NIGHTMARE III

"It's not nice to sneak up on a woman,

Adrian. Has anyone ever told you that?" Eleanor frowned slightly, looking into his eyes.

"Did I startle you? I'm sorry for sneaking up on you."

"That's okay."

She headed toward the elevator, and Adrian followed her.

"I'm a little surprised you know, 'cause today's a Saturday and you seem to have an early appointment which is unlike you."

"I have something to take care of now, I'll tell you about it later. I don't think we have time to talk right here." Her eyes darted back to Ethan's door, hoping not to run into him anymore.

Adrian nodded.

Eleanor pressed the button of the elevator, and as they both waited for the door to open, her eyes went back to Ethan's room door, before suddenly coming back to Adrian's face suspiciously, as if hit by realization.

Noticing her stare, Adrian raised a brow, "what?"

"Why are you here so early?"

"Oh! I almost forgot. I wanted to inform you in person that Dad's in the country and he wants to have lunch with you this afternoon."

The door opened.

Eleanor froze for a second but quickly regained herself. "He is? I thought he wasn't going to come back till tomorrow?"

"Well, he came a week earlier, but I found out today. His secretary said he had something urgent to take care of in the country."

"Oh."

They got into the elevator.

"What place did he pick out for us to meet?"

"Just get ready, he said a chauffeur will pick you up by two."

She nodded.

She couldn't tell how she was feeling at this point. A part of her was happy because she was going to see her father after a long while, and another part of her was feeling guilty about the fact that she left their family house when she was eighteen despite her father's disapproval.

They got out of the elevator to the first floor, and to a car already parked outside with a chauffeur who was waiting for her.

"I'll see you later Addy." She hugged him and entered the car before the chauffeur drove off.

.

A man stood behind the glass window and stared at the moving cars on the road which was a hundred feet under him. The diamond ring on his middle finger was carved in the same shape as the diamond on the stick he held to support his weight.

His zebra-striped suit fitted perfectly with his black leather shoe. His gray hair was slicked backward, complimenting his well-sculpted diamond-shaped face.

There was no one in the room, except him and it was filled with complete silence until a knock was heard on the door.

"Sir, Mr. Ethan is here." His messenger informed, standing close to the door.

"It's about time the little brat showed up. Let him in."

"Yes sir."

The man bowed and left the room.

Ethan arrived a few seconds after the man left the room.

"Mr. Griffin."

Hearing his name in that voice made him turn with a sigh. "You haven't seen your old man in seven years and you greet him this way? Where are your manners, my boy?"

Ethan smirked.

Griffin walked to the chairs at the center of the room, sat down, and gestured his hand to a chair close to the one he sat on and Ethan sat on it.

"Do I always need to feign a threat before I get to see you?" Griffin started, staring at Ethan's indifferent face.

"What's with the meddling in my business? I thought we agreed you'd never do that?"

Griffin smiled. "Coffee?"

"I'm not in the mood."

"Well, I am," he gestured his hand, and coffee was served to them. Taking a sip, his gaze returned to Ethan sitting beside him. "If I didn't do that, how then will a spoilt brat like you listen to me?"

"Do yourself a favor and save your threats for your incompetent minions."

Griffin's laughter filled the once-silent room in echoes. As he laughed, his white perfect teeth were revealed and the resemblance between both men surfaced. Ethan was the replica of his grandfather and he also reminded his grandfather of his willed and determined younger self.

"Don't meddle in my business ever again." He stood to his feet.

"Sit!" Griffin's face became active.

Ethan nonchalantly obeyed.

"Here." He threw a document to Ethan. "You have two hours to decide."

Ethan picked up the document and skimmed through it. His eyes darkened as they came back to meet his grandfather's, "I never knew Gage has this much influence over you."

Griffin laughed deep in his throat, "cut the poor man some slack. He'd abandon you if you weren't his only heir." He took another sip of his coffee, his face active once more, "this is my decision."

"And my decision?"

"You have a choice."

Ethan looked at the document in his hand for a couple of minutes, before standing to his feet.

"I guess I'll be seeing you around, Mr. Griffin." He turned to take his leave.

"I'll be having a special announcement tonight."

Ethan paused and looked at him over his shoulders.

"Don't be late."