Chapter One Hundred and Ninety Five - Hosting Board Meeting.

Smirking in the back of the back SUV Basil drives, at a sulking Adian and his reluctance to my attending the board meeting at the Mall office, I never knew belonged to SullaKnights Incorp.

I need to get a list of the Companies under the SullaKnights name to keep abreast of the happenings. The Knights dealt with everything in the past, but now that I am here and as part of the next generation, I wouldn't allow Ameila to continue using my fears to bully me into allowing the Knights family to control the company.

Basil phones start ringing and he attaches his head set, before answering, while Adian and I look on.

"Yeah" he answered abruptly and I rolled my eyes at his macho response to an incoming call.

After a few seconds of listening to the caller, he passes the phone to Adian, who still hasn't paid any attention to me since I forced myself into this vehicle and his board meeting.

"Yeah" Adian answers Basil's phone with one syllable then listens intently to the caller.

With my eyes on Adian, I notice his brief glance in Basil's direction, before focusing out the window of the SUV.

I gathered nothing from Adian's conversation because his one syllable answers gave me nothing to work with.

"Yeah, right, okay, see you in a bit." Adian says into the phone before hanging up and instantly turns to Basil.

"Change of plans" he tells Basil tickling my curiosity.

Having been shut out long enough by Adian, "you know how difficult it is to have an insight into your phone conversation, when you only answer with one syllables?" I threw the question to the two other occupants inside the vehicle.

Ignoring me, Adian takes out his phone and makes another call but this time I picked up on what he was saying.

He was informing Caleb, who was already at the Mall awaiting him, to babysit me in the board room since he could not attend.

I met Basil's eyes staring back at me in the rearview mirror, with a guarded expression.

Turning around to face me, Adian smiles, "see I knew it was a good idea to bring you along with me today." Adian was saying and I gasp in surprise.

"YOU BROUGHT ME ALONG?" I yelled in disbelief and Basil starts chuckling while Adian sent him a death stare, but I kept my focus on Adian.

With his famous breathtaking smirk, "but of course my pushy wife, otherwise your sexy ass would have been in Ger's vehicle with Mel." Adian retorts and I am surprise at the way Adian has spun this.

"I've changed my mind again, I'm not stepping out of this vehicle, I am going along wherever you plan on going." I challenged him, folding my arms, still fuming, I sit back and glared at him.

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Adian turned to Basil, who winks at me with a small smile dancing on his lips as our eyes met in the rearview mirror.

"Seriously man?" Adian says to Basil when he saw Basil winking at me.

We pulled up in front the Mall, which I assume is the Administration Building, where Caleb seemed to be waiting patiently in front of, while two men stood behind him. One clad in the Mall's security uniform and the other in plain black.

"Hailey," Adian turns to face me, his tone softer and his eyes pleading with me to just support him. "I think you already know that I would never bail on a meeting unless I was dealing with a hangover or if I was dead, so please help me out here." He pleaded, clasping his hand prayerfully, melting my heart.

I don't want to hurt him, but why is he bailing on a meeting he called?

It has to be important, but what?

"Is your mother going to be there?" Was the first question to spew out of my mouth.

Watching me cautiously, "she's suppose to, but after what Chubbs did and her being aware that I'm upset about it, I'm guessing she might be a no show." He said slowly, still observing me, his eyes guarded.

I smiled at that news, but Adian's expression, slowly wiped the smile away.

Taking a deep breath Adian exchanges a worried glance with Basil, before addressing me again.

"Since dad is standing by at the office in case an issue arises with Mel," Adian was saying and by his hesitancy to speak out, I frowned.

Shaking my head in disgust, "so she may send one of your exes to represent her?" I asked, already anticipating his answer which was clearly evident in Adian's eyes.

Nodding, I went to unlock the door, but Adian was already opening his, while I turned to Basil, "not a problem, right?" I asked and he gave me a reassuring smile.

"You can handle them, I have that much faith in you, plus you've got that pitbull by your side," Basil chuckles pointing at Caleb, who stood with folded arms starting impatiently at the vehicle, or to be exact the occupants inside.

I've got Caleb!

"Thank you" I said to Basil hopping out into my husband's waiting arms.

Grabbing me, "be careful" he admonishes me, pulling me into his arms.

"If it wasn't life and death, I would not have left you to take this meeting, plus you know the reason for it, so along with Caleb, you've got this." Adian whispers, turning to the open door of the passenger seat handing me a file, he has been fiddling with.

I have a list of the topics I was going to deal with, use it on behalf of me and just take notes. Don't let whoever, mom sends in there, intimidate you." Adian advises me and smiling, I reached up and kissed him, square on the mouth.

"I've got this" I repeated his words back to him, drawing away and waving at Caleb, who now stood glaring with his hands on his hips.

Adian escorted me to where Caleb stood, whistling as he watches me from head to toe.

"Now I know why you needed two securities for the minus." Caleb chuckles at Adian glare, clearly ticking him off.

"You do know the reason I called this meeting right?" Adian reminded Caleb and Caleb nods, sending me a wink, infuriating Adian even more.

Placing an arm around my shoulder, Caleb draws me closer to him.

"Don't worry, I'm loaded," Caleb chuckles, causes Adian to frown.

Basil honks the horn behind us alerting Adian that they're late for wherever.

"Love you, be good," he says turning to Caleb, "both of you," he adds and with a quick kiss, I hardly felt, Adian ran quickly back to the SUV and Basil.

I turn to see Caleb staring at me with the same guarded expression, as Basil.

"Do you know what is so important, that he had to leave, now?" I asked Caleb and he shock his head.

"Come, I have breakfast and something special for you, before the meeting." Caleb leads me inside the mall followed by the two security.