CHAPTER 8

Alan craned his neck as he searched through the court premises, peering his head over the crowd and scanning the faces of every man who had the posture of his father.

There was no progress. He was getting frustrated - was his father trying to pull a stunt? If he was truly happy about seeing him after a long time like his previous attempt to embrace him suggested, would it not make sense that he started building back the trust they once had? 

Alan wondered why he even cared in the first place - this was a man who wanted him as the fall guy for very serious offences. He started to doubt Ms. Daniels’ statement about his father's willingness to transfer ownership of all his assets to him. 

He would just check a few of the empty courtrooms and after that, he would go on his way. The amount he had just received was already more than enough to build a life of his own.

At last, he found Mr. Greyson in one of the courtrooms on the utmost floor of the premises. He wasn't alone as another man wearing scrubs and putting on a stethoscope was with him. There was a name badge on the scrub he was wearing so there was no mistake that he was a healthcare professional.

“Dad, what are you doing up here?” Alan asked, his face flushed and his cheeks damp with sweat. “I saw you when the judgment was given but you disappeared all of a sudden. Are you sick? Why are you?…..”

The words hung in Alan’s throat as he nudged his head forward and got more sight of what was going on. 

Mr. Greyson had an IV inserted into his arm by the doctor and there was a metal pole that had an IV bag attached to it. 

Mr. Greyson’s posture slumped as he avoided eye contact with Alan. It wasn't the right time to tell him, he wasn't ready to reveal yet.

“Son, you should have a seat,” Mr. Greyson said calmly.

“No, I am not having a seat. Not until you tell me what is going on.”

“It's the same stubborn Alan again. I see you haven't changed since 10 years ago. Always confrontational and rigid.”

Alan shot Mr. Greyson a withering look, his teeth bared. “You think I am confrontational? Do you have an idea what it has been like all these years harboring the thought that my father was going to throw me under the bus?”

“Did you hate me so much that you wanted me in prison? Do you know what I have gone through all these years since the companies were frozen?”

Mr. Greyson hung his head low, his body language conveying regret. “Well, it's not the companies or my companies anymore. It is now your company - you are now the head of the Greyson empire.”

Alan did not understand. It was a big deal for him to take charge as the head of a consortium. He would deal with his wicked ex-in-laws who humiliated him but it was not enough for his father to just say that without some proper explanation.

“I don't get it. Are you transferring all your assets to me because you regret your betrayal and you are doing that as compensation or is there something else you aren't telling me?”

The doctor administering the IV to Mr. Greyson had a weird look on his face. He was getting distracted by the father-son controversy. He wished that he could excuse himself because it was clear that it was supposed to be a private discussion but he was in the middle of administering an important treatment. He couldn't stop it halfway.

Mr. Greyson could notice the uneasy feeling coursing through the doctor’s nerves. “Son, you already have Ms. Daniels’ contact and you can also discuss anything with her. I trust her and that is why she has been our legal adviser and lawyer for many years.”

“Can I also discuss your betrayal with her?” Alan said sarcastically, shooting a dark glare toward Mr. Greyson but he was careful not to spill the exact details of the betrayal especially when the doctor whom he didn't know was around. 

“Just a few hours ago, you were all up over me trying to embrace me, and now you are hiding something from me.”

“Oh, an embrace which you skillfully rejected,” Mr. Greyson reminded him in a petty manner.

Alan was swearing under his breath, his brow furrowed with anger. If that was how Mr. Greyson wanted it to be, then he would let it remain that way. At least he tried. Coming up to the 4th floor of the court premises just to find his father showed some intent.

He flared his nostrils and turned his back ready to leave when he heard Mr. Greyson’s deep voice.

“I have cancer, son.”

Alan angled his gaze back toward his father. His heart was pounding fast and he couldn't catch his breath for a moment.

“What did you say?”

“That's by the way actually,” Mr. Greyson said, trying to change the topic. “Do you by any chance know Lesley Billing?” He asked.

Alan’s brain shuffled a bit. He was receiving very odd news all at once. He knew his father was only trying to change the topic but Lesley Billing was surely a familiar name.

How could he forget Lesley? The same man who accused him of destroying his wristwatch while attempting to slap him only a few days ago? The same man who kept poisoning his ex-wife’s mind against him and telling her why she should divorce him? 

Of course, Lesley was still very much in his mind and he couldn't wait to have his revenge on him. He was sure that the footage that Rose showed to him where he was allegedly stealing the Billing family pendant must have been altered by Lesley. Such cruelty must have had his fingerprints written all over it, he thought.

“Yes, I know Lesley Billing,” Alan responded.

“Very good. There goes your first assignment as the boss of the Greyson Consortium. He is one of the candidates on the shortlist for those who want to become Chief Operating Officer of Retro Corporations.

Retro Corporations was one of the groups of companies under the Greyson Consortium.

“I need you to vet him as well as the two others vying for the position. I hear good reports about Lesley but I don't know what to believe yet.”

Alan's lips twisted into a sinister smile and his eyes gleamed with an evil delight. 

Time for Lesley to have a taste of his own medicine, he thought.