Chris And Hazel - Volume 1 Chapter 47 46

Ava, I am taking the afternoon off’ Hazel informed her friend as she packed her belongings to leave the office early.

‘What’s wrong, hon?’ Ava asked confused.

‘It’s Chris! It’s been almost a week now since he came to office and I hardly see him at home too! I am planning to take him out for lunch with the kids. I will pick up the kids from school and go over to ask him out for lunch’ she answered picking up her bag.

Hazel didn’t know what was wrong? She noticed that Chris had been really busy since the dinner they met Charlotte’s boyfriend. And he has been spending most of his time in his other company and rarely shows up here.

‘I am going over to his other company. He hasn’t shown up for a week now’ she told Ava who was staring blankly at her.

‘Oh..! Which one..?’ Ava asked at the mention of Chris’ other company.

‘Cyber surveillance’ she answered looking at Ava.

‘Maybe he’s busy there but you do know that he still manages to keep track of this company too, right? It’s just he isn’t here physically. And we all know that the only reason he took up our company was because of you’ Ava replied highlighting the eminent truth.

‘Shut up..! Stop joking around! I am really worried and the best part is he never tells me what’s going on’ Hazel spoke out rolling her eyes sarcastically.

‘Anyways, I will go over to the company and later take him out somewhere. He’s been really stressed out lately. Bye!’ Hazel said leaving her desk.

‘Bye Haze! Drive safe’ Ava waved goodbye to her friend resuming her work.

‘Mr. Finch! There’s a phone call for you’ his secretary informed over the phone in Chris’ office.

‘Connect the call!’ Chris answered flipping over the files outspread on his table.

‘Hello Christopher!’ a voice called out once the call got connected.

‘Grayson..?’ he asked surprised on hearing Grayson’s voice.

‘Gotcha..!’ Grayson exclaimed smirking over the phone.

‘What do you want Grayson? I don’t have time to listen you smirk over the phone’ Chris said annoyed to hear his voice.

‘I have a surprise for you’ Grayson added as Chris was about to disconnect the call.

‘Not interested!’ Chris answered bluntly picking up the file to resume his work.

‘That’s too bad, Chris! You would have really liked my surprise’ Grayson said hinting that there was something more to his sentence.

‘What is it?’ Chris asked growing suspicious from Grayson’s tone.

‘Guess where I am?’ Grayson asked building the suspense.

‘This is ridiculous’ Chris said irritated by Grayson’s childish play.

‘Calm down, Mr. Attitude! I will tell you. I am in front of your only love’ Grayson revealed wearing a victory smile on his face as he heard Chris freeze on the line.

‘What..?! Hazel?’ Chris murmured turning pale on hearing him.

‘Well I was about to say your kids…but looks like my hunch was right and she’s there too. It’s too bad you sent her to fetch your kids from school and I must say, it’s disappointing to see that she doesn’t even have a bodyguard with her’ Grayson answered proudly as Chris continued to remain silent.

‘Grayson stop playing around’ Chris warned regaining his composure.

‘Oh I am not! Maybe call her and check where she is, I will hold!’ Grayson said as he grew more satisfied with each passing moment.

Chris hurriedly looked over for his phone and dialed Hazel.

‘Hey Chr…’ Hazel answered delighted to his call display on her screen.

‘Were you at Rob’s and Aurora’s school?’ Chris asked trying to not sound disturbed.

‘Yeah how did you know?’ she asked surprised by his correct guess.

‘Are you out of your mind? Why did you go there? You know what? Stay there! I am coming to pick you guys up’ he yelled as fear dreaded into him when he heard her answer.

‘But I already picked them up! I am on my way’ Hazel answered confused on hearing his outburst.

‘To..?’

‘Your company..!’ she answered slightly annoyed by his tone.

Chris blacked out for a minute as he couldn’t imagine what would happen to them if Grayson manages to get hold of them. He needed to act fast, he looked over at the telephone on is desk where Grayson was on hold. Grayson sounded calmer than his usual self and that’s what Chris feared about. He must have already had a plan before ringing up Chris.

‘Hazel what’s wrong with you? Why didn’t tell me beforehand? Where are you exactly?’ he asked panicking.

