19 President and CEO of DLR Enterprises

"So where did your friend go?" Oliver asked Jay as Maya stood between them, sipping a glass of wine, and watching the performances on stage.

"Behave," Maya playfully scolded Oliver.

She was in a much better mood now, but she still couldn't hide that she was worried about Nate.

He had disappeared so quickly and Jay didn't even let her follow him.

Now she was stuck hanging out with two men that never liked being in the same space together. She was glad that both hadn't fought just yet.

It was most likely due to the fact that Oliver had promised to make things up to her, while Jay had always been the friend to simply be there for her.

"Aren't you going to ask me where he lives?" Jay teased as he gave Maya a knowing smile.

Over the years he had watched as Maya firmly held on to her feelings for Nate, keeping it as deep down as possible.

She would show her hate and anger for him in public, but in private, Jay knew how much she actually wished he would come back.

"And why would I want to know that?" Maya scoffed. "Our relationship is in the past, he left me, remember? He could live on the streets for all I care."

Jay laughed at how angry Maya sounded, but the fact of the matter remained, her eyes spoke the truth and from it, Jay could clearly tell how much she was now worried.

"He has an apartment in the city," Jay said, not waiting for Maya to ask for the information herself.

"I said I didn't want to know," Maya told Jay.

"He did quite well for himself while he was gone," Jay told Maya as Oliver carefully watched them, eavesdropping on what Jay had to say. "He said he came back when he believed he would be deserving of you."

Maya couldn't help but blush at what Jay had said.

Whether or not it had been Nate's exact words it still touched her heart.

Realizing how she had reacted, Maya quickly adjusted herself and pretended that it didn't matter. That no matter how sweet Nate was, she didn't care.

"Oh, something's happening," Oliver stretched his neck out as he noticed people gathering by the entrance of the ballroom, among them, were the mayor and several higher-ranked employees of DLR Enterprises.

"I guess your boss has arrived," Maya teased as everyone turned towards the ballroom door. "Have you met him? What's he like?"

Maya was quite interested in the new CEO and President of DLR Enterprises.

He was a very private man and there were very few interviews with him. He never had his photos taken nor did he do video interviews.

"You seem eager to meet him," Jay commented as he gave Maya a suspicious glance.

Oliver couldn't help but laugh at the other man's comment, it was indeed quite suspicious that Maya was excited to see the new CEO and President of DLR Enterprises.

"No! It's not like that!" Maya blushed as she realized that the two men thought that she was interested in the man romantically. "He's just a very impressive person, I've read all about his rise to power, it's truly impressive."

"You have?" Jay asked as he turned pale. He began to wonder if Maya had known all along that the President and CEO of DLR Enterprises was Nate Rue.

"I have, I've read the articles," Maya said proudly.

"According to my colleagues, the stories on those are much nicer than what happened to him in real life," Oliver said with a grim expression on his face.

"What do you know about him, Maya?" Jay asked as he watched the doors open and Nate's familiar figure stepped into the room, wearing a different suit and a mask on his face.

The way he carried himself was also different.

Nate Rue was simple, common, and calm with an underlying aura that demanded attention, while the man that stood at the door was different. He stood so sure and confident in himself, his chin held high as his striking green eyes searched the room till they landed on their group.

The entire time both Maya and Oliver were oblivious to the man looking at them, he gave Jay a nod before speaking with the mayor.

"Well, based on the articles, he left home at an early age to start making a name for himself," Maya began. Jay gave a painful smile, it wasn't far from the truth.

Nathaniel did leave home, he went here, to Arlington City, and met them.

"It also said that he not only paid for his own education in a top institution, he also worked as an ordinary employee for years," Maya said in an enchanted tone as she spoke of the President as some superhero.

"That's quite impressive, I wonder why everyone says the truth is much more than what the company allows the public to know," Oliver said as he tried to think back to everything he had heard about the President.

"I'm surprised you've never met him, Oliver," Jay said as he gave Oliver a boastful smile. "I thought you were so high in the company that you would get special privileges to meet him ahead of the rest of us."

Oliver glared at Jay.

"Isn't your uncle a highly-ranked employee at the main office?" Jay asked as he continued to egg Oliver on, trying to imply that Oliver had not earned his place in the company.

"What are you trying to imply, Jay?"

"Nothing," Jay said with a shrug as he turned his attention back to Maya who seemed to be trying to recall something.

"Hey Maya, what do you find most impressive about the President?" Jay asked.

"Oh, he's not even in his thirties yet, he's very young and everyone was surprised that he was not only handed the reigns by his grandfather but that he has done so well too!" Maya said excitedly as a shadow and a crowd approached.

"Really, I didn't think I was that impressive?" A deep voice asked, making Maya jump in surprise and Jay grin as his friend made the entire room stand still.