Rise Of The Disgraced Heir

"I have work tomorrow." Ian said in a cold tone as he wrapped his arm around Jas' waist. 

He didn't want her to feel like he didn't love her anymore, that was quite far from the truth. But until he could find out the truth behind what Josephine had warned him about, he decided to keep his distance.

"Oh, but didn't you miss me?" Jas asked.

"Of course I missed you, but you know how much the Reyes Group demands from me and Camilla." Ian said, hoping she would understand. He knew Jas would want to play the role of a supportive girlfriend at the very least.

"I understand." Jas said with a sigh as she nodded. "I just miss you, a lot. And I want to talk about things. I want to know how you really feel."

"Maybe we can talk about it when I get back." Ian said as he held Jas' hand.

"Get back?" She asked as she gave Ian a confused look. "You're going somewhere?" 

"Right, I haven't told you. I just found out the other day." Ian said as he scratched his head. "The Reyes Group is sending us to Hong Kong for a conference. We need to go there with Marco and the CEO."

"When?" Jas asked.

"Next week." Ian replied.

"And you are telling me about this now? Couldn't you have told me sooner? How long will you be gone?" She asked one question after the other, wanting to know details about Ian's trip.

Ian took a deep breath as he tried to control the annoyance he could feel building up. He wanted to tell her so badly that she shouldn't be mad that he was a few days late in telling her the news.

As a matter of fact what difference would it even make? They weren't exactly on the best terms as a couple at the moment. There was still a lot they had to sort through and she was giving him this attitude.

It took Ian all of his strength not to snap at Jas.

"I'm only telling you this now because we haven't seen each other in days, I haven't had the chance. As for how long, we will be there for a week, unless the CEO decides to extend the trip or cut it short." Ian explained.

"Why so long?" Jas asked with a pout.

"Jas, you know I can't control this." Ian said in an irritated tone.

"Jas, Ian!" Jas' father said as he waved at the couple.

"Uncle." Ian responded with a respectful nod. 

"There are some people I want to introduce you to, Ian." Jas' father told him. "Can I tell them what your role is at the Reyes Group or is that still a secret?" He asked.

Ian looked at Jas, he hadn't told her parents what he did in the Reyes Group, he couldn't help but wonder what her parents knew and if she had told them the truth.

"Dad, Ian's job is actually quite different from what you know." Jas said as she tried to explain things to her father.

"Oh, I thought he worked as an assistant for one of the executives." Jas' father said as she gave Ian a confused look. "What's the truth?" He asked.

"Uncle, I do work as an assistant, but I'm being trained to be the future personal assistant to the next CEO of the Reyes Group." Ian revealed, much to the older man's shock and disbelief. 

"Wait, so that means. . ." Jas' father said as his voice trailed off.

It seemed to Ian that he was in shock at the news. People didn't really expect Ian to rise this high so fast, after all his family had lost everything and it was as if the whole world was against him at one point.

"Uncle, yes, it means that right now I work with Marco So. I help him with everything and anything the CEO needs and I get sent to the different subsidiaries under the Reyes Group to study them." Ian explained.

"Marco So is second only to the members of the Reyes Family." Jas' father managed to say.

"I guess you could say I'm either third or fourth." Ian teased as he recalled the reference Seth had made earlier that day.

"Is this public knowledge?" Jas' father asked. "Why didn't we know about it? Why didn't you tell us Jas?"

"It's not Jas' fault, uncle." Ian said as he shook his head. "The CEO didn't want people to know since he wanted us to learn about the companies in secret, but things have changed and he will be announcing us tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" Jas asked. "Is that why you aren't free tonight?" 

"Yeah, it's a big day and I can't be falling asleep or yawning on the stage. Can you imagine how embarrassing that would look?" Ian said with a laugh.

"That's big news." Jas' dad said as he began to consider the implications. "Is that why you were able to help with Josephine's case?" He asked. 

"Yes, we didn't know about Josephine, but Mike was already someone that was stealing from the Reyes Group and hurting many of its employees." Ian explained. "I didn't know that he was using the Ortegas as well."

"It's a good thing then. Josephine told us that you had a crucial part to play but she wasn't allowed to disclose the details, not even to Jas." Jas' father told Ian as he glanced at his elder daughter.

"It was nothing." Ian said, brushing it off. "I was simply doing my job."

"Dad, didn't you want to introduce Ian to some people?" Jas asked as she tried to change the topic.

"Right, right, this is the perfect opportunity, I want to introduce Ian as your boyfriend to some of our business partners." Jas' father said as he led them through the crowd.

As much as he wanted to deny it, Ian had a gut feel that he was about to be used as leverage by the Ortegas, even if they had planned on introducing him before they knew his true role in the Reyes Group.