Chris And Hazel - Volume 1 Chapter 57 56

‘We can work up something please accept the collaboration’ Grayson pleaded looking at the managing director of the company he was trying to talk business with.

‘Look Mr. Grayson, you were a good company to build a business with but considering your current situation…we really can’t’ he replied denying his proposal right away.

‘Maybe we can work…’ Grayson started.

‘Security, take him out’ the director called out forcing Grayson to leave.

‘Sorry we aren’t interested’

‘Sorry we aren’t interested’

‘Sorry we aren’t interested’

His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of papers rustling in his office. He turned his head to look at Edwin who was sorting through the files in his office.

‘Edwin?’ Grayson called out to Edwin.

‘Yes, Mr. Grayson’ Edwin responded stopping his work.

‘Have you been watching Chris like I asked you to?’ Grayson asked swirling the paper weight on the desk he was sitting at.

‘I did, Mr. Grayson! Chris had recently tightened his security by four times. For the past few weeks, he has been dropping his kids off personally and also did allot a few more bodyguards to watch around the school. The school administration has also been instructed very clearly to let the kids go if only he or Ms. White comes to pick them up. The same kind of protection is being given to Ms. White as well. Chris’ parents went abroad a few days back. In conclusion, it is evident that we can’t him or his family’ Edwin replied humbly in a calm tone ignoring the fact that his boss was blazing furiously while listening to him.

‘Why are you being too supportive over Chris?’ Grayson asked looking at his secretary.

‘I am stating the facts here Mr. Grayson’ Edwin replied understanding that his boss was totally out of his mind.

‘Fine, what about his friends?’ Grayson asked controlling his temper.

‘As per your concern, I did look into the relationship between Edward Richardson and Chris…topher but it looks like there is nothing between them except business. But it does seem like the future daughter-in-law of the Richardson’s and Charlotte Richardson is close with Hazel White’ he completed his explanation looking politely at Grayson.

‘Hazel Whit is involved with the Richardson’s? Interesting! Keep an eye on both of them. They might come handy at tough times’ Grayson ordered hoping to use them as his protective shield in the future.

There was no point here; Grayson knew it was impossible to breach through Chris’ security so he had to use other shady moves. So Ava and Charlotte seemed the perfect pawns for his game.

It was true Grayson was back to avenge Chris but once he remembered about the missing hard disk, he couldn’t sleep nights thinking of the consequences that could follow. If Chris gets to know about that, he’s over. That was the only reason he wanted to act first this time.

‘…’

‘Edwin? Wasn’t I clear enough? Why are standing there like a statue?’ Grayson asked as Edwin refused to leave the room.

‘Mr. Grayson, I…I don’t think that’s possible’ Edwin answered in a low voice sweating heavily.

‘Why?’

‘The thing is…we just started a collaboration with the Richardson’s family so, if we try to do anything to their family it was only end up as a disadvantage for us. Already we are still suffering the losses for messing up with the Finches. If we do the same with the Richardson too there’s a good chance for you to…’ he stopped dreading over the next set if words that followed his speech.

‘What? Just say it’ Grayson demanded as he waited for Edwin to finish.

‘For you to go bankrupt’ Edwin said finishing up his thought. He tightly shut his yes fearing the actions that were on its way but nothing happened.

Grayson grew deep into thought as he heard Edwin. He was right!

Grayson couldn’t afford to go bankrupt again. The past still haunts him and he wasn’t ready to undergo another trauma this soon.

‘You are right! I never really thought that far’ Grayson said calming down his nerves.

Edwin was afraid that he was day dreaming, this was the first time ever since Grayson listened to something his employee told him but yet something didn’t fit. Was it a plot? He’d no idea but was sure that whatever that was, it wasn’t gonna end well.

‘What about William? Did you keep an eye on him?’ Grayson asked looking at Edwin.

‘No, Mr. Grayson! Not yet! But…’ just as he was about to continue, Grayson’s office door opened.

They found William walking towards them, wearing a serious expression on his face.

Grayson signaled Edwin to wait outside as William sat down in front of him.

‘So did you find out anything?’ William asked after Edwin left the office.

‘I am not sure yet but most probably it won’t be Edwin. I have my doubts though’ Grayson replied still debating with his mind.

‘We can’t afford to have doubts now. Look, I don’t know how important that hard disk is but you do so take your decision now’ William answered annoyed by Grayson’s carelessness.

‘I don’t know what to do’ Grayson said frankly after a moment of silence.

‘I do! I will tell you what to do with Edwin’ William volunteered smiling mysteriously.

‘We’d no luck finding any hard disk in the office Haze’ Chris said looking dejected as they went through Adam’s room.

‘We’ll find it, don’t lose hope Chris!’ she convinced still looking through the room.

‘The problem is we have no idea how it looks like or what info it contains and why is Grayson so obsessed with it?’ Chris asked sitting down in the chair.

”We’ll look for everything that looks like a hard disk here and it must be important and that’s why Grayson wants it so badly’ Hazel replied looking through all the cupboards.

‘I haven’t heard Adam mention about some hard disk before. Maybe it was too confidential or something. The only other person who knows about this is Grayson or maybe his sidekick Edwin knows’ Chris commented skimming through the room, checking for any missed spots.

