized what Annebelle was doing,told her off, and to make matters worse,told everybody in the family what she did.The end result?A lecture from Emilie about "responsibility", and having to keep care of Betty herself.
Which is how the fire started.You see,Annebelle's idea of attending to Betty's needs is keeping a roof over her head,keeping her clothed,keeping her feed, and making sure she was clean.Annebelle didn't pay attention to Betty,because of this,Betty got a hold of some matches, and accidentally started a fire.
How it burned down half of Duckburg is still unknown.

-

"A one year old did all this?" screamed Scrooge when a firefighter held Betty up to him. "But....how?"
"You know who her mother is, Scrooge."said Emilie,taking Betty from the firefighter.
"That's true.But what about all the businesses that I lost?"complained Scrooge.
Ralph thought.This was a perfect opportunity to prove his worth to Scrooge.But he needed to make sure what he said would impress Scrooge.
"Why don't you rebuild them on grounds that get a lot of attention from people."suggested Ralph,hoping it'll work.
Scrooge thought for a bit.
"Brilliant!"Scrooge said finally. "And since I owe Duckburg,nobody can complain if I build on their property!"
"Uh-"said Ralph.He didn't think this through.
"And if I use my own construction company,I wouldn't be spending any money!Congratulations,lad,you're hired!"said Scrooge as he shook Ralph's hand.
"Um,thank you,sir."said Ralph.He wanted to work for Scrooge McDuck, but now that he's seen his miserly ways,Ralph wasn't so sure.
"How does $5.15 sound,Ralph?"
"Uh-"
What could Ralph say?
"Well,I'll see you tomorrow to work on the details."said Scrooge before leaving.
"I-I-I don't understand...."said Ralph after a while.
"What don't you understand?"asked Emilie,who was trying to control Betty.
"He's willing to force people out of their homes to make more money, and pay me only $5.15.I heard he was miserly, but this is-this is-"said Ralph.
"Don't worry.You'll get used to it."
"Are you paid $5.15 too?"
"Oh no,he's paying me $11.25."
"But...but.....but,you live in the gated Rockerduck estate community!"
"That's because Gladstone's lucky.Now excuse me,I have to find Annebelle, and raise holy hell with her."said Emilie before walking to do what she said.
Ralph simply sighed.Unless Gladstone can find him a free house,he, and Maryanne will probably be living with the Gander family forever.