Reborn Tycoon; Ethan Wayne’s Rise

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

For a while, silence hovered and Ethan felt he was the only one who was feeling the tension. Apart from having a very high sense of impersonation. Ethan could feel the weight of unspoken words from his grandfather's mouth.

Finally, his grandfather broke the ice.

“I believe you are yet to explain your lateness, Ethan”

Ethan hesitated, not even having the dandiest thing come to his mind. He was completely blank on what to say and he knew there was no way he wouldn't stammer if he opened his mouth.

“I urr…”, Ethan began, swallowing hard.

“Sit up straight and project your voice properly”

Ethan closed his mouth and sat up.

“We don't stutter in the Wayne family, I've warned you. Now answer the question.”

Ethan took a moment before he opened his mouth again.

“I didn't get up on time”

“Your alarm goes off at 1 a.m, 3 a.m and 4 a.m. If you didn't get up at all between these times, that means you didn't study. I believe you have a test today, am I correct?”

“Yes sir”, Ethan answered idly, not even sure himself.

“And you're grossly aware that your grades, not just as valedictorian but as a Wayne, are highly relevant in your future?”

“Yes grandfather”

His grandfather gave a good gap of silence before responding. The driver turned to the right and Ethan noticed the building they were rounding. It was the headquarters of Wayne & Co. They soon got to the VIP garage . The car eased into the massive but almost empty space and it took a moment for Ethan to realize why. It was for Mr. James alone and each car he owned had its own space with tags on them for recognition. The car eased into one of the spaces without a tag and as it came to a stop, the platform automatically raised, a very small height however.

The garage, filled with guards from stretch to stretch, reminded Ethan of one of his favorite Marvel films. Odd and intriguing - he was only getting to understand and assert the power of riches. The driver came down from the car but two of the guards walked towards the car and they both stood by either of the doors.

“A new alarm clock and a new schedule will be prepared before you arrive home from school today. I do not want to have any such report or to have to witness such lateness and such indiscipline on your part. Do you understand?”

“Yes grandfather.”

Mr. James gave a signal with his fingers and the guards opened the door.

“Claude will take you to school in the BMW. Let me know when you've arrived”, he said as he placed a foot out of the car. He had his gold walking rod in his hand that he didn't really need anyway. Coming fully out of the car, the guards got the rod and the Prada work bag, from the car. Ethan alighted as well and he watched the door slide open, two guards beside his grandfather. They walked in and the door slid closed, making a loud baritone sound. The light above it flashed red and Ethan got an inkling that only his grandfather could grant access.

“Mr Ethan, your car is ready to go”, one of the guards came up to tell him. That was enough to snap him out of his pensiveness. He walked with the guard that had taken his bag from him as well. The guard got the door and Claude, who he later came to know was his father's personal driver, was already in the car and had it started. He got in and the door was shut tightly.

********************************

Oh yeah.

How hadn't he guessed?

He was at The Prestigious University.

The car came to a stop at the gates and the security guards came around to check the car.

“Oh oh..”, Ethan muttered, a little bit apprehensive as he felt they'd recognize him. But they seemed more surprised at the car than who was in it.

The tinted window on the passenger door was let down and the security guard peered inside.

Ethan held his breath. Would they still recognize him?

“Ahh.. Mr. Claude, it's you”

“Certainly”, Claude responded, his face straighter than a ruler. His voice was dark and mysterious, like the sounds you heard in the dark but never really knew who it was. It had an aura to it too not to mention Mr Claude's stature and composure was a weary one as well, and everything he was seemingly matched up. It was dark and interesting at the same time even if it often put Ethan off.

“Ethan's a … bit late today”, the security guard said, glancing at Ethan.

Of course they couldn't recognize him. He was different now. He was Ethan Wayne.

“We encountered trouble on the way but everything is fine”

“Oh right”, he said, tapping on the car door with his fingers. The way he lingered, Ethan suspected he wanted something but didn't intend to do it in front of Ethan at the same time. They spent a minute in awkward silence with the weird security guard before he backed away and signaled for the gates to be opened.

The gates swung open and the car cruised into the school.

Ethan felt a wave of nerves come over him as they passed the theaters and other faculties before his.

It was still funny to him that he'd actually been dead and half of him wanted to know how much the school would react to it. The car finally pulled up in front of his faculty and he could see the usual buzzing nature of the student hallway.

They had had less and less lectures since the beginning of their final exams and the student hallway was everyone's new favorite pastime.

“10.28 a.m sir”, he heard Claude say. “Are you late for your test?”

“No. I don't think so”, Ethan responded, taking out his phone.

“You should not forget to call Mr. James and let him know you've arrived and what inconveniences we experienced on the way”

“Inconveniences..”, Ethan repeated, his tone unsure if he had intended that to be a question or just a statement.

“Don't forget”, Mr Claude's eerie voice came through.

“Right”

When the call was declined twice, he sent a text message to his grandfather instead and then took a moment to breathe.

“Shall I get the door?”

Ethan looked up at Claude. Why the hell should he be nervous?

He was a freaking Wayne now.