Chapter 8

Maxwell barely slept that night.  Every time he closed his eyes, he couldn't fall asleep. 

He felt tired, however his mind was still active. The photos. His father's face. Sterling Industries. The inheritance. An aunt he'd never known existed. It felt impossible. Too good to be real. And it was actually the excitement of all this being real that kept him up.

He kept circling back to that. What if this wasn't some cruel prank? What if his father really had been someone? What if there was money, a family, a life waiting for him that he'd never known about?

By the time the sun came up, Maxwell had maybe gotten two hours of sleep. His body felt heavy, but his mind was wide awake.

He sat up, rubbing his face. His hand still hurt, the makeshift bandage crusted with dried blood.

He looked at his phone and the the clock on his phone read 9:17 AM.

Two and a half hours until the car arrived.

Maxwell stood and walked to the bathroom. The mirror showed him exactly what he expected, tired eyes, messy hair, the faint shadow of stubble on his jaw. He looked like he'd been through hell.

Because he had.

He turned on the shower and waited for the water to heat up. It took a while for the water to heat up because the building he lived on was was old, and the pipes were older. But eventually, steam filled the small bathroom, and he stepped under the spray.

He let out a content sigh as the water hit him, feeling refreshing. He stood there, letting it wash away the exhaustion, the weight of last night. 

Debra's voice still echoed in his head. ‘You're trash. Just like your father.’

But maybe she'd been wrong. About his father, at least.

Maxwell scrubbed himself clean, then got out and dried off. His hand was still bleeding a little, so he found a proper bandage in the cabinet and wrapped it carefully.

Back in his bedroom, he stared at his closet.

He didn't have much. A few shirts, some jeans, a jacket he'd bought years ago that was starting to fray at the cuffs. Nothing that screamed ‘heir to a billion-dollar empire.’ And his living state was all his mom and Ramon's fault. After they fired him from Lexus corporation, they knew that he would easily find a good job with his skills and everything he offered, so they sabotaged him every time he got an interview. 

Wanting to look... decent, and presentable. Maxwell pulled out his best shirt, a simple black button-up, and a pair of dark jeans. Not fancy, but clean. He put them on, then stood in front of the mirror again.

He looked…. Better. Not great, but better. He checked his phone and it was 10:53 AM.

Less than an hour now.

Maxwell sat back down on the bed, leg bouncing. The excitement he'd tried to ignore last night was harder to push down now. It buzzed under his skin, mixing with nerves and doubt. 

So, he was going to meet his aunt today. What was he supposed to say to Victoria Sterling? What was she like? Would she even believe he was really her nephew?

His phone buzzed.

Kieran:The car is on its way. It should arrive in approximately 30 minutes.

Maxwell typed back: Okay.

He stood up for no reason, and before he even knew it, he was pacing the small apartment to try and calm the nerves. He checked his reflection again. Straightened his shirt. Ran a hand through his hair.

This was stupid. He was acting like a kid going to his first job interview.

But it didn't feel like an interview. It felt bigger than that. Like his entire life was about to split into before and after.

At 11:42 AM, his phone buzzed again.

Kieran: We've arrived. Whenever you're ready.

Maxwell's heart kicked in his chest.

He grabbed his phone, his keys, and the business card. Took one last look around the apartment to see if he forgot anything, and then he walked out the door.

The car waiting outside wasn't what he expected.

It was sleek. Black. Expensive in a way that made his stomach twist. A Mercedes, maybe. The kind of car he'd only ever seen from a distance.

Kieran stood beside it, dressed in the same black suit from last night. When he saw Maxwell, he nodded and opened the back door.

"Master Maxwell," he said. "Good morning."

Maxwell hesitated. The street was quiet, but he could feel a few eyes on him. He spotted a neighbor peeking through a window. A guy walking his dog across the street, staring.

This was a low income neighborhood and cars like this never drove here, so of course people were surprised. 

"Morning," Maxwell said, then climbed inside the vehicle. 

The interior was in perfect condition. Leather seats, tinted windows, the faint smell of something clean and expensive. It felt like stepping into another world.

Kieran got into the front seat, and the driver, a middle-aged man in a suit, pulled away from the curb smoothly.

Maxwell sat back, trying not to look as out of place as he felt.

"How are you feeling, Master Maxwell?" Kieran asked, glancing back at him.

