Wrong son, right heir

Pretentious

Ayda had spent most of the morning convincing herself she was being ridiculous.

She sat at the edge of her bed, staring at the message Francis had sent the night before.

I got the job, will be resuming tomorrow.

She had read it so many times that the words had begun to lose their meaning. Marc. The name shouldn’t have bothered her. It was only a name.

There were thousands of Marc in America. Thousands of men who could work at Marc Group. Thousands of coincidences that meant absolutely nothing.

But Francis had said it differently. Mr. Marc asked if I knew an Ayda.

Why would he ask that? Ayda picked up her phone. She opened Benjamin’s chat. Her thumb hovered over the keyboard.

Did you know someone named Francis before yesterday?

She stared at the sentence. Then deleted it. Too obvious. She tried again.

Where do you work? Delete. That was worse.

If Benjamin knew nothing, she would be handing him a reason to become suspicious.

Ayda tossed the phone onto the bed. “No.” She stood.

There was only one way to settle it. She needed to see the place herself by pretending to have a meeting scheduled with Benjamin Marc. The receptionist's response will determine if it’s the same Benjamin she knows.

And if the man she had known for two years was actually a Marc…Her lips parted slightly. That would change everything.

Across the city, Benjamin was having an entirely different problem. His father had asked him to come upstairs.

Benjamin entered Matthew’s office and closed the door behind him.

Matthew was standing beside the window, one hand resting against the glass.

“You wanted to see me?” Matthew turned. “Yes.”

There was something unusual about his expression.

Benjamin waited. Matthew gestured towards the chair. “Sit.” Benjamin did.

For a moment, his father said nothing, just thinking to himself if he should love this boy differently now that he knows he isn’t his biological son. Then his eyes settled on him. “How is the new marketing hire?”

Benjamin knew immediately who he meant. “Francis Wodd?” Matthew nodded. “He seems capable.”

“And you approved him?” “Yes.”

Matthew studied his son. “You’re sure?” Benjamin frowned. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Because you’re responsible for the people working under you now.”

Benjamin leaned back. “I know.” Matthew nodded slowly. “Good.”

The conversation should have ended there.

But Benjamin noticed the way his father’s fingers tightened around the edge of the desk.

“You seem distracted.” Benjamin hesitated. “I’ve had a lot on my mind.” “Work?” “Mostly.”

Matthew held his gaze for another second. If only his son to whom he had built a father and son relationship knew. Then he looked away.

“Don’t allow personal matters to interfere with your judgement.”

Benjamin almost smiled. If only his father knew how accurate that statement was. “I won’t.”

Matthew nodded. “Good.” Benjamin stood. He reached the door before Matthew spoke again.

“Benjamin.” He turned. “Be careful who you trust.”

The words landed strangely. Benjamin stared at him.

“With Francis?” “No.”

Matthew’s expression remained unreadable. “Just in general.”

Benjamin left without asking another question.

Neither of them noticed the figure standing several metres away at the end of the corridor.

Henry, he had been waiting to speak with Matthew.

And the moment Benjamin disappeared into the elevator, Henry looked towards the closed office door.

His phone felt heavier in his pocket.

The message Matthew had sent him the night before was still there.

He knocked. “Come in.” Henry entered.

Matthew didn’t ask him to sit.

“You got my message.”

“Yes.”

“You’ve known how things are with Susan and I. And I believe you are one person that can help me investigate”

Henry eased up. “Trust me to deliver a good job”

“I’m suspecting that Benjamin isn’t my son”. He frowned. “Susan knows the rule of inheritance in Marc group… she knows better than to lie to me”. He scoffed.

Henry just listened with a composed expression although inside him was burning with fear. He thought it’s just a mere cheating suspension, now he thinks Benjamin isn’t his son.

“I need you to look up anything, anything at all that you can find on Susan”.

“We would quietly find proof.” Henry felt something cold settle in his stomach.

“And when we do, she should better prepare for what’s coming.”

Henry forced a nod. “Of course.”

He left the office before his expression could betray him. The elevator doors closed. Only then did he release the breath he’d been holding.

Elsie shut her laptop. Her head throbbed after hours of work, but the noise from the corridor had been worse.

Ayda stood before the mirror, dressed as though she were heading somewhere important. She adjusted one earring, then checked her reflection again, giving Elsie only the briefest glance.

“Going out?” Elsie asked.

“Marc Group.”

“Voluntary?”

Ayda’s hand paused at her earring. “I have something to check.”

“What?”

Her eyes hardened in the mirror. “Must you interrogate me?”

“You seem still mad about Ben finding out that you have a boyfriend.”

“Oh yes, I’m still pretty much mad at you big sis.”

Ayda turned slowly. The look she gave Elsie was cool enough to make the room feel smaller.

Elsie held her gaze for a moment, then looked away first.

Ayda glanced at her, but Elsie had already reopened her laptop. Her shoulders were tense, her attention fixed on the screen with exaggerated concentration.

Ayda’s jaw tightened. She stepped outside and shut the door harder than necessary.

Ayda had already made her plans before she entered Marc Group.

Plan A: Pretend she had an appointment with Benjamin Marc.

If that failed, Plan B: Wait until Francis finished work and act as though she had simply come to see her boyfriend.

She walked through the revolving doors.

“Good afternoon. How may I help you?” the receptionist asked.

“I’m here to see Benjamin Marc.”

The receptionist typed his name into the system.

Ayda watched her screen closely.

A moment later, the receptionist looked up.

“Yes. Mr. Benjamin Marc is in a meeting.”

Ayda’s breath caught.

For a second, her confident expression disappeared.

Her eyes widened slightly.

Benjamin Marc.

It was him.

The receptionist continued, “Do you have an appointment with him?”

Ayda recovered quickly.

“Yes.”

She smiled as though nothing had happened.

“I believe he’s expecting me.”

The receptionist checked again.

“Your name?”. “Ayda, Ayda….” She shouldn’t be giving her real name, if not he would know she stopped by. What would be her reason? “My name is Amanda Williams” she lied.

“I don’t see an appointment under your name.”

Ayda’s smile tightened. “That’s strange.”

“I can call his office to confirm.” “No.” Ayda said it too quickly. She softened her voice. “I’ll wait.”

She moved towards the seating area, her heart racing.

There was no longer any doubt.

The Marc Francis had mentioned was the same Benjamin Marc she knew.

Francis walked through the lobby with a folder under his arm. An overzealous employee. It’s past his close time but he seemed still busy.

He stopped when he saw her. “Ayda?” She smiled. “Surprise.”

“What are you doing here?” “I came to see you.”

Before Ayda could say anything else, Francis stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her.

Ayda hugged him back.

Neither of them noticed the elevator doors opening behind them.

Benjamin stepped out.

He was speaking to an executive when his eyes suddenly landed on them. He stopped. His gaze fixed on Ayda. Then Francis. His face remained still. He said nothing.

Neither Ayda or Francis saw him.

They had no idea Benjamin had witnessed the entire embrace.