CHAPTER - 27 Grace meets Adrian

"Do you think someone might have kidnapped her?" Kylie asked while holding Millie's hand tightly.

Her hands shook and she was almost on the verge of going into a shock. Abel walked towards her and held her closely.

"Do not worry! We will find her. Who knows she may come back in a few minutes and tell us that she took a different track today for jogging. Maybe her phone got faulty and stopped working. That is why we are unable to reach her. Relax! Come here and sit down. Take a deep breath in and a deep breath out," Abel tried to soothe her by patting her back.

Millie ordered the kitchen to get some lemon water for Kylie to calm her nerves. Millie thought maybe when Tina suggested doing a health check for her, she must have said ok. If she had done that then Tina might have not gone missing. Tears streamed down her eyes non-stop and she hid her face with her hands.

...

Grace had reached fifteen minutes earlier than the time they had decided to meet. Still, when she entered the room, she noticed that Adrian was already waiting for her even before her arrival. The private room that was arranged in the star hotel had been decorated very well and showed its luxury in every nook and corner.

The paintings on the wall resembled as if the trees, flowers, and birds were all alive. One would have the urge to go and touch them to see if it was actually painting or live scenery.

But Grace was not in the mood to see them and neither was she interested in praising its authenticity. All she wanted to know was why would such a low-key person be interested in having a meeting with her.

Before coming here, she had inquired about him with her peers and others she knew who belonged to the same circle. Everyone said, just to get an appointment with him it would be considered as their most glorious opportunity. And they would even give him everything they had to meet him at least once in this lifetime.

It piqued her curiosity and here she was sitting in front of the person in question. She tried to analyze him from head to toe. He sat on the sofa with such an audacity that is so hard to see in today's generation.

Her eyes then landed on his leg, she felt something was not quite right. So she reluctantly asked,

"Your legs..."

"I had been in an accident recently. But do not worry about that. It is only temporary. If you have any questions regarding that, then I can share all the detailed reports of my current condition with you. As a doctor, I am sure you will be able to analyze and find that there is nothing to be concerned about my condition. After that accident, I learned many things. I realized that our life is so short and we need to make some decisions sooner. I wanted to thrive while the iron is hot. So I decided to meet you in person the next day, I got discharged from the hospital." Adrian explained.

Grace looked at him as she could not understand why he was saying all these to her. If it was not because he was a well-known figure, she would have not even agreed to meet him in the first place.

"I don't understand why you are explaining all these to me. You do realize that I am just a retired gynecologist. For your health condition, you need to consult with a different specialist. If you want I can give you a few recommendations for some famous doctors who are specialized in handling such cases. 

Also, I have some good contacts with renowned physiotherapists and as well as psychiatrists who might help you with the post-recovery and trauma. Still, all these could have been done by a phone call to my office. My secretary would have guided you with all the required details. I don't think we needed to meet and waste each other's time over such petty things." Grace said and stood up, preparing to leave the room.

Adrian with a neutral smile on his face, behaved as if he was not offended by what she said. He calmly explained,

"Oh! You are mistaken, Ms. Grace. I called you to talk over your daughter and not to discuss my health conditions. I would like to deliberate about our future alliance. I am not someone who would like to beat around the bush. So, I will come straight to the point. I want to marry your daughter. And soon, say before this month's end."

"What? What nonsense are you spouting? Do you think this is some kind of joke? If I had known that you would be wasting my time by talking such crap, I would have not agreed to come here in the first place. You might be a distinguished figure in this society but I am not any less than you. Do not forget that. How dare you even think about marrying my daughter when you have become crippled? Even if you are doing fine, still it would be my daughter's choice whether to accept you or not! And I can tell you for sure, she would not," Grace stood up once again to walk away from there.

Adrian controlled his anger on time and widened his smile even more.

"I know one of your hospital's doctors did something illegal and you tried to cover it up for saving the hospital's name. Also, isn't the conference today, is all about how to solve that issue without getting your name involved in that mess?" He uttered while looking at her with a meaningful look.

Grace, for a minute there, got shocked and stood still. This was something only a few people knew about! And it had been well hidden by Mason and he had made sure to never allow anyone to speak about this outside, even by mistake.

‘So, how did he find out about this then? Was there a spy on my team?’ She wondered. She decided to find out who leaked this confidential matter the minute she leaves this room.

"Are you spying on me? Do you know who I am?" Grace asked while turning towards him with hostility.

"I know! That is why I am suggesting that you would agree to marry your daughter to me. I have a medical college under my trust. You can be the Dean for our gynecology department. I think that position will suit your modesty. I am also willing to make you one of the trustees for our healthcare department. 

You can very well merge your hospital with our management. Once it is under our wing, no one will have the nerve to question what you did or what happened in your hospital. It's a win-win for both of us. You have two hours to give me your answer. 

If not, then I will consider that you are not interested in my proposal and carry on with my next suitable candidate. Also, I can assure you that this information will not be leaked from my end. Even if you agree to my request or not, I will make sure that the truth never sees the daylight." Adrian said with a mesmerizing smile.

Grace took a minute and she tried to analyze what she heard. She knew in her heart that it was not a bad deal. But she looked at his legs that did not have any reaction from the time she entered the room.

"I want to see your medical reports once," Grace stated to him.

"It's on the table right in front of you. Please take your time but remember this offer expires in the next two hours. I will give you some alone time to think about this deal. If you like it then we will continue discussing more terms and conditions of the contract. If not my assistant here will see you out."

Adrian signaled his assistant, Otis to take Grace away. Otis, who stood in one corner like a statue without interfering in their conversation, came forward and showed the way to her.

“Ms. Grace, this way, please. I will bring all the documents related to this alliance and also the young master's medical report." Otis said while keeping his head lowered and showing his hand towards the door.

Grace walked briskly towards the door with her head held up. Otis nodded his head to Adrain and took all the files that were kept on the table. He rushed behind Grace and took her to a room next to the private room.

Even though this room was not so luxurious as the other one she had been in, it was not any normal room. One can say it, by looking at the three feet pure golden statue that was kept on one corner of the room. Otis kept all the documents on the mahogany table that was put in the middle of the room.