Page 22 of Baby For My Bossy Fake Fiancé

Entering into the spacious meeting room, I immediately spotted him on a chair with his back towards us.

“Sir, you have Mr. Knight of Blanchard legal here.”

Instantly the man turned to us. With a wave, he dismissed the assistant.

“Come in, son,” he directed me to the grey sofa adjacent to his position.

His silver irises watched me as I took my seat. Before the sofa was also a table that held a half-empty bottle of Lafite. And two glasses of wine.

“How are you today?” His cracked voice was curious. Oddly.

“Very fine, Thank you. I am pleased that you acquiesced to the meeting.”

The veins in his neck appeared for a minute as he bobbed his head. I watched his frail, wrinkly hands move to pour the wine until both cups were half filled.

He was definitely in his mid-eighties.

“I am too,” his words dragged a bit. “It is an honor to have a meeting with New York’s most successful partner. Have a drink.”

When he motioned to the glass, I nodded and grabbed it. The tingly taste hit my tongue and I revelled in it.

Something about his disposition seemed casual, unlike any meeting I’d attended. No documents, no assistant. Nothing.

Just him and a bottle of wine.

He hummed an unfamiliar tune as he sipped his drink. Until he spoke again. “The weather feels a bit cool today. Don’t you agree?”

Instead of glancing at the weather, his eyes remained trained on me. As if studying me.

“Yes,” I responded. “It’s nearing winter.”

“You know,” he finally tugged his glance to the outside world. “There’s something I like about winter. It tests us, our resilience…”

Somehow, I figured he was heading somewhere. I didn’t know where yet.

“Pray tell me, son. What season do you prefer.”

The slight narrowness in the corner of his eyes was almost unnoticeable.

“Both,” I answered after a long pause. The question wasn’t as direct as it seemed. I knew I needed to tread carefully.

“The different seasons come with their benefits. The summer is an opportunity for expansion and growth while the winter is a time for revisiting strategies. You cannot enjoy the benefit of one without reaping the consequences of the other.”

“And what consequence does the summer offer?”

“Summer is a period of prosperity, but failure to prepare for the winter will leave one with consequences to bear.”

A few minutes of silence passed by before he broke into a smile. “You’re one of the very few to answer the question right.”

“…I am willing to partner with Blanchard Legal. And your records have proven you worthy.”

Releasing a breath I didn’t know I was holding, I nodded.

“But,” he adjusted his suit. “I need to be sure you’re fully responsible for handling everything that comes with partnering with me.”

“Of course, sir. My rec-”

He interrupted with a head shake. “Nuh uh uh…”

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