Chapter 3 Definitely the Prince 1.2

The elevator doors opened on the top floor, revealing the penthouse where the executive offices were located. The floor was vast, with dark marble tiles, maple wood accents, and red velvet walls. Giving the space a dark elegant vibe.

William snickered at the sight-it had been quite a while since he'd last been in these halls. The receptionist in the receiving area noticed his presence.

"Sir William?" a woman in a tight red skirt and white blouse greeted him.

"Ms. Mary, it's been a while," William acknowledged her. Mary has been the receptionist of this floor since time immemorial.

"Oh my God, Sir, it really has been a while." She gave him the sweetest smile she could muster. "Are you here to see the Chairman?"

"Yep, had to drop by and say hello. Otherwise, my pension might get cut off." He chuckled.

"But the Chairman isn't in yet," she said, sounding concerned.

"No problem. I'll just wait in his office."

He walked toward the office at the end of the hallway. The plaque on the door read, Chairman.

The room carried a faint scent of bamboo, and the expansive 180-degree view of the city was nothing short of breathtaking. It was a spacious, elegant office.

William settled into the Chairman's chair, propped his sneaker-clad feet on the polished desk, and absentmindedly began squeezing a stress ball. As he swiveled the chair, his eyes lingered on the panoramic view before him.

"Sure does make you feel powerful," he murmured to himself, gazing down at the bustling cityscape. Being here felt like standing at the helm of the world-like you could conquer it all.

The sudden sound of the door opening interrupted his thoughts. William spun the chair around to face the unexpected intruder.

"Well, if it isn't my prodigal baby brother!"

Standing in the doorway was a man in a sharp suit, likely in his early thirties. He was tall, well-built, with thick eyebrows, a strong jawline, and the same brown eyes as William.

"Long time no see. When did you get back?" the man asked.

"Lloyd, it's been two months," William replied with a smile.

"Two months? You've been back for two months, and you're just now showing your face here?"Lloyd strode into the room and sat in the chair beside the President's desk. "Enjoying the Throne, Prince?" he asked with a sneer. Lloyd always tease him as a Prince since they were kids.

"Nope. But I do like the view," William replied nonchalantly.

Q

"So why are you here? Looking for Dad?" Lloyd asked. "Wouldn't it make more sense to go back to the house and see Mom instead?" Lloyd suggested since he knew 1 that their Mom adored William the most.

"Nope. Mom's the reason I'm here," William said, squeezing the stress ball again.

"What did Mom do this time?" Lloyd asked, just as an enigmatic man in his sixties entered the room. He wore a deep blue suit and tie, and his full mustache traced the strong line of his jaw. His face traced with dignified and strength. His piercing brown eyes surveyed the scene.

"Well, what do we have here?" the older man asked, raising his eyebrows at the two younger men seated at his desk.

Lloyd stood up straight, showing respect to the old man, while William remained seated in his chair and squeezing the stress ball. Their father nodded at his eldest son before turning his gaze toward his youngest, still lounging comfortably.

"Drained all your funds?" the old man asked, his voice stern yet tinged with curiosity.

William grinned. "Yes, I'm here to collect my pension."

Lloyd let out an exasperated sigh. "You brat. Show some respect."

Their father raised a hand to silence Lloyd. "Let him be," he said calmly, a hint of indulgence in his tone. William, the youngest, had always been their parent's favorite.

"What happened to your credit cards and accounts?" Lloyd inquired "Dividends are automatically credited there, aren't they?"

William leaned back, still grinning. "It seems they've been frozen."

"By your mother," the old man stated without hesitation.

Lloyd raised an eyebrow. "She froze them? How?"

"The bank belongs to us," their father replied.

William shrugged. "Even with the Bank Secrecy Act and all those regulations, it's not like I can sue my own mother or the family's company for freezing my accounts. So, Dad, how about an allowance?"

"No."

Both sons stared at their father. Lloyd, in particular, was stunned. He hadn't expected the old man to refuse his youngest request knowingly that he was the favorite.

Their father's voice was firm. "I'm already 62 years old. It's time for me to retire. And you"-he turned to William-"are 29. It's high time you started earning your keep. Help your brother run the business. Lloyd can teach you everything you need to know."

"I've been earning my own keep," William muttered under his breath. He had no real desire to be involved in the corporate world-it seemed so monotonous. But something about it suddenly felt intriguing. Well, not something-someone. That girl in the elevator. He snapped out of his thoughts when his father's sarcastic tone broke the silence.

"What? That little hobby of yours?" his father scoffed. "It couldn't even cover the maintenance fees for your condo. Lloyd here will need your help once I retire."

Even though Lloyd stayed silent, he knew he didn't need William's help. He could manage the company on his own. In fact, William's involvement would likely just add to his workload.

"Okay," William replied nonchalantly, catching Lloyd off guard.

Lloyd blinked. "What do you mean, 'okay'? Okay, you'll join the company? Or okay, no thank you, sir?" He wasn't sure if he had misheard his younger brother. He knew how much William despised the corporate world. William had always been a free spirit. After college, he left immediately to escape this life everyone kept trying to impose on him.

William stood up, his demeanor unusually serious. He nodded to both his father and brother. "I'll join the company." He wasn't doing it for the money or the prestige. He was a free spirit, after all. But something about this decision felt right-his mind kept circling back to the girl from the elevator. If his instincts were leading him here, he figured he might as well take the plunge.

Their father's face lit up with rare approval. "Good. We'll schedule a board meeting to place you in the executive office. Lloyd, handle the arrangements and set a date as soon as possible."

"Wait," William interjected. "I don't want to start as an executive. If I may, I'd prefer to begin as a regular employee. I want to learn the company from the ground up."

"A regular employee?" Lloyds voice rose in disbelief.