It was difficult to say who looked more pole-axed, Treyton or Erisha.

Their eyes met, incredulity in both.

'Your granddaughter..'

'That boy..'

They both spoke at once, unable to believe it.

'Yes! Isn't this incredible?'
KK looked ecstatic, as he looked at them both, not noticing the looks they exchanged with each other.

Treyton broke the eye contact first, turning to look at KK, a slight smile on his face for his benefit.
'Yeah..pretty incredible..'

'Uhm, Nanna?'
Erisha cleared her throat.
'You are running late?'
She felt Treyton's eyes on her, and forced herself not to check.

'Oh, yes! But this coincidence calls for a celebration! Come on Trey..have lunch with us!'

'No!'
Erisha said with such a force, that even Treyton looked taken aback.
KK also looked at her in surprise, and she swallowed.
'Uhm, Nanna..I just meant that we..you and I..I want to talk to you..alone!'
And with Treyton here, I won't be able to concentrate..
Besides, just look at his attitude..as if nothing happened between us..

'Actually KK, she's right. And I have someone with me, she..'
Treyton saw Erisha's head go up at that, and felt a small sense of satisfaction, at her reaction.

What the..he's already changed direction from me to someone else..
Erisha wanted to question him, but Treyton ignored her, instead looking towards the door as it opened.
'Ah..here she is..over here!'
Treyton waved her over.

Erisha, who's heart had started racing with something like jealousy, immediately felt a sense of relief as she saw who his companion was.
Laura! Thank God!

'Treyton! Did you find Dav..Erisha?'
Laura had been frowning, but stopped when she saw Erisha there.
'Hi! How are you?'
Erisha gave her a small smile in acknowledgement, and Laura turned back to Treyton.
'So! You came here to meet her?'
Laura have him a knowing look.
'You could have said, you know. I wouldn't have insisted and felt like an idiot disturbing the love birds..'

'Uhmm..Laura..'
Treyton interrupted, giving her warning looks, as Erisha's eyes widened, and he saw KK frown deeply.
'This is Erisha's grandfather. KK, this is Laura, my architect..'

'Trey! You know Erisha?'
KK nodded absently, his mind on what the woman had just said. He looked from Treyton to Erisha, noting her colour turn a dark shade of red. 'What is this lady saying? Erisha?'

'Nanna, I..don't..we..'
Erisha sputtered, unable to look at Treyton, or control the situation.

Laura looked at Treyton inquiringly, her expression curious, but he kept looking at Erisha.
'KK..Erisha and I..'
Both KK and Erisha turned to look at him..KK with a frown, and Erisha with something like shock.
'We..'
Treyton paused for effect, with the intention of irritating Erisha, but she just looked at him pleadingly. Seeing her forlorn expression, suddenly all his malicious thoughts went flat.
'Know each other from before..in fact, we even do business together..'
He saw her eyes shut in relief, but they flew open as she realised just what he had said.

'Busi..'
Erisha began, but was interrupted.

'Really?'
KK looked from Treyton to Erisha, his expression changing to one of happiness.
'That's wonderful! Elrod Enterprises is indeed a very profitable and successful establishment.'
He put a hand on Treyton's shoulder.
'I'm really proud of you, Trey! You have come a long way..'

'All due to you! I shall forever be grateful..'

'Oh come on! You were a smart boy! I knew you would make it big one day..and I couldn't be happier..'

'Uhm..sorry to interrupt..but Treyton..I have a meeting uptown..I have to go..'
Laura said, glancing at her watch.
'I'll just take a cab..'

'No! I mean, I have to get back to the office as well, I'll take you back..'
Treyton said, shooting glances at Erisha.

'You sure? I mean..'
She looked from Erisha to her grandfather, her curiosity still piqued.

'Yeah, yeah..let's go!'
He turned to KK.
'It was great meeting you! I hope we can meet again so we can sit and talk..'

'Uhm..yeah..maybe..'
KK looked sad at that, somehow.

