Capítulo 1: prelude

Hyatt Hilton, Private Executive Auditorium 03, 2016

Outside the press cameras clicked as the casket was carried into the room.

"Who will take the helm of the company? What about the lawsuits that were supposedly filed among family members? What will happen to the trust for the CFO?" One reporter shouted, shoving his camera into the room as he was held back by security. The reporters rumbled as various family members strutted by in sober attire.

Outside a slew of public sympathizers held banners as they stood with umbrellas outside of the hotel. These were former factory employees who had been directly helped by the deceased whose funeral was underway. They held up his Forbes cover and hugged it as the press was pushed out to be among them.

The illustrious industrial magnate Conrad Wong was buried with all the splendor that was due. He was known for cultivating his wealth so it would last for his future descendants and doling it out to help any of his employees in need. He was known as a person for the people.

The hotel was bedecked in white and green floral arrangements that created a solemn air. The late magnate had no care for fussy things so the ceremony was simpler than everyone would have liked to send him off in. All of his executives stood against the wall in identical black business suits and red camellia their expressions sobered up from their red hungover eyes. They had spent their whole night honoring the memory of their late leader. All of his employees had been intensely loyal and proud of their beloved head and their loss was really felt across the whole company, Wong Industries.

One mourner everyone had to avoid eyeing was the magnate's sole child and heir, Henry Wong. At the funeral ceremony, he had performed his filial duties with an impeccable assurance, his fair, attractive features like honed granite in his stiff morning suit. On his lapel he wore his father's favorite flower--a white carnation. The son and father had been very close, although not always seeing eye to eye.

This would be Henry's last official position at a company event, as his Uncle Wallace Wong was now the board's head. If he resented that the company he had helped to build was now out of his hands, it was impossible to see in his unmovable expression.

Though, many of his elders thought his avoidance of family entanglements was something to be looked down on, none of the mothers minded. At twenty seven, he possessed all of the charm and looks that every female in the room couldn't help but compare to a Hollywood star. The money hungry mothers would push their daughters in his direction. The daughters themselves sighed as he passed them by as they dreamed of what it would be like to be held in the midst of his broad shoulders and to be the apple of his beautiful haunting eyes.

The final ceremony was a cocktail party that ending with the lawyers reading the magnate's will. The family lawyer was a scraggly old man named Mr Chou. The decreased magnate had retained him due to his abrupt sincerity which he found entertaining. He had come from Beijing himself to perform the duty, as he did not believe anyone else was correct to perform his duty. It was a goliath of a task with numerous behests to loyal servants and to causes the sir had been interested in providing for.

Henry Wong sat cross armed in the crowd of seated listeners with a serious expression. A son born from a second wife could not succeed to head the Wong Industries helm due to the laws set by generations before, but he would still inherit a substantial amount of shares in the company, making him one of the richest CEOs in the world. Even he would only have the title to flaunt and no real power.

The new company heir, a wiry man without a really lick of his late brother's charisma, listened with a barely disguised grin. Someone had assumed the deceased magnate would have named his son as a true heir, but his fights with his son had soured that idea. He had been content with letting his son go awry overseas, saying he had interested his late wife's temper. He had been content with this arrangement with Henry, and Wallace was the successor of his choice. He was more seasoned and could manage a huge company with ease. Although Wallace mourned his brother, he was glad to have full rein to take the company where he wanted to grow.

The will itself, presented no irregularities -- until the last bit. Mr. Chou hacked a fit in front of the imposing young man in the front row before beginning to read the final terms. "And for my own son, Henry, who is the legacy I leave behind, I leave . . ." The lawyer's monotone voice filled the room, awakening the snoring listeners who were shocked. When he finished, there was a bated breath that was held in by the whole crowd as all the heads turned to Henry Wong. He sat with his head between his hands for a eon. Then he lithely jumped to his feet to reveal his angry expression, "He did not? Read it again!"

A couple of male relatives got up to cool him down, but he shrugged them off, "Don't touch me. I don't even know you." He pushed everyone back before strutting out of the auditorium and slamming the door behind him so it echoed loudly.

Lawyer Chou chucked into the microphone, "Well that was expected." A chorus of laughter ensued and the lawyer continued on with his monotonous task.