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1587 Words
Grayson Blackwell sat behind his wide mahogany desk, eyes scanning the thick proposal in his hands, and lips pouted. His secretary, Julius, stood beside him pointing at specific sections as he explained details about the partnership project between NovaTech Solutions which was Grayson ’s family company, and Merit Holdings. Grayson didn't seem entirely interested in the proposal but it was compulsory. His grandfather seemed to have taken interest in them leaving him no choice.
“This proposal outlines the joint venture terms, merits included and details on travels on all,” Julius said, flipping to the next page as he stood next to Grayson .
“But… I think Mr. Henry might have another motive behind this collaboration or do you not think so?” Julius' lips spread with a chuckle, he had always been a deep thinker and it was one of the reasons he stayed long beside Grayson .
Grayson looked up sharply, obviously clueless.
“Another motive? What do you mean?”
Julius cleared his throat, lowering his voice as if someone might overhear them speaking. Almost like gossip.
“Sir… I heard your grandfather will be present at the signing ceremony which he doesn't normally do as he prefers you handling the entire thing.
And the CEO of Merit Ventures, and his daughter Miss Nana will be attending as well.” Julius had the pout of a gossip who had overheard when others were talking.
Grayson ’s eyes narrowed slightly, clueless. He hadn’t been able to catch up with updates these days, he had been so focused on work, he barely even had time for himself.
“So?” he asked slowly.
“So…” Julius hesitated, then continued,
“Everyone suspects your grandfather wants to use this opportunity to… join you and Miss Nana together. A business merging into a marriage.”
Grayson leaned back in his chair, not entirely surprised. His grandfather, Henry Blackwell, had been pressuring him for years to marry. The last argument they had, six months ago, ended with Henry shouting that next time, Grayson wouldn’t be given a choice.
Next time, I won’t talk. I will bring your wife myself. His grandfather’s deep voice sounded in the back of his head, he could hear it so clearly.
Grayson sighed deeply.
“Grandfather won’t give up. I guess we will have to stop him from planning my marriage.”
Julius blinked in concern.
“And how do you suggest we do that, sir? Mr. Henry doesn’t go back on his word. If he’s decided, then he’s decided.” Julius sounded like he feared Henry Blackwell as he should because the old man was scary.
Grayson opened his mouth to respond, but the phone on the desk rang.
Julius quickly picked it up while Grayson returned to the files he was signing.
“Hello, this is the NovaTech office. Julius speaking.”
A soft but firm female voice came through the speaker.
“Hello. Am I speaking to Mr. Grayson Blackwell?”
Julius straightened.
“Yes, ma’am. You are speaking to Mr. Grayson ’s office.”
“Good,” the woman replied, her voice calm yet there was a bit of excitement in it.
“This is Isabella”
Julius blinked and turned toward Grayson , covering the mouthpiece.
“Sir… she says her name is Isabella Do you know anyone by that name?”
Grayson frowned slightly and shook his head. He didn’t know any Isabella…at least, not recently. Any Isabella without a last name meant it wasn’t business-related. How was he supposed to know her?
Julius returned to the call.
“Miss Isabella, I am sorry. I don’t think we have an appointment with you.”
Isabella’s voice sharpened immediately.
“You gave me your card five years ago,” she snapped.
“You told me to call if I ever needed your help.” She added, her voice screaming desperation.
Julius looked utterly confused
. “Ma’am, I believe you’re mixing me up with someone….”
Isabella cut him off with a shout.
“Are you telling me Grayson Blackwell forgot the woman he had a one-night stand with five years ago? The woman whose first time was with him? The virgin?”
Julius’s jaw dropped open.
His sudden expression made Grayson sit upright.
“What is it?” Grayson demanded, not eager to know. His expression was calm like always.
Julius covered the phone again and whispered,
“Sir… did you have a one-night stand with a virgin five years ago?”
The question hit Grayson like a slap. He stood abruptly, grabbed the phone from Julius’s hand, and pointed at the door.
“Leave,” Grayson ordered. For the first time in years, Grayson was reacting. He was always calm and put together. He was one of the richest and hottest bachelors in the state, of course, he was calm in every situation but here he was yelling at his secretary.
“Now.”
Julius rushed out of the office without a second glance, he had never seen his boss act like that.
Once alone, Grayson brought the phone to his ear and spoke, his voice controlled but firm.
“Miss Isabella. My apologies, I didn’t recognize your name at first.”
A soft sigh came from the other end.
“I can’t blame you. It’s been a long time.”
Grayson exhaled slowly.
“You never called, all these years.” He waited for her call after that night as he could not take her out of his mind. After that day, he regretted not asking for her number instead. He wished that he did. She never called and he was not able to get her off his mind either. He blamed himself for several months and only drowned himself in work to recover.
Her voice softened slightly.
“I had no reason to. But… Do you remember telling me to call if I needed your help?”
“Yes,” Grayson replied truthfully.
“And I meant it.” He was so happy she was talking about that. Now he could be involved in her life somehow.
“Well… I need it now,” Isabella said quietly.
“I want us to meet. Can you send me an address? Or somewhere I can come see you?”
Grayson hesitated. “No need for that. You send me your address. I will come to you.”
“Alright,” she agreed.
“I’ll send it now.”
The moment the call ended, Grayson lowered the phone, confusion flickering across his face.
“What could she possibly want after all these years?” he murmured. It had been so long and she was only calling now? Something must be wrong somewhere. Five good years?!
He remembered her clearly, though he had tried not to. There was something about her that was just different from every other woman in his life. She wanted clarification that day. She wasn’t weak, she just wanted to know the root of the matter so they went and checked the CCTV which showed that they had both walked into the room drunk and differently.
After that incident five years ago, he couldn’t forget her face. He had investigated her discreetly soon after and discovered she was the heiress to a family company. He later learned she had gotten married shortly after the issue between them which sort of stung him. She was not lying about her marriage that night.
Then, one day he went to the hospital that belonged to his friend and there he saw her. He prepared himself to go and see her until he found out her eyesight had begun to fail, guilt hit him like he was the one responsible. But he merely felt indebted to her.
He had seen her records at the hospital using his connection and it was so bad that he wanted to intervene.
He even wanted to visit after and, to check on her, to help her…but she had a husband. And Grayson respected boundaries. He forced himself to stay away. He had to respect her, himself, and then her husband which to be honest, he did not care about.
He had kept that night buried in his past.
But now… she called him.
And she needed him.
She had awakened the part of him that always wanted to comfort her. The part that just wanted to get things done for her. He wanted to be her knight in shining armour.
His phone buzzed, getting his attention, pulling him from his thoughts. He lifted it and saw the message:
Address:
John Doe
1254 Maple Estate
Los Angeles
Time:
Tomorrow morning.
Grayson stared at the screen for several long seconds.
Isabella… blind. But how did she find his identity card? He had lots of questions and he couldn't wait for every one of them to be answered
Isabella is calling him for help.
What could have happened to drive her back to him?
And what exactly did she need? Five years she did not call and now she wanted him to come to her house? He was confused at the same time he was eager to go and see her
As he lowered his phone, only one thought lingered in his mind:
He will find out tomorrow.
He could not even bring himself to concentrate anymore. He raised his head and then he began to count down to the moment he was going to see her.
Isabella, after five f*****g years.
Great!
- Writer
