The Heir They Underestimated

CHAPTER 7

Derek woke to his phone buzzing on the nightstand.

Six AM. Twenty-three missed calls. Forty-seven text messages.

He grabbed the phone. His assistant's name filled the screen.

He answered. "What's wrong?"

"Sir, we have serious problems." His assistant's voice was shaking. "Multiple problems."

Derek sat up. "What problems?"

"Three of our major clients terminated their contracts overnight. Wilson Industries, Paramount Ventures, and Sterling Capital. All of them."

Derek's stomach dropped. "What? Why?"

"No explanation. Just termination notices sent via email at four AM. Legal is reviewing them now."

"That's fifteen million in contracts."

"I know, sir. And that's not all. Two of our investors pulled out of the Morrison Tower project. They're demanding their deposits back."

Derek stood. Walked to the window. What the heck was happening?

"Get everyone in the office. Emergency meeting. One hour."

"Yes, sir. But there's more."

"More?"

"The city revoked our building permits for Morrison Tower. Something about code violations and incomplete documentation."

"That's impossible. We passed inspection three weeks ago."

"I know, sir. But the revocation came through this morning. Effective immediately."

Derek's jaw clenched. "I'll be there in thirty minutes."

He hung up.

Melissa was still asleep beside him. Peaceful. Unaware.

He didn't wake her.

★

Derek's office was chaos.

His assistant had printed reports. Contract terminations. Permit revocations. Investor withdrawal notices.

All of it had happened overnight.

Derek sat at his desk. Stared at the papers.

His father arrived within the hour. Face grim. No greeting.

"Tell me everything."

Derek explained. The contracts. The permits. The investors.

His father listened in silence. Then pulled out his own phone.

"It's not just you. Chen Global cancelled three more of our deals this morning. Projects we've been working on for months."

"Did they give a reason?"

"No. Nothing. Just termination notices."

Derek leaned back in his chair. "This can't be random."

"It's not."

"Then what is it?"

His father didn't answer immediately.

"I've been making calls all morning. Trying to reach people at Chen Global. Board members. Division heads. People I've done business with for years."

"And?"

"None of them will take my calls. None of them will even respond to emails."

Derek felt cold. "What does that mean?"

"It means someone told them not to talk to us."

"Who has that kind of power?"

His father turned back. "At Chen Global? Very few people."

They sat in silence.

Derek's mind kept going back to last night. The hotel. The manager's pale face. The way everything fell apart after Alex left.

No. That was crazy.

Alex was nobody.

But the timing...

"Do you think..." Derek started, then stopped.

"Think what?"

"Could it be about last night?"

His father frowned. "Your engagement party?"

"About that guy. Alex. The one who crashed it."

"The delivery driver? How would he have any connection to Chen Global?"

"I don't know. It's just... the timing. Everything was fine until he left."

His father shook his head. "Derek, you're stressed. You're looking for patterns that aren't there. This is probably about market conditions. Or internal politics at Chen Global. Or a dozen other business reasons."

"You're right." Derek wanted to believe it. "I'm being paranoid."

"Focus on damage control. Reach out to other investors. Other clients. We'll weather this."

Derek nodded.

His father left.

★

An hour later, his receptionist's voice came through the intercom.

"Mr. Morrison, there's someone here to see you."

"I'm not taking meetings today."

Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Sir, it's Mr. Zhao."

Derek froze.

Mr. Zhao. One of the most powerful businessmen in the city. The kind of man even his father spoke about with fear.

"Send him in."

The door opened.

Mr. Zhao entered. Sixties. Expensive charcoal suit. Silver hair. He moved with quiet authority. The kind that didn't need to be announced.

Derek stood and extended his hand. "Mr. Zhao, this is unexpected—"

Mr. Zhao didn't shake his hand.

He just looked at Derek. Cold assessment.

Then sat down without being invited.

Derek sat slowly.

"I heard about an incident," Mr. Zhao said. His voice was calm. Too calm. "Last night. At the Grand Meridian."

Derek's stomach tightened. "Oh, that was just—"

"Tell me about Alex."

The words hung in the air.

Derek stared at him. "Why would you—"

"Answer the question."

Derek swallowed. "He's nobody. My fiancée's ex-boyfriend. He used to deliver food. He crashed our engagement party and in the end, he was forced to leave."

"Forced to leave?"

"Yes."

"That's all?"

Derek hesitated. "Well, I... we pointed out that he didn't belong there."

"And what did you say to him exactly?"

"I don't remember every word—"

Mr. Zhao's eyes hardened. "Try."

Derek's hands were sweating. "I told him the truth. That he's a failure. That he has no future. That Melissa deserved better."