‘I am not sure! I booked a cab! Chris…Chris? He hung up?’ she asked herself as Chris disconnected the call.

She turned over to the kids and found them silently looking outside the window playing with each other.

‘What’s wrong with Chris? Why did he sound so bothered? And ahh…’ she screamed midway as the driver stumbled on the brakes of the car throwing her forward.

‘Driver, watch it! Why did you stop the car suddenly?’ she asked irked as she checked on the kids to see whether they were ok.

‘Did you get the answer?’ Grayson asked calmly as Chris reconnected the call.

‘Grayson don’t you dare lay a finger on her!’ Chris spoke out his voice shuddering through his office.

‘Ohh calm down Christopher! I am not that bad. I will just hold them hostage and nothing more’ Grayson replied feeling contented.

He smiled to himself when he sensed how afraid Chris was. Chris was in the same position as he was three years ago. Though Chris sounded fearless he knew Chris was trying to maintain a brave front. Grayson knew Chris could be terrifying but he wasn’t cruel and that was the difference between them.

‘Grayson don’t make regret sparing your life three years ago’ Chris threatened trying his level best to not freak out.

‘Well then I am sorry to say this, you are going to regret Chris! Very soon’ he answered unaffected by Chris’ threatening tone.

‘Grayson don’t you…Grayson? Oh Crap!’ Chris banged the phone on his table the line went dead.

‘Hello? Steve? I want you track Hazel and send me her current location right now’ Chris ordered as Steve answered his call.

‘On it Mr. Finch’ Steve responded getting right to work.

‘Hello?’ Chris answered the phone right away when the phone flashed “Steve Calling”. He wasn’t ready to waste any second further. He was already stressed enough to go mad any second now.

‘Yeah Steve..?’

‘Mr. Finch, I found Mr. White’s location. She’s in your company’ he answered unsure of why Chris was so demanding over her location.

‘What?’ he asked confused as he looked up as his office’s door clicked. He saw Hazel walk in with the kids.

‘She’s here’ he informed Steve, hanging up.

‘Chris why were you yelling at…’ she stopped as he rushed over and pulled her into an embrace.

‘Chris..?’ she called out slowly as she was able to feel his irregular heartbeat against her.

‘Thank god you are okay’ he told pulling her further closer.

‘Chris what’s wrong?’ she asked growing anxious from his weird behavior.

‘Nothing..! Why did you go to pick up the kids?’ he asked pulling away as he saw his kids stare at him.

‘I thought we could have a nice lunch as you have so busy lately’ she replied looking over the kids blankly.

‘Hazel please let me know before you do stuff like this’ he yelled as his anger took control over him. ‘Didn’t you check your mail? I sent a mail asking for the afternoon off’ Hazel answered still not understanding the tension surrounding them.

‘I could have lost you three’ he told her absent-mindedly as he calmed himself down.

‘Chris what happened?’ Hazel asked appalled by his words.

She was able to sense something was wrong but couldn’t figure what happened and plus with the kids around it didn’t seem alright to ask him anything.

‘It’s…nothing! Rob and Aurora go and play in the other room in daddy’s office’ he told looking over at his kids who were freakishly quiet the entire time and it seemed unlikely too.

‘What’s wrong with them?’ he asked turning towards Hazel once the kids left.

‘…Nothing! When we were on our way, the driver was about to hit another vehicle and they got scared but I spoke to them and they are fine. Don’t worry!’ she assured him looking at his tensed face.

Chris nodded at her relaxing a bit but still he couldn’t get himself out from his conversation with Grayson. He was super glad that they were okay but he wasn’t sure whether they will be next time. Others had no idea how cruel Grayson could be but he knew better and that was the problem.

‘Chris you look petrified! Just tell me what happened? Already you have been roaming around like a mad man for a week and I have never seen you in such a state before’ she asked as she pulled him to sit down on the chair nearby.

‘It’s…it’s’ he stammered thinking of ways to evade the topic.

‘Its’ Grayson right?’ she asked looking into his eyes.

‘…’

“Bull’s eye” Chris thought to himself as he stared blankly at Hazel.

‘I knew it! Since the first time you saw him here, you have completely lost it! I knew from before you weren’t completely honest with me about your past’ she told him losing her cool.

