The Forgotten Heiress

Chapter Four: An Unexpected Beginning

Chapter Four

Adrian stared at her, clearly caught off guard.

"Working somewhere else?"

Serena noticed the hesitation in his expression.

"You don't have to answer right now."

He looked down at the folder in his hands, then back at her.

"I just wasn't expecting that."

"I know."

She gathered her things from the table.

"That's why you should take some time to think about it."

Adrian nodded slowly.

"And if you want to discuss it..."

Serena said as she picked up her bag.

"...Come to Marie Tech tomorrow."

"Marie Tech?"

"We'll talk properly there. I'll explain the offer, what it requires, and you can decide if it's something you want."

A small smile appeared on her face.

"No pressure."

Adrian watched her leave, still trying to understand how a simple conversation had suddenly turned into an opportunity he never expected.

The next morning, Adrian stood outside the entrance of Marie Tech, staring at the building in front of him.

It was a different world from Bellissimo.

Inside, everything moved with purpose. Employees walked quickly, conversations were brief, and everyone seemed to know exactly where they needed to be.

Then he saw her.

Serena stepped out of a conference room surrounded by executives, a tablet in one hand as she listened to someone explain a problem.

Adrian stopped.

It was strange.

The woman he knew from Bellissimo—the one who smiled easily and challenged him over coffee—was the same person standing there commanding an entire room.

She looked different.

Not just because of the expensive outfit or the confidence she carried, but because everyone around her trusted her.

And for a moment, Adrian forgot he was there for an interview.

"Mr. Hayes?"

He turned.

Infinity stood nearby with a polite smile.

"President Marie is ready for you."

Adrian quickly looked away from Serena.

"Right. Thank you."

Infinity led him toward Serena's office.

---

Serena looked up when Adrian entered.

"You came."

"You made a convincing argument yesterday."

A small smile appeared on her face.

"I'll assume that's a compliment."

"It is."

Infinity stepped inside behind him.

"I'll leave you both to it."

Serena nodded.

"Thanks, Infinity."

Once Infinity left, Serena motioned for Adrian to sit.

"Before we begin, I want you to understand something. This isn't pressure. If you decide this isn't something you want, that's completely fine."

Adrian nodded.

"I appreciate that."

Serena placed a folder on the table.

"This is about Haven."

She explained the project, how important it was to Marie Tech, and how losing their project lead had created a gap they needed to fill.

Adrian listened carefully.

"And you think I can handle it?"

"I think you can."

"Based on one code?"

"Based on how you approached the problem."

He studied her.

"You're taking a chance on someone you barely know."

Serena leaned back slightly.

"Maybe."

"That doesn't bother you?"

"No."

He smiled faintly.

"You're very confident."

"I usually am."

"That's probably why you're the president."

"And that's probably why you're still questioning me."

The exchange made him laugh quietly.

Then Serena opened another document.

"The position comes with a salary of $7,500 a month, along with benefits."

Adrian went silent.

It was a serious offer.

But the money wasn't the only thing on his mind.

"Haven matters a lot to you."

"Yes."

"And if I can't do it?"

Serena didn't hesitate.

"Then we solve the problem."

The answer stayed with him.

After a moment, Serena closed the folder.

"So?"

Adrian looked down.

"I need time to think."

Serena nodded.

"That's fair."

He looked back at her.

"How long do I have?"

"Three days."

His eyebrows lifted slightly.

"Three days?"

"That's all I can give you. We need someone soon."

Adrian nodded slowly.

"Okay. I'll give you an answer in three days."

Serena reached into her folder and pulled out a business card.

"Here."

He took it and looked at it.

"My number is on there."

Adrian glanced back at her.

"Your personal number?"

"If you're going to think about joining Marie Tech, I think you should be able to reach me directly."

A small smile crossed his face.

"That's a lot of trust."

Serena smiled slightly.

"Don't make me regret it."

He looked at the card again before putting it away.

"I won't."

Serena stood.

"That's all I ask."

He thanked her before walking toward the door.

As Adrian left Marie Tech, the decision felt heavier than when he first walked in.

But for the first time in a long time, he wasn't just thinking about what he had lost.

He was thinking about what he could become.

Infinity waited until Adrian had left before returning to Serena's office.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Infinity looked at her.

"So?"

Serena glanced up from the folder in front of her.

"So what?"

Infinity raised an eyebrow.

"You brought someone you barely know into Marie Tech, gave him a chance at leading one of our biggest projects, and you're asking me so what?"

Serena leaned back.

"He has the ability."

"I didn't say he didn't."

Serena looked at her.

"Then what's your point?"

Infinity smiled slightly.

"My point is that you don't usually do this."

Serena frowned.

"Do what?"

"Take personal interest."

Serena looked away.

