Chapter 3. A Glance & The Ultimatum

Nathan's POV

I headed towards the cafe in the hospital lobby to grab my grandfather his large dark roast coffee and chuckled as I heard in my head. “Nathaniel, don’t think about stepping into this room without my coffee.” He was a demanding older man, but I loved him more than anyone.

Standing in line, I glanced around the café, looking at the people going about their days. My heart stopped. Who is that?

In the corner, tucked away at a small table, was a woman. No, not a woman. A goddess. Even though she was slouched over and crying, she was stunningly beautiful. My cock sprang to attention. She took my breath away. Long, luxurious, dark chestnut curly hair pulled back in a ponytail. Creamy pale skin that was begging to be caressed. She wore a Columbia hoodie and leggings, but I could tell a prize was hidden underneath them. Her angelic face was tear-stained, and when she looked up with her big brown eyes, my heart broke for her. Why was she so sad? I felt compelled to walk over to her when my thought was interrupted.

“Next,” the barista yelled.

“Sorry,” I said as I moved forward.

The barista swooned at the sight of me. It was nothing I hadn’t faced countless times. I was good-looking, I knew that. Women threw themselves at me all the time. It had come to the point that I would be more shocked if they didn’t flirt.

“I’ll have a large dark roast coffee, black, please.”

“Yes, sir.” She said as she batted her eyelashes at me, “Can I get you anything else? Anything…at…all?” She pushed her chest forward and bit her lip.

“No, that’s everything, thank you.”

A pout appeared on her lips, and she scurried off to pour the coffee.

While waiting, I turned to catch another glimpse of the saddened goddess, and an empty table greeted me.

Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!

Who was she, and where did she go?

The Ultimatum

As I pushed the elevator button to head to the VIP ward, I still thought about the beautiful goddess in the café. Why didn’t I approach her right away? I blew that chance. I sigh and run my hand through my hair.

My grandfather’s room was the most oversized room on the private VIP floor. Corner room, of course. Just like his office at Michaels Investment Group. It would be my office one day, but it is now vacant. Carrington Michaels had a larger-than-life persona. Everything he did spoke of power and dominance. He garnered attention everywhere he went and demanded excellence from everyone around him. When my father passed away when I was 14 years old, my grandfather stepped in to be the father figure I needed. My mother, in her insurmountable grief, had stepped away from me after my father’s death. I had lost both parents the day my father died. I owed everything to this man. Even during my years away at boarding school, he was just a phone call or a plane ride away. He was my inspiration at university, getting my doctorate in Economics. He was my rock. When he was diagnosed with cancer 3 months ago, it set my axis off-kilter. He had told me not to worry. He had the best doctors at the best hospital, and “No damn cancer” would take him out.

I opened the door to his room and laughed at the sight before me. My grandfather was in his flirting stance. I knew it well. His sparkling grey eyes, cocked brow, and grinning smirk were undeniable. I had seen it many times being used on women all over the place. Hell, I think it's where I learned it from. The Michaels charm, people called it. It oozed pure sexuality and got me anything and anyone I wanted.

“Ahem,” I coughed out.

The young twenty-something nurse turned around. “Oh, it looks like you have company, Mr. Michaels.” She smiled.

“Bethany, didn’t I tell you to call me Carrington?” my grandfather mused.

She giggled and touched my grandfather’s arm, then left the room.

“Still at it, I see,” I laughed at my grandfather.

“I’m not dead yet,” he winked.

“You’d probably still be doing it in heaven if you were.” I joked.

He laughed and smiled his debonair smile.

“Ahhhhhh, my coffee. Good boy.” I handed him his coffee and sat in the chair beside the hospital bed.

“So, Grandfather, what did you so desperately need to talk to me about today that you had Samuel reschedule all my afternoon appointments?”

“Well, Nathaniel, I’ve decided I should maybe retire as CEO at Michaels Investment Group.” I cringed at my full name; my grandfather was the only one who dared call me by it.

What? I never thought I would see the day. I thought they would carry him out of the office straight to the hearse when he was 99.

“Why now, Grandfather? Is everything ok?” I questioned.

“Nothing to worry about, Nathaniel. Things are improving with the cancer, but I have time to think lying here in this damn hospital bed.” He sighed. I know he missed working; it was his life. Long hours and endless meetings were his lifeline.

“You have proven yourself as interim CEO in my absence; I want you to take over as CEO, but…”

I cut him off, “Grandfather, nothing good ever comes after a but.”

“The board of directors is leery of your Playboy ways,” he stated. In fact, they are pushing for Alfred to take over.”

Fuck no! Alfred, my cousin, was a bigger playboy than me. He couldn’t keep it in his pants for more than a couple of hours. He only hid his ways behind the premise of being a family man with a wife and the standard two kids. He couldn’t lead worth a shit, either! There was no fucking way I was letting him run our grandfather’s company into the ground.

“What must I do, Grandfather, to gain the board's favor?” I asked.

“The answer is simple, my boy. You have until December 31st to get married.”

“You must be joking.” I look at my grandfather incredulously.

“I’m dead serious, Nathaniel,” he answers, “You secure a marriage by New Year’s Eve, or Alfred is CEO.”

My mind was reeling. How the hell was I supposed to find someone to get married to by December 31st? That’s only 6 weeks away. All the women I had ever been with were disposable. Golddiggers or no one of consequence. This marriage had to look genuine. Where was I supposed to find a girl who looked worthy to marry?

My thoughts were interrupted by nurse Bethany coming into the room. “Carrington, it's time for your treatment.” My grandfather stood up and walked to the wheelchair.

My grandfather turned to me, “You'd better get a move on it; the clock is ticking, Nathaniel.” He then sat in the wheelchair, and Bethany wheeled him across the room and out the door.

I sat there for 10 minutes, my mind going 100 miles per hour, tick, tick, tick, Nathan. I leaped to my feet and headed to the door. I dialed my phone as I marched down the hall.