Hacking The Relationship Code

Chapter 7: Escape

"Adrian, come in boy. Are you here to return another piece of clothing?"

"Yes sir, I found this handkerchief sitting in our lawn." I handed his handkerchief back.

"I was just preparing some evening tea. Why don't you come in and join me?"

In all these years that I have known him, he wasn't a 'let's have tea together' person. He had never invited me inside his house. I was a little bummed. I went inside and sat at the kitchen table while he prepared some tea.

"So, tell me how's school?" Was he trying to have small talk with me now?

"It's going well sir."

"How old are you?"

"I will turn 16 soon."

He thought for a while and spoke,

"I have a proposal for you Adrian if you are interested."

"What kind of proposal."

"I know about the abuse your father and all the abuse. I have known for a while now. I didn't respond before because I knew your father had contacts in the county. I also did not want to surround myself with the drama. Your father is a powerful man you know."

My ears were rushed with blood as he continued.

"I will be moving away to Chicago to set up my new venture over there. I want you to come with me. Your father won't care if you disappear and I can offer you the future you want. I know you are a smart boy. I want to sponsor your schooling."

It took me a while to process the information.

"With all due respect sir, you have made it very clear that you don't care for me personally then why would you want to help me? What's in it for you?"

"Spoken like a true businessman child. As you know I ain't into the charity business. You will have to give me something in return."

"And what would that be?" I asked.

"You will have to give me your word that you will join my firm and run it the way I please once your schooling is over. I have built this entire empire and I want to protect it from my partner's gullible decisions. I want someone smart and dedicated to me at the table who can succeed me."

"Will I ever be able to exercise my free will over my career."

"As long as your actions don't hurt me and my firm, you will be free to do anything you wish. You won't be my prisoner child. You will be free to have a life outside my discretion. Your personal life shall always remain yours."

It was finally a way out. Any other life would be better than this one.

"But why me sir?"

"I have seen you grow up. I already know how brave and smart you are. So why not you my child?"

"Yes sir. I'll take you on your offer." I replied without thinking. I felt liberated.

He served the tea he had prepared. I sipped on it while I pondered over how my future would be.

Mr. Finns said, "Don't just say yes without thinking because you are getting a way out of your current situation. Think before you come up with your answer because you will have to live upto your side of the bargain."

I thought about it for a while. I had to make it another two years with my abusive father before I went to university. God knows if I even make it alive.

I even thought about my future in both the scenarios. My future with my father was uncertain. Even if I decided to stay away from him after graduation, my career wouldn't get the kickstart it would get if I joined Mr. Finns. Who said he wasn't going to hurt me fatally before that?

It was a win-win.

"I have thought it through sir, I want to accompany you to Chicago and I will join your firm after graduation."

Mr. Finns smiled at me.

"Get all your stuff ready by next Tuesday night. We will meet at the airport. Make your own arrangements to reach at the airport. No one should see us together. Here are your tickets. I will take care of all the other stuff." He handed the tickets to me.

I shook my hands with him.

"Thank you, sir. I wouldn't disappoint you."

***

Present Day

Ginna's POV

I did not want to see Adrian after what happened yesterday. But I couldn't bunk school for such a silly reason. I made up my mind to just ignore him. I was mildly relieved to see Adrian's seat empty when I entered the class. He never showed up to class. Adrian never missed school, not even during a hail storm. Something had to be severely wrong for him to miss school. Was he in the hospital? Did his dad do something to him? Hundreds other such possibilities raided my mind. I decided he might just be having a sick day. I wasn't going to care like I had decided.

It was our last day, before the Christmas break and still no sign of Adrian. He hadn't shown up in the last three days. I was getting worried now. What if something had happened to him.

Christmas break had ended and we were back to school discussing the essential gossip from Britney Gomez's party. Nick and me had gotten together over the break. Yes, we were officially together now. There wasn't any dreamy proposal. He simply asked me if I would like to take the next step and that he was ready. Us getting together and Britney hooking up with three different guys in her party were the hot gossips brewing around in the campus this week.

There wasn't any sign of Adrian even today. Where did he go? Miss Myers had even stopped calling out his name for attendance. On asking her about him, I was informed that had had left school prior to the winter break. I was taken aghast. Adrian had left school. He just vanished like that. What could have been his reason? Where was he now?

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