"This is about finding the right person for Haven."

"Of course it is."

The teasing tone made Serena look back at her.

"Don't start."

Infinity laughed softly.

"I didn't say anything."

Serena shook her head and returned to the folder.

But the small smile she tried to hide did not go unnoticed.

Adrian arrived at the hospital as soon as he received the call.

He found the doctor waiting for him outside his mother's room.

"Mr. Hayes."

Adrian immediately knew something was wrong.

"How is she?"

The doctor sighed.

"Your mother had another seizure."

Adrian went quiet.

"Is she awake?"

"Yes, but she's still being monitored."

For a moment, Adrian just stood there, trying to process the words.

Another seizure.

Another reminder that things were getting worse.

The doctor explained that they needed to move forward with her treatment, but there were costs involved. They would need payment arrangements soon to continue with the next steps.

Adrian listened silently.

Then he nodded.

"Okay."

But his voice broke slightly.

After the doctor left, Adrian stepped away and covered his face.

He tried to hold it together, but the pressure he had been carrying for so long finally caught up with him.

A quiet sob escaped before he quickly wiped his face.

He hated feeling helpless.

He hated that no matter how hard he worked, it never seemed to be enough.

Then Serena's offer came back to him.

Marie Tech.

Haven.

The opportunity he wasn't sure he deserved.

The job that could change everything.

Adrian looked through the hospital window toward his mother's room.

He didn't know if he was ready for the challenge.

But maybe he didn't have a choice anymore.

Serena was still in her office when her phone rang.

She looked at the screen.

Adrian.

For a moment, she wondered why that small detail made her smile.

She answered.

"Hello?"

"Am I calling too late?"

She looked around the empty office.

"No. I was just leaving."

A pause.

"I wanted to talk to you."

Something about his voice made her sit up straighter.

"About the offer?"

"Yes."

"And?"

"I think I'd rather tell you in person."

A small smile touched her lips.

"Bellissimo?"

"Bellissimo."

---

The restaurant was closed when Serena arrived.

The lights were dimmed, the chairs were arranged neatly, and the place felt nothing like the busy restaurant where they had first met.

Adrian was waiting near one of the tables.

When he saw her, he smiled.

"You came."

Serena walked closer.

"You sound surprised."

"I wasn't sure you would."

"Why?"

He looked at her for a moment.

"Because every time I see you, you're either running a company or solving a problem."

She raised an eyebrow.

"And you think I can't make time for a conversation?"

"I think you forget you can."

The answer caught her slightly off guard.

She sat down across from him.

For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.

It was unusual.

They had spent every meeting exchanging words, challenging each other, laughing at small things.

But tonight felt quieter.

Different.

"You look tired," Adrian said.

Serena glanced at him.

"That's an interesting observation."

"Was I wrong?"

She looked away briefly.

"No."

"Then why do you look like you're about to argue with me?"

"Because you say things too confidently."

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"Maybe because I'm usually right."

"That confidence is dangerous."

"So is yours."

Their eyes met.

And for a moment, neither of them looked away.

Then Serena cleared her throat.

"So. The offer."

Adrian nodded.

"I thought about it."

She waited.

"I still have doubts."

"About Haven?"

"About whether I belong there."

Serena studied him.

"Why wouldn't you?"

"Because people like you built places like Marie Tech. People who always knew what they were doing."

Her expression softened.

"You think I always knew?"

"Didn't you?"

A quiet laugh escaped her.

"No."

The answer surprised him.

Serena looked down at the table.

"Everyone sees the position first. They see the title. They see the confidence."

She looked back at him.

"They don't always see how much work it takes to become that person."

Adrian watched her carefully.

It was the first time he saw something beyond the president.

Not weakness.

Just honesty.

"You're different here," he said.

Serena tilted her head.

"Here?"

"At Bellissimo."

A small smile appeared.

"And that's a compliment?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because I think you forget you're allowed to just be Serena sometimes."

The words stayed between them.

For once, Serena didn't have an immediate response.

Then she smiled slightly.

"You're surprisingly observant for someone who claims he doesn't belong in tech."

"And you're surprisingly easy to talk to for someone everyone is scared of."

She laughed softly.

"Everyone?"

"Almost everyone."

"Almost?"

He smiled.

"I don't think you're as intimidating as you want people to believe."

The silence afterward felt different.

Warmer.

Finally, Adrian looked down.

"I'll do it."

Serena blinked.

"What?"

"The job."

A genuine smile appeared on her face.

"You'll accept?"

He nodded.

"I will."

For a moment, they just looked at each other.

Then Serena smiled.

"Welcome to Marie Tech, Adrian Hayes."

And this time, when Adrian smiled back, it wasn't because he was relieved about the opportunity.

It was because somehow, accepting the job meant he would get to see more of her.