CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

*BRAN'S POV*

"I just got off the phone with Nate from the pharmaceutical company. He has agreed to have the sample testing done today," Pierre said as he walked into the office.

"Today, what time?" I asked.

"He says anything from 2 pm"

"That is not assuring enough, but we will hold him to it."

"Okay, sir."

"Can you figure out why my wife is still not here yet with the documents?" I asked Pierre, worried.

"Alright, sir."

*NATE'S POV*

"I told Bran's P. A I will be at their office anything from 2 pm, now it is freaking past 3! Can you all get your asses moving with the samples!?" I yelled at my staff as they hurried up with what they were doing.

I was vexed at this point as I paced back and forth while waiting for the samples to be loaded from the lab into my car.

"Sir, what if Mr Bran decides to cancel the buyout because we have been going back and forth with the contract?" my lackey asked.

"Why do you think I am in a haste to get these samples to their office before he changes his mind?"

Just then, a car pulled over at the front of the production facility, and this caught my attention as I was not expecting anyone at the facility.

I was about to walk outside to see who it was, but to my surprise, the person walked right in. It was Jane Garner.

"Mrs Garner, I wasn't expecting you here," I said with a forced smile.

"Of course, I wouldn't be here in the first place if not for a reason," she said and walked in, much closer with her lackey, Ren.

"A reason? What might that be?"

"I hear you are having a buyout contract with Bran, considering that Garner Industry is expanding into medicine." 

"Yes, yes. I am meeting with Mr Bran today for the sample testing."

"Oh, good...Then I guess I did come at the right time, didn't I?" she asked, cunningly.

"I don't quite understand what you mean."

"I want you to do something for me, Nate."

"What is that?"

"I want you to go see Bran with good samples, of course, but when you make the handover, give him the bad ones."

I became surprised and also afraid that Jane would request that of me.

"Give him bad ones? I—I am afraid I can't do that. Mr Bran is not a man who would want to get on his bad side. Plus, I feel I have already triggered his anger with my back and forth with the buyout."

"So you would rather get on my bad side than"

"No, that is not what I mean, it is just that you are putting me in a tight spot with this request, and I don't want things to backfire."

"I am sure you heard about the death of Mr Brown."

I suddenly remembered the news where it said that he was found dead in his car, in front of his house, and this scared me more as I took a few steps back.

"You wouldn't want to be announced during the morning news that way, would you?" She said this and came closer to me.

"Do what you are told or you'll go home in a body bag," she said as she traced her finger over my face, causing me to fear.

Jane later left the facility and left me and my fears of what would become of me if I didn't do as she said, and what would become of me if I ended up getting caught by Mr Bran.

*BRAN'S POV*

"Mr Nate is here with the samples, sir," Pierre informed me immediately.

"Let him in."

A few minutes passed, and soon after, Mr Nate walked into my office with a briefcase, not so comfortable and fidgeting, but I didn't pay attention to this.

"Mr Nate, I finally met you today." I stretched forth my hand for a handshake, and he shook my hand.

"I am sorry about the back and forth; there have been issues I have been trying to sort out."

"Well, that is fine. All that matters is that you are here and we can go ahead to sign the contract for the buy, shall we?" I said and gestured to him to take his seat.

Nate placed the suitcase on the table and opened it, as it contained about three bottles of medicinal drugs.

"Get our pharmacist," I ordered Pierre as he exited the office.

I picked up the contract, which was already on the table and went through it again to stall time until the pharmacist arrived.

Shortly after, Pierre arrived with the pharmacist, and Nate handed over the suitcase filled with drugs to him.

"I will have them tested right away, sir," the pharmacist said and exited the office with the suitcase of drugs while Pierre tagged along to oversee the testing.

My secretary then walked in with a tray of two cups of coffee and served the table.

"Help yourself to a cup of coffee while we go through the contract and sign it," I said to Nate.

"I am sorry, but—but I think I will pass on the coffee."

"If you say so," I said and grabbed a cup of coffee and sipped from it.

After about twenty minutes, Pierre and the pharmacist returned to the office with the suitcase of drugs.

"I have tested them, sir, and they are of good quality and safe to use for health-related issues," he said.

"Thank you."

The pharmacist exited the office once again, and now it was time to sign the contract since the testing was successful.

I picked up my own contract, and Nate picked up his, and we both signed the documents and then exchanged them.

"I will be buying the entire facility now," I said and gave the signed contract to Pierre.

"The entire facility? I thought you said you wanted to buy a couple of the drugs for now and then go full-on much later?" Nate asked nervously.

"Well, I changed my mind, Garner Industry will be buying the entire facility now, it is all about expansion after all."

"But—"

"Is there something I am missing, Mr Nate?" I asked as I stood for my seat.

Nate stood as well and cleared his throat.

"Nothing, nothing at all. I will do the necessary preparations regarding that."

"Then it was nice doing business with you," I said and stretched forth my hand, and he shook my hand.

"I will take my leave now."

Nate said this and exited the office. I went to my desk now and took a seat.

"Have someone tail his movements and report back to me."

"Yes, sir."

It was then that I suddenly remembered that Sophia had not arrived at the office, as at the time she was supposed to.

"Any information on why Sophia isn't here yet?"

"I'll go make inquiries again, sir."

Pierre left the office to call Sophia's office and returned shortly after.

"I was just on the line with one of the staff, and she says Mrs Sophia is at the hospital."

"What?" I unconsciously stood from my seat.

"Says there was a minor accident at the office."

"What is the name of the hospital?" I asked as I grabbed my phone and car key.

"I'll drive you there, sir."

I threw the key at Pierre, and we both rushed out of the office and to the parking lot. We drove out of the parking lot and to the hospital where Sophia was.

I tried calling her number, but it just kept ringing, and she didn't pick up either, and this got me so worried with so many negative, intrusive thoughts.

We finally arrived, and I rushed into the hospital and met with the nurse at the reception.

"Please, is there a recent patient named Sophia admitted here?" I asked eagerly.

"Please calm down, sir, I don't think we have a recent patient named Sophia."

"What do you mean? I was told she was admitted here recently because of an accident."

"You would have to take a seat and calm down, sir, and I will have to check our log."

I ignored what the nurse said and went ahead toward the wards as I checked them one after the other, while the nurse called out to me.

"Sir! Sir! You can't do that, sir," she said and came after me.

I was checking the wards when I suddenly saw Sophia come out from the hospital's bathroom. She was focused on flinging her hands, trying to reduce the sprinkles of water on them as she walked towards me.

"Sophia?" I called out to her.

She immediately looked up to know who it was that called her name, it was then she saw me, wearing a worried look.

"Bran?? What are you doing here? How did you even get here?" she asked curiously.

I didn't know when I walked to where she stood and hugged her. She was surprised that I had hugged her as she still had her hands mid-air and a surprised look on her face.