chapter 7

Benson froze, his confident demeanor faltering as his eyes locked onto Adrian, who sat with an air of calm authority. Adrian was no longer the man Benson had dismissed and humiliated. He was poised, self-assured, and commanding in his tailored suit. The years had transformed him into a figure Benson hardly recognized.

"Adrian," Benson finally managed, his voice barely above a whisper, a mix of disbelief and dread evident in his tone.

Adrian leaned back in his chair, a faint, knowing smile playing on his lips. "Hello, Benson," he said smoothly, his voice steady and unyielding. "I see you’ve found your way here. Please, take a seat."

Benson hesitated but eventually complied, his mind racing. How could this be? How had Adrian, the brother he and his family had cast aside, risen to such a position of power? And more importantly, why hadn’t anyone warned him?

As Benson sat, Adrian’s piercing gaze never left him. "I imagine this isn’t what you expected," Adrian continued, his tone neutral yet loaded with an undercurrent of satisfaction. "But life has a way of surprising us, doesn’t it?"

Benson swallowed hard, attempting to regain his composure. "I had no idea you were involved with Giga Tech," he said, his voice tight.

"Involved?" Adrian chuckled softly, his smile widening. "That’s one way to put it. But let’s not dwell on the past, Benson. You’re here to discuss a potential collaboration, aren’t you?"

Benson nodded, his hands clammy as he reached for the documents he had prepared. "Yes, I believe our family business and Giga Tech could create something extraordinary together," he began, his rehearsed pitch suddenly feeling hollow under Adrian’s intense scrutiny.

Adrian let him speak, his expression unreadable, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of amusement. When Benson finished, Adrian leaned forward, steepling his fingers on the table. "You make a compelling case," he said thoughtfully. "But tell me, Benson, why should I trust you or the Williams family after everything that’s happened?"

Benson flinched, the weight of his past actions pressing down on him. "Adrian, I was young and foolish. I made mistakes," he admitted, his voice shaking. "But I’ve changed. I’m here now because I believe in what Giga Tech stands for. I want to be part of its vision."

Adrian studied him for a long moment before responding. "You say you’ve changed, but change isn’t about words, Benson. It’s about actions. And as far as I can see, your actions have always been driven by ambition and self-interest."

Benson’s face flushed with shame, but he forced himself to meet Adrian’s gaze. "I won’t deny that I’m ambitious, but I’ve also learned the value of collaboration and respect. If there’s any way I can prove that to you, I will."

Adrian leaned back again, considering Benson’s words. "Prove it," he said finally, his voice firm. "You’ll have a chance to show me whether you’ve truly changed. But know this, Benson this isn’t about family. This is business. And in business, I don’t tolerate deceit or betrayal."

Benson nodded vigorously, relief washing over him. "Thank you, Adrian. I won’t let you down."

Adrian’s expression softened slightly, but his guard remained up. "We’ll see. For now, let’s focus on the work. If you’re serious about this partnership, you’ll have to earn it."

As the meeting concluded, Benson left the room, his mind reeling. Adrian had not only survived but thrived, becoming a man of power and influence. Benson couldn’t shake the feeling that he was now playing a game where Adrian held all the cards and he had no choice but to play carefully if he wanted to win back not just the business deal, but perhaps a shred of his brother’s respect.

Adrian, meanwhile, watched Benson leave with a mixture of satisfaction and contemplation.

Benson sat in his car outside the Giga Tech headquarters for what felt like hours, staring blankly at the steering wheel. The revelation had shaken him to his core. Adrian the half-brother he had written off as weak and irrelevant was now the CEO of a tech giant, an empire that commanded respect and fear in the industry.

How could this have happened? Adrian was supposed to be the failure, the outcast, the one left behind. Benson clenched his fists, his mind racing with resentment and disbelief.

"I won't let this overshadow me," he muttered under his breath. "Not now, not ever."

By the time Benson arrived home, his thoughts had morphed into a plan. He couldn’t let their father, Richard Williams, find out about Adrian’s meteoric rise. The old man might reconsider everything his judgment, his legacy, and even the division of wealth and power within the family. Adrian could be welcomed back, and Benson’s own position as the golden child could crumble.

Benson poured himself a drink, the amber liquid swirling in the glass as he paced the room. He couldn’t shake the image of Adrian, calm and composed, seated at the head of the table like he belonged there. Like he owned the world.

"Adrian doesn’t deserve this," Benson growled. "He’s always been a fraud, a disgrace to the family name."

He downed the drink in one gulp, the burn barely registering. He needed to act fast, but he needed to be smart about it. He couldn’t afford to expose his jealousy or let his father suspect that Adrian was anything more than a ghost from their past. If Adrian’s success came to light, Benson would lose the edge he had worked so hard to cultivate.

