Chapter six

TRENT POV

"What are you wearing sir?" Clarence's voice came from behind me.

"I think you mean just Trent, Clarence." I smirked. "You scared me there. What's up?" 

He looked confusedly at me. Probably wondering what I meant. Then continued;

"I called you all day, sir. I have been looking all over for you since the afternoon. I had to hold a meeting between Otega Group and our board myself." He said frowning.

"And how did it go?" I asked seriously, even though I knew what was coming.

"We secured the deal sir, but it wasn't easy, I could have really used you there today."

"Yes. But I wasn't there and it seems like you had everything under your control. That's impressive Clarence, I know I can count on you any time." I said, giving him a slight pat in the shoulder. He smiled warmly, Clarence always beamed when he was complimented for a job well done and I always appreciated his efforts.

I had known Clarence for a while now. We had graduated together in the University Of England, and when I came back to America to start building on my vision of Suntech Tower, there was only one man I could appoint as my managing director.

"Are you planning to tell me why you're wearing overalls and a hard hat by this time sir?" Clarence asked, raising an eyebrow.

"The office server was malfunctioning a little so I thought I'd just pop up there and fix it up. Why?"

He stared at me.

"Things are bound to have a little malfunction here and there sir, that's why we have a tech team to fix things like that. And I don't ever remember you ever putting this on before let alone trying to fix something on a ladder." He said, giving me a quizzical look. 

I smiled at him. I'd have to tell someone anyway and else but Clarence.

"I'm going to have to start working here from now on."

"Isn't that what you've been doing ever since you built the company or am I missing some… information." He asked, his left eyebrow was so raised, I thought it would disappear into his hair.

"I just want you to pretend like I'm a worker here for a while. Don't address me as sir or boss or anything. I want to go undercover for a little while." I said, hoping he'd understand.

"Undercover all of a sudden? Did anything happen?" He asked looking concerned.

"No nothing happened, this is just for me. I'll just need you to take care of some of the affairs in the company for now."

"So you're going on holiday or something." He asked, still looking unsure.

"Umm something like that but I'll be around sometimes just not like always. There are some personal things I want to take care of at the moment, when I'm done, we can go back to normal."

"Okay. But I will still need a little guidance sir."

"You bagged first class honors in business, Clarence, I think it's safe to say you are probably the best man for the job." I coaxed him. Clarence had to hear things like this more often to reassure himself. "Tell me, I can trust you to keep it up right? Just for a little while? You can…"

I got distracted and trailed off when I saw Alina getting into a taxi downstairs. I looked down and smiled to myself, totally forgetting that Clarence was still waiting for a reply from me.

Clarence followed my gaze and saw Alina just before the taxi drive off. He stared at me.

"Is this about… her?" He asked wide-eyed. "I think I get it now. You don't want her to know who you are." 

I looked at him quickly. I was surprised by how fast he put it all together. He really was a smart man and he wasn't wrong either.

I really didn't mean for her to see me when I climbed up to fix the server. I just got down from the ladder and saw her there, staring at me. I had to think fast, I knew if I told her who I really was then she would treat me more like a boss than a friend. That's why I just told her that I worked here.

I didn't lie technically, apart from when I left out the part that I owned the entire company.

I knew it might have been stupid. Okay… maybe it was. But here we are. I felt bad for not saying the entire truth but that was the only thing I could say at that time if I wanted to get to know her better and I did. 

"When did she start working here?" I asked Clarence.

"Just this morning, I interviewed her yesterday, she said she wanted to start as soon as possible."

"Interesting. What do you have about her?" I asked, taking the portable ladder down from the roof and folding it back into its normal size.

"Nothing exciting really, just that she's Colombian, she used to work in the grocery outlet store in Pullman. She gave birth after she moved to San Jose. Now she lives with her little child."

"She has a kid?" That was surprising, considering that she looked like she was in good shape. "Any idea how old the child might be?" I asked on.

"A son. I think about two years old or something. Why are you so interested in this lady sir?" 

"I'm not sure." I said. I really wasn't sure why. There just seemed to be something very interesting about her. 

I smiled.

"This could end badly sir, I don't know if—" 

"The workers here don't really know what their CEO looks like now do they, Clarence? I could still be in England for all they know, relax. I'll just put in a disguise for the time being that's all." I said, taking out a pair of glasses from my breast pocket and putting them on. "Trent Williams, the technician nobody knows about." I smiled. 

Clarence sighed.

"I don't know sir, what if your cover blows and she finds out? You could look really bad."

