"Hey Jas." Ian answered the phone happily.
"Ian dear, have you made it to R Tower?" Jas asked in a sweet tone.
"I told you not to call me that, it's embarrassing." Ian said in a cold tone.
"I'm sorry, old habits die hard." Jas said with a laugh.
"How will you find a proper husband if you keep calling me by some old pet name?" Ian scolded Jas. He was well aware that Jas' family was looking to pair her with some young, rich heir, and her calling him by a pet name was her way of getting out of a date.
"I'm sorry Ian. So did you make it on time?" Jas asked, ignoring his comment. They might have been dating, but he knew Jas' family still set her up for blind dates when he wasn't around.
"I just walked into the lobby." Ian told her as he approached the receptionist's desk. "I have to go."
"Alright. Bye Ian." Jas said as she dropped the call.
"Miss I have an interview for a management trainee position." Ian told the receptionist. The woman looked at him with a confused look.
"Name?" She asked.
"Ian Lim." Ian said.
She quickly typed something before handing him a badge. "CEO's level is at the top floor."
"What?!" An angry voice said from behind Ian. "Why are you letting this lowly boy up there, but you won't let me in?"
Ian turned to see the couple from earlier once more.
"He has an appointment, it was specially scheduled by Marco So, the CEO's assistant." The receptionist said as she glared at Edsel and his female companion. "Meanwhile, you are just some nuisance that decided to pop up and demand a meeting with our CEO."
"Don't you know who I am?" Edsel demanded. "I'm Edsel Ares! My father owns Ares Co."
"Ares Co. is nothing to the Reyes Family." A young woman said as she arrived.
Ian grinned as he saw the woman walk up to Edsel and his group.
"And you are?" Edsel asked as he observed her from head to toe.
Ian wanted to laugh at his ignorance. Of course since his family had only recently become rich so he had no idea that he was talking to a member of the Reyes Family, a family so low profile that no one had seen their eldest son in years.
Ian on the other hand knew the Reyes siblings, at least he had met them before. Their eldest son, whose name he had forgotten was his classmate before he disappeared.
The woman who was standing before them was none other than Ayanna Reyes, the twenty year old daughter of the CEO. She got the signature black hair and piercing black eyes of the Reyes family. Her other features Ian assumed came from the mother, Priscilla Clarin.
"Someone you should watch your mouth around." Ayanna said as she walked passed everyone.
Right before going through the barrier to the elevators she stopped.
"Ian Lim right?" Ayanna asked as she looked at Ian.
Ian was stunned that she knew his name. Ian simply nodded at her question.
"Well come on, you'll be late." Ayanna said as she flashed him a rare smile.
Ian did not hesitate and followed her through the barrier and to the CEOs elevator.
"Are you their friends?" Ayanna suddenly asked him.
"No." Ian said as he shook his head. "Just some people I literally bumped into in front of the building."
"Ha! You're funny." Ayanna said with a laugh. "You'll be perfect for the job."
"The job? The management trainee job?" Ian asked. "Miss Reyes I don't know how my sense of humor would have anything to do with the job I applied for."
"You're perfect." Ayanna said with a grin as the elevator doors opened and they climbed in.
"I thought my interview was for the management trainee role, would you know why it's on the CEO's floor?" Ian asked, unable to contain his curiosity.
"So many questions, you remind me of him." The younger woman said as she shook her head. "He also keeps asking questions."
"He?" Ian asked. It seemed he ended up with more questions than answers.
"My dad will explain later." Ayanna said with a laugh again. "You're lucky dad called me in for lessons today, or else that mess at the lobby would be pretty bad."
"You're changing the topic." Ian said as he rolled his eyes.
"Hmph, only someone from an old rich family would dare roll their eyes at me." Ayanna complained. "And yes I am because I don't need to answer your questions."
Ian was about to say something when the elevator doors opened and Ayanna walked out ahead of him.
"Marco, this is Ian, dad's waiting for him." Ayanna said as she walked away.
"Mr. Ian Lim!" The older man who had given him the card for an interview asked. He looked different today, more refined, more formal, happier and brighter in general.
"Yes sir." Ian said with a nod.
"I'm Marco So, personal assistant to the CEO of the Reyes Group." Marco said as he offered a hand for Ian to shake. "We've been expecting you."