"Your friend Krishna is Mr Prasad's only daughter's son. His only grandson and only heir." Eddie says looking straight into my eyes holding my face with both his hands
"He is..?" I finally manage to form a meaningful sentence even though my mind was a chaotic mess
"He is..." Eddie smiles releasing my face to turn straight
"So.... So what's that got to do with my job?" I ask after a few minutes of silence
"Is he planning on firing me?" My head starts spinning with all worst scenarios if I were to work under him
"No actually he's trying to save your job. All your jobs." Eddie shook his head shaking off all the exaggerated thoughts in my head
"I don't understand." I confess finding it hard to cope with all the information
"You see Mr Prasad is not doing very well right now. And his time is running out." Eddie starts trying to explain
"Dr Das was called home because of this situation. But when he got here he found out that his so called grandfather has created a will stating some conditions. If he wants to inherit the assets Dr Das should full fill all those conditions."
Ohh... So he didn't come home simply. Is money all he cares about..?
"But your friend is not willing to play according to his grandfather's tunes even if it means he gets disowned." Eddie shrugged his shoulder
"What?! Disowned?" I ask not being able to process the sudden status fluctuations Eddie was throwing at me. One moment Krishna is the sole heir to the number 1 business firm in Grayson and next he's a nobody..?
"Yeah." Eddie nods his head
"Like he won't get any money..?"
Eddie nods his head his lips forming a very thin line.
"Why would someone--- Why would a grandfather even try to do something like that..?" I ask thinking about my own grandparents who always protected me from my mother's scolding or always hid late night treats for me
"Maybe because he wanted to corner your friend so that Dr Das had no other choice than succeeding him." Eddie tried guessing the reason
"Anyways your friend is hard set on not getting involved with the foundation or any of his grandfather's business which ultimately means he's preparing himself to get kicked out. He doesn't seem to be interested in assets or anything."
Thinking back Krishna has always wanted to leave Grayson hills. And one of the reason why I never noticed he was from a reputed family was because he never once mentioned it. During all the years we were friends and later a couple all I knew was that he was staying with his grandparents because both his parents were working and they visited him during holidays. I had once meet his grandmother but it was very brief and I felt she was a sweet person. I had only heard about his grandfather from Sid as Krishna rarely mentions him, from what Sid had told me when Krishna wasn't around I had known that his grandfather was a pretty scary person who had his own set of rules that Krishna was supposed to strictly follow.
"But the problem is if Dr Das does not succeed than some other board member will become the new CEO."
"Ok..." I nod not quite sure how this whole system worked
"But let's just say that no matter who takes the position. The current members are not that fond of continuing to fund the special home or hospital. So there are talks that once someone else takes the position. They will shut down both the hospital and home and built resort or some sort of vacation house--"
"What?!!" I burst out startling Eddie. The seat belt being only reason why I wasn't on my feet
"Is that even legally possible . They can just shut down A WHOLE HOSPITAL?" I feel my anger rising as every second tick by
"Ya that's why we are doing our best to find a solution before things gets out of our hand." Eddie says in an attempt to calm me down
"So there's no way out...?" I raise my head towards Eddie after a few long deep breaths the reality of the situation finally sinking in
"Jia we are trying..." Eddie takes both my hand into his tracing a small path along my knuckles with his thumb
"And I promise you. We'll find a way to save your job as well as the home." Eddie continues looking straight into my eyes with confidence
"Ya I know you will." I let myself push all the problems to the very back of my head and smiled back reassured by the confidence Eddie showed. After all he was a very skilled lawyer coming from a family with generations of lawyers
After seeing that I was out of the initial shock and then fury stage. Eddie slowly started the car once again and we started heading back home. The night was very quiet with both of us not talking and the stereo off.
"Can't he just do it?" I break the silence turning my head towards Eddie
"What..?" He glances over at me not quite understanding my words
I think he never expected me to talk first or was he caught up with his own thoughts..?
"Krishna--- I mean Dr Das. Can't he just do it as the will says and get it over with?" I ask once more specifically
"He doesn't want to--" Eddie starts shrugging his shoulder
"Why? Why can't he just do it? It would save a lot of people a lot of trouble if he just did as he's asked to...!" I rant not being able to control myself thinking about some stupid hotel or resort taking over our hospital
"Anyways what are these conditions that he has to full fill? It can't be that bad that he would rather risk being disowned forever than doing it." I turn my attention to Eddie suddenly more curious about this ultimatum that held all our fate in it
"I can't disclose that." Eddie says looking sorry, his lips forming a frown
"It's a matter of clients privac--"
"Eddie look. It concerns about my future too. And besides I already know this much would it make a difference if I knew a bit more...?" I reason with him
He looks conflicted about whether or not to let me in on more information but then at last decides to tell me. After all what difference does it make..?
"There are 2 main rules if he wants to succeed ... Firstly he should settle down in Grayson taking the position as the head in either the hospital board or his grandfather's business... Secondly he should get married..."
It made a difference...
"What..?" I ask as I feel another set of emotion crash me.
"So miss Jia Thomas will you be my girlfriend?" He bows down dramatically throwing me one of his smirks
That bastard....
"Krishna plain off rejected it--"
How dare he try to use me....
"But then he got to know---"
How dare he play with my feelings once again!!
The rest of the ride home was like a very vague dream. Eddie's voice faded into the background becoming an non differentiable muffled echo as it slowly mixed with cars engine and other background noises. I felt fire rush through my veins at the realisation that Krishna had tried to use my feelings. My mind kept replaying his confession again and again like it did earlier today. But this time around I knew the hidden motive behind his actions.