The next morning, Benson set his plan into motion. He reached out to his network of informants and allies in the business world, trying to dig up dirt on Giga Tech and Adrian. Anything that could tarnish Adrian’s reputation or cast doubt on his accomplishments would be useful. If he could frame Adrian’s success as a fluke or the result of shady dealings, Benson could maintain his position as the rightful heir to the Williams fortune.

At the same time, Benson began crafting a narrative for their father. Over dinner one evening, he casually mentioned the rise of a new player in the tech world, deliberately leaving out the name of the company or its enigmatic CEO.

“There’s this new tech company causing a stir,” Benson said, swirling his wine glass. “They’ve had some impressive breakthroughs, but you know how these things go. The higher they rise, the harder they fall. It’s probably just a bubble waiting to burst.”

Richard Williams raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. “What’s the name of the company?”

Benson hesitated for a fraction of a second, then smiled. “Giga Tech. But I wouldn’t worry about them, Father. They’re new. They don’t have the pedigree or the staying power of our enterprises.”

Richard nodded, seemingly satisfied. “As long as they stay out of our way.”

Richard Williams leaned back in his leather armchair, the dim light from the chandelier casting long shadows across his office. His piercing eyes fixed on Benson, who sat across from him, clearly agitated. Benson had been ranting for nearly an hour about the new threat in the tech industry, Giga Tech.

“They’re growing too fast, Father,” Benson said, his voice laced with urgency. “If we don’t do something now, they’ll overtake us in the market. They’ve already poached some of our best clients.”

Richard’s expression darkened. He had spent a lifetime building the Williams empire, clawing his way to the top of the business world. No upstart company was going to threaten his legacy. “What do we know about their CEO?” he asked, his tone sharp and commanding.

Benson hesitated, carefully choosing his words. He couldn’t let Richard suspect the truth that Giga Tech’s CEO was none other than Adrian, the black sheep of the Williams family. “Not much,” Benson replied, feigning ignorance. “He keeps a low profile. Some young, ambitious type. But it doesn’t matter who he is what matters is that we take him down before he gains more ground.”

Richard nodded, steepling his fingers as he considered the situation. “If they’ve managed to disrupt the market this quickly, they must have vulnerabilities. No company grows that fast without making mistakes.”

Benson seized the opportunity. “Exactly. I’ve already started looking into their operations. We just need to find a crack in their armor a way to destabilize them and make their investors lose confidence.”

Richard leaned forward, a predatory gleam in his eyes. “Good. Do whatever it takes. Use our resources, our connections. If Giga Tech wants to play in the big leagues, they’ll learn the hard way what that means.”

The two men sat in silence for a moment, their unspoken alliance solidified. Benson felt a surge of satisfaction. With his father’s support, he could crush Adrian’s company before it became a real threat. And if Adrian himself became collateral damage? Even better.

Meanwhile, Adrian had no idea his estranged father and half-brother were conspiring against him but he was no stranger to opposition. Giga Tech’s rapid ascent had earned him plenty of enemies, and he had built his company with resilience in mind. Adrian had always known he’d have to fight for his place in the world. What he didn’t know was that the greatest battle was yet to come, and it would pit him against his own blood.

Richard and Benson wasted no time. They reached out to key allies in the industry, orchestrating a campaign to discredit Giga Tech. Rumors of mismanagement and unethical practices began to circulate, carefully planted in the media and among influential circles. At the same time, Richard leveraged his considerable power to block Giga Tech from key partnerships and acquisitions, effectively isolating the company.

But Adrian was no novice. When the rumors reached him, he responded with a level-headedness that belied the chaos swirling around him. He called an emergency meeting with his top executives, determined to weather the storm.

“We’re under attack,” Adrian said, his voice calm but firm. “Someone powerful doesn’t want us to succeed. But we didn’t come this far to back down now. I want every department to double-check their compliance and documentation. If they’re trying to find dirt on us, they’ll come up empty.”

Adrian’s strategy was simple: transparency and resilience. He strengthened Giga Tech’s public image by showcasing the company’s innovations and ethical practices, even inviting journalists to tour their facilities. He also doubled down on their core strengths, launching a groundbreaking product that would solidify their position as industry leaders.

The move caught Richard and Benson off guard. Despite their efforts, Giga Tech continued to thrive, and the rumors they had spread began to backfire. Investors saw through the smear campaign, and public sympathy shifted toward Adrian’s company.

Benson grew increasingly frustrated, but Richard remained composed. “He’s more resourceful than I expected,” Richard admitted. “But no one is invincible. Keep digging. There’s always something.”