"And then?"

"Told him to know his place."

The silence that followed was heavy. Oppressive.

Mr. Zhao didn't move. Didn't blink. Just stared.

Then suddenly he stood.

And slapped Derek across the face.

The sound echoed in the office.

Derek's head snapped to the side. His cheek burned. He stared in shock.

"What the—"

"You insulted him." Mr. Zhao's voice was ice.

Derek held his face. "He's a delivery driver! He crashed my party!"

"Is he?" Mr. Zhao asked quietly. "Are you sure?"

"Yes! He got evicted! He has nothing!"

Mr. Zhao studied him. Like examining an insect.

"You have no idea what you've done."

"What I've done? I defended my engagement party from some loser who—"

Mr. Zhao stepped forward. The movement made Derek flinch.

"I received a call this morning," Mr. Zhao said. "From someone I don't refuse. Ever."

"About what?"

"About what happened last night. About you. About what you said."

"Who called you?"

"Someone whose name I don't speak lightly."

Derek's mind raced. "But why would anyone important care about a delivery driver?"

"That," Mr. Zhao said slowly, "is the question you should have asked last night."

He walked to the window. Looked out at the city below.

"Tell me, Mr. Morrison. When you saw that car. When you saw how the hotel manager treated him. Did you wonder?"

"Wonder what?"

"Who he really is."

Derek's mouth was dry. "He's nobody—"

Mr. Zhao turned. "Then why am I here?"

Derek had no answer.

Mr. Zhao pulled out his phone. Dialed. Put it on speaker.

It rang twice.

A voice answered. Deep. Authoritative. "Yes?"

"It's confirmed," Mr. Zhao said. "The situation is as described."

Pause.

"I've delivered the message. He doesn't understand."

Another pause.

"Understood, sir. As you wish."

Mr. Zhao hung up.

Then he did something that made Derek's blood run cold.

He stood perfectly still. Turned slightly away from Derek.

And bowed. A deep, respectful bow. To the phone he'd just held. To the voice on the other end.

A gesture of profound respect.

Derek stared. His mouth open.

Mr. Zhao straightened. Turned back to Derek.

His expression was unreadable.

"Pray he's merciful, Mr. Morrison."

Then he walked out. The door closed with a soft click.

Derek sat there. Face stinging. Mind reeling.

What just happened?

★

He called Melissa immediately.

"Something weird just happened."

"What?" Her voice was cheerful. Unconcerned.

"Mr. Zhao came to my office. Asked about Alex."

"Why would Mr. Zhao care about Alex?"

"I don't know. He slapped me."

"He WHAT?"

"Slapped me. Said I insulted Alex. Then he bowed to nothing and left."

Silence on the line.

"That doesn't make sense," Melissa said finally.

"I know."

"Maybe he's having some kind of mental episode. A breakdown."

Derek wanted to believe that. "Maybe."

"Or someone paid him to scare you. Alex could have hired him."

"With what money? Alex is broke."

"I don't know! But I know Alex is nobody. We both know that."

Derek rubbed his stinging cheek. "Do we?"

"Of course we do. He's a delivery driver who got evicted. He has nothing. He is nothing."

"Then why—"

"Stop it." Melissa's voice was firm. "Stop letting him get in your head. He's gone. Forgotten. Irrelevant."

"Okay."

But Derek didn't sound convinced.

"I'm serious, Derek. Forget about Alex. Focus on fixing your business problems. That's what matters."

"You're right."

"I know I'm right. I'll see you tonight. Love you."

"Love you too."

He hung up.

But he couldn't forget.

The slap. The bow. Mr. Zhao's words.

Who he really is.

★

Over the next few hours, more disasters.

Derek's biggest client called. Apologetic but firm. Terminating their contract.

The city sent another notice. More permit violations. More delays.

His bank called. Flagging his accounts for review.

Three lawsuits filed against Morrison Industries. Contract violations. All from different companies.

His assistant looked terrified. "Sir, I don't understand. Everything was fine yesterday."

"I know."

"It's like someone flipped a switch."

Derek stared at his computer screen.

Thought about Alex.

About that Mercedes.

About Mr. Zhao's bow.

About the hotel manager's pale face.

No.

It was impossible.

Alex was nobody.

Alex had nothing.

This was just bad luck. Market forces. Business cycles.

Just a coincidence.

Nothing more.

Derek closed his eyes.

And tried very hard not to think about that bow.

About the respect in Mr. Zhao's posture.

About the fear in his own chest.

He stood and walked to the window.

Looked out at the city.

And wondered why his hands wouldn't stop shaking.