Next One Is a Babe

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Ian walked across the lobby, which was empty save for the receptionist manning the front desk.

The receptionist noticed his approaching figure and she had only just greeted him when she stopped short as she took in his features. A look of recognition flashed in her eyes, and it was clear that she knew who he was.

However, he was unfazed as he said, “I’m here to see Sean; I’ve called him in advance.”

Whether or not he had called Sean in advance was actually irrelevant, seeing as the receptionist wouldn’t have stopped him anyway. True enough, she responded hastily from behind the desk, “Alright. You may come in.”

Ian easily made his way up the stairs and headed for Sean’s office. The door was open, but Ian knocked twice as a matter of courtesy.

Sean was going through documents when he heard the knocks and looked up. Perhaps it had been quite some time since the men last saw each other, but Sean thought Ian was dressed differently now than he usually would in the past. He appraised Ian with narrowed eyes and pointed out a couple of seconds later, “Looks like being a celebrity has changed you. You look and carry yourself like a whole different person.”

Ian ignored this as he pulled out the seat across Sean and asked, “Did I catch you at a bad time?”

With frustration, Sean threw the documents he had been reviewing onto the table and answered, “See how I’m the only one running the company now? I barely have the time to breathe.”

A small smirk played on Ian’s lips. “Isn’t this what you wanted?”

Sean had always been forthright with his ambitions to claim the company as his own, so much so that he wanted Ian’s help to kick Simon and Sally out of the company.

It was something Ian thought Sean had wanted all along—to have full control of the family business.

Presently, Sean leaned into his chair and said thoughtfully, “I do want to be in control of everything, but at the same time, I’m hoping that the people I trust will eventually return to lend me a helping hand.”

Ian chuckled. “You’re not talking about me, are you?”

“I can tell you have no interest in having anything to do with the company, but there was a time when I thought you could be my right-hand man,” Sean explained frankly. “Now that you’ve chosen another path for yourself, I suppose I can’t persuade you otherwise.”

After a slight hesitation, Ian asked, “How is he? What did the doctor say?”

Sean knew that Ian was asking about Bryce. Sean paused to think for a while before he finally answered, “Well, he’s not getting any younger, and with all that has happened of late, it’s only normal that he can’t cope physically. The doctor recommended that he stay at the hospital to catch up on some much needed rest. You know how it is at home; no one will give him the peace and quiet he needs to recover.”

He had as good as told Ian that Bryce was fine. It didn’t matter whether he was telling the truth or not; knowing Sean, he probably didn’t see Ian as a threat, given how Ian had never expressed much interest or greed in the family fortune.

Upon hearing the explanation, Ian nodded and said, “I wasn’t sure whether I should visit him at the hospital, but now that I know he’s fine—”

“You should visit him,” Sean said, cutting him off mid-sentence. “You’re back anyway, so it wouldn’t be a good look on you if you don’t drop by to see him.”

Ian was a little taken aback by this. He hadn’t expected Sean to be quite so encouraging.

Sean, on the other hand, merely crossed his legs and placed his hands on top of his knees, looking relaxed as he asked, “So, what did your company say about the Internet fiasco?”

“They were wondering whether you could do something about it,” Ian replied straightforwardly.