Marina's POV
I sat in shock as I heard stories about my father. He was a Lyle. The only heir to the Lyle dynasty and he ran away breaking his parents heart.
" Marina are you ok?" She asked.
" Yes Emma, I'm fine." I said as I gulped down the glass of orange juice. I gave her one of my fake smiles but on the inside I felt like crying.
" Are you sure?" She asked again.
" Yes Emma, it's going to be fine. How about you? I see you're running your company yourself."
" Pecks of being a bastard child. You are not tied to any obligation and no one thinks about you not even your parents. No one would even come running down if you are in trouble but you get to keep the name 'Lyle'." Emma said with a chuckle. I felt sad for her but she wasn't doing bad for herself.
" Well I was the bastard child of the Lyle dynasty up untill few days ago." She said
" what happened?"
" Regina called me."
" Who's Regina?"
" That is our grand mother. She has been the one running the Lyle dynasty for the past 40 years. She was heart broken when her son, your father left and that experience made her even more cold hearted.
" How did she know exactly where you were?"
" I still have the family name attached to mine. A Lyle can always be tracked."
" After what they did to you? Are you going to meet them?"
" Yes I have to, you can never turn down family."
That is a nice mantra but never to people who were never nice to me.
" What about your parents?"
" They are dead to me." She spat out. I noticed immediately her countenance changed from a smile to a sad expression.
" They have plans of taking over Cross Tech or something like that, that's why they need me."
" Taking over? Cross Tech? Since when?" My eyes widened in suprise.
" Yes, the Lyle dynasty was always one of the founder of Cross Tech but I think some betrayal happened at some point."
" Ohh I understand." Well I just got a free information to give Oscar Langston.
" I know you work at the Cross Tech company but you need to be really careful there. The Cross family are snakes, they were responsible for your father's death."
All the blood drained for my body and I went pale.
" What? No! He died of natural causes!"
" Is that what your mum said?"
" He was trying to fight to the company back so that he can hand over his shares to you guys."
Tears streamed down my face as I started to recognise is effort. It was not his fault that he left us so early l. He was killed. Did mum really known the cause of the death and his it from us?
" Marina!" Emma shouted as I stared into a space.
" I have to go."
" Marina, you need to calm down."
" No don't tell me to calm down, I stayed all these years believing my dad didn't love us, so he left us nothing"
" He loved his famiy so much, it's just the Lyle dynasty wanted to strip him everything . Including his trust fund."
Trust fund? That is more than enough to save mum.
" Yes, it was hidden from everyone. You dad was really secretive. I could introduce his accountant and at the time so that you could ask your questions could."
" Thank you Emma, you've been nice to me, I didn't expect this meeting to go this smoothly."
" Well it did."
I got to work the next day and Adrian was not in. That was very much unlike him. He was always at work early. I dropped his coffee on his table, it was plain black coffee just the way he liked it.
An hour later, I heard his door opened. I gave him a few minutes to settle down before going in.
" Good morning sir." I said with my usual smile.
" Morning Marina." I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. What just happened?.
Adrian Cross just greeted me back. I was expecting a hum or just pure silence. Today is going to be a good day.
" What's on my schedule for today?"
" Just a few meetings here and there."
" Ok send it over to my mail."
" No problems sir"
The upcoming company gala was really getting everyone worked up. Every department had responsibilities to do for the event.
I heard the shrill ringtone of my phone. It was Oscar Langston. I picked the call and placed it over my ear.
" Hello"
" Miss Marina, do you have any news for me?" I heard his deep voice from the other side of the call. I contemplated telling him about the Lyle taking over Cross Tech but decided against it. He might connect it all together and find out I'm one of the Lyle family, that would definitely endanger my access to the secret trust fund.
" Oscar, I don't have anything for you right now but once I have something I'll make sure I tell you.
" Miss Marina, I need you to be useful, your mum's life is on the line. Get me some before the gala!" He said before hanging up.
I hated being at someone's mercy and right now I was at Oscar Langston's mercy if I back out I become an enemy to Cross Tech.
I heard the sound of heels clicking against the tiles. That must be Vivian DeMarco, she came to see Adrian.
" Hi" she greeted leaning on the door.
" Good morning Ma'am. Do you need something else?"
" Good morning, that won't be necessary Marina." She said with a smile and walked away.
That was suspicious.