‘Don’t lose hope yet. Come let’s check in Adam’s study’ Hazel suggested taking his hand.

‘It wouldn’t hurt’ he said as they walked out of Adam’s room.

As they were about to enter the study Chris’s phone rang.

‘Hello?’

‘Mr. Finch someone called Edwin is here to meet and he says it’s kinda urgent because he should leave before his boss gets to know of his whereabouts’

‘Edwin? Ask him to wait there I will be on my way’ Chris replied hanging up the call.

‘What’s wrong?’ Hazel asked once he finished speaking over the phone.

‘It’s Edwin. He’s there at the company waiting to see me and he says that Grayson doesn’t know he’s there’s Chris answered in a puzzled tone.

‘We should go’ he told her.

‘What do you want?’ Chris asked as he found Edwin seated at the reception.

‘Mr. Finch, I really need to talk to you and it’s an emergency. I am in desperate need of your help’ Edwin pleaded rushing towards Chris.

‘What is it?’ Chris asked uninterested in the play Edwin was putting up.

‘I know you don’t trust me but I really need your help. Please hear me out!’ He continued pleading as Chris didn’t believe him.

‘I know you don’t believe me but you are the only one who can save me now…from Grayson. Grayson thinks that I am somehow helping you get back at him. He confirmed that I am on your side by listening to someone and now wants to get rid of me. Though I haven’t done anything like that he doesn’t seem to believe me in this and the worst thing is he never wanted to consult me regarding this…I just happened to hear his conversation with Wil…someone’ he continued explaining but somehow managed to hide the name of the other person.

‘What makes you think I will believe me? And moreover even if I believe why the hell should I help you?’ Chris asked with suspicion.

‘I know you won’t but please give me a chance. I have been with Grayson for more than ten years but still he listened to some rookie and decided to kill me and the only person who can protect me from him is you. Just help me this once and I will tell you everything I know about Grayson’ he promised hoping to get Chris’ favor.

Chris stared at Edwin for a few minutes. No one could see what Chris was thinking at a moment. Edwin was looking at him hoping to hear a positive response from his side and Hazel was looking at him wondering what his decision will be.

‘Hazel go inside and wait in my office’ Chris said turning to look at her.

‘But Chris…’

‘Go honey!’ he repeated urging her to go in.

Hazel knew she couldn’t debate with him when he uses this voice of his. He means he had decided and will not change his decision no matter the persuasion.

After making sure Hazel was completely out of his sight he looked ta Edwin and said in a calm tone;

‘Nice try! But next time ask your boss to up his game by using a better idea. Child’s play don’t work on me’

‘But Mr. Finch, you misunderstood! Grayson doesn’t know…’ Edwin said trying to convince Chris that he was being honest there but Chris on the other hand didn’t bother to stay back and listen to his further explanation.

Edwin stood there totally helpless as Chris made his way back.

‘What happened?’ Hazel asked literally jumping out of her chair as Chris entered through the door.

‘I sent him back. I am not buying his act’ he answered slightly surprised on how much eager she was at the outcome in spite of knowing about the two.

‘Why Chris?’ she asked confused by his decision.

‘What do you mean by why? He was clearly acting’ Chris replied shocked a little to see that she didn’t note the obvious.

‘I don’t think he was! He actually seemed pretty genuine. He could’ve been our key to lock Grayson down’ she debated looking a little upset as Chris let Edwin go.

‘Seriously..?’ Chris cried out in disbelief noticing that she was a little upset with Chris’ decision.

‘I guess we should give him a chance.it looks like he finally understood what a psycho Grayson is’ she said continuing to support her previous arguments.

‘Oh my…! You know what I think you are right!’ Chris said changing his opinion within a few seconds.

‘Really..? That’s it, aren’t you gonna argue back?’ she asked taken aback by his sudden change in heart.

‘No, you do have a point’ Chris answered smiling lightly.

‘Aren’t you gonna lecture be about how vicious those two are?’ she asked still not able to accept that Chris listened to her without putting up a fair fight.

‘No, you are totally right! I am so with your decision regarding this matter’ he replied walking towards her.

‘You aren’t being sarcastic, are you?’ she asked raising a brow in doubt.

‘Of course not..! There’s no harm in going for it’ he answered trying to make her understand that he was serious.

‘You are really listening to me?’

”Oh my god! For the last time, yes!’ he said trying to be patient.

But Hazel still couldn’t believe that Chris actually listened to her right away but seeing that he kept answering her patiently  she decided to stop with the questions and somehow convinced herself that she wasn’t dreaming.

‘Thank you for understanding! We will see what we can get from Edwin’ she answered smiling positively at him, giving him hope.

‘Whatever you say honey’ he said kissing her forehead before walking out of his office.

‘Edwin’ he called out as he found Edwin still sitting in the reception waiting for Chris.

‘Mr. Finch?’

Edwin looked up on hearing Chris’ voice.

‘I will give you a chance. Come meet me tomorrow’ Chris said in an unfriendly tone as he looked at Edwin.

‘Thank you Mr. Finch. I won’t disappoint you’ Edwin responded his eyes filled with gratefulness as he finally found a ray of light shining on his path.