Chapter 10
Chapter 10
Zachary stared at Gavin angrily. “Why didn’t you admit it previously?” No wonder something felt off about him. He wasn’t Jasper. Tsk. Can’t you just come clean when you blow your cover? “I was afraid that you would tell Mommy the moment you realized I wasn’t Jasper. Would you guys still bring me back with you if you knew?” Gavin asked. He felt conflicted as he also worried that Arissa might not like him. “Of course not!” Zachary asserted bluntly, indirectly hurting Gavin’s feelings. “But why?” Gavin asked. Zachary began to panic when he realized the hurtful look on Gavin’s face.
He quickly explained, “Well, you have to understand, you’re supposed to be with your daddy now, and we’re supposed to with Mommy. If all of us were to follow Mommy, including you too, then your daddy would seek high and low for you, and that would expose us. Who knows if he’ll come after us for this!” Gavin felt relieved upon learning that it wasn’t because Zachary despised him. “In that case, let’s figure out why we got separated in the first place and then inform Daddy about this!” Gavin suggested. Although Gavin was only a young child, he expressed himself in a calm and collected manner.
Strangely, he also seemed to possess an innate ability that could make others yield to his request. Zachary furrowed his brows. Nevertheless, he agreed that Gavin had a point. “Agreed! Let me call Jasper then to caution him from exposing himself,” Zachary declared. Immediately, Jasper received a phone call from Zachary, where the latter lectured him for causing them the present mess they were in now. After Zachary finished lecturing Jasper, he turned to ask Gavin a crucial detail. “By the way, what is your daddy’s name?” “Benjamin Graham!” Gavin answered casually.
His eyes stared steadily into Zachary’s before curling his lips into a smile. “Who is also your daddy!” he continued. Zachary gasped in shock. Wait, what? Our daddy is Benjamin Graham? That Grim Reaper whom no one dared to offend in the whole of Dellmoor? “Oh, I have a picture of Daddy. Here you go.” Gavin took out his phone and searched for Benjamin’s photo before showing it to Zachary. Zachary only took one look at the picture before he was sure that the man was unquestionably their daddy. The man in the picture stood tall in a proud posture where his nobility clearly distinguished him from others.
Furthermore, his defined features were almost identical to Zachary and his siblings, so much so that they were practically the spitting image of him.
Didn’t Mommy say that she didn’t know who our daddy was? Zachary couldn’t believe that Benjamin was their daddy. He had heard of this man’s name before, but he never could find his pictures online in the past. Upon comprehending this newfound truth, he was amazed that he found his daddy after only being back in the country for a few days. Zachary was beyond delighted to learn this because Benjamin was none other than the boss of the Graham Group. As a famous and influential individual, he had a lot of power over others. Thus, as long as he was willing to protect them, Zachary was sure that their mommy would never be bullied by others ever again. “Does your daddy treat you well?”
Zachary asked Gavin cautiously, hoping to fish out more information about Benjamin. “Yes, he does, but perhaps not as gentle as how Mommy treats me!” Gavin really did look up to Benjamin. However, it was also undeniable that the relationship between them was a bit awkward and distant. Upon hearing this, Zachary immediately heightened his senses. He sized up Gavin from head to toe. With his brows furrowed, he asked, “Are you sure that he treats you well? Please don’t tell me that he hits you when you’re bad.” Sensing that Zachary misunderstood him, Gavin immediately shook his head and clarified, “Daddy never hits me, but if I were to make a mistake, he would make me face a wall and place me under time out!”
Zachary nodded his head. That’s pretty normal. Mommy would make us do that too. Not to mention, she’ll get mad at us. The two young boys continued to chatter away quietly, discussing other details, mainly about Benjamin. The next day, Arissa woke up early to prepare breakfast before waking her children up. After enjoying her breakfast with her children, she instructed them to stay home before rushing to Graham Group. She managed to arrive at the office earlier than agreed. There, Ethen personally escorted her to Benjamin’s office so as she could wait for Benjamin’s arrival. “Ms. York, please wait here for a moment. Once our CEO arrives, he will proceed to interview you,” Ethen communicated.