"This is a big company Clarence, if anyone asks, I'll just say that I was transferred here from the branch in the UK and you'll have to do is back me up. Besides, who'd think that Mr. Suntech would be this young. Or handsome." I pointed to my face and we both chuckled.

"I can't say no. You're still the boss." Clarence surrendered finally. "I'll be off now." He said and made his way to the elevator.

"See you tomorrow… Sir!" I called as he left.

It was already evening. I changed to my clothes and headed downstairs. I had called Cyrus, my driver and told him not to worry about picking me up. I had to learn how to live low, and as weird as that sounded, it also seemed fun.

After bribing a greedy teenager for his bicycle, I pedalled down the street. The weather was a bit hot and I was craving some ice cream. But instead of going down Park Avenue where I'd normally go, I turned the bike towards Broadway. For my plan to work, I had to start acting and sending like a middle class guy. That shouldn't be so hard. Right?

I saw a pastry shop towards Gordon's Drive and headed there. It looked less expensive and more like normal place to have some cake and ice cream.

I went inside the shop and luckily, there were some other people there too. I stood in line and waited for my turn. All of this didn't seem so bad. I looked around, it was a fairly small place, it smelled of vanilla, chocolate and strawberries. It wasn't very fancy but the feel here was nice. I drummed my fingers on the counter waiting for the vendor to take my order.

"Um… hi!" A familiar voice called from beside me.

I looked and saw Alina. This meeting would make it three times that we had bumped into each other today. It was almost like it was all planned.

"What are you doing here?" She asked, looking very surprised.

"I thought I'd just pop here and have some ice cream." I shrugged. "What about you?" I asked as my eyes fell to the little guy by her side.

"This is my son, Niguez. Say hello, Nigo." She said and brought him forward.

I squatted so I could be his height.

"Hi Niguez, I'm Trent. It's nice to meet you." I said and stretched my hand for a handshake and to my surprise he took it and shook it like a grown child. "He's a big boy." I said facing Alina.

She managed a smile.

"I couldn't get him a nice present on his birthday last weekend so I thought I'd get him a nice cake." She said, lifting the little box in her hand.

"Birthday cakes go best with some ice cream, do you like strawberry flavor?"

"Oh no, it's okay. You don't have to." She laughed uncomfortably.

"Well it's a birthday cake isn't it? Then he should have some ice cream too. It's just a little something from me to him." I insisted. I bent down towards Niguez and pointed at the pastry showcase. "So what do you want —this? Or this?" I asked Niguez pointing at vanilla and strawberry respectively. 

He squealed more when I pointed at the strawberry ice cream.

"That's settled then. Strawberry it is." I said and gave him a cone of strawberry ice cream. I looked up at Alina and saw her smiling. 

"That's very nice of you Trent but you should have just respected what I said earlier." She said, looking at me.

"I know." I said, trying to pout. "Do you want one too?" 

I smiled when she laughed at what I said.

"We should probably start going now. Thank you for the treat." She said and left with her son. 

I watched them leave till they were out of sight, then heaved a light sigh. Three times in one day. That was more than a coincidence…

"Here's your order sir." The vendor said, handing me a large cup of vanilla and butterscotch ice cream and some beagles. 

*****

"I made a casserole sir. Should I send it up now or do you want to freshen up first?" Gilbert asked when I came into the mansion. He was wearing the tuxedo he always wore even though I told him there was absolutely no need to wear a suit everyday to stay at home.

Gilbert was my butler. I saw him as a father figure after my parents passed away when I was a teenager. He had been my adviser ever since. He took care of all the activities in the mansion. I never said this, he was pretty much my best friend too.

"Don't worry, Gilbert, I've already had dinner." 

"You never have dinner outside. What changed?" He asked me.

"Nothing much." I shrugged. "I guess I just felt like it."

"May I ask what you had?"

"Ice cream and beagles." I said dreamily. 

He nodded suspiciously but said nothing.

I looked at him. Looking ever smart in his traditional butler attire as he called it. I wanted to tell him all about meeting Alina and going undercover. I was sure he was already aware that I told Cyprus not to pick me up. That was also something I wouldn't usually do. But Gilbert wouldn't question. E until he thought the time was right and right now all I wanted was to bathe and sleep.

"Is my water heated?" I asked.

"Just as you like it." He replied. I always respected him for how efficient he was.

"Perfect." A warm bath was exactly what I needed after today's experience.

"Was it butterscotch or vanilla?" Gilbert asked behind me. I turned to see him smirking.

"What do you think?" 

"I think you probably had both." He said and back-walked out of my room.

I laughed. I should have been surprised but that was just Gilbert being himself.