Ethan woke to the faint hum of the estate's air conditioning, a sound that felt alien compared to the creaks and groans of his Chicago apartment. Sunlight streamed through the guest room's window, casting long shadows across the polished floor. He lay still for a moment, his mind was heavy with everything. It was his third day in New York, and already he felt like he was sinking in quicksand. He needed to get a grip, figure out who to trust, and decide what he wanted from this.
He got up, pulling on his jeans and a fresh T-shirt. His duffel bag was starting to look pathetic in the corner of this fancy room, a reminder of the life he'd left behind. He checked his phone and found another text from Jamal: You good, man? This rich dad thing sounds wild. Ethan smiled faintly but didn't reply. He wasn't sure how to explain any of this, not even to his best friend.
Downstairs, the dining room was empty except for a spread of breakfast food of bagels, fruit, and some kind of fancy yogurt. A note from Claudia said Victor was at a doctor's appointment and she'd be back to take Ethan to the company later. Elise wasn't around either, which was fine by him. Her cold attitude yesterday had left a bad taste.
Ethan grabbed a bagel and coffee, eating alone at the long table. The silence gave him time to think. Victor wanted him to take over Langston Enterprises, but why? Was it really about family, or was there something else? Claudia's words from yesterday kept replaying in his head. And Elise's outburst about being overlooked stung more than he expected. He wasn't here to steal her place, but it sure felt like she saw him that way.
His phone buzzed. A text from Ava: Hey, you okay? Haven't heard from you since last night.
He typed back: Yeah, just trying to keep up with this place. It's a lot. Talk later?
Her reply was quick: Anytime. Don't let them get to you.
Ethan pocketed his phone, feeling a little lighter. Ava's words were like a tether, pulling him back to himself. He finished eating and stepped outside to the estate's gardens, needing air. The grounds were huge, with neat rows of flowers and a fountain that looked like it belonged in a movie. He walked the paths, his sneakers scuffing the gravel, trying to clear his head.
He was halfway through the garden when he heard footsteps behind him. He turned to see Elise, dressed in a crisp blazer and jeans, her arms crossed. "You're up early," she said, her tone flat.
"Couldn't sleep," Ethan said, stopping. "You?"
"Work," she said, nodding toward the house. "Victor's got me running numbers for a deal in London. You enjoying your little vacation?"
Ethan bristled. "I'm not on vacation. I didn't ask to be here."
Elise's eyes narrowed. "Then why are you? Victor drags you out of nowhere, calls you his heir, and you just go along with it?"
"I'm trying to figure it out," Ethan said, keeping his voice steady. "I didn't know about him till a week ago. I'm not here to take anything from you."
She laughed, sharp and bitter. "You don't get it, do you? I've spent years proving myself to Victor, learning the business, working nights while you were... what, fixing cars? And now you're the golden child because you're his blood."
Ethan's hands clenched. "I don't want to be the golden anything. I just want answers."
"Good luck with that," Elise said, turning away. "Victor's not big on answers."
She walked off, leaving Ethan standing there, his jaw tight. He didn't like Elise, but he got her angry. He was an outsider, stepping into a life she'd fought for. Still, her words cut. Was he just a pawn in Victor's game?
Claudia picked him up an hour later, driving him to another Langston Enterprises office, this one focused on real estate. The day was a repeat of meetings, presentations, numbers that made Ethan's head spin. He met more people, most of whom gave him polite smiles but skeptical looks. Richard Hale was there again, his slick grin never fading. Ethan caught him talking to Claudia in a hallway, their heads close, voices low. When they saw Ethan, they stepped apart, Claudia's smile snapping back into place.
"Ethan, ready for the next session?" she asked, like nothing was up.
"Yeah," Ethan said, but his gut told him something was off. Hale's eyes lingered on him a second too long before he walked away.
By late afternoon, Victor joined them, looking worse than yesterday. His face was gray, and his cough came more often, each one making Ethan wince. They sat in Victor's office, just the two of them, going over a project in Dubai. Victor explained it patiently, but Ethan's mind kept drifting to Claudia and Hale, to Elise's words, to Sarah's silence.
"You're quiet," Victor said, setting down a folder. "What's on your mind?"
Ethan hesitated, then went for it. "I don't trust the people here. Claudia's acting like I'm in her way. Elise hates me. And that Hale guy got a fake smile, like he's waiting for me to mess up."
Victor nodded, not surprised. "This world is full of ambition, Ethan. Claudia's loyal to the company, but she's protective of her place. Elise is... complicated. She's been like a daughter to me, but she knows she's not my heir. As for Hale, he's a rival. Always has been. Watch him."
Ethan leaned forward. "If you know they're trouble, why keep them around?"
"Because they're good at what they do," Victor said. "You'll learn, Ethan. You don't run a company like this with friends. You need people who challenge you, even if they don't like you."
Ethan shook his head. "That's not how I work. I'd rather have people I trust."
Victor's eyes softened. "That's why I want you here. You're different. You've got heart."
Ethan looked away, uncomfortable. "I'm not sure I want this. Any of it."
"I know," Victor said. "But give it a chance. You're stronger than you think."
The conversation ended when Victor's cough turned into a hacking fit. He waved Ethan off, saying he needed rest. Ethan left the office, his head spinning. Victor's words felt genuine, but they didn't erase the years of absence. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was being played, not just by Victor but by everyone around him.
Back at the estate, Ethan ate dinner alone in the dining room, Claudia and Elise nowhere in sight. He called Sarah, but it went to voicemail. He left a message: "Mom, I'm okay. Victor's showing me the business, but it's a lot. Call me when you can."
He tried Ava next, needing her voice to steady him. She picked up, sounding tired but happy to hear from him. "Ethan, how's it going?"
"It's a circus," he said, pacing his room. "Victor's pushing me to take over, but everyone here's got an agenda. His adopted daughter, Elise, thinks I'm stealing her spot. And his assistant, Claudia, she's all smiles, but I don't trust her."
"Sounds intense," Ava said. "What about Victor? What's he like?"
Ethan sighed. "He's sick, Ava. Looks like he's barely holding on. Says he wants to make things right, but I don't know if I believe him. And Mom's still dodging my questions about him."
Ava was quiet for a moment. "You're caught in the middle of something big, Ethan. Just don't lose yourself in it. You're there for answers, not to be their pawn."
Her words hit home, grounding him. "I'm trying. It's just... hard to know what's real here."
"I know," she said. "But you're smart. You'll figure it out. And I'm here, okay?"
"Thanks," Ethan said, his voice softer. "I might need to hear that a lot this week."
"Anytime," she said, and he could hear her smile through the phone.
After they hung up, Ethan sat on the bed, staring at the ceiling. He felt like he was walking a tightrope, with Victor pulling him one way, Claudia and Elise pushing against him, and Sarah holding back the truth. Tomorrow, he'd dig deeper, ask harder questions. He wasn't here to play nice rather he was here to understand why Victor had chosen now to claim him.
As he drifted to sleep, one thought lingered: if this was his birthright, why did it feel like a trap?