Al sat in the car anxiously waiting for it to move again.
"Relax, you'll do fine." Tristan Lim told him as he patted Al on the back.
"What am I even supposed to do?" Al asked as he laughed nervously. "I'm not even eighteen yet!"
"All you have to do is attend events and don't screw up your life." Tristan said with a shrug.
Tristan, unlike Al, never had his identity truly hidden.
He attended events with his father and mother, he was occasionally on the news when he was dating someone new.
The thing that set Tristan and Al apart was the fact that the public saw the Lim family as the poorer friends.
"When I was hidden I at least knew I was supposed to learn as much as possible about the real world, but now, I don't know anymore." Al frowned as he looked out into the practically empty parking lot.
"Just study hard, try not to end up in any scandal, and people won't be disappointed in you." Tristan said as he patted Al on the shoulder.
"Thanks." Al smiled.
"Now, if you will excuse me, I think I'd like to hear for myself what the reporters are saying." Tristan winked at Al as he slipped out of the car and headed up the stairs.
Al was once more alone, plagued by his demons and fears.
His father had called with the plan. They would first announce that his Uncle Cedric has never cheated on his Aunt Adrianna, then his father, Raymond Laurence would announce Al.
"Sir, they are in front of the crowd, we've been told to drive up." Al's bodyguard informed him.
Al tried to speak, but he was so nervous to say anything. All he could do was gulp and nod.
His bodyguard however, knew Al well enough that he understood the young man was dealing with his nerves.
"Alright, sir." The bodyguard quickly said as he told the driver to take the car out of the basement parking.
When Al saw the size of the crowd he froze.
There were more reporters than he had expected.
He didn't think that news about his family would draw this much attention.
"It's probably because they thought it was a scandal." Al mumbled to himself as he spotted his cousin walking away from the front of the crowd back towards the parking lot.
"Sir, even if they knew it wasn't a scandal, the Reyes and Lawrence families can easily draw out these many reporters." His bodyguard informed him.
"My cousin's didn't have this many people." Al pointed out as he looked at the crowd.
"With all due respect sir, you weren't really there." The bodyguard chuckled as they came to a halt.
For the first time Al noticed that the car windows were slightly opened so he could hear what was going on.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my honor and my pride, to introduce to you our eldest son." He heard his father say as a bodyguard stood by his door.
"I can do this." Al said to himself.
"Aldrich Lawrence." As his father announced his name the car door swung open and Al changed his expression.
He placed on the mask he was trained to wear.
He smiled, but it wasn't a friendly one.
Rather it looked quite intimidating, he knew he looked as if he was plotting something evil. Like his plans had plans behind them.
It was the persona he had decided to take when the time came.
Al ignored the reporters that were shouting questions as fifty bodyguards lined the path he was supposed to walk to join his family.
He didn't let his fear or worry show.
He walked steadily with his chin up and a smile on his face.
He didn't let his legs shake even if he worried that he wouldn't even make it up on the stage.
And when Al finally made it up to the podium, his father pulled him in a hug and held him tight.
"Finally." Ray said.
The businessman and king of the underworld sounded relieved.
It was clear from Ray's smile that he had long wanted to introduce his son to the public. He was only letting Al live a normal life for Al's sake, but now, that was no longer an option.
"Finally I made it on stage, dad?" Al teased as he smiled at his father.
At least here, with his family, Al didn't feel as nervous anymore. He didn't feel alone.
"A moment." Ray said as he turned to face the crowd.
"I know you all have many questions and my son and I will do our best to answer them. We have marshalls ready to hand you a mic so that you can ask what's on your mind." Ray announced as he nudged for his son to step forward.
"Pick one." He whispered to Al, encouraging him to answer questions as well.
Al spotted a woman that he noticed Tristan was looking at from the back. He pointed at her and she nodded.
A marshal handed her a microphone and looked up at Al.
"Mr. Lawrence, how long have you been studying in public schools and what do you think of the experience?" She asked.
Al smiled, thankful that it wasn't a question about his love life. He was sure one of the reporters would soon ask if he was single.
"I hope you mean me." Al teased as he flashed the woman a smile.
He noticed Tristan glare at him from the back.
Clearly his friend was interested in this woman.
She blushed as Al teased her.
"Yes, sir." She answered.
"Well, I've been in the public school system for over six years." Al announced, much to everyone's shock. "It's actually quite interesting to see the difference between this world that my family moves in and the world everyone else does."
"Do you think it will help you in your future roles in the Lawerence family?" Normally reporters were only allowed one question. But Al liked this woman, so he allowed it.
"I think my experience will keep me grounded. It also ensures everyone that I am in touch with what the everyday man strives for." Al said proudly.
"Thank you, sir." The woman said as she handed the microphone back to the marshal.
"Tristan seems to like that one." Ray commented as he switched the microphone off, making sure that they weren't overheard.
Al laughed and shook his head.
He ignored his father's comment and pointed to another person in the audience.
"Mr. Lawrence, is there a special woman in your heart?" The reporter asked, making the crowd whisper among themselves.
None of the heirs of their generation had gotten married and none had expressed interest in a particular woman yet.
"I don't think my son should answer that." Ray said as he tried to deflect the question.
"It's fine, dad." Al smiled at his father as he took the microphone and lifted it.
He gave the reporters a charming smile before he spoke.
"Yes, there is a woman I believe I love, but she is out of my reach unfortunately." With Al's words the crowd of reporters erupted and the entire family had to be ushered back into the building.
As they entered, Emilio laughed at his cousin and shook his head.
"So you've finally admitted you love her." Emilio pointed out.
"Unfortunately there is no way she heard that." Al sighed as he walked away, exhausted by the day's events.
The most uptodate nove𝙡s are published on fr(e)𝒆webnov(e)l.com