The Killswitch; Return of the True Heir

Chapter 7

The business summit brought together some of the country's most influential business figures. The convention center was filled with representatives from major companies and even small companies. Some with the hope of securing investors and others to negotiate contracts and others to announce partnerships.

The morning was dedicated to formal representations. One after the other company representatives took the stage to introduce new projects, discuss market trends and talk about many other things. Once the final representation ended , guests were invited to another hall prepared for networking. The spacious room was arranged with round tables scattered across the polished floor, leaving room for people to move around freely. A buffet occupied one side of the hall while waiters circulated with trays of champagne, wine, cocktails, and other things. Soft music played in the background as conversations gradually replaced the formal atmosphere of the conference.

Several people introduced themselves to unfamiliar faces while the ones who knew each other exchanged conversations with one another. Standing a short distance away from the crowd was Cassiel with Darcy by his side. He was dressed in a white turtle neck, and a suit jacket and black wide leg suit pants, his rather pale complexion and lean frame made him stand out despite the simplicity of his appearance. Darcy was quite the opposite of Cassiel, his brown skin also stood out, he was dressed in a dark blue shirt and a black wide leg pants he had his locs in a ponytail.

" Sir, I'll be with you shortly. " Darcy said as he made his way from Cassiel

Cassiel began browsing on his phone. He could hear voices from behind him.

" I heard a representative from Aether Enterprise was supposed to be here today. " Someone said.

" If only I could see the person, I'll do everything I can to strike a deal with them." Another chimed in.

" Wait guys...is that who I think it is?" The other guys stopped. He could feel the stares of the people burning a hole through his back. He recognized the voices. A vein ticked in his jaw.

" It can't be, can it?" A hand landed on his shoulders and turned him around.

"Ah indeed it is the bastard son of the José family. " The guy said.

" No common Vaun, he's the CEO of Vornado Conglomerate . " The other guy snickered.

"Blake you know what, you're right, I see you've turned out a fine man." Vaun said, patting him heavily on the shoulders before taking his hand off.

" I have places to be, excuse me." Cassiel said he was going to leave but was stopped by Blake.

" Where do you think you're going? We're not done with you. " Blake said .

" You must think you're something now huh?" Vaun grabbed his jacket dragging him towards him, Cassiel remained still.

" You fucking bastard, you're still a pathetic loser, a fucking leech. " Then he let him go, smoothing the ruffled jacket. " There's going to be a class reunion soon, why don't you come show your face you pipsqueak.”

" Let's go, Vaun." They turned to leave when Vaun turned back and said, " Yeah and tell your sister I said hi, she's quite the catch. " Smirked at him and turned back to leave.

Something flashed through Cassiel's eyes and he took a step forward about to approach them.

" Sir." A voice called him back. It was Darcy, he handed him a bottle of water. He took a deep breath and opened it taking a huge gulp before closing it and setting it down on a table.

" Did you get it?" He asked him.

" Yes sir. "

" Good."

His eyes scanned through the crowd and he made eye contact with a woman, she stared at him with a look of contempt forming on her face as she recognized him, she shot him a glare and turned to talk to the person she was conversing with. That was his fiancee Nadia.

" We're done here Darcy, let's go."

The next day he went to work, dressed in a charcoal suit with a white shirt beneath, Cassiel stepped out of his car and adjusted the strap of his laptop bag slung over his shoulder .His pale complexion and lean frame gave him a slightly fragile appearance coupled with his calm and lowered gaze.

" Good morning Mr Cassiel."

A security guard standing by the entrance straightened immediately. Cassiel offered a faint nod.

" Morning." As he walked through the lobby more greetings followed.

"Morning Mr Cassiel."

" Good morning sir." He acknowledged each person with the same quiet nod before heading towards the elevator.

Near the reception desk, two interns watched him disappear towards the executive elevators.

" Isn't that him." One of them whispered.

" The chairman's adopted son? " The other nodded, lowering her voice instinctively.

" Yeah..."

" I thought he'd be....I don't know...more impressive."

She shrugged.

" He looks like he's barely slept."

" That's because he probably hasn't," the second intern replied. " I heard he practically lives in the office."

The first intern frowned.

" I heard that there was this time years back when he collapsed at work, none of them came to find him, he came to work the next day working his ass off."

None of them noticed that the elevator doors, which had begun to close paused for a fraction of a second, he heard everything but his expression didn't change.