“Sure, no worries. I’m the one who arrived earlier than agreed. You guys have a waiting room, don’t you? Let me head over there and wait for Mr. Graham instead,” Arissa replied. She was dressed in a white-collar suit, looking classy and professional. After all, this was Benjamin’s personal office. It did not feel right to her to be waiting for him here while he was away. “No, it’s fine. Just take a seat,” Ethen replied politely with a smile. He then instructed a secretary to make Arissa some coffee before informing Benjamin of Arissa’s arrival. Arissa sat on the couch in the guest area.
She looked around Benjamin’s office and realized that its design had a grey tone focus, making the space look sophisticated and sleek. One of the walls had a bookshelf filled with business-related books. She was astounded by the sight of this office. Indeed, it matched the image of an office owned by the world’s richest man. Although it was spacious and grand, there was an indescribable sense of superiority in the space nonetheless. Arissa even felt that she had to place her cup down cautiously. Suddenly, a series of clacking sounds made by heels could be heard from the direction of the door. Arissa immediately turned her head to seek the source of the noise. Right then, Danna walked into the office.
The two of them locked gazes and were startled by each other’s presence. In no time, Danna began to recognize who Arissa was. Gradually, a look of shock and panic glazed her eyes. She’s alive! What is she doing here? Has Benjamin met her already? Danna was absolutely petrified. She immediately scanned the room for Benjamin’s presence. Realizing that he wasn’t here, Danna quickly recollected herself and put on a stone-cold expression. With much pride and arrogance, she walked over to Arissa’s side. “Who are you? And what are you doing here?” Danna questioned. Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.
Arissa, who was taken aback by the woman’s tone, was stunned. She quickly stood up after that and politely said, “I’m here to attend a job interview, currently waiting for Mr. Graham.” Danna felt immensely relieved upon learning that Arissa had not met Benjamin. She proceeded to size Arissa up disdainfully. Realizing how beautiful Arissa was, Danna quietly clenched her teeth. Immediately after, she tried to chase Arissa away. “There is no need for you to wait for him. You already failed to
demonstrate a basic understanding of etiquettes. Don’t you know that Benjamin hates strangers waiting in his office, especially when he is not around? Leave already!” Arissa was baffled by Danna’s criticism.
She immediately tried to explain herself, “But it was Mr. Frank who asked me to wait here!” Who the hell is this woman? Why is she deliberately targeting me? Danna continued to scrutinize Arissa with her contemptuous gaze. She then scoffed, “So what if that’s true? If I don’t like you, Benjamin won’t like you either. So get lost now and stop being an eye-sore!” Danna was determined to chase Arissa away before Benjamin got back. “Also, I was just on a phone call with Benjamin earlier. He told me that he has other matters to take care of today and won’t be coming in anymore, so leave already! The Graham Group will never take in a candidate like you who knows no manners!”
Danna roared. Seeing how arrogant and rude this woman was, on top of the fact that she kept insisting that Arissa did not know her manners, Arissa was bewildered. Jeez. Aren’t you the one who knows no manners? I’m here at the Graham Group today to attend an interview, not to be humiliated by an individual like you. Feeling offended, Arissa immediately fought back. “Since it was Mr. Frank who asked me to wait here, I shall continue to wait here! I’m here to meet Mr. Graham, not you. Who are you even? If Mr. Graham couldn’t make it to the interview today, his assistant would naturally inform me of it.
Why should I leave just because you say so? If I really were to leave, then that would truly be rude of me!” A sinister look flashed across Danna’s eyes. She tossed her hair over her shoulders before curling her lips into a sardonic smile. “Who am I? I’m his fiancée. How dare a mere candidate like you talk back at me? Do you know the consequences of offending me? Now, seeing how you’re probably just ignorant about how things run here, I’m going to let you off the hook.
Just get lost!” Arissa was pissed to the brim. Why would Mr. Graham fancy a fiancée like her? How could such a powerful and influential person like him have such bad taste? Arissa proceeded to pick up her stuff. With a cold gaze, she stared straight into Danna’s eyes before uttering, “Please convey this to
Mr. Graham. The Graham Group is way out of my league. Please have him find someone more competent and fitting for this position instead!”