The funeral was done. The will was done as well. Some guests had gone, the rain was gone, and for the first time all day, Justin felt like he could breathe. Barely, but still. The house was quieter now, the earlier chaos fading into a hum of low conversations and the occasional clink of glasses.
He stood by one of the windows, a glass of whiskey in hand. He wasn't sure if it was a good idea to drink right now, but damn it, he needed something to steady himself.
He took a sip, feeling the burn trail down his throat, and stared at the dark sky outside. It was like the rain had cried itself out together with him, leaving behind a hollow silence that matched the ache in his chest.
Before he could get too lost in his thoughts, he noticed movement in his peripheral vision.
A group of men—businessmen, CEOs, probably friends of his father—were approaching him. They looked polished and sharp, each one wearing that fake-ass smile that said, I need something from you, kid.
"Justin," one of them started, his voice smooth like he was trying not to scare him off. "We're truly sorry for your loss. Your father was a great man—a visionary. I had the pleasure of working with him for years."
Another chimed in, nodding like a bobblehead. "And now, looking at you, it's clear the apple doesn't fall far from the tree."
Justin raised an eyebrow but kept his face calm. "Thank you," he replied, his tone polite but distant. He didn't have to try too hard; his parents had drilled this kind of thing into him for years. Stand tall. Speak clearly. Don't show weakness!
More of them joined the conversation, each one eager to kiss his ass now that he was officially the guy.
They threw around compliments like confetti—about his poise, his intelligence, how proud his parents would be. Justin didn't miss the way their eyes darted to his glass, to his suit, to every tiny detail that screamed power.
The room buzzed with conversation again as they chatted, but all eyes kept finding their way back to Justin. It wasn't just his age that made him stand out, or the way his presence seemed to command the room—it was the fact that he belonged here. Like it was second nature.
He sipped from his glass like it was nothing, listening to the same old hollow compliments thrown his way from the big shots.
They tried so hard to make it sound genuine, but there was no hiding the undercurrent of desperation in their voices.
"Justin, my boy," one of the men said, his hand resting on Justin's shoulder like they were old buddies. "You've got a good head on your shoulders. Your father would've been proud to see you take the reins like this. Your family's legacy is in good hands."
Justin gave a small smile, his posture relaxed, like he wasn't surrounded by a bunch of vultures just waiting to get their hooks in. "Thank you."
One of the older men, a big-shot investor, leaned in slightly. "You've got quite a legacy to uphold now, Justin. But from what I've seen today, you're more than ready. Your father would've made the same call in a heartbeat."
Justin nodded, offering a tight smile. "I appreciate that. My parents worked hard to build what they did, and I intend to honor that." His voice was steady, professional, even though inside he wanted to roll his eyes at how fucking rehearsed it all felt.
Another businessman, an older guy with slicked-back hair, leaned in. "You know, Justin," he said, his tone dropping to something more confidential, "I always admired your father's discretion. Especially with the… other parts of the business. The exclusive clientele, so to speak. And now that you're in charge, I'm sure we'll be seeing some exciting expansions."
Justin's eyes flickered for a second, his grip tightening around the glass. "We're always looking to grow," he replied coolly, unfazed. "But we're not just about expansion—we're about quality before expansion. You know that."
He didn't let his voice waver, didn't let them see anything but a calm, collected heir, just like his parents would've wanted.
As the conversation continued, Justin's mind wandered. It was like he was slipping in and out of this new role, like it was becoming more natural with each word. The whole room, the business suits, the polite laughter—it all felt like breathing at this point.
He knew the game, he knew how to play it. He wasn't just a kid in a suit now—he was the one running the show.
From the corner of the room, he saw his classmates, still hovering awkwardly near the punch bowl and cocktail tables. They were clearly out of their element, but some of them tried to act like they were keeping up.
Maria watched the whole scene unfold, eyes glued to Justin as he held court with a crowd of millionaires and a few billionaires like it was just another Tuesday.
She nudged Adam, who was too busy stuffing his face with a canapé to notice. "Look at him," she whispered, shaking her head. "I can't even keep up with my parents' cocktail parties, and here he is, casually running the room like it's nothing."
Adam half-choked on his food but managed to mumble, "Dude's on another level. Like, he's always been chill, but now? He's got this untouchable vibe. Damn, I don't even know how to explain it."
One of their classmates, a guy from a different circle of rich families, leaned in, shaking his head. "Justin Black isn't just another rich kid like us anymore. He's the rich kid. And with what he owns now? Yeah, he's way out of our league. Like, he's the guy everyone's been talking about."
Maria frowned, tilting her head as she thought about it. "The Black Veil," she muttered under her breath, as if testing it out. "That's his parents' thing, right? I've heard some whispers, but it's always been kinda... sketchy?"
Adam shrugged, his tone casual, like they were talking about the weather. "Yeah, it's that big model agency. But it's more than that. My dad said it's basically a front for other stuff. High-end escorts, marriage deals for the crazy rich people—shit like that. You see it on gossip blogs, but this is the real deal."
Maria's eyes widened, and she almost dropped her glass. "Wait, seriously? That's wild I always thought it was weird rumours and didn't ask Justin about it."