'I'll arrange it with Erisha..I'm sure she won't mind..'
He gave Erisha a look.
'After all..we know each other very well..'
The innuendo was not lost on Erisha, and she blushed.
Yeah! What an act! I know what the real deal is..so don't get any ideas..

'Yeah, sure..'
KK nodded.

Nodding a goodbye to them both, Laura and Treyton left the restaurant, leaving KK and Erisha looking after them.

'Nanna! I need to talk to you!'

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

'What was all that about?'

Laura shot off, as soon as they got back in Treyton's car, just as he had thought she would.

'What?'
Treyton maneuvered his car in the busy traffic.
'I told you he was her grandfather, and I knew him..a big coincidence..'

'I heard that..but what was he talking about..and you..thanking him..and Erisha..you didn't tell him you guys were dating..'

'We are not dating!'
Treyton stopped with a jerk on a traffic signal, and turned to look at her.
'She's a cheater, a traitor, and I want nothing to do with her!'
He said with more force than was required.

'And I am stupid!'
Laura made a face.
'Even a blind person could see and feel the sexual tension between you two..it was that palpable!'

'Do you think KK saw..forget that!'
He huffed, as the light turned green.
'Okay, we were attracted to each other..we had sex! What's the big deal?'

'You tell me! You were both looking at each other with hungry eyes, so it is a big deal. Whatever is between you two is not yet over!'
Laura said matter of factly.

'When did you turn into a counsellor anyways?'
Treyton's tone was sardonic.

Laura laughed at him.
'Me thinks you protesteth too much!'

'Yeah, yeah! Whatever!'
He mumbled.

'I heard that!'

'Should I drop you right here? A nice, long walk will do you good!'
Treyton made a face.

'If I had known, I would have worn my sneakers. But not today, thanks!'
Laura laughed at him and Treyton couldn't help but crack a smile at that.
'But, on a serious note, Treyton. What about David? We went there to see him. Where did he go? He wasn't with them, either.'

'I know! My source was right, but maybe he had come and gone. I forgot everything, the minute I saw KK..'

'And Erisha, ofcourse..'
She piped in.

'Yeah..I mean..I was shocked to know that she was KK's granddaughter..'

'Wait a minute!'
Laura slapped her forehead.
'I just remembered something you told me a long time ago. About how someone had helped you to get where you are today..KK was that person?'

'Laura! I think you have truly lost it! What have I been telling you all this time!'
Treyton stopped the car in front of his office building.

'I'm sorry! I just connected it now! But what a coincidence! The woman you have the hots for, turned out to be related to your mentor.'

'I know..about the mentor part..'
He rolled his eyes as she smiled at him knowingly.

'Okay, whatever you want to believe..I really have to go now..'
Laura said, as she waved to him.
'Keep me posted! Bye!'

'Bye!'
Treyton said, before going inside, his mind already whirling with the events that had taken place.

Erisha..KK's granddaughter! What were the odds of that happening! I slept with her! What will he think if he finds out?
And why did there seem to be something not right between them?
And why should I care?
Damn the woman! She just won't leave my thoughts!
I have to do something about that, yes I do!

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

'What are you saying, my child? That my life is in danger?'

KK frowned, his grey brows knitting together.
He had been so happy just being with his granddaughter after such a long time.
Till Erisha started telling him negative things about David Huber, his employer.
'But David has never been anything but courteous with me!'

'That's because you are the one with the ideas. He just implements them.'
Erisha said with disdain.

'Erisha!'
KK chided her.
'That's not a nice thing to say. He provides the bread and butter for me, or else who will let me work at this age.'

'But, Nanna! Believe me..'

'Stop it, Erisha! You know how difficult it has been for me to live without you. It was part of the contract, that I stay in touch with no one..'
KK put his hand over hers and squeezed it.

'I know..'
Erisha blinked back the tears from her eyes.
'You don't even have a phone..that's the only reason I had to stay connected with David..'

'And I'm grateful, that you have helped him out on occasion.'

Not anymore.
I'll never help him if it's the last thing I do..but I have to get you away from him. Somehow. Anyhow.
'Nanna, I..'

'Oh, God!'
KK glanced at his watch.
'Is that the time? I have to go now..'

'But Nanna..'
Erisha's voice broke.

KK framed her face with his hands.
'Tum to meri pyaari beti ho. You are my darling child! Don't make it difficult for me. We will meet again soon, I promise. I'll request David to arrange it.'
He leaned over to kiss her cheek, before he stood up.

Erisha wanted to wail like a little kid, just like she had when her grandfather had signed that contract with The Huber Company some eight years ago.
But she knew, she couldn't let her grandfather worry about her. She had to do something for him..and by herself.
'Okay, Nanna! If you say so. But I'll miss you like crazy..'
She hugged him tightly.

'So will I..more than you know..more than you know..'
He stroked her back, tears choking him.
Moving back, he let her kiss him, before with a heavy heart, he waved goodbye and left.

Erisha stood there, and watched him go, feeling absolutely helpless.

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

'So, any headway? Did you sweeten him up a bit?'
David's voice scratched over her nerves, and she fisted her hand.

'Uhm, not yet..'

'Erisha! Erisha! What did I tell you, darling? I thought after meeting KK, you would have hurried with it. I need to get him to sign some papers..and it has to be done soon.'
David was sounding irritated now.

'I'll try my best..'

'Try harder! I want results!'

'David! Chill!'
Erisha wanted to slap him. Preferably hard.
'You have to learn to be patient..I'll let you know soon..'

'Yeah, okay..'

He cut the call, and Erisha wanted to scream.

The audacity of the man! If kidnapping wasn't enough! And that time he spent in prison. All for nought!
I have to do something to get Nanna away from him first..very soon..
Maybe Treyton can help..but no! His attitude had been nowhere near amicable the other day. What if he refuses?
You will never know unless you stop thinking of him as the man you slept with, and more as the sharp businessman that he is...

Coming to a sudden decision, Erisha closed her shop for the day, and headed for Elrod Enterprises.

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

'I want better results than last time! Or else!'
Treyton disconnected his phone, and threw it on the desk in front of him.

Damn it! How is Huber being so elusive? Just let me at him..

His intercom buzzed.

'Yes!'

'Sir, there's someone here to see you..'

'Who is it?'

'It's a Frau Marissa..'

'Marissa? Here?'
Treyton frowned.
'What does she want?'

'She said she had some business with you that's urgent..'

What did she want after all this time?
'Alright! Let her in..'
Treyton stood up, and walked over to the window to look out.

The door opened, and he didn't turn.

'Treyton!'

He turned to see his old girlfriend saunter in, with a smile on her face.

'Marissa! What are you doing here?'

'Is that the way to greet your girlfriend?

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

Erisha got out of the elevator on Treyton's floor, a nervousness fluttering inside.
Is it because I'll get to see him, or because of what I want him to do?
Get a grip, Erisha!
You have to think of Nanna..no body else..

She straightened her shoulders with determination, her ponytail swinging, and strode towards Treyton's office.
Treyton's outer office, where his PA sat, was empty.
Looking around to see if she was nearby, Erisha shrugged her shoulders.

Hoping to catch Treyton alone, and not in a meeting (lest she lose her nerve), Erisha marched to his door.
She lifted a hand to knock, but the door gave, as if it hadn't latched properly.

The sound of muted voices surprised her, and she paused in the act of opening it.

'The least you can do is greet me with a kiss.'

Her eyes widened, and her heart lurched, as she heard a woman's sultry voice.

'Kiss? Really?'
Treyton's voice sounded amused.

'Ofcourse! Lovers don't greet each other so dryly, Treyton!'

Lovers!
Erisha didn't catch what Treyton said, but heart racing, and unable to help herself, she did push the door slightly to peep inside.

She felt as if she had been strangled around the neck, as she saw Treyton in the arms of a woman, embracing, and before she could move back, he had leaned down, meeting the woman's lips, for a kiss.

To be continued....