Have We Met? (Player's Chronicles) Volume One {Ebook sample}

Chapter 20 (Available ONLY until July 15th)

Chapter 20: Nate Ashburn

After nine hours up in the air, we finally landed in Paris, France. All of us are jet-lagged from last night’s news. The lack of sleep is visible on all of our faces. Before leaving mom tried calling Nick again but his voice-mail picked up. She didn’t leave a specific message but just for him to call her back. I don’t blame her for not spilling the beans. Who knows, someone could be listening to the message or if Nick were in some kind of trouble someone else would get the message instead of him.

We didn’t waste any time once we cleared customs to head to the waiting limo for all of us to get to the hospital where Grandma Jules was confined in. We were greeted by Grandpa Jim’s Personal Assistant. I guess he’s my PA now, Bernard Lefleur. Bernard is around his forties and has been in the company for over twenty years.

He started as an intern and was offered several promotions within the company but he turned them all down. He was satisfied to just be Grandpa Jim’s Personal Assistant and Advisor. He gets paid well over the normal pay rate for an assistant since Grandpa Jim trusts him with his own life. As a result, he was later on considered part of the family for his loyalty.

Since Grandpa Jim died, Bernard could have been the assistant for the acting CEO of Ashburn Media but he turned that down saying he’ll stay on the board of directors to be my eyes and ears in my absence. Until at least I take over the company, officially. I left all these decisions in Mr. Parker’s capable hands as I didn’t even know about them until we were on our way to Paris. My parents filled me in on the goings on with the company politics.

Bernard started his greeting with my parents, then, Cricket, and finally, me. He seemed nice so far but also he gives off the air of someone who is all business and no fun. I don’t mind that at all. At least I know in my absence as the company owner my business is in good check with this man. He and Mr. Parker had made things running smoothly for me. But since Mr. Parker is still MIA, I don’t know what’s going to happen.

“Nathaniel, it’s good to see you again” Bernard greeted me with an extended hand and I took it in with businesslike air around me.

I have to show my leadership skills to this man. Albeit, I already have his loyalty through my Grandpa but that’s the thing, he’s loyal to him and the company not to me, yet.

“Please call me Nate, and yes it is very good to see you again. But I think we gotta stop meeting at these grim situations.” I replied with a straight face.

“Yes you’re right. Well, shall we?” he said as he motioned for me to get in the limo.

On the way to the hospital, he caught us up on what’s going on. So far, Grandma Jules was not in critical condition anymore but she still needs to stay in the hospital for observations.

She was moved to a private room made for political diplomats; this meant that the glass windows are made of bulletproof glass and the walls are lined with metal between concrete. She also has two armed bodyguards outside the room and everyone who is tending to her needs or treating her had to go through all sorts of security clearance and background check.

They were also asked to sign a waiver of confidentiality with the information that they were trusted upon. Because of the background of the whole death threat situation, the French Police is also involved but not too involved. They do their occasional checks with my Grandma’s villa and hospital room.