Rise Of The Disgraced Heir

"Not the moment I was hired." Jake told Marco with a chuckle. "You're exaggerating things." He said with a sigh as he looked down and frowned.

"Right, cause you shouldn't even be in this company in the first place." Ian said as he pointed at Jake. "Your dad is only letting you work here because he thinks you need to get this whole working to learn out of your system."

"No way." Someone said with a gasp. "Impossible. Are you. . . are you. . ." The woman stuttered as she tried to say her theory out lout.

"No, no, I'm not him." Jake hissed as he shook his head. "My last name isn't Reyes."

"Although you are related to them." Camilla scoffed, shocking everyone who didn't know.

"Only by law." Jake responded in an angry tone as he glared at Camilla.

"Wait, are you related to the Laurels that competes and partners with Krisanta Land?" Fred asked as he pieced the puzzle together. "One of their daughters was supposedly married to a member of the Reyes clan."

"Ding, ding, ding, give him a raise!" Marco said with a smile. "I'm serious, that guy deserves a raise now." He said as he noticed Ian's and Camilla's shocked looks.

"I'll arrange for it." Jake said with a smile. He was more than happy to give Fred a raise. 

The man was one of his best salespeople who constantly lost deals because Mike and Armand had ruined his name.

"Jake isn't just related to them." Ian said, answering for Jake. He knew that the man would try to play it low key and simply tell people that he was related to them and not the full story of who he actually was.

"What do you mean?" Another team member asked.

"Jake is the heir of the Laurel company. Where we have the Reyes Heir, they have Jake." Ian said simply, catching everyone by surprise.

"What are you doing here?" Fred asked. "S- s- sir." He added as it registered in his mind that Jake was technically someone higher than him and someone who would normally ignore him.

Jake sighed and shook his head as he glared at Ian. He was not happy with what Ian did but he didn't have a choice. The truth was already out and everyone knew. 

"You don't need to be so formal towards me Fred." Jake said. "You've known me for years now. Just Jake is fine."

"But you're way above us." Fred said as his voice shook. Clearly he was nervous.

"If you were worrying about all the stupid stuff you've said and done around me, it's useless." Jake said with a chuckle as he tried to ease the tension. "I never wanted to be this boss that you all looked up to just because of my last name. Look at how all of you are reacting now!"

"Yeah, but your last name technically gives you permission to fuck around with us." Ash said, unbothered by Jake's position. 

She had known for weeks now and had come to realize that Jake was still the same person before and after she found out the truth about him. 

Nothing had changed except she now understood why Jake seemed to live quite a lavish lifestyle despite his salary.

She also now knew why he rarely ate with them. It was because he spent most lunches with his cousin or with Marco since the three men were quite close in age.

"You don't seem shocked." A different member of the sales team said as he pointed at Ash. "Did you know?" He asked.

"I knew a few weeks ahead of you guys, yes." Ash said as she nodded. 

"And you two?" Fred asked Camilla and Ian.

"They've known from the start." Ash said, answering for them. "Those two were key in taking Mike and Armand down. We actually owe them everything." 

"We were just doing our jobs." Ian replied.

"Please, what you did was beyond the requirements of your so-called job." Jake said as he rolled his eyes at Ian, making Camilla laugh at his reaction.

"It's true." Camilla said as she noticed Ian looking at her angrily.

"As we were saying." Marco said as he drew the conversation back on track. There were just too many commentaries and questions coming from everyone that they almost exposed the second news they were going to break. 

"Right, right." Jake said with a nod as he allowed Marco to make the announcement.

"Jake will be moving up as the Vice President for Krisanta Land's sales department." Marco announced, to which everyone clapped and celebrated.

"Wait, wasn't Armand's role just a Department Head?" Fred asked. "I mean, yes, Jake super deserves that role, no questions there. But it's a promotion of the role itself?"

"Uncle Emilio wanted to give him the role of VP for Krisanta Land but he refused." Ian said absent mindedly, unaware that he had somewhat exposed himself.

"Uncle?" Fred asked, wide eyed as he looked at Ian. "You're a Reyes too?!" Fred shouted.

"No I'm not." Ian said. "But, later, we'll explain. For now, congratulations Jake!" He said as he stood up and clapped as he desperately tried to divert the attention from himself.

Clearly he failed as everyone continued to eye him suspiciously.

"Is she a Reyes too?" Fred asked as he pointed at Camilla.

"They aren't." Ash said as she shook her head, saving Ian and Camilla from any more embarrassment that people would think they were related to the Reyes family.

Not that it would have been embarrassing to be related to the powerful family. It would simply be embarrassing to claim to be one if they actually weren't.

"I'm actually here for them, not for Jake." Marco confessed. "The only reason Jake and these two have to come clean to all of you is because what they have to say today will be announced to the public in two days, on Friday."

All eyes were on Ian and Camilla once more as Ian slowly sank back into his seat. 

"Well, we haven't been entirely honest with you guys.." Camilla said as she bit her lower lip and took a deep breath as she prepared herself for the news they were about to drop.