After the initial disappointnt settled in upon realizing we wouldn't be attending the Potato Craze event, Delmar broke the silence. "So, boss… what's the plan now?"
William glanced at the exquisite card in his hand and responded, "What else? I'll have to respond and make the trip."
"Hmm" Delmar nodded, he knew that no matter what this was not an invitation that they couldn't reject no matter what happens. If they were to do that then they wouldn't just make an enemy of a great house but also a facility that made millions of dollars in their everyday work.
"So, when do you intend to go?" Delmar inquired.
"I'm not sure yet. Do any of you have a preferred date in mind?"
Adam weighed in, "I think it would be good to go as soon as possible. It would convey respect and a sense of decorum."
"But," Delmar countered, "it might be more strategic to delay the visit by a week. That way, we can project that we're still managing pressures from the dia and other distractions. It would signal that we aren't overly eager nor are we subservient to their beck and call."
William nodded thoughtfully, contemplating both suggestions. Internally, he mused, 'Going imdiately could demonstrate humility and help foster stronger relationships. Yet, Delmar's point is valid— showing up too soon might give the impression that we're desperate to curry their favor. They already know we're keen on maintaining good relations, but we can't afford to make it too obvious right now.'
He pondered the implications of each option, feeling the weight of the decision. Then, a critical detail he had nearly overlooked struck him, and his eyes widened. Turning to Delmar, he instructed, "Draft a letter stating we'll arrive in two days."
"Make sure to not leave any expanses, we have to make it look like we are also very glad to have received their invitation and are very much eager to visit them as soon as we could."
Delmar frowned, "Boss, that's still quite hasty. I strongly advise postponing by at least five days."
"And even if we can't do that then we should at least stop it by four days, boss. It would make us seem very… trying."
William nodded but explained, "Yeah, I understand your reasoning, and it makes complete sense. I was leaning towards your suggestion, but then I recalled sothing important."
"What's that?" Delmar asked, intrigued.
"The Father."
Initially, Delmar didn't grasp the reference, but then his expression shifted as realization dawned. "Ohhh!" he exclaid, while Adam remained puzzled, eager for more context before contributing.
"Yes, that's a issue," Delmar said. "But how does going in two days solve that?"
"If we say that we will arrive in two days, they'll be pleased and patiently await our arrival. But when they discover the Father isn't accompanying , they'll demand an explanation. I'll concoct a reason, saying he couldn't make it due to unavoidable circumstances. Then they might wonder why I didn't cancel the visit altogether."
Delmar raised an eyebrow, "And how does that benefit us?"
"Here's the twist," William said with a slight smile. "I'll tell them that although my father couldn't attend in person, he sent as his representative, honoring his commitnt. It might not completely satisfy them, but it would prevent them from getting angry. They'll appreciate that we were considerate enough to uphold the agreent."
"Alright, let's assu that works. But what if they acknowledge the gesture and then ask you to leave until your father can co in person? What's your contingency plan then?" Delmar pressed.
"If it cos to that, I'll handle it on the spot. But honestly, I don't think it will happen. There are so variables that would make it from happening that."
"Why not?" Delmar asked as he didn't know about what he was saying.
"They're not going to tell to get the hell out to my face, right? They'll probably invite in for at least a cup of tea. And if I'm correct, I might even get to et this Edward fellow."
"When that happens," William continued, "I'll engage in so pleasantries before steering the conversation toward the real purpose of the eting. Even if he tries to sidestep it initially, he'll eventually have to tell , given that I'm the future of the Trust family. But this all hinges on whether I get to et him or not."
"If by luck… he doesn't et with in person then all would be lost or… what he was going to say would be lost."
Both William and Delmar lapsed into contemplation, each searching for a viable solution. anwhile, Adam, still puzzled by their deliberations, blurted out the first idea that ca to mind. "Why not just take your father with you?"
Both n shot him a bewildered look, thinking simultaneously, 'What the hell is he talking about?'
Noticing their reaction, Adam asked, "Did I say sothing wrong?"
Delmar quickly pieced it together and smirked. "Ohhhhh, right. He doesn't know about it, Boss."
William nodded, realizing they hadn't inford Adam about the situation with his father. "Yes, you're right. We should explain it; otherwise, he won't understand what we're discussing."
"What do you an, 'Explain it'? What haven't you told yet?" Adam asked, his curiosity piqued.
Delmar explained, "We should have inford you earlier, but we needed to ensure you were a good fit here— security asures, you know."
Adam understood the implication— that they hadn't fully trusted him. "So, are you going to tell now, or are there more 'security asures' I need to pass?" he retorted, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Delmar chuckled, knowing he'd gotten under Adam's skin, but William interjected, "Ignore him. He's just ssing with you."
Then, turning serious, William said, "What we should have told you is that… there is no Father."
Adam blinked, confused. "What?"
"Just like I said. There's no Father. I don't have a father."
"Oh… Is he dead or sothing?"
"No, no, I can assure you he's very much alive."
"Then what do you an?" Adam asked, still not understanding.
"It's a long story, but to sum it up, I don't have a good relationship with my father, so he's not part of my life.
"So, you're estranged?" Adam clarified, and William nodded. "Then why don't they just contact him directly?"
"They can't. Well, it's more accurate to say they couldn't because they don't know my true heritage."
"Your true heritage?" Adam asked, confused.
"Family, Adam. They don't know which family I truly belong to, and it's better that way."
Sensing it was a sensitive subject, Adam refrained from pressing further. "So why not hire soone to play the role of your father?"
"Impossible," Delmar said. "The role is too complex. Decisions need to be spot-on, and no actor could convincingly pull it off. If we did get an actor, there's a high probability the owner of the auction house would see through the ruse."
"This is turning out to be quite a dilemma," Adam agreed, deep in thought. But William brushed it off, saying, "Let's set this aside for now. Help find an exceptionally lavish gift for that guy."
"Oh, and Delmar, draft the letter on our finest gold-trimd paper."
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