Erisha! Here?
No! He couldn't bear to see her right now..
'What did you tell her?'

'I told her I'll see if you are in, sir..'
Gordon was ever the loyal.

'Good! Just tell her that I'm not home..'

'Yes, sir!'

As Gordon went off to pass on the message, Treyton threw the towel he had still been holding onto his bed, and moved to his bathroom.
Seeing the huge jacuzzi tub, his mind went straight to an image of one naked woman.
Damn it! Why can't I keep her out of my head? And why the hell don't I feel good after sending her away?
I didn't want to hear her lies!

'I never want to see her again!'
Treyton said out loud.

Yeah? Convince yourself real good, Treyton Elrod!

***************************

Erisha felt disappointed.

She had come here with a hope of taking some help from Treyton.
He was an influential man, and must have many contacts.
Erisha had thought maybe he could help her with keeping her grandfather safe from David's vile plans.
The second reason she had come here, was one she had put to the back of her mind.
To see Treyton..

As Erisha revved up her bike, so did her thoughts speed up, regarding Treyton.
Almost a week had passed since the day they had last been together.
But Treyton had not contacted her at all.
And the meaning that entailed, was one which she was having trouble dealing with.
Was that all he wanted from me? To bed me and lose interest?
And I..was so stupid..I gave into it..was unable to keep check on my emotions.
I let him get past all my inhibitions..and reach my heart...
No! No! I don't have any deep feelings for him..I also wanted what he did, that's all..
Then why the doubt? Why the feeling of being rejected?
Get a grip, Erisha!

Just as she reached the parking of her building, her phone rang.
She quickly took it out of her pocket, hope flaring that Treyton had found out she had come to see him.
But she met with disappointment, when she saw that it was David, and not Treyton.

'Hello?'

'I have arranged for KK to meet you tomorrow..'
David's voice was terse, and his words to the point.

Erisha's heart picked up speed.
Nanna..
'Where? When?'
She asked, unable to keep the eagerness out of her voice.

'There's this new restaurant near the river. Not too many people know about it yet. You will get the privacy you need to talk..'
Erisha knew what he really meant was that no one was likely to see them there.

'Okay, sure..I'll pick him up from..'

'NO!'

Erisha was startled by his curt refusal.

'But, I..'

'He will come on his own..'

'But, is it safe for him to..'

'He's an adult, isn't he?'
David said with some sarcasm.
'Ofcourse, he can come on his own..'

'Sorry! It's just that it's been such a long time since..'

'Yeah, yeah..stop repeating that, woman. You were the one who left him in my care, so stop complaining! You want to meet him or not?'
David just sounded annoyed now.

'Okay, okay..yes! Ofcourse I want to meet him. I'll be at the restaurant at the right time..'
Erisha quickly promised, for fear that he might scrap the plan altogether.

'Good!'
He paused.
'And Erisha..'

'Yes?'

'No brilliant ideas, please! Just meet, and send him back..'

Erisha's heart lurched at that.
How does he know I might be thinking along any of those lines?
'Ofcourse! Where else would he be safe, than with you?'
She grimaced with the thought, glad he couldn't see.
Safe, my foot!

'Good girl!'
With that, David disconnected the call.

Erisha's mind whirled with several ideas, but she knew she was too scared to implement them.
I hope I can convince Nanna...

***************************

'I don't care! I want to know what he's up to, even if you have to stand in front of his office or house, or wherever!'

Treyton crashed the phone back on it's cradle, just as the door to his office opened.

'Woah, woah, tiger! Who stepped on your tail?'
Laura came in, an amused look on her face, as she walked upto Treyton's desk.

'Don't even ask!'
Treyton sounded grumpy, to say the least.

'That bad, hunh?'
Laura took a seat across from him, looking at him closely.
'You look like you haven't slept..'

Treyton rolled his eyes, since he had heard that several times already, since the morning.
'Yeah, okay! I get it..'
It was true, Treyton had hardly slept a wink last night.

First it had been the thoughts of his parents, then his saviour..and then Erisha..
Since he had sent her away, he had felt angry, mostly at himself.
After all he had heard, and known, he should have been glad to stay away from her. But ever since the thought of her in the bathtub had risen, she had invaded his mind for hours.
Huber is welcome to her! I don't need a traitor, a cheater in my life..
Treyton had berated himself for having given in to temptation..her bold, yet shy nature, her sassy, yet gentle attitude, had done him in.
She was just an enigma I needed to know..
But you didn't have to sleep with her for that..what a fool..

'Looks like woman trouble to me..'
Laura's voice startled him out of his treacherous thoughts.

'What? Uhm, no..'
Treyton began.

'Who are you kidding?'
Laura shook her head.
'It's me you are talking to, remember?'

'It's nothing..'
Treyton shifted back in his chair, trying to look calm and composed, but Laura knew him too well.

'Okayyy! If you say so..'
Laura leaned back in her chair, and raised her eyebrows.
'But, Erisha..'

The moment she took the name, Treyton's eyes shot to her face, a frown marring his brow.
'Erisha? What about her?'

Laura knew, that had hit the nail on the spot, and she grinned.
'I thought it was going well for you and Erisha..she said..'

'You spoke to her? When?'
Treyton, sat up straight, placing his palms on his desk.
'How do you know her, anyways?'

'Oh, didn't she tell you?'
Laura seemed a bit surprised.

'No, she di..'
Treyton began with a fervour, but stopped when he saw Laura give him a funny look.
'I mean, why would she tell me?'
He shrugged his broad shoulders.
'It's not like we are a couple..no! Don't give me that look!'
Treyton rolled his eyes at Laura's silent laughter directed at him.

'Okay, okay!'
She held up her hands, as if in surrender.
'But you can't deny, that it's because of her that you are behaving like a sour puss..'

'Puss? Just a few minutes ago, you likened me to a wounded tiger..'
Treyton shook his head.

'Well, same family..'
Laura shrugged.

This brought an involuntary smile on his face, despite his annoyance, and Laura smiled with him.
'So, you got something for me?'
He switched the topic to work, since Laura had come to discuss the plans for his new project, which ofcourse, he had bagged.

'Yes! Ofcourse!'
Laura took out a USB, and handed it over to Treyton.
She got up to stand beside him, as Treyton looked at her presentation on his laptop.

'Wonderful! Just the kind of thing I wanted for this place!'

'Yes! And it's very different from what The Huber Company had..'
She stopped when she felt Treyton stiffen.
'What?'

'Do you know Huber got out of prison?'

'He did? When?'
Laura frowned.
'I don't remember seeing it in the news..'

'Because it didn't come in the news!'
Treyton began to look angry again.
'And he's back to his dirty games!'

'The man truly has no sense..he will land up in trouble again..'

'And this time, I won't hand him over to the authorities, I'll kill him myself!'
Treyton was furious.

'Don't be stupid!'
Laura looked aghast.
'You won't do anything of the sort!'

'I will..'
He stopped, as his phone rang. Glancing at the caller ID, he connected the call.
'Yes!'
He barked into it.
'What? Send me the location! Immediately!'
With that, Treyton stood up so fast, that Laura had to move back.

'What's wrong? I see blood in your eyes..'
Laura tried to find out.

'I have to go!'
Treyton put his phone in his pant pocket, and made to move, but Laura caught his arm.

'Wait! What are you up to?'

'I won't let him go this time! I mean it!'

The look in his eyes scared Laura, and she held onto him.
'No! Please, be sensible!'

'All my senses are focused on finishing Huber..'

'Stop it! You are way better than him..don't stoop to his level!'

'How can I let him at me again? And Eri..'
Laura stared at him.
'Let me go!'

'I'll go with you!'
Laura made a quick decision.

'You? What..'
He glared at her.

'No arguments! You go, I'll go..'
She glared right back.

Treyton saw the determination on her face, and finally nodded.
'Okay, then. Come on!'

***************************

Erisha glanced at her watch for the third time, before looking at the door of the restaurant again.

Had David made a fool of her? Was Nanna not coming? Was all this just a way to get back at her for saving Treyton?
No! I can't let this happen!

Just then, the door opened, and a man entered.
He was old, with gray hair, and a wrinkled face. Wearing dress pants and a dress shirt, he came in, his eyes looking around the place.
They stopped, and focused, as a young woman stood up, and began to walk towards him.

Erisha felt tears prick her eyes, as she set eyes on her grandfather.
A grin lit up his face, and he held his arms out.
Her tears began, the minute she crashed in his arms.
'Nanna!'

'My child!'
He hugged her to him, his eyes closing with emotions, that fell from his eyes too.

'Nanna!'
Erisha raised her head from his shoulder to look at him, her vision blurred by her streaming tears.
She framed his face with her hands, and kissed his weathered skin.
'Are you okay? I don't know how..'

'My child, my Erisha!'
He stood back a little to look at her.
'You have turned even more beautiful. Just the spitting image of your mother..'
He smiled through his tears, and Erisha reached over to wipe them with her fingers.

'And you look so tired..and weary! What have they done to you?'
Erisha looked at him with worry.

'I'm fine! You tell me! I heard your business is flourishing well..'
Her grandfather motioned for them to sit.

Since the restaurant was facing the Danube River, there were wall to wall windows, giving a bright, and natural feel to the place.
Erisha helped her grandfather, who sat facing the door, while she sat facing the river view.
Since the restaurant was self service, Erisha asked her grandfather if he wanted something.

'I just want to see you, my child..I have to go back in a little while.'

'But you look so weak. You must eat something..'
Erisha looked at him with such concern, that he relented.

'Okay! Maybe a sandwich and coffee..make it..'

'Decaf! I do remember, Nanna!'
Erisha smiled at him, as he did too.
'I'll just be back!'

***************************

Treyton stopped his car, and got off, Laura following suit.
He looked at the restaurant, his informant had told him about, but didn't see any of David's cars outside.

'Maybe, he's inside..'
Laura said out loud, what he had been thinking.

'Yeah!'
He adjusted his suit jacket.
'Let's go!'

They had almost reached the door, when Laura's phone rang.
'You go on in and see..I have to take this call..'

Nodding, Treyton stepped inside to the cooled restaurant cum cafè, and was greeted with music. He stood near the door, putting his hands in his pants pockets, as he perused the place.

It didn't seem as if David was here either, because Treyton couldn't see him anywhere amongst the crowd present.
His eyes roamed, and passed a man sitting alone at one table.
He focused to check if it was Huber, and suddenly his eyes widened like saucers.
It can't be! I must be mistaken!
No! It's him!
Without thinking, he strode over to the table.

The man had been looking towards the counter, but turned his head, as Treyton stopped in front of him.
The same face..older..but yes..the same..

'Yes? May I help you?'
The man frowned, his eyes darting to the counter, before coming back to Treyton.

'KK? Is that you?'

The man focused on Treyton's face, trying to place him.
'I'm sorry..who are you?'

'I..you..'
Treyton was unable to believe his eyes.
'You..ofcourse, you don't recognise me! I was very small when we met..but I'd know you anywhere! You are KK, right?'

'Yes, I am..but I don't remember..'
KK frowned.

'Many years ago, you saved a little boy from ending his life..right here! In this river!'
Treyton's voice became emotional.
'You took him under your wing, and taught him to fly..'
He saw KK thinking, remembering, and suddenly his face cleared.

'No! You can't be! Trey?'
His eyes teared, just as they had a while ago on seeing his granddaughter.

'Yes! Trey! Treyton Elrod! The boy you saved that one night..so long ago!'

'My boy! This is..you are..oh my God!'
KK got up from his seat, and Treyton came forward to give him a manly embrace.
'I can't believe this! The famous Treyton Elrod is my little Trey!'

'I never thought I'd meet you again!'

They were both so lost in emotion, that they didn't hear a voice call out to them.

'Nanna?'

Erisha looked at her grandfather curiously, while the man he had been hugging was still facing away from her.
KK's smile widened as he saw her.

'My child! Look who I ran into!'
KK sounded so excited.
'The boy I used to talk about, the one I stopped from comitting suicide, do you remember?'

'I rem..'
Erisha stopped in shock, as the man turned around, and she came face to face with Treyton.

Treyton looked equally stumped to see her, when KK spoke.

'This is him. Treyton!'
He looked at Treyton, unaware of the sudden heightened change in atmosphere.
'Trey! This is my granddaughter, Erisha!'

To be continued...