SUCCESSION.

Noah was ready just 20 minutes before 8:00 a.m. He got back into his car and headed to the company where his father was waiting for him, as that day he would be given the presidency of the family business. Noah had worked hard to earn that position.

Noah Márquez Quivera was the eldest son of José Antonio Márquez Rincón, one of the richest businessmen in Mexico, with one of the largest tequila companies in the country and internationally.

José Antonio had run the company for 30 years, and in 2018 he would hand over the presidency of the company located in Nayarit, Mexico, to Noah, his 30-year-old son.

Noah had arrived at the company on time, and as he did, his secretary, Ariel, a very attractive, tall woman with dark brown hair, greeted him.

"Good morning, sir. Your father is waiting for you in the boardroom; he asked me to let you know once I arrive."

"Good morning, miss, thank you very much, I'll be right there."

When Noah entered the boardroom, his father was sitting in the chairman's chair.

"Good morning, Dad."

"Son, good morning. Are you ready to sit in this chair? You've worked hard for this, I know that very well."

"Yes, Dad, very ready. I promise I won't let you down. I'll give it my all, just like you have."

"Being at the helm of this company is a huge responsibility, you know that; your brother Rodrigo, who runs the company in the United States, has done very well; now it's your turn to do it here."

Rodrigo Márquez Quivera had taken over the company founded two years earlier in the United States, as he had studied for many years there. The company located in Mexico imported tequila from the United States, and it was dedicated to destroying and promoting tequila in that foreign country. Rodrigo was 27 years old now.

"Yes, Dad, don't worry. I know it's difficult for you to leave the company."

"Of course it is, but now more than anything, I should be with your mother; besides, I trust you."

"That's right, Dad. Thank you for your trust."

There was a sad atmosphere.

"Well, son, tomorrow will be the meeting with the executive staff; there are some new partners who will be joining the company, taking advantage of the new president. I made some calls and invited everyone for you... I served my last term as president."

"Thanks, Dad."

"I'm leaving, son. My flight to Spain leaves today, and your mother is already waiting for me."

"Yes, Dad. Have a safe trip. Say hello to Mom with a kiss from me, tell her I hope to see her soon."

"Good. See you... By the way, I'll leave your sister for you; anyway, we'll see each other soon."

—Yes, Dad.

The two men hugged tightly and then left the meeting room. Noah paused at the president's office while his father continued on his way. As Noah entered his new office, he felt excited, though a little fearful of the new position he was now responsible for. He had been vice president, but it clearly wasn't the same. He sat back in his chair, feeling proud of himself and powerful.

He shifted in his chair from side to side, playing around a bit. He reached into his black jacket, taking out the earring that he had placed there that morning, for some strange reason, after getting dressed. He brought it up to his face. He was admiring the earring in front of him when his cell phone started ringing. When he saw that the call was coming from Carlos, his friend from college made a face of annoyance because he already knew what the call was about, but he answered it anyway.

—What do you want? I'm busy.

Noah lied.

"Oh, excuse me! I forgot today was your first day as president of the largest tequila company, CORVUS."

He said in a mocking tone, a tone Noah had always disliked in his friend.

"What happened? What do you want so early? Don't you work?"

"Just to see if you were still alive. You left yesterday without saying anything, you went off with that girl. What happened to her?"

"Nothing out of the ordinary, the things that happen between a man and a woman, things I won't tell you about."

Noah said this while still looking at the earring and smiling. That girl was very passionate.

"You're such a spoilsport, by the way. Who was that? I've never seen her before, and we always go to the same place."

"I don't know, I imagine some new Stripe, although I shouldn't have gone with her. It's not in my nature to do that kind of thing."

— Well, bro, the girl was very pretty, and besides, "once a year doesn't hurt."

— I guess, well, I'll leave you. See you; we'll keep in touch later.

— Yes, yes, Mr. President.

Noah hung up the phone and put the earring back in his jacket. He had some papers to sign, and his secretary informed him he had a lunch meeting with a manager; he also had to register his signature as the new president at all the banks to avoid any problems in the future.

Noah completed all the activities he had planned for that day. It was already getting late, so he went to his bathroom to put on some lotion, as he had a date that night. As he left his office, his secretary flirtatiously said goodbye to him; he responded flirtatiously. Nothing had happened between them, but he liked to play along. She was a very beautiful woman.

Noah left the offices, got into his car, and started it.

Her cell phone began to ring with Beyoncé's "Umbrella." Hayami had chosen it as her alarm tone. Hayami reached for her phone to stop the annoying ringing, still feeling tired despite having slept practically all day. When she couldn't find it, she raised her head. Her hair was tangled, and with her eyes, she finally managed to locate it. She held it in her hands and stopped the ringing, then checked the time with some difficulty.

When she saw that it was 5:30 in the afternoon, she got up tiredly to take a shower and get ready for dinner with her sister. She rubbed her face with her hands, then took off one of her earrings, but when she realized she was missing one, she finally woke up.

"Shit! My other earring? ... "No way, Hayami, you lost it."

She snorted after making the claim. She approached the bed, checking it with her hand, and when she couldn't find it, she knew where she might have dropped it. After sighing, she let the matter go, knowing there was no point in worrying about something she wouldn't get back. She took off her clothes and went to take a shower. When she got out of the shower, she put on brown shorts and a white blouse with some small-heeled sneakers. She brushed her long, wavy, red hair. She huffed in annoyance because she wasn't looking forward to that dinner, but she had promised her sister.

Noah pulled up to that huge, elegant house, got out of the car, and approached the door. When he knocked, one of the maids opened the door, ushering him into the living room, where he sat cross-legged. A few minutes after her arrival, he saw a young girl with short, black, pink hair approaching; her pale shoulder was her fiancée.

Isabel, who appeared, greeted him kindly.

"Noah! It's nice you came to dinner."

"I told you I'd make time. I always have time for you."

The man smiled kindly.

"Thank you. My parents will be here soon."

"Perfect."

Isabel sat down next to him without saying much. The girl's father and mother approached the couple. The older man with black hair tinged with gray approached Noah and extended his hand.

"Mr. Rivera."

Noah responded to the greeting with a handshake.

Alberto Eduardo Rivera Acuña was a tall man with black hair, just like his eyes. He was 60 years old, but looked a few years younger. He had married Jazmín Méndez Piñero at a very young age. They had two daughters, Isabel, now 25, and Hayami, who had just turned 30.

The Rivera family was one of the wealthiest families in the city. Their wealth was due to the various luxury hotels they owned throughout the country.

"Thank you for accepting the invitation to dinner," the man said. Jasmine approached Noah and kissed him on the cheek. She was a very pretty woman, with white skin and natural light brown hair.

"You're always welcome in this house."

"Thank you, ma'am."

Isabel smiled shyly at Noah.

Hayami was lying down looking at her cell phone; she was dying of boredom. The sound of her doorbell made her get up. The one knocking was an employee letting her know it was dinner time.

"Thank you, Rosa, I'll be right down. Is Isa's boyfriend home yet?"

"Yes, miss, he's downstairs with his parents."

"Okay, thank you for letting me know."

Hayami left the room and went downstairs, thinking it would be a boring dinner.

As she approached the living room, she saw her sister and parents chatting with a boy whose back was turned.

"Good evening, who will introduce me to my sister-in-law...di...to?"

Hayami smiled graciously when the boy turned around and they met eyes, immediately recognizing each other.