Rody Maxson

CLARE

"Hey, how's my businesswoman of the year" Rushed Steve hugging me, his blonde hair perfectly set complimenting his black tux.

"Good" I replied "it was all Alaaiya by the way, not me"

"Oh yeah we know who's behind the wheel 24x7," Said Xavier wiggling his platinum blonde eyebrows in his bluish-black tux.

Giving him a small smile I turned away greeting everyone else.

I nodded at Cody who nodded back in response

"So watcha all been up to?" I asked faking an accent

"Nothing just gossiping" Jolly eye-rolled pointing at his twin Julian.

"Its time for greetings, by the way, see ya in two hours after attending the whole animal planet for guests", Juana said rolling her eyes and coming to stand beside me.

"Hmm hmm, lets hit it" Cheered Cody walking out of the circle approaching the crowd with his p.a. on his side.

The Clare Industries were divided into two equal parts, ran by both Marco(my dad) and Cole (my uncle).

Where Marco being the eldest son got all government-related companies, Cole got all the companies dealing with the private sector.

Both sides of the Clare industries were the most trusted and thriving companies.

Until that night when Marco died with his whole family, killed by his own, the eldest son Adion, leaving a young Alaaiya, injured and unstable.

The trust the government had on Marco, my dad loosened. People began to disrespect, disagree and doubt.

There was a riot between the people still wanting to work with Clare industries and people supporting our rivals.

But in a span of 12 months, Alaaiya, I made decisions bought back the trust, the respect and agreement, authorities partners shareholders began to trust me, support my decisions.

Being so young people doubted my capability, rumors were spread, my intelligence, my existence everything, they doubted everything about me.

But Alaaiya proved them wrong, I proved them wrong and pulled Clare industries to a whole another, higher, international level.

Not just the Marco side but the Cole side too.

"That would be my honor, sir", I said giving off the confident smirk.

The old man in front of me also had a small smile on his harsh face and a hint of genuine approval in his cold nod.

That was my result, the proof of my success, not because of my true name but all because of my talent and intelligence, I had won this old, cold and conservative man over.

Good.

He was about to say something when a huge noise broke our trance.

SLAP!

The noise came from the other side of the hall, a crowd was already gathered people slurred there way making a circle, followed by Mr Sher. The old man.

Incurious I walked to pass the silent crowd, there would be a rich girl, shouting like a banshee, helpless workers and stupid arguments.

I was about to cross the crowd when something or rather someone caught my attention.

Brown hair and black eyes, the boy stood in the waiters uniform, an empty tray in hand, head down, eyes on the floor but pride in his posture. As if no matter what he was receiving, he did something good to earn it.

Just like his father.

Standing their hands crossed against my chest, I examined the whole situation.

There was a frown on my face, but two minutes later in the examination and a very small barely-there smile tugged on my lips, people could even call that an arrogant smirk.

Two pairs of girls and boys stood in the center

One waitress girl and that boy and two rich siblings.

A woman standing in the middle of the room clad in an expensive olive green dress had slapped that boy with white and black waiters uniform, the woman had her dress wet from the front probably some sort of liquor dropped on her, but even after that slap the angry emotion on the woman's face didn't change, instead, she looked more enraged than before if possible.

A waitress girl stood behind that boy shivering, Scared, but not from the woman in olive green, scared from the man who stood beside that woman smirking down at the shivering girl.

It seemed that the woman didn't want to hit that boy but the waitress behind him, the way she glared at her.

The girl had an empty trey in hand too, the woman must be aiming for the girl but the boy came in between to protect her.

I recognized the woman in an instant, fake blond hair pounds of makeup I had seen her before, The woman-Shanaya Maxson, Rody Maxson's sister, one of our business partner.

Rody Maxson.

I squinted my eyes involuntarily, but instead of doing anything, I turned to Juana and ordered.

"Get the surveillance right now and contact the manager and tell him to handle the situation" She nodded and started tapping on her pad.

"Young love" Someone muttered from beside me, and I shook my head, stealing a quick glance.

Cody.

"No, they are mere acquaintance," I said looking straight ahead.

I could feel the frown in his voice when he said: "What do you mean?"

And instead of facing him I continued to stare at the drama but answered "The boy, he came in front of the girl to save her from the slap but he doesn't know her"

"How do you know that," He asked again

"Look at the girl, she isn't touching him, holding his shoulder or hand for support, besides what you see isn't what is actually happening," I said but when Cody gave me a 'what do you mean' confused look I explained further

"She is scared but not from the woman who was going to slap her, she is scared of the man besides shanaya, the smirking bastard, the girl isn't even paying attention to the drama in front of her," I said

I felt the absence of the intense eyes and looked at him, he had a frown on his face as expected and was looking at the action, unaware of my gaze.

Black hair, blue eyes just like mine but still so different, he smelled of clean shave and cologne, with a very tiny cut on his cheek.

He still cuts himself while shaving, idiot.

I missed him, I wanted to say but I didn't, I knew he needed to hear that but I didn't.

Instead, I averted my eyes and said " that is Rody, he was harassing her and in fear, she must have dropped the drink on Shanaya her sister who like a bitch tried to slap her but the boy who I think saw everything came in between"

"You saw the surveillance already didn't you?" He asked with an amused unbelievable smile.

"Clare, the footage," Juana said reaching out the tablet for me.

That's when I turned to him, with no expressions but confidence in my eyes. After I was sure he got the message I looked down at the tablet but he interrupted asking "why do I have a feeling that you know the boy"

"He Is Carl Rodgers, I don't know him but I know the morals and believes he was raised with" I answered honestly and Cody's eyes widened in recognition.