What was there to hide? She couldn’t get through his cold eyes and that seemed to irritate her more. Just when she thought her old Chris was back, she keep finding new sides of him. The only possible reason she could think of on why he kept denying the facts was that he thinks that she couldn’t manage the truth. Hazel didn’t know how she to tell him that it was okay to tell her and she could handle it but Chris completely failed to understand her.

She hated the fact that he was holding back!

‘It’s nothing like that Haze! I just thought there was no Grayson anymore in my life…I didn’t know he would have the nerve to be back’ he told her sensing that she was getting irritated.

‘Will you at least tell me now?’ she asked without any hope. She knew that he would find yet another reason to change the subject and continue to keep her in the dark.

Just as he was about to continue, his office phone rang.

‘Hello?’ Chris answered.

‘Christopher! How did you like my surprise?’ Grayson asked with a broad smile on his face.

‘…’

‘Huh… will someone look at that! Mr. Finch got scared! Looks like it was my lucky day! I managed to scare a great business tycoon. You think you can play games with me by abducting my assistant? I can play games too! This is just the beginning Chris! Next time it won’t come with a warning and she won’t return back safely like this time’ he told Chris in a intimidating tone.

‘You know what? Just try!’ Chris spoke out confidently.

‘Whoa! I sense Confidence. Let’s see your comeback’ Grayson answered chuckling recklessly.

‘Trust me! You won’t be able to anticipate it!’ Chris replied disconnecting the call.

‘He is threatening you using my name, isn’t he?’ Hazel asked as Chris placed the receiver down.

‘Yeah…’ he nodded slowly sighing.

‘Cool!’ she answered wearing an unreadable expression on her face.

‘Cool?’ Chris asked shocked on hearing her reply. For a moment, he thought she hit her head somewhere and forgot to respond to situations.

‘Yeah cool! Anyways don’t worry about me! You carry on with your work, I will take the kids home’ she told him turning serious.

‘I will drop you home’ he said getting up from the chair.

‘Chris, don’t worry! I will be fine’ she told him wishing that she could take away the worried expression on his face forever.

‘No!’ he replied sternly.

‘Stop being stubborn..! I know you have work. I can manage, just trust me!’ she told reassuring him.

‘I will send you with the driver’ he told her not ready to give in.

‘Fine…fine! You are the boss’ she answered giving up.

‘I will take the kids and wait downstairs’ she said as she walked over to the room connected to Chris’ office.

‘Yeah, call me once you reach home’ he reminded her as she opened the door to call the kids.

‘Sure’ she said smiling at him.

Hazel and the kids waved Chris bye and went downstairs.

‘Hello? Ed?’

‘Hey Haze! What’s up?’ Ed asked answering her call.

‘I just want to know something! Do you know anyone called Grayson? He was there at your engagement too’ she asked looking around to see if anyone was around.

‘Oh you mean Denzel Grayson? Yeah I know him! Why are you asking about him? Did Chris tell you something?’ Ed asked skeptical about her sudden enquiry.

‘No…it just that…’ she continued to talk to Ed explaining her reasons.

‘Mam..? Are we ready to go?’ The driver asked as she disconnected the call after talking to Ed.

‘Yeah…’ she nodded at him.

‘Eh…I need to make a quick stop before we go back home’ she told the driver as they were on their way.

‘But Mr. Finch told me to take you home right away’ he answered her in a low voice.

‘Yeah I know! I already told him. He was okay with it’ she assured him in a positive tone.

‘Ok mam!’

‘Drive to the nearest shopping mall!’ she informed as she picked up her phone from her bag.

‘Mr. Grayson?’ Edwin called out entering Grayson’s office.

‘What is it Edwin?’ he asked looking up at him.

‘Someone is here to meet you?’ he informed walking over to his desk.

‘I don’t think it’s a good time. Anyways, who is it? Just ask them to get an appointment’ Grayson told Edwin his eyes on his computer.

‘It’s Chris…’

‘Oh Chris..? That was quick! That guy…never fails to surprise me. Bring him in’ Grayson appreciated looking up at Edwin.

‘Bring him in’ Grayson added excited to see what Chris was up to now.

‘No Mr. Grayson! It’s Chris girlfriend, Hazel White!’ Edwin corrected once Grayson finished.

‘WHAT…!’