The Mistress Is Reborn As The Fiancée
Chapter 37: The Games Have Begun

Chapter 37: The Games Have Begun

The sleek, modern lobby of the Jia Corporation buzzed with the usual morning energy, a symphony of hurried footsteps, ringing phones, and hushed conversations. Flynn, dressed in a crisp, tailored suit, navigated the throng of employees with a quiet confidence that belied the turmoil brewing within him. He had arrived as instructed, ready to take on the assigned tasks for his new position, but a sense of unease lingered, a premonition of the trials that were sure to come.

He headed straight to reception where a pretty girl smiled as he approached.

"Good morning," he greeted. "My name is Flynn Song and I am to head to HR, could you direct me please?"

"Good morning Mr Song," the reception answered in a sing song voice. "You are to go to Mr Ryu’s office, he is waiting for you."

Flynn raised an eyebrow at the new information and chuckled in amusement. The games have begun so soon.

He was directed and when he reached Vernon’s office, a sprawling expanse of glass and polished wood, and found it empty. The secretary, a young woman with a harried expression, informed him that Mr. Vernon was "in a meeting" and would be with him shortly.

Flynn nodded with a smile, his eyes scanning the room, noting the subtle signs of a deliberate delay. He recognized the tactic – a classic power play, a subtle reminder of his perceived insignificance.

He took a seat, his posture relaxed, his gaze steady. He knew this was a test, a game of patience, and he was determined to play it with unwavering composure. Hours ticked by, the silence in the office broken only by the occasional hum of the air conditioning and the distant murmur of the city outside. Flynn remained calm, his mind a quiet pool of observation, analyzing the subtle nuances of the situation.

He knew that Vernon, was fueled by resentment and suspicion, he was attempting to undermine his credibility, to paint him as an interloper, an unwelcome intruder. The prolonged wait was a calculated move, designed to erode his confidence, to make him feel insignificant and powerless. He probably hoped that Flynn would have a melt down but what he did not know that this was a very small disturbance to him.

Flynn, refused to be baited. He understood the dynamics at play, the unspoken power struggles, the subtle manipulations. He had encountered such tactics before, in different arenas, in different contexts. He knew that patience was his greatest weapon, that composure was his shield. He had honed it into an art form, Vernon was small in the grand scheme of things.

Flynn leaned back in the plush, leather chair, the silence of Vernon’s opulent office a stark contrast to the frenetic energy he had left behind at his own company. He glanced at his watch; Vernon had still not come, predictably so. He pulled out his phone, his fingers tapping the screen as he dialed Tolu’s number.

"Tolu," he said, his voice low and steady. "I need you to dig deeper."

"Dig deeper?" Tolu’s voice echoed through the line, laced with a hint of confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Vernon," Flynn said, his voice firm. "I need more information on him. Everything. Financial records, personal history, any... discrepancies. I have been living in their house, Tolu. I have seen how he operate. There’s something off about this family. Something... sketchy."

"Sketchy?" Tolu repeated, his voice laced with skepticism. "Flynn, you are starting to sound like a conspiracy theorist."

"Just do it, Tolu," Flynn said, his voice laced with urgency. "I have a feeling that there is more to this than meets the eye. And I need to know what it is if I am going to be able to protect Areum."

"Alright, alright," Tolu conceded, his voice laced with a sigh. "But you know this is going to take time, right?"

"I know," Flynn said, his voice patient. "I trust you. You are the best at this."

"Flattery will get you everywhere," Tolu chuckled, a hint of amusement in his voice. "So, when are you coming back to the company? We are starting to get swamped."

"That is exactly why I put you in charge," Flynn said, his voice laced with a hint of playful authority. "I trust you to handle things. And besides, I’m needed here."

"Needed where?" Tolu asked, his voice laced with skepticism. "In Vernon’s office? Waiting for him to grace you with his presence?"

"Just focus on the task at hand, Tolu," Flynn said, his voice firm. "I will be in touch."

"Wait, Flynn," Tolu protested, his voice laced with urgency. "Mr Braun needs to see you. He has been asking for you specifically."

"Shhh," Flynn hushed him, "I’m in a meeting." He smiled to himself and ended the call.

He placed the phone beside him, his gaze drifting to the window. The city skyline stretched out before him, a tapestry of concrete and steel, a symbol of the power and ambition that drove the Jia family.

He sighed, his gaze drifting back to the empty chair across from him. Vernon was still late, his absence a deliberate power play, a subtle reminder of his control. Flynn was not bothered. He had time. Time to think, time to plan, time to prepare for the battles to come.

As the afternoon shadows lengthened, Flynn started to contemplate a nice afternoon nap since it seemed that Vernon would not return till the next day. He smiled at the thought of Vernon catching him snoozing, he would surely be very glad. He heard a commotion outside the office, a flurry of hurried footsteps and hushed whispers. A moment later, Vernon’s secretary, her face flushed and her eyes wide with alarm, rushed into the room.

"Mr. Song," she stammered, her voice barely audible, "you need to... you should stay in the restroom for a little while please."

Flynn raised an eyebrow, his gaze steady. "You want me to hide in the restroom? Why would I do that?"

"Mr. Vernon... he is... there is someone important with him," she whispered, her eyes darting towards the door. "If you go in, he will attend to you as soon as he is done with his guest."

Flynn’s senses sharpened. He knew something was amiss. He stood up, his posture unwavering. "I am sorry but I am not going to hide," he said, his voice firm. "I have nothing to hide."

Before the secretary could protest any further, the office door swung open, revealing Grandma Jia, her presence radiating an aura of quiet authority. Behind her stood Vernon, his face a mask of forced composure, and several other members of the Jia Corporation’s senior management.

Flynn now understood the reason the secretary had frantically tried to hide him. Her boss was going to get into trouble for being naughty and he had probably asked her to find a way to make him disappear. Well, too bad.

The room fell silent, the air thick with tension. Grandma Jia’s gaze swept across the room, her eyes lingering on Flynn, then on her son, and finally on the secretary, who stood frozen in fear.

"What is going on here?" Grandma Jia asked, her voice calm but firm.

Everyone was shocked by her presence. Grandma Jia rarely visited the company, preferring to observe from a distance, pulling the strings from her private chambers. But she was aware that Vernon would try something underhanded this morning, and she had decided to intervene personally.

Flynn stepped forward, his posture respectful. "Grandma Jia," he said, his voice clear and steady, "it is a pleasure to see you."

"Flynn," she replied, her gaze unwavering, "why are you in Vernon’s office? I understood you were to be assigned your own workspace."

Flynn hesitated, choosing his words carefully. He was aware of the delicate balance of power, the unspoken tensions that permeated the room. He did not want to make Vernon look bad as he did not need him to be more aggravated, but he also couldn’t lie.

"I was instructed to report to Mr. Vernon’s office this morning," he began, "to receive my initial assignments. I have been waiting for him."

Before Flynn could elaborate, Vernon interjected, his voice strained. "Mother, there is no need to trouble yourself. I was just about to—"

"Silence, Vernon," Grandma Jia cut him off, her voice sharp. "Let Flynn speak."

Vernon’s face flushed, his eyes filled with resentment. He knew that his mother’s intervention was a clear indication of her displeasure.

Flynn continued, his voice calm and measured. "As I was saying, I was instructed to wait. I understand that Mr. Vernon has been busy, and I did not want to interrupt him."

He paused, his eyes meeting Grandma Jia’s. "I am sure he had important matters to attend to."

His words were diplomatic, a subtle attempt to diffuse the tension, to avoid further confrontation. He was aware that Vernon was trying to paint him as an opportunist, a troublemaker. He would not give him that satisfaction.