The Forgotten Heiress

Chapter Three: An Unlikely Discovery

Chapter Three

"...We'll continue the search."

Serena closed the folder in front of her and looked around the conference room.

"For now, everyone stays focused on their current assignments. The Haven project remains on hold until we find a suitable project lead."

A few disappointed nods answered her.

"Meeting adjourned."

Chairs scraped softly against the floor as the team filed out, murmuring among themselves. Within moments, the conference room fell quiet.

Infinity remained behind.

Serena gathered the documents in front of her before looking up.

"Any luck?"

Infinity shook her head.

"I've exhausted the shortlist. None of them are what Haven needs."

A brief silence settled between them.

"Then I need you to look into someone."

Infinity frowned. "Who?"

"Adrian. The waiter from Bellissimo."

"The waiter?"

"I want everything you can find. Education. Employment history. Anything relevant."

Infinity stared at her for a second, clearly confused.

"May I ask why?"

Serena slipped the last file into her folder.

"Not yet."

She picked up the folder and headed for the door.

"Just bring me what you find."

Infinity watched her leave, still trying to understand what a restaurant waiter had to do with finding Marie Tech's next project lead.

Serena had barely settled behind her desk when a knock sounded on the office door.

"Come in."

Infinity stepped inside with a slim file in hand.

"You work fast," Serena said.

"You said it was important."

She placed the file on the desk.

"I found him. Adrian Hayes."

Serena opened the file.

"He graduated with a degree in Software Engineering three years ago. After graduation, he joined Orion Technologies, where he worked for nearly two years."

She turned another page.

"The company shut down after losing its funding. The entire engineering team was laid off."

"And after that?" Serena asked.

"He hasn't worked in tech since. According to what I found, he's been working at Bellissimo."

Serena leaned back in her chair, thoughtful.

"So he went from software engineer to waiter."

Infinity nodded.

"That's everything I could verify."

Silence settled over the office as Serena closed the file.

Infinity studied her expression.

"What are you thinking?"

A faint smile appeared on Serena's lips as she reached for her car keys.

"I think..."

She stood.

"...I'll be making another visit to Bellissimo sooner than I expected."

Infinity watched her leave, still puzzled.

"I still don't understand what a waiter has to do with finding Haven's project lead," she murmured to herself.

The lunch rush had already begun by the time Serena stepped into Bellissimo.

A hostess greeted her with a polite smile before leading her down the hallway toward one of the private dining rooms.

From across the restaurant, Marcus looked up just in time to see the hostess stop outside Private Room Five. Serena thanked her and disappeared inside.

Adrian followed the exchange without meaning to.

"I'll take Private Room Five," he said, reaching for a menu.

Marcus glanced at him.

"Since when do you volunteer for private rooms?"

Adrian shrugged, already picking up the order pad.

"It's closer."

Marcus looked from Adrian to the hallway before smirking.

"If you say so."

A moment later, Adrian knocked lightly.

"Come in."

He stepped inside carrying a menu and a glass of water.

"Good afternoon."

Serena looked up, a small smile appearing.

"I was wondering if I'd get the same waiter."

"Lucky me."

He placed the water on the table.

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

"Depends."

"On?"

"Whether your service is still as impressive as yesterday."

He placed a hand over his chest dramatically.

"Now the pressure's on."

She laughed softly.

It was the first genuine laugh she'd had all day.

"So," Adrian said, "work finally decided to be kind?"

"Not even a little."

"I was afraid you'd say that."

"You sound disappointed."

"I was hoping I'd be wrong."

For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Serena reached into her handbag and placed a slim folder on the table between them.

"I actually came for another reason."

Adrian glanced at the folder.

"I had a feeling."

"It's not company work," Serena said before he could ask. "Just... something I'd like another opinion on."

He opened the folder.

Several pages of code filled the first sheet.

His relaxed expression faded into concentration.

He flipped to the next page.

Then another.

After a moment, he looked back up.

"This isn't exactly light reading."

"It wasn't meant to be."

He gave a quiet chuckle.

"I was beginning to think you came here because you enjoyed my company."

"Who says I don't?"

The words slipped out before Serena could stop them.

For a split second, they simply looked at each other.

She cleared her throat.

"I mean... I also need someone to look at the code."

The corner of Adrian's mouth lifted.

"I'll take that as half a compliment."

"You should."

He looked back down at the pages.

"I can solve it."

Her eyebrows rose.

"But not today."

He tapped the folder gently.

"I'd rather take my time than give you the wrong answer."

Serena nodded, clearly satisfied by the response.

"When do you think you'll have it?"

"Tomorrow."

"Morning?"

"Morning."

She stood, picking up her bag.

"I'll stop by before work."

As she reached the door, Adrian spoke again.

"One question."

She looked back.

"Why me?"

A small smile touched her lips.

"I'll answer that after you solve it."

With that, she walked out, leaving Adrian alone with the folder.

He looked down at the pages once more, then smiled to himself.

"...This is going to be an interesting night."

By the time Serena arrived home, the house was already quiet.

She stepped inside, expecting everyone to be asleep, but the lights in the living room were still on.

Her mother looked up from the couch.

"Do you know what time it is?"

Serena glanced at her watch.

"Late?"

Her mother gave her a look.

"That was not a question."

A small smile tugged at Serena's lips as she placed her bag down.

"I had work."

"You always have work."

Before Serena could reply, she noticed the hallway was quiet.

"Where's Dad?"

"In his study," her mother said. "At least one person in this house knows when to stop working."

Serena laughed softly.

"I'll try to learn from him."

"Try harder."

She shook her head, smiling as she headed upstairs.

"Goodnight, Mom."

"Goodnight, sweetheart."

By the time Serena reached her room, the exhaustion of the day finally caught up with her.

But as she lay down, her thoughts drifted back to a certain waiter who was somehow much more than he seemed.

The next morning, Serena made a stop at Bellissimo before heading to Marie Tech.

She told herself it was because she wanted the answer quickly.

She ignored the fact that she was curious.

Adrian was already there when she walked in. When he noticed her, a small smile appeared on his face.

"Back again?"

"Don't sound so surprised."

"I thought Presidents had busy schedules."

"They do."

"Then I feel honored."

Serena rolled her eyes, though she couldn't hide her smile.

"I came for the code."

Adrian reached beneath the counter and handed her the folder.

"I finished it."

She looked at him.

"Already?"

"You gave me a challenge, not an impossible task."

Serena opened the folder as she stood there, scanning through his work.

The solution was clean. Efficient. Different from what she expected.

Her expression changed slightly.

Adrian noticed.

"Good?"

She looked up.

"Very."

A quiet moment passed.

"Why are you working here?" Serena asked.

The question caught him off guard.

"That's a strange question."

"Maybe."

She closed the folder.

"Have you ever considered working somewhere else?"

Adrian frowned slightly.

"Somewhere else?"

Serena held his gaze.

"Somewhere you could use what you're actually good at."

For the first time, Adrian didn't have a quick answer.

And Serena realized she was no longer just curious about him.

She was interested.