THE HEIRESS THEY BURIED

THE DEMAND

VANESSA POV

I stepped out of the elevator at AJ Global with one thing on my mind.

Answers.

The receptionist looked up when she saw me, but I didn’t slow down. I knew this building too well not to need directions. As usual, all heads turned as I walked straight to Adrian's office.

I had been here before Adrian became the man everyone respected, before AJ Global grew into the powerful company it is today, before he learned to hide every emotion behind that controlled expression, and before Dina Grant walked into his life.

If I wanted to confirm if Dina was truly Daniel Grant’s daughter, I needed to get closer. Watching from outside would not be enough; I needed access to company records, conversations, and most importantly, Adrian himself.

He looked up from his desk, and his expression hardened immediately.

“Vanessa,” he greeted coldly, his eyes narrowing slightly.

I smiled as I closed the door behind me. “Good morning to you too”

“What are you doing here?” he demanded, his voice carrying the same impatience I had expected.

“I came to see you.”

“You saw me yesterday,” he reminded me, his expression unreadable.

“And now I’m here again.”

He leaned back in his chair, studying me carefully. “Why?”

I placed my handbag on one of the chairs. “I want a position at AJ Global.”

For a moment, he simply stared at me before giving a short, humorless laugh. “Never.”

“You didn’t even ask what position.”

“It doesn’t matter,” he dismissed harshly.

“Why?” I asked in a sharp tone.

“Because you’ve never worked here,” he replied casually.

“So?” I asked firmly

“So there is no position for you,” he declared without breaking eye contact.

His answer irritated me. “You’re telling me there’s nothing I can do in this company?”

“I’m telling you I’m not creating a position because you walked in here and demanded one,” he responded, his tone firm.

I took a slow breath, refusing to let his attitude push me back. “Adrian, you know me better than that.”

His eyes remained cold. “Do I?”

The question stung, but I refused to show it. “You know my educational background, you know my experience, you know what I’m capable of.”

“Do I?” he repeated, his voice quieter this time but no less challenging.

“Then you know I can handle almost any executive position in this company.”

“I also know you have your own business interests,” he reminded me.

A smile crossed my face. “I do.”

“Then focus on them,” his voice quiet but certain.

A humorless smile touched my lips. “You really expect me to walk away after everything I did for this company?”

“You didn’t work for my company,” he pointed out, his expression hardening.

“No, but I was there when you took over.” I stepped closer to his desk. “I was there when this company was struggling, I watched you walk into meetings where people doubted you could turn things around.”

He said nothing.

“You had money, but money wasn’t enough. You needed people who understood what you were trying to build; I helped you.”

His jaw tightened. “I remember,” he acknowledged, his voice carrying a trace of restrained irritation.

“Then don’t pretend I have nothing to offer this company.”

“I never said that,” he replied, his gaze holding mine.

“Your response says otherwise.”

Adrian stood, the calm movement changed the atmosphere immediately. The room suddenly felt smaller, the distance between us charged with old memories neither of us wanted to name.

“You helped me once,” he reminded me, his voice controlled. “I’m grateful for that, but gratitude doesn’t mean I owe you a position.”

My smile faded. “I didn’t say you owed me.”

“Then what are you asking for?” his voice holds no trace of warmth.

“A chance,” I replied softly.

“You’re demanding one,” he shot back, his voice rising sharply.

“Because I know you would never offer it.”

His eyes narrowed. “You’re right.”

Anger rose inside me. “You’ve changed.”

“No, you just know me better now,” he replied, his voice cold enough to make the words sting.

His words hit harder than I expected. I looked away for a moment before facing him again.v“Fine, if there’s no position, create one.”

“I’m not doing that,” he refused without hesitation.

“Then make one available.”

“And why will I do that?” he challenged, his brows drawing together.

“If you have to replace someone, replace them,” I said, matching his tone.

His expression hardened. “Careful, Vanessa,” he cautioned, his voice dropping into a warning.

“Why?” I asked.

“This company doesn’t work that way,” he replied, turning his back at me

“It could.” I exhaled slowly. “You’re making this unnecessarily difficult.”

“You walked into my office and demanded a job,” he reminded me, frustration beginning to show through his controlled expression.

“I walked in because I know what I’m worth.”

“And I know what this company needs,” he countered coldly.

Silence settled between us, then I smiled. “I’m too qualified to work as an executive assistant.”

His expression remained unreadable.

“Otherwise, I would simply ask you to fire Dina and give me her position.”

The change was subtle, but I saw it, his shoulders stiffened, his eyes sharpened. For a brief second, his carefully controlled expression slipped.

I studied his face, and a slow smile spread across my lips. There it was, I hadn’t expected confirmation so quickly, Adrian cared about Dina, maybe more than he realized.

Maybe Dina really was Daniel Grant’s daughter; maybe Adrian knew more than he was willing to admit, and if that was true, getting inside this office was now critical.

I picked up my handbag. “I’ll give you two days.”

Adrian frowned. “For what?”

“To find a position for me.”

“And if I don’t?” he asked

I smiled. “Then I’ll assume you don’t want me here.”

“I don’t,” he answered firmly, his voice leaving no room for misunderstanding.

The answer was cold. It hurt, but I refused to let him see it.

I turned toward the door. “But you should think carefully before making that decision.”

His voice stopped me before I could leave the office. “Is that a threat?”

“No, its a reminder.”

“Of what?” he pressed, his tone guarded.

I smiled over my shoulder. “Of how much we know about each other.”

His expression darkened.

“There are things from our past, Adrian, that you may not want coming back into the light.”

He stared at me, but I didn’t wait for his response, I walked out. The elevator doors closed behind me, and only then did I allow myself to smile.

I hadn’t gotten the job, but I had gotten something better, an unexpected reaction. One name had been enough to shake Adrian’s control.

I pulled out my phone and looked at Gregory’s earlier message. “Find out who she really is.”

I locked the screen. Now I knew where to start, I had two days to make Adrian give me a place inside his company, and if he refused, I would find another way in.

I came here looking for a job. Instead, I was leaving with something far more valuable. A reason to dig deeper.