Meeting Master Rothschild

The drive to the hospital provided ample time for Nolan to brief Hailey on the details she needed to know about the patriarch they were about to visit. Initially tempted to write down the information, Hailey resisted the urge to avoid appearing foolish. Instead, she discreetly recorded the details on her phone, later listening to the instructions through her earphones to reinforce her understanding. Although the repeated information caused her head to ache, Nolan's soothing voice had an underlying ominous tone that captured her attention.

 

Sitting so close to her, Nolan's warm breath on her shoulders made her self-conscious. A wave of discomfort washed over her, questioning whether she needed to maintain physical contact with him since they were not yet married. She shifted slightly, testing his awareness, and he instinctively pressed down on her palm. Unintentionally pouting, she was oblivious to how childish it made her appear. Placing his phone on the seat, Nolan scrutinized her sullen expression.

 

Curious about her intentions, he asked, "What were you trying to do?"

 

"I just... wanted to sit close to the window," she quickly improvised, avoiding eye contact.

 

Nolan was impressed by her quick thinking and the lie she conjured. It not only showcased her ability to think on her feet but also highlighted her substance beyond mere beauty.

 

"We have arrived," the driver announced from behind the privacy screen, momentarily distracting Nolan. In that moment, Hailey slipped her hand out of his grasp and made her move, shifting toward the window. However, her excuse was negated by their arrival at the hospital. Tino, Nolan's guard who had been sitting with the driver, opened the door and retrieved Nolan's foldable wheelchair. Nolan patiently waited as Tino set it up, and due to the confined space, Hailey had no choice but to wait as well.

 

"Done, sir," Tino informed Nolan, lifting him from his seat and placing him into the wheelchair. Hailey had the decency to avert her gaze while witnessing this somewhat degrading act of one grown man carrying another. She didn't want to exacerbate Nolan's discomfort. Adjusting her heels, she tossed her earphones into her clutch and stepped out of the car. Once again, she felt Nolan's scrutiny, and the hairs on her skin bristled in anticipation of his disapproval. However, he remained silent, wheeling himself past her with a stoic and military-like expression. Tino shook his head, reassuring Hailey that she was not at fault, conveying a mixture of disbelief and hope.

 

As soon as the nurses caught sight of the man in the wheelchair, they straightened up, with the idle ones rushing to their duty posts. The receptionist hastily reapplied her lip gloss and undid a button on her blouse, hoping to make an impression. Unfortunately for her, her efforts were concealed by the counter of her cubicle, rendering her bosom invisible at Nolan's eye level.

 

"Master Rothschild!" she exclaimed in a high-pitched, melodious voice, her nerves scattered. Her overpowering perfume filled the air. "Good day, sir. Let me find your grandfather's room number..."

 

Her voice trailed off as she leaned over the large book on her counter, thrusting her bosom forward. Nolan's cough brought her back to reality.

 

"Grandfather Gareth's room is the same as always," Tino interjected, interrupting her futile search. "It's on the second floor, room 34B. Stop wasting our time intentionally and give us the key card."

 

Embarrassed, the receptionist shrank back and reached for the card. Nolan saw through her scheme and was unimpressed with her lack of tact. Tino took the card and led the way to the room upstairs.

 

 It was a challenging task for Nolan to wheel himself up the uneven stairs, and when Hailey attempted to help, he rudely barked at her.

 

"Stay away from me! You're not strong enough!" he snapped. "Tino!"

 

The burly guard grasped the back of the wheelchair, skillfully propelling it up the stairs as if it were his everyday task. Hailey stiffened, caught off guard by Nolan's reaction, and followed behind them. She noticed a glance exchanged between the men, and Nolan frowned, maintaining his stance on the matter. Finally, they reached the ward. Tino knocked once and opened the door, waiting for Nolan to enter first. Hailey followed, recalling everything Nolan had told her.

 

However, the man she saw on life support bore little resemblance to the capable individual Nolan had described. She observed a pale, frail man watching the news, his wrinkled hand gripping the remote. In response to the door opening, the nurse attending to him tapped his shoulder, and he gave her the renowned Rothschild glare that crushed her spirit. Hailey straightened her back, determined not to fall short.

 

"Grandfather," Nolan greeted simply, prompting the patriarch to sit up in bed, dismissing the nurse's assistance.

 

"Leave us, May," he instructed the nurse, who eagerly complied and silently closed the door. His voice sounded groggy and rough, matching his aged appearance. His hair was entirely white, and his sagging jaw resembled that of an old dog. Yet, his gaze was piercing, and when his eyes finally settled on Hailey, the intensity almost overwhelmed her.

 

"Hello, Hailey," he said without a smile on his face.