The Agreement

CHAPTER 6: The Agreement

Steve’s POV

“What’s the update on the land acquisition? You know how badly we need it as it is tying our project down.” 

“We still haven’t been able to get in touch with the owner. I think she has been ignoring our emails?” Grant said as he walked alongside me while scrolling on his tablet.

“Then I should get involved. Can you set up a meeting with her?” My brows furrowed deeply.

Acquiring that last piece of land would kick-start the Fashion Court project. I have been waiting for a year now. 

“She’s been involved in a lot of media hate over the last few days. Here.” Grant handed me the tablet, where I read the headlines and comments.

“Barren woman.”

From the comments, I could tell her husband had cheated on her, and the world had turned its back on her. She was definitely at her lowest, which was the best time to pressure her into signing the land deal.

“I want you to make that meeting happen tomorrow. This is the best time.”

“Yes, Sir, one more thing, Granny has been asking for you for some days now.”

“Didn’t you inform her of how busy I have been?” 

“She has promised not to eat anything until you come to see her.”

One thing Granny has always been good at is getting her way. I knew why she wanted to see me, but I wasn’t ready for the conversation.

“Let’s go then,” I said as we walked out of the company building.

**** 

The steady and rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor welcomed me as I entered Granny’s ward. It always saddened me to see how fragile and frail she had become over the years, the once formidable matriarch of the Greyson family.

She had single-handedly raised me after the death of my mother, sacrificing everything and making sure I lacked nothing. I had grown up learning how to run a business, and I had succeeded in building an empire.

“Steve.” She said weakly as she opened up her arms.

To her, I was still her little boy. I bent down and hugged her tightly. She still smelled like lavender, the familiar smell I had grown to love and now miss on occasion.

“I’m sorry, Granny, work has taken too much of my time.” I pulled back and sat next to her.

“The doctors say I don’t have much time.”

“Don’t say that, Granny, you are still the strong Matriarch of the Greyson family, and besides, you have outlived two doctors saying that.” I countered, squeezing her hand gently as I wore a calm smile.

She didn’t smile. “I want you to get married. That is my last wish before I go.” 

It’s been the same conversation for the past year now. 

“Ever since your last broken engagement, you have stayed away from women. There hasn’t even been one woman scandal about you. I want to see you get married, Steve.”

She never called me Steve except on days she scolded me or when I misbehaved growing up. I knew then not to argue back.

Granny had built an Empire with her grandfather, who had passed on many years back. Granny had single-handedly taken the business up, shutting up board members who felt a woman wasn’t fit to rule them.

Once she set her mind to something, there was absolutely nothing anyone could do to undo it.

“Promise me, my boy,” her voice softened as she brought my hand to her cheek. “I need you to get married within three months.” Her eyes bore into mine.

“Three…” I paused, seeing as tears welled up in her eyes.

Three months was an impossible time to get married. Women knew me to be cold and icy ever since rumors began to spread about me hating women. Some even claimed I was into men.

“Do you think I haven’t been keeping in touch with the media? There have been rumours about you being into men. Getting married will put that to rest.” I knew that was her way of making me see reason, but it was still impossible.

A soft silence hung between us. I simply nodded, hoping she wouldn’t press any further. She had booked a few blind dates for me over the years, but none had met my standard.

They had either been too money hungry, boring, or not his type. Grant had told him he was too picky and was deliberately pushing women away, ever since his last engagement got called off.

‘You still haven’t given me an affirmative response.” She said.

“I can’t promise much, Granny, but I will work on it.”

We spent the next hour talking about business, my childhood, every other topic but women and marriage.

As I walked out of the room, Grant was standing by the doorway, waiting.

“How is Granny?” he asked. Grant had grown up with me, Granny had also taken him in, and eventually, we had become good friends, too.

“You know how stubborn she can be,” I sighed. “She is hellbent on seeing me married.”

Grant chuckled, and I threw him a glare, sending him a warning. He coughed silently.

“Look, the rumours spreading about you are bad. I advised you to get a female assistant, but you refused. Now they think we have a thing going on as we are always together.”

“Well, isn’t that your job? And besides, since when was I ever affected by groundless rumours?”

“It’s going to affect the company if it goes on for too long.” Grant had picked up being stubborn from Granny, amongst other things.

Thick silence hung between us as we walked back to the car. The car soon pulled over, and we got in.

“I just received an email. Mrs Elaine Wayne will be available to have us tomorrow.”

“It’s time to close this deal and start on the Fashion Court project.” I was going to get her to sign the deal, even if it meant doubling up on the offer.

“Brief me on the kind of person Mrs Elaine Wayne is.”