Vince knew he had to look the part. He bought himself some pieces of cheap locally made suits with badly fitted shoulder pads and pants. It had been two weeks since he found out about his real identity and his father’s death. Paperworks were ongoing on the transfer of the company's ownership into his.
He had begged his grandmother for her discretion on his identity. He needed to reform the system of Peak law firm to avoid having more victims like himself. To do that, he needed to go undercover within the company. Bernard’s trap seemed like his best bet at achieving this aim.
He was going to take the demotion the company offered. A desk job with a meager salary seemed like a perfect cover.
He walked into the gigantic doors of Peak law firm and he marveled at the exterior just as he did the first day he showed up there for his interview three years ago. He was stopped halfway by the security guards but after some confirmation, he was allowed in and he made straight for “his hell”, Bernard Harris’s office.
Bernard smiled widely when he saw him. He felt immense joy that he had humbled Vince. The lowlife had to be desperate enough to show up at work knowing fully what lied ahead for him.
“You took your sweet time showing up Vince Finn,” Bernard said mockingly.
Vince was quiet, the man rambled on endlessly about what his new position required. He handed him the demotion agreement while exaggerating his current rights for that position, unlike the privileges he had in the past working as a lawyer.
“The company is mourning the current CEO so you wouldn’t be penalized for showing up late after your reinstatement.”
“Okay Mr Harris,” He said and turned to leave.
“Just okay? No appreciation whatsoever?” Bernard said sarcastically, adjusting his polka-dot tie.
“Thank you, Mr Harris.”
Vince walked out of his office, he smiled satisfactorily to himself. Bernard looked so pleased with himself that he wouldn’t see his downfall coming, not even from a mile away. Vince made for the stairs leading to the third floor, where Bernard described as his new office.
He was glad he achieved his aim. With every step he took, gossips followed his strides. The staff that knew him in the past all looked at him with a gloomy expression. They all thought he was actually pitiful, the truth was glaring from the onset.
Amber had committed the crime, but who was going to challenge the authorities when she was sanctified as innocent and even promoted?
Now she dined with the top lawyers of the firm while her ex-husband became a desk worker.
What manner of injustice in a top-tier law firm!
Vince was on the first staircase when his eyes caught a pair of heels. It was just as he remembered it, a pretty pink lace covering the toes. The last birthday gift he bought Amber before his arrest.
Their eyes met and shock registered on her face. She hadn’t expected Vince to really be stupid enough to make a comeback. She had dismissed the possibility of his excessive desperation when Bernard talked about making it happen, reducing him to nothing worthy of her.
She steadied herself and acted indifferent towards him. She cursed her ill luck inwardly for actually wearing a gift from him on his shameful return.
“Have you signed the divorce papers now?” she said bluntly.
“Good morning to you too, Amber.”
Amber scoffed loudly, the lowlife still had some pride left in him when she expected total humility from him.
“Vince Finn, probably because you just returned, you might not be aware that I got a huge promotion in your absence, so I am totally out of your league.”
“Okay.” Vince reached into the old briefcase on his left arm. He retrieved the printed version of the divorce agreement and handed it over to her. Amber checked it and smiled warmly.
“Well, by this now, we are total strangers—everywhere!”
“Well noted Miss Reed.”
Amber walked out on him. Relief flooded her mind. She had expected him to fight back but he didn’t! Somehow, that infuriated her.
The loser should have even made a little effort. It didn’t matter much anyway, Bernard had promised her marriage and the only stumbling block in their way was her sham marriage, which she had just invalidated. She was a free woman now.
Vince proceeded towards the exit leading to the next staircase. He felt his knees wobble. His grandmother had made him spend most of his days in her company since his father’s burial. Regrettably, he couldn’t attend his father’s burial, but the rumors of his existence were already circulating on the internet.
His grandmother had paid a blogger to serve the rumor and it was definitely working. Their only challenge now was finding a worthy “Vince Finn."
For the past week, they had run over ten discreet interviews but unfortunately, none of the candidates fit his taste. They all seemed only interested in the money, and he knew their cover would be blown all too soon, if he gave them the chance.
He urged his grandmother to keep searching for other people, and she had sent him another interview list for that evening. Hopefully, one of the three candidates would show up with promising responses.
Vince rose from his seat and was about to circle down the stairs when he heard voices,
“I heard the CEO has a son.”
“What! That is new.”
“It is all over the internet, I heard he is taking over soon.”
“Wow!”
“Bingo!” Vince thought as he walked past the two ladies gossiping about him. Their expression dwindled into pity. Everyone from their past held the same sentiment that Amber was an ungrateful wench but no one dares challenge her or her new lover, Bernard Harris.
Vince smiled inwardly because he knew that his pitiful state was going to become a new normal soon. The news of the new CEO will soon spread like wildfire, and that was the news he wished to establish more.
Because it was the foundation of his impending revenge!