Ethan woke to the sound of his phone buzzing on the nightstand. The guest room at Victor's estate was still too quiet, too clean, a far cry from the creaky apartment he shared with Sarah in Chicago. He grabbed the phone, squinting at the screen. A text from Jamal: Yo, you still alive in NY? What's the deal with this rich guy?
Ethan rubbed his eyes, the weight of yesterday pressing down on him with Victor's offer, the towering offices of Langston Enterprises, Elise's cold stare, and Claudia's fake smile. He typed back: Still here. Guy's my dad, wants me to take over his company. It's weird. Call you later.
He got up, pulling on his jeans and a clean T-shirt from his duffel bag. His clothes felt like a shield, a reminder of who he was in this world of suits and secrets. Victor had said they'd tour more of the company today, meet more people. Ethan wasn't sure he wanted to, but he'd agreed to a week. He wasn't backing out now.
Downstairs, breakfast was waiting in the dining room, but Victor wasn't there. Claudia sat at the table, sipping coffee and scrolling through her phone. Elise was there too, picking at a plate of fruit, her eyes flicking to Ethan as he walked in.
"Morning," Ethan said, grabbing a muffin and coffee. He sat across from Elise, ignoring Claudia's sharp gaze.
"Mr. Langston had an early meeting," Claudia said, her voice smooth but clipped. "He'll join you later. I'll take you to the tech division today."
Ethan nodded, not trusting her. There was something about Claudia that set him on edge. Elise didn't say anything, just kept eating, but he felt her watching him.
The drive to the city was quiet. Claudia sat upfront with the driver, typing on her phone, while Ethan stared out the window at the passing skyline. He thought of Ava, her voice last night telling him to stay true to himself. He wanted to call her again, but he didn't know what to say. I'm in over my head didn't feel like enough.
The tech division of Langston Enterprises was in a sleek building with glass walls and people in headsets rushing around. Claudia led him to a lab where engineers worked on what she called "next-gen software." Ethan didn't understand half of it—codes, algorithms, stuff that sounded like another language. But he listened, nodding when a young engineer named Priya explained their work on cybersecurity.
"You're Victor's son?" Priya asked, her eyes curious but not unkind. "He doesn't talk about family much."
"Yeah," Ethan said, shifting uncomfortably. "It's new to me too."
Priya smiled. "Well, you seem normal. That's rare around here."
Ethan liked her, but Claudia cut in, steering him to another meeting. This one was with a group of managers who threw around terms like "market share" and "disruptive innovation." Ethan felt like he was drowning, but he kept his face blank, not wanting to look like an idiot.
At lunch, they ate in a fancy cafeteria with food Ethan couldn't pronounce. Claudia sat across from him, her eyes sharp. "So, Ethan," she said, cutting her salad with precision. "What do you think of the company? Quite a step up from... what was it, fixing cars?"
Ethan bristled at her tone. "It's a lot," he said. "I'm still figuring it out."
"Of course," she said, her smile thin. "It's a big responsibility. Not everyone's cut out for it."
He didn't like the way she said it, like she was testing him. "I didn't ask for this," he said. "Victor's the one who brought me here."
"Yes," Claudia said. "He's very... sentimental lately. But running a company like this takes more than sentiment."
Ethan set his fork down, his jaw tight. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Just that it's a complex world," Claudia said, her voice smooth. "Victor's health is fragile. The board needs someone strong, experienced. Someone who understands the stakes."
Ethan stared at her, his gut telling him she wasn't just talking. She was warning him or threatening him. "I'm here to learn," he said, keeping his voice steady. "That's all."
She nodded, but her eyes said she wasn't done with him.
The rest of the day was a blur of meetings and tours. Victor joined them in the afternoon, looking paler than yesterday, his cough worse. He introduced Ethan to more executives, including Richard Hale, the guy from yesterday with the slick smile. Hale shook Ethan's hand, his grip too tight.
"Learning the ropes, Ethan?" Hale asked. "Big shoes to fill."
"Yeah," Ethan said, pulling his hand back. "I'm getting there."
Hale's smile didn't waver, but Ethan felt the same unease as before. This guy didn't like him, and Ethan didn't trust him.
By evening, they were back at the estate. Victor asked Ethan to join him in the study after dinner. Elise was there too, sitting in a corner with a laptop, her face unreadable. Victor poured himself a drink, offering one to Ethan, who shook his head.
"I know this is overwhelming," Victor said, sitting by the fireplace. "But you're doing well. You're listening, asking questions. That's a start."
Ethan leaned forward, his hands clasped. "I'm trying, but I don't get why you're so sure I can do this. You don't know me."
Victor's eyes met his, steady despite his frail frame. "I know enough. You're tough, Ethan. You've had to be. That's what this company needs, someone who doesn't break."
Ethan shook his head. "I'm not your guy. I don't belong here."
"You do," Victor said. "You just don't see it yet."
Elise looked up, her voice sharp. "And what about me, Victor? I've been here, working for you, learning the business. Why's he the one you're betting on?"
Victor's face softened. "Elise, you're family. You have a place here. But Ethan's my blood. This is his birthright."
Elise's jaw tightened, and she stood, slamming her laptop shut. "Right. Blood. Guess that's all that matters." She walked out, the door clicking shut behind her.
Ethan stared after her, his chest tight. "She hates me."
"She's scared," Victor said. "She's worked hard to prove herself. She'll come around."
Ethan wasn't so sure. Elise's anger felt personal, and he didn't blame her. He was an outsider, stepping into her world. He thought of Claudia's words at lunch, her hint that he wasn't cut out for this. Were they working together, her and Elise? Or was he just paranoid?
"I need to ask you something," Ethan said, turning to Victor. "You said you left to protect us. But Mom never told me about you. Why? What was so dangerous?"
Victor's face darkened, his fingers tightening around his glass. "My early days in business weren't clean, Ethan. I made deals with people I shouldn't have. They threatened your mother when she was pregnant. I left to keep you safe. I sent money, but she wouldn't take much. She wanted you to have a normal life."
Ethan's throat burned. "Normal? We barely got by. She's sick now, did you know that? Coughing all the time, working doubles to pay bills."
Victor looked down, his voice low. "I didn't know she was sick. I'll make sure she's taken care of."
Ethan stood, his hands clenched. "You should've done that years ago. Not now, when you're dying."
Victor didn't answer, just coughed again, the sound rattling in his chest. Ethan felt a pang of guilt, but he pushed it down. He wasn't here to make Victor feel better. He was here for answers.
"I'm going to bed," Ethan said, heading for the door. "We'll talk tomorrow."
In his room, he called Sarah. She picked up, her voice tired. "Ethan, how's it going?"
"He's trying to sell me on his company," Ethan said. "Says I'm his heir. But I don't trust him, Mom. And there's people here that don't want me around."
Sarah was quiet for a moment. "Be careful, Ethan. Victor's world is full of snakes. Don't let them pull you in too deep."
"What aren't you telling me?" Ethan asked, his voice sharp. "You knew him. You knew he was rich. Why didn't you ever say anything?"
"I wanted you safe," she said. "That's all. Just... watch your back."
She hung up, leaving Ethan staring at his phone. He felt like he was standing on a fault line, the ground cracking under him. Victor, Claudia, Elise, even Sarah had secrets. He texted Ava: This place is a mess. People here are hiding stuff. Wish you were here.
Her reply came fast: Sounds rough. You're stronger than them, Ethan. Call me if you need me.
He smiled, her words like a lifeline. Tomorrow, he'd dig deeper. Victor's world was pulling him in, but he wasn't ready to let it swallow him.