Chapter 46

46. Fancy place.

We arrive at the main conference room of the hotel at around 11:45 AM, a good fifteen minutes before the start of the Introduction session. We sat on the row of seats that had been relegated to our company. and take the introduction brochures that are tucked into the back of the seats in front of us.

“Wow, this is fancy,” Coraline murmurs next to me, taking in the cool exterior of the conference room that looks as if it could be part of some French chateau than a hotel. The ivory white and gold are the theme. here as well, but it is a lot cooler than the outside. The conference room can at least sit a thousand people at once. It seems like the forum hosts had gone all out.

Soon, the conference hall brims with corporate personnel from all across the continent, and the organizers of the forum take the stage to relay their welcome speech, followed by a brief summary of the history of the Annual North American Business Forum.

They introduce all the people of importance, as well as do a small introductory session for their own company.

I have to admit, it is kind of boring. After the initial excitement of the event wears off, it’s just like any other corporate event. Some people take the stage and start to drone on about modern business and such. Those in the seats start to mutter amongst themselves. Coraline and I try to give them all of our attention because this is our first time, and we don’t have the luxury of being ignorant. Coraline even takes notes on her iPad about the people we see taking the stage.

“Who knows,” she tells me, “We might have to work with these people one day. Better be prepared.”

“What kind of notes are you taking?” I ask, peaking at the iPad. But Coraline snatches it away with a smirk.

“Just observations,” she remarks, “you don’t have to worry about it, boss.”

I narrow my eyes at her but decide to drop it.

The introduction panel ends, and everyone is herded to the reception hall in order to be fed.

And that is where the real music begins.

Before we can take our seats, Gerald states that we should mingle with the other companies in our tier.

“We are going to start from the small ones, and then move onto the bigger levels throughout our time. here,” he says, “you don’t have to do much. Just introduce yourself and make conversation. Make friends. Same thing you did with Pat.”

“Got it.” I nod.

Coraline trails me to do any damage control if needed. The first person Gerald steers me to is a middle- aged man who looks like he stepped out of a GQ magazine, with his perfectly tailored designer suit and his salt and pepper hair. Reminds me of my father a bit, the way he carries himself. He also happens to be the CEO of Rapture Enterprises, an electronic manufacturer specializing in earphones, speakers, and sound systems. His company’s system has been a rising necessity in the music industry as well as the movie-making industry.

“We got a lot of contracts from Hollywood,” he boasts. “All the bigshot studios there have taken to our sound systems, and rightfully so. Our technology is indeed revolutionary.”

“That is good to hear,” I provide. With the CEO of Rapture, I don’t have to talk much. He does all the talking while I nod along and prod him here and there. Coraline tells me later that she thought the man. likes to hear his own voice. But I learn a lot of things from the conversation and find out that Zelt Tech products might have a place in Rapture Enterprises products as well.

When we end our conversation, Gerald bears and tells me that he anticipates a new contract from Rapture Enterprises pretty soon.

“See?” he claps me on the back, “you’re a natural at this, Jace. Your father would be proud.”

I feel oddly bashful at the compliment, so I duck my head as he steers me to yet another person.

For the most part, everything is cool and dandy. But then the judgment starts.

“Wait, wait,” a man no older than forty exclaims, staring at me as if I’d grown another head, “you’re Joseph Greyson’s son? The Joseph Greyson?”

“Um, yeah?”

“That’s impossible,” the man narrows his eyes, “Joseph doesn’t have any kids last I checked, and I’ve known the man for years.

You’ve gotta be pulling my leg, there’s no way he got a kid your age.”

I look around discretely to see if Gerald is close by, but he happens to be conversing with a separate group further away.

“I assure you that I’m only telling the truth,” I try to be as polite as possible, “the relationship between my father and I was a bit complicated for a time, which is why my existence was not made aware until recently.”

“...so, you’re a kid from a side-piece?” the man gives me a smarmy smile which makes my insides roil.

I try not to flush at that and feel sudden anger. Yes, she was his mistress, but it didn’t mean he had to put it like that. So...

crudely. Behind me, I can feel Coraline bristle.

“I am my father’s son,” I reply, my voice hard, “and I believe that is all that matters. Oh, please excuse me, I believe Mr. Manson is calling me.”

With that, I slip away from him, Coraline fuming.

“Who does he think he is!” she mutters, “a classless bastard, that’s who. God, I want to punch him.”

“The feeling is mutual, but I don’t think Gerald will appreciate that,” I murmur, “and well, he’s not wrong.”

“Doesn’t mean he had to be so crass about it.”

We relay the incident to Gerald, who glances at the man we mentioned and shakes his head. “Don’t worry about it. That’s Hughes. He hates Joseph.”

We hang around Gerald for a while, and then the lunch buffet is announced. People begin to move in troves toward the buffet area, and Gerald, Coraline, and I try to find out way back to our table.

I try to sidestep all the people moving in the opposite direction then I, and suddenly, collide with a hard body. The force of the collision is so much that I lose my balance and fall to the floor.

“Oh, my apologies,” a deep, masculine voice says, and my head snaps up, “I did not see you there.”

My eyes register his face, and my mouth hangs open.

Standing in front of me is a man who hears a hauntingly similar resemblance to one Aiden Collins.