When Adrian woke up, he didn't remember where he was. But then his drowsy eyes flitted to the floor to ceiling windows, the king-sized bed that he was on and the plasma TV that covered the whole area of the wall in front of him. And then it hit him, he was now Adrian Vale. Heir to the Vale industries. His phone buzzed on his nightstand and he picked it up. He had seven missed calls and twelve texts from one person. Maya.
He rolled his eyes and almost swiped to delete but he was curious about what she would say.
Maya: Adrian we need to speak.
Maya: I made a mistake
Maya: Damon is nothing to me.
Maya: Baby please answer
Maya: I have witnessed what has been going on at the Frederick estate.
Maya: Are you really a Vale?
Maya: Adrian please
Ha shook his head and blocked her number. Of course she must have heard the news of his being a Vale and that was the reason for her pathetic attempts to get him back.
The door opened, it was Selena holding a tablet and she paused, looking at him in disdain still sprawled on the bed. "True young masters wake up early in the morning for morning exercises and for a good start on their day."
Adrian merely yawned and it made her frown even more.
"You sleep in your clothes?" she asked with that same haughty tone.
Adrian glanced at the gray button-down and black trousers of the day before.
"I crashed," he said.
"Obviously," she replied, and threw the tablet on the bed beside him. "Read that while you shower. You have half an hour before breakfast.
"Breakfast?"
"With the board," she replied as she slid the curtains to let more of the sunlight in the room. "The executives of Vale corp summoned an emergency meeting the moment they discovered that you were in town."
Adrian felt his chest tighten. "I'm not ready for that."
"Yes, I know," Selena turned to the door. "But your cousin is spreading propaganda against you, so it's important to honour their summons."
Before he could say another word, she left.
Adrian took up the tablet and opened a document which was called VALE CORPORATION EXECUTIVE Profiles.
He was going through a list of names and faces: CFO, COO, Chief Legal Officer, Head of Security. Then one name caught his eye.
Richard Cross -Chief Operating Officer
Background: Ex-military, three overseas tours, developed the private security division of Vale.
Threat Level: Moderate. He will try you but not unless provoked.
Adrian scowled at the level of threat tag and rolled on.
Margaret Chen -Chief Financial Officer.
Background: MIT graduate, 15 years with Goldman Sachs, then Vale.
Threat Level: High and would hunt for any weaknesses until she finds a chip in your armour.
Adrian felt his heartbeat rise when he knew that these were not just colleagues, but they could be enemies.
The bottom of the doc had a note written in Selena's handwriting.
They'll try to intimidate you. Let them. When people believe that they have the upper hand, they make more mistakes.
Adrian read it, and rose up to shower.
An hour later, he strolled back into the main living room. She nodded in approval at his choice of outfit.
She nodded to the elevator. "Let's go."
At the lobby level Selena spoke without looking at him.
"When we get in there, do not apologize for anything or explain yourself. Answer their questions directly then stop talking."
Adrian nodded, swallowing with anxiety.
The elevator doors opened to an underground garage where a black sedan waited with the engine running.
They climbed in while the car pulled out smoothly into early morning traffic.
The car stopped in front of the biggest skyscraper in the city.
Selena got out first with Adrian following behind.
Adrian was amused as the security guards bowed when he passed. Selena took him to the conference room where they were all waiting for him.
"They're already inside," she said quietly, nudging him towards the door.
"You're not coming in with me?" Adrian asked, his voice shaking because of fear. He'd never had to stand in front of so much people before.
She smiled faintly. "This is your company now instead of mine. If I walk in with you it looks like I'm still in charge."
The elevator slowed while Adrian's stomach dropped.
"What if I screw this up?"
Selena met his eyes. "Then you'll learn something."
The doors opened onto a long hallway and when he reached the double doors he paused to take a breath before pushing them open.
Seven people sat around the center table, all turning to look at him at once.
Richard Cross sat at the far end with a stone face that terrified Adrian.
Margaret tracked his movement like she was a hawk marking prey.
Asdain wondered how was able to control his shaking fingers as he walked to the head of the table and sat on his chair.
Margaret spoke aa soon as he sat.
"Mr. Vale. Thank you for joining us on such short notice."
"Of course," Adrian replied, not breaking eye contact with her even though she intimidated him.
"We've all been very concerned," she continued. "Ms. Hart informed us yesterday that ownership of Vault Corporation has been transferred to you which naturally raises questions."
Adrian nodded. "I'm sure it does."
"Can you verify your identity?" This came from the legal officer who had the meanest smile."We'll need birth certificates or DNA tests or something that proves you are who Ms. Hart claims you are."
Adrian looked at him steadily. "That's being arranged."
"When?" Margaret asked.
"Soon."
From the sharp intake of breath around the room, he could see that his answer didn't please them at all. "Vault corporation is worth eight billion dollars, we won't blindly hand it over to someone who claims to be the rightful heir, because that's all that is, baseless claims."
Adrian leaned back in his chair, a smile spread on his face. "I'm not asking you to hand me anything. I already own it."
The room was very quiet.
Richard Cross spoke for the first time.
"With respect Mr. Vale you've been the owner for less than twenty four hours and you can't just walk in and give orders to people who've been here for decades."
Adrian held his gaze. "I'm not giving orders yet. I'm introducing myself."
Richard's eyes narrowed. "Then introduce yourself."
"My name is Adrian Vale," he said calmly. "Three days ago I was working double shifts at a restaurant plus a nightclub to pay for school. I had no idea who my real family was until I got a phone call that changed everything."
He paused to let the words settle.
"I don't know how to run a company like this but I know what it's like to survive when everyone around you wants you to fail. I'm a very fast learner."
Margaret leaned forward, replying in the same breath. "Survival instincts don't qualify you to lead a multi billion dollar enterprise."
"You're right," Adrian said. "They don't, which is why I'm not replacing anyone at this table. You're all still here running your positions while I learn and make the decisions that keeps the company alive and grow."
At his reply, the table conversed within themselves in harsh whispers and then Richard did something unexpected by standing up while extending his hand across the table.
"Welcome to Vault Corporation Mr. Vale."
Adrian stood to shake his hand and One by one the others stood with some shaking his hand while others just nodded. Margaret was the last.
"I'm excited. I'm eager to see you fail the same way I'm eager to see you win" she said quietly.
"I won't disappoint you." Adrian replied.
The meeting ended twenty minutes later. As Adrian walked back toward the elevator he felt his phone buzz in his pocket showing a text from Selena.
Selena: How did it go?
Adrian: I think I survived.
Selena: Good. Now comes the hard part.
Before he could respond another message came through from an unknown number.
Unknown: Welcome home cousin. We should meet soon. There's so much to discuss. I can't wait to see the person who thinks he can take Vault corporation from me.