"I am a little tired," Maxwell admitted. "Didn't sleep much."

"Understandable." Kieran's tone was sympathetic. "Ms. Victoria is very much looking forward to meeting you."

Maxwell nodded but didn't say anything. He watched the city pass by through the window. The buildings, the streets. Everything looked the same as it always had.

But somehow, it felt different now.

After a few minutes, Kieran spoke again. "If you have any questions, I'm happy to answer them."

Maxwell glanced at him. "Where are we going?"

"Ms. Victoria's residence. It's about an hour and twenty minutes from here."

"And she's... my aunt? My dad's sister?"

"Yes. Your father's only sibling."

Maxwell looked back out the window. "What's she like?"

Kieran considered that for a moment. "She's... formidable. Intelligent. She built much of what Sterling Industries is today after your father passed. But she's also fair. And she's been searching for you for a long time."

Maxwell didn't know what to say to that, so he stayed quiet.

The car turned onto a highway, heading out of the city. The buildings grew taller, newer as they started reaching the city side. 

For forty minutes, he didn't say a word. Just watched the city roll past the window. 

Kieran didn't try to make conversation, like he knew Maxwell needed the quiet.

Eventually, the car stopped In front of a building that made Maxwell's breath catch.

It was massive. All glass and steel, modern and sharp, reaching up toward the sky like it owned the place. The logo near the entrance gleamed in the sunlight.

Sterling Industries HQ. 

The same logo from the photo. From the business card.

Kieran looked at him through the mirror, “We're here. She's waiting for you on the top floor," he added gently. "Whenever you're ready."

Maxwell nodded, and then he opened the door and stepped out onto the sidewalk.

After exiting the vehicle, Maxwell was lead inside the building by Kieraan. The outside was very impressive. However, the lobby was simply ridiculous.

That was Maxwell's first thought as he stepped through the revolving doors. Ridiculous in the way only money could make something, marble floors so polished he could see his reflection, chandeliers that probably cost more than his entire apartment building, a reception desk that stretched half the length of the room.

People moved through the space like they belonged there. Suits that fit perfectly. Heels that clicked with confidence. Everyone looked important. Like they had somewhere to be and money to make.

Maxwell shoved his hands in his pockets and followed Kieran toward the elevators. At this point Maxwell had gotten over his nervousness and worry that this might not be real. 

A few people glanced his way. Their eyes swept over his wrinkled shirt, his jeans, the bandage on his hand. Then they looked away, dismissing him just as quickly. Some looked on with curiosity when they noticed that he was with Kieran Ashford the bosses assistant. 

"This way," Kieran said, pressing the elevator button.

The doors opened immediately. Inside, the elevator was just as excessive as the lobby. More mirrors. Soft lighting. A small leather bench in the corner like someone might get tired standing for thirty seconds.

Kieran pressed the button for the top floor. The number read 42.

The elevator hummed to life, smooth and quiet. Maxwell watched the numbers climb. 5... 10... 15...

"Ms. Victoria's office is at the end of the hall," Kieran said. "She's finishing up a call, but she'll be ready for you shortly. I'll get you settled in the waiting area."

Maxwell just nodded. His throat felt dry. He should've drunk that water in the car.

The elevator slowed as it reached the 42nd floor. The doors opened with a soft chime.

The hallway was wide and bright, with floor-to-ceiling windows on one side that looked out over the city. Maxwell could see for miles. Buildings, streets, tiny cars moving like toys.

Kieran led him down the hall to a set of glass doors. Beyond them was a reception area, sleek furniture, more windows, a desk where a woman in a crisp blouse was typing something on her computer.

She looked up as they entered and smiled. "Mr. Ashford. Ms. Sterling is still on her call."

"Thank you, Diane." Kieran gestured to a sitting area near the windows. Cream-colored couches, a glass coffee table with fresh flowers. "Mr. Maxwell, you can wait here. I'll let Ms. Victoria know you've arrived."

Maxwell walked over to the couch and sat down. The leather was soft, expensive. He felt out of place just touching it.

Just then, someone appeared just as Kieran was walking away, she stopped him. “Kieran, wait.”

Kieran stopped, “Whatever it is, can it wait, Natasha, I have to let the boss know Maxwell is here,”

Natasha, also Victoria's assistant and the one who had called Maxwell last night, looked slightly surprised to hear that. “Oh, he's here. Where is he?”