Rise Of The Disgraced Heir

Ian played with his car keys as the elevator descended from the CEO's floor. 

He had to take an ordinary elevator since he would be getting off at the lobby. The ride was taking longer than usual because it had to stop by multiple floors before finally arriving at the lobby.

On the way down, Ian couldn't help but think of what Seth had asked him. 

Did he still love Jas? He loved her from the start, but was he just with her because she stayed when everyone left?

Did he love her because she stayed or did he love her for who she was?

He also felt that it was unfair for him to keep her and hold on to her when their relationship was doing her and her family more harm than good. 

Jas' family was already losing projects and losing money just for being associated with him. Add to that the fact that Jas had to lie to people and date people while being in a relationship with him.

What if she met someone she loved more than Ian? Someone that was a much better fit for her..

Their relationship was not an easy one, they had gone through so many bumps that sometimes Ian couldn't help but wonder why she chose to stay with him.

In everyone's eyes he was a failure.

As the elevator door opened at the lobby, Ian walked out and looked around.

He couldn't help but marvel at how beautiful it was. No wonder R Tower was one of the top buildings in the country.

As he was walking out, he suddenly bumped into someone rushing into the building.

It was a man, about the same age as him. He couldn't help but stare at the person, something about him was eerily familiar.

"I'm so so sorry." The man said as he gathered his documents.

"It's fine, I wasn't looking." Ian said as he helped the man.

"I was in such a rush I wasn't looking where I was going either." The man said as he shook his head.

"No, no it's fine." Ian told the person as he shook his head.

"Thanks, I'm rushing in for an interview as an assistant. I think I'm late." The man said as he scratched the back of his head.

"I'm an assistant too, who knows we might work with each other someday." Ian said with a smile. "I'm Ian, Ian Lim."

"Nice to meet you Ian, I'm Cedric." The man said as he offered his hand to Ian to shake.

"Cedric." Ian said as he repeated the name. It sounded oddly familiar. It wasn't a common name, but it wasn't too rare either.

"Are you okay?" Cedric asked Ian.

"Yeah, yeah, just some personal matters. Anyway, good luck with your interview and I hope we get to work together." Ian said as he flashed the man a smile and went on his way.

Since it was the middle of the day, the streets weren't busy and Ian quickly managed to cross to the cafe across the street.

There he found Jas patiently waiting for him.

When she spotted Ian at the door, she waved and smiled. Ian smiled back at her as he walked up.

"I owe you an apology." Jas said with a frown as she pushed a mug of coffee towards Ian. 

Ian lifted it and took a sip, it was just how he liked it. They had been together for so long that Jas already knew what Ian wanted before he even realized it.

"Jas, we talked about this before." Ian said with a sigh. "I may not like it, but it's what you need to do for your family and your company. I understand."

Ian said as he reached out and held her hand, gently caressing it, trying to show her how much he cared.

"Ian, it's not just that." Jas said with a frown. "I want you to know why I need to date these people. I don't want you shutting me out and pretending our relationship doesn't exist. I love you and I have always loved you over the years. I want our relationship to have no secrets."

"Jas, it's okay, I don't need an explanation. I trust you." Ian told her with a smile as he tried to put his best foot forward.

"My family isn't doing too well." Jas confessed. "I don't know if this time they will force me to marry this person or if just dating him to get a deal will do."

"I understand." Ian said with a frown.

"Ian, I don't want to marry him, heck I don't even want to date him. They are making me do this against my will." Jas cried out.

"I can't do anything about it Jas." Ian said as he shook his head. "Only you can refuse them. I can't be a more eligible bachelor in their eyes, I'm just an employee at the Reyes Group."

"Why not lie to them? I mean you got your fancy new apartment, tell them you are in a high position that the CEO is an old friend." Jas said in a frantic tone.

Ian considered it for a moment, what she said was not a lie. In a way he was an executive of the Reyes Group because of how the company functioned, but it was not in his place to tell the truth.

He had signed a contract with the Reyes Group, it limited what he could say and he knew for a fact that the person Jas was dating was Mike. Someone that worked in the Reyes Group and could easily say he was lying.

"Jas, I can't lie to your family." Ian said as he shook his head in defeat. "The truth will always come out Jas, no matter how hard we try, they will find out."

"Ian, do you really love me?" Jas suddenly asked.

"Jas, what are you talking about? Of course I do." Ian told her as he struggled to affirm his feelings for her.

"It's a small sacrifice, why can't you do it for me?" Jas asked before standing up and walking out of the cafe.