CHAPTER THREE - A New Name, A New Life
1373 Words
The next morning felt strange.
Cassie woke up later than usual, sunlight pouring through the massive windows of her room. For a moment she forgot where she was.
Then the marble walls, the silk sheets, and the enormous balcony doors reminded her about her mother’s new marriage and Ronald.
Cassie groaned quietly and sat up.
Last night kept replaying in her mind — the kitchen, the awkward conversation, the phone call that changed Ronald’s entire expression but she shook the thought away and climbed out of bed.
Cassie quickly got dressed in a fitted blazer, black trousers, and a white blouse. Before all of this happened, she had already been working for a small marketing company in the city.
It wasn’t glamorous but it was hers and she liked it. After grabbing her bag, Cassie headed downstairs.
The smell of coffee filled the air, When she entered the dining room, her mother and her Dad were already seated at the table.
“Good morning, sweetheart,” her mother said with a bright smile.
Cassie smiled back.
“Morning Mom and Dad.”
Mr Walton looked up from his newspaper.
“Heading somewhere?”
Cassie nodded as she poured herself a cup of coffee.
“Yeah, I start work at nine.”
Mr Walton slowly folded the newspaper and set it down.
“That won’t be necessary.”
Cassie blinked. “I’m sorry?”
He leaned back slightly in his chair.
“You don’t need that job anymore.”
Cassie frowned.“What do you mean I don’t need it? I’ve been working there for almost two years.”
Mr Walton smiled calmly.
“Cassie, you’re part of this family now.”
Something about the way he said it made her uneasy. He continued.
“My empire didn’t grow this large by accident. I built it so that my children would have a future inside it.”
Cassie glanced around the table.“Children?”
Mr Walton nodded. “Ronald and now you.”
Cassie nearly choked on her coffee.“Wait—”
“You’ll be working with us.”
Cassie stared at him.
“I appreciate the offer, but I actually like my job.”
Mr Walton chuckled softly.
“That’s because you haven’t seen the opportunities here yet.”
Cassie shook her head.
“Mr Walton…”
“Dad,” he corrected gently.
“Dad…. I really don’t think…”
“You’ll be learning the business.”
Cassie paused. “From you?”
Mr Walton smiled again.
“Not exactly.”
Cassie’s stomach tightened.
He glanced toward the doorway of the dining room.
“Ronald is the CEO now.” Right on cue….Footsteps echoed from the hallway.
Cassie didn’t even have to look to know who it was.
Ronald walked into the room, dressed in a dark suit, his expression calm and unreadable.
He looked every bit the powerful businessman Dad described.
His eyes briefly met Cassie’s.
Then he looked away and poured himself coffee.
Dad continued speaking as nothing had changed.
“There’s still a lot to teach you about how our empire works.”
Cassie crossed her arms slightly.
“And you want Ronald to do that?”
He nodded. “Yes.”
Cassie slowly turned to look at Ronald.
“Does he know about this?”
Ronald took a sip of his coffee before answering.
“Yes.”
Cassie’s eyebrows lifted.
“And?”
Ronald set the cup down. His gaze met hers again with an unreadable expression,“You start Monday.”
Cassie stared at him.
“You didn’t even ask if I wanted the job.”
Ronald’s expression didn’t change. “It’s not really optional.” he took a sip of his coffee
The room went quiet, Cassie looked between the two men. Her new stepfather and the man she absolutely did not want to work with.
Then Daniel said something that made the situation even worse.
“Oh, and Cassie…”
She looked at him.
“You’ll be working directly under Ronald for the meantime till u get used to the business .”
Cassie’s heart dropped and Ronald didn’t even react like he already knew.
Cassie let out a slow breath.
“This is going to be a disaster.”
Ronald finally allowed the faintest hint of a smirk.
“Probably.”
She slowly placed her coffee cup down.
“Okay… even if I did agree to this,” she said carefully, “I still have a job.”
Mr Walton folded his hands on the table.
“Not for long.”
Cassie frowned.
“I can’t just disappear. I need to go there and sign a resignation letter. They’ve been good to me.”
Before Daniel could respond, Ronald spoke.
“There’s no need for that.”
Cassie turned sharply toward him. “And how exactly do you know that?”
Ronald leaned back slightly in his chair. “They already know who you are.”
Cassie blinked. “What does that mean?”
“You moved here. Your name changed. Your address changed.” Ronald shrugged faintly. “People in the business world notice things like that.”
Cassie crossed her arms.
“That still doesn’t mean I can just quit without showing up.”
“You won’t.”
“And why not?”
Ronald picked up his coffee again. “Because you’ll send an email.”
Cassie stared at him as he had just suggested something ridiculous.
“An email?”
“Yes.”
“That’s incredibly unprofessional.”
Ronald took a slow sip before answering.
“It’s efficient.”
Cassie opened her mouth to argue again.
“I’m not doing that. I’m going there in person and—”
“Cassie.”
Her mother’s voice cut through the conversation.
Cassie turned toward her.
Her mother smiled gently but firmly.
“Sweetheart… maybe it’s time for a change.”
Cassie’s eyebrows lifted.
“You too?”
Her mother reached across the table and touched her hand.
“You’ve been working so hard for years. This is an opportunity most people would dream about.”
Cassie shook her head.
“That’s not the point.”
Mr Walton spoke calmly. “Your mother is right.”
Cassie looked at him.
“You’re asking me to drop everything I built because I’m into Wealth?”
Mr Walton's voice remained steady.
“No. I’m asking you to build something bigger.”
Cassie exhaled slowly, frustration creeping in.
“And I suppose Ronald is going to teach me how to do that?”
Mr Walton nodded once.
“Yes.”
Cassie glanced back at Ronald.
He didn’t look bothered by the situation at all, If anything, he looked… amused, like he had expected this exact reaction.
Cassie leaned back in her chair. “This is unbelievable.”
Ronald set his cup down again.
“You’ll get used to it.”
Cassie gave him a look.
“You’re enjoying this.”
“Not particularly.”
“Could’ve fooled me.”
Ronald’s lips curved slightly.
“It’s just business.”
Cassie sighed and ran a hand through her hair.
Her mother said lightly.
“Give it a chance.”
Cassie hesitated.
Then she looked at Ronald again.
“And what exactly am I supposed to be doing in this ‘empire’ of yours?”
Ronald stood up from the table.
His chair slid back quietly across the floor and he adjusted his tie.
“You’ll find out.”
Cassie frowned. “That’s not an answer.”
Ronald picked up his briefcase.
“It’s the only one you’re getting right now.”
Cassie watched as he started toward the door.
Just before leaving the room, he paused and looked back at her.
“Oh, and Cassie.”
She crossed her arms.
“What now?”
Ronald’s gaze held hers for a moment.
“Wear something professional tomorrow.”
Cassie blinked.
“Tomorrow?”
Ronald’s expression didn’t change.
“Your first day.”
And with that, he walked out of the room.
Leaving Cassie staring after him.
Her coffee had gone completely cold.
And somehow, she had a feeling that working for Ronald Walton was going to be a lot more complicated than anyone in this house seemed to realise.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD