Chapter 13
1174 Words
Vanessa :
As soon as the butler announced the arrival of Mr Greyson, I felt the atmosphere in the room shift, apart from the fact that he wore a strong cologne, his aura was so weird, my fingers which had been absently tracing the rim of the glass of wine stilled immediately
Scot's father
Of course, I had met him before, at our wedding, at company events, at formal family dinners where there was a subtle art of conversation, but never like this, never with just the two of us
I set the glass cup down carefully, forcing a formal smile as I stood.
“Mr. Greyson,” I greeted smoothly, my voice giving away none of my unease
“Vanessa” He stepped into the room with the demeanour of a man who owned it
I observed him as he walked towards me, he had the sharp and commanding presence of Scot, but there was a difference while Scot’s intensity burned hot, his father was cold and calculated
He might seem simply poised to anyone else, but I wasn't naive.
Mark Greyson was a man who never did anything without purpose
I gestured toward the seat directly opposite me. “Would you like some wine?”
He let out a quick small smile. “That won't be necessary. I won't take much of your time”.
I doubted that.
Still, I remained calm, not moving from my seat as he took the chair across from me.
“This isn’t a social call, I presume?” I said lightly
His smile widened “No, I suppose it isn’t.”
He leaned back, crossing one leg over the other “I wanted to speak with you concerning Scot.”
There was no outward reaction, but my pulse ticked up.
“What about him?”
Mark sighed
“I assume you're aware of the…concerns the board has raised regarding his behaviour.”
I met his gaze equally. “I'm aware”.
“Scot has always been a brilliant businessman, but lately.. Uhm, not even lately, but a few years back, he's let himself be ruled by too much emotion; now it's only worse. Do you know what he is when focused?”
I gazed back at him. Was he expecting me to answer that?
“Unmatched!” I jerked as he said that with so much intensity
“Oh, alright “, I sighed; what exactly is this man driving at?
You're his wife, Vanessa,” I swallowed hard, the reality of actually being a wife hit me
This means you should have the most influence over him, more than anyone
Yeah right, we hardly even know each other
I remained silent, waiting.
I need you to guide him. Temper him. Teach him to control himself before he ruins everything he's built
There it was.
A plea. A responsibility.A test
“And what happens if I don't?”
I already hated Scot's guts and now I'm supposed to teach him manners?
His smile didn't falter, but his eyes lit suddenly
“I think it obvious to both of us that if Scot doesn’t change, he'll likely lose his position, which is going to affect me, affect you, affect all of us”
I stiffened
Mark nodded slightly as if confirming my quiet understanding. “Help him, steer him in the right direction.”
“You make it sound like I have the power to change him overnight,” I said.
“You do have more power than you think.”
“And what exactly do you want from me, Mr Greyson?”
His smile was slow and deliberate. “Your cooperation, your sincere assistance in making sure Scot doesn't mess all this up, and in return, I will give you whatever you desire.”
I took a sip from my glass, smiling
“That's a very generous offer.”
“I'm a businessman. I believe in incentives. Just because you're married to the Greyson family doesn't mean you might not have your struggles. I can make things….easier for you.”
I narrowed my eyes. “And what does ‘easier’ mean?”
He spread his hands. “Anything, you want. A personal brand? Real estate? Control over certain investments?”
My expression was neutral, but internally, I was reeling.
This wasn't just about Scot.
Mark wasn't just merely asking me to help his son—he was offering to buy my loyalty. To make me just one of another asset under his control.
“You assume I have something to gain from this,”
He lifted a brow. Don't you?”
I folded my arms. “I don’t want your money, and neither do I need power"
“Then what do you want Vanessa?”
I hesitated “Tell me, Mr Greyson. What happens if Scot refuses to change?If he doesn’t become the man you want him to be eventually?”
His gaze darkened, just for a split second
“Then the company would have to move on without him.”
I stiffened,my pulse spiking. “You would let that happen?”
“No, I would ensure it happened,” he corrected. “The company isn’t just his. It belongs to the employees and to the shareholders. And I won't allow his character to bring It down. “
I inhaled sharply, and suddenly felt my stomach twist. “You would strip your own of his legacy?”
Mark's eyes grew cold. “If it meant protecting what I built? Yes.”
The heavy weight of his words settled between us.
I'd just always thought Scot and his father hardly get along, but this— this was something deeper. Something ruthless
Mark Greyson would not hesitate to destroy his own son if he thought it necessary .
And now, he wanted me to help him mould Scot into something…acceptable
I met his gaze,steel in my voice
“I appreciate your offer, but my marriage with Scot has nothing to do with all this. I didn't marry to change him in exchange for power.”
He studied me for a long moment, then exhaled through his nose
“I admire your sign of loyalty… for someone you barely know, but don't think this is wise”
I stood ,signaling that the conversation was over
He took the hint, as he rose as well adjusting his cufflinks “i'll be leaving now, think about what i said”
I let out a slow breath,
Mark Greyson might think he could manipulate, or use me as a tool to help mould his son into a better person
But he had underestimated one thing.
I cared less
I wasn’t even here to change Scot or anyone
I took another sip of wine, i felt something different
I married Scot for one reason; Elvis, but now..
I wasn’t sure i would to try to change or mould Scot for his father’s benefit
I want something more…i want to protect him, from his father, from anything hurting him and from himself…
- Writer
