Chapter 103 - Ambitions

After talking with Lena for a while longer about family, Samuel decided to text J back, for now at least.

He thus far had only asked him basic questions about himself and didn't seem too prying. The princess had a point when she said it can be difficult to deal with distant family compared to close relatives one grows up with. Or At leaost Samuel assumed that J must've been family by the way that be spoke.

Worst case Samuel figured was if he asked too many questions that be didn't want to answer he'd just ignore him and block the number.

Aside from answering the questions that the other asked which were related to hobbies and interests, he asked the questions back to see what kind of reply he would get. 

He wouldn't have a lot of time to talk with the other anyways since the engagement party was coming up.

He also hoped today would be a good day to talk with Zane about what would going to college for him look like. He didn't think that the other would contradict what the princess had told him. He also didn't think though that it would hurt to inquire about other options.

His phone buzzed on his way to Zane's office letting him know that J had already replied to him again. Maybe he was a bored person without enough to do in his life and was just looking for someone to bother.

Reading the texts, he was surprised by the detailed reply he got explaining that the other had a large range of hobbies from reading and movies to fencing and other sports. J's next question was about his ambitions and he decided to ignore that until after he talked with Zane. His ambitions might change depending on what the other said about college. 

Zane was in his second office. Samuel had never heard of someone who had two offices at home before. One of the many servants around the house explained to him where he could find it, but when he got there, he saw a man he didn't recognize standing by the door.

He was about the same height as Samuel but a few years older with slicked back black hair. He had a pair of dark red rectangle glasses on that didn't seem to quite fit his face right. He wasn't quite as built up as Romeo was, but it was easy to tell by his stance and alertness that he would have no problem defending himself or anyone else.

His facial expression was blank as he regarded Samuel, but this also wasn't as intimidating as the one Romeo usually had on his face.

"Can I help you young Sir?" He asked, his was an octave deeper than Samuel would've imagined it to be based on his looks.

"I was told that I could find Zane here in his second office?" He half replied, half asked.

"Indeed. He's on the phone right now though and has asked for no disturbances until he is done which should be in the next five or ten minutes." The man told him, glancing at his watch.

"Do you wish to wait or do you want me to let him know that you came to see him?" He then asked.

"I don't mind waiting if he's going to be done soon." Samuel replied, choosing to stand by the opposite wall of the other.

"Not to be intrusive, but are you new here? I'm starting to get familiar with everyone, but I don't remember seeing you before?" He asked the other man. He didn't respond for a moment s he surveyed the younger man before replying.

"Not new to working here or being part of family, but to this estate, yes. It's only a temporary shift until Clive is able to take his position back." The man replied. It seemed like a number of people had been moved around with Clive being at the hospital with his wife. Samuel could only guess it was because he was one of their most efficient men.

He always did come across as reliable and trustworthy when Samuel interacted with him.

The next few minutes passed in silence as they both stood waiting for Zane to be done. When the other did turn around to knock on the door to announce Samuel's presence, he had no idea how the man guarding the door knew Zane was off the phone. Stepping to the side he motioned that it was she for the other to go.

"What do I owe this visit today to?" Zane asked, curious what the other wanted since they still hardly spoke.

"I was coming to ask about opportunities to go to college. Lena said that it would be best to talk it over with you before I made a decision." Samuel replied as the door to the office closed behind.

"Before we talk about options, why don't you tell me what your reasons are for wanting to go to college?" Zane asked as he motioned for the other to sit down.

"Originally, I wanted to get into college to be a mathematician because I enjoy. Now, though after working with Lena at the office on the financial side and learning more about that, I would be interested in going to college to study business economics or financing." Samuel replied.

"You have ambitions." Zane commented noticing the determined look in the younger man's eyes as he spoke.

"Is that bad?" Samuel asked not sure how to interpret the other's tone.

"Not at all. This family wouldn't have gotten as far as it did without being ambitious." He replied with a smirk. 

"I'm willing to listen to where you'd be interested in going, but ultimately it would be decided between you and Lena since it would also affect her." He told the other.

"She has never mentioned before to me about going to college, but she might change her mind depending on what you choose to do." At least Zane was open to the idea of it. Samuel would just have to convince Lena if they could agree on what would be safe or not.