Chapter 4 An Offer

"W–what?" "You heard me." The elderly woman replied calmly, her smirk more obvious now. Lauren frowned and leaned back, reclining on the chair. This woman played her. "Mr Richard…." Words failed her. Lauren couldn't say anything. She thought back to some of the things she had heard about the first son of the Harrison Family. Richard….. Handsome. She couldn't lie about it. Impatient. Stubborn. A troublemaker Far from disciplined. To top it all, he was unfriendly. Very unfriendly. Well, that was what the rumors about him always revealed. Were they true? Lauren wondered. That was none of her business. How was she supposed to know if they were true or not? Was she the lab rat who was going to stay by his side and try to 'figure' him out? Besides, he was filthy rich. Like crazy rich….. Next in line to inherit his father's multi billion dollar Health company, Purifica Health Limited and his mother's hospital, Regen Health Centre — the best and most renowned hospital in the United States of America….. Lauren sighed. He could spit on her face and no one would bat an eyelash because of his wealth. Why would she want a client like that? A client like him? "Yes. Is there something wrong with my son?" The woman smiled but her eyes held a layer of an emotion Lauren couldn't read. "No. Of course not. He is wonderful" Lauren forced a smile. "He is just very un—" "Unfriendly? Unapproachable? Which one?" Lauren stared at the woman, not sure how to answer. Working for him might not be so bad and the rumors might be baseless. But was she willing to risk it? Her mind drifted to her past as the memory of Stefano in bed with the blonde woman replayed in her head….. Back then, she felt heartbroken and betrayed. Now, she felt nothing more than anger, a pure desire for revenge. Nothing less. Hmm. What if getting access to Richard Harrison opened her up to his circle of wealthy business partners and someone out there could help her deal with Stefano? Lauren sighed. She was probably daydreaming. It wouldn't be as easy as she was making it out to be. She would have to get access to Stefano's CEO in order to lay out her challenge and get her revenge. Lauren shook her head. This wasn't going to be as easy as she thought. But she wouldn't know if she didn't try. Working for Richard Harrison might not be such a bad idea. "Don't worry…." Mrs Susan voided out, snapping Lauren's mind back to reality. "....I have threatened him with something he wants badly. He won't stress you. You have my word." Wow! Lauren noted. A filthy rich CEO threatening her filthy rich son. This must be serious. "Umm….I understand your point ma'am but I c—" "$100,000?" Lauren almost choked on her saliva. Did she just hear correctly? She was so shocked her mouth couldn't move. "$200,000?" Susan pushed, looking at a shocked Lauren. "I—I need some time to process this. I can't just—" Susan glanced at her watch and switched off the laptop on her desk. "I don't have that time, Lauren Gartner. I don't mess around with my son's health. How about I make it $300,000 and we call it a day? You work with Richard for three months and make him better and you'll get paid for that." Lauren swore inwardly. Everything about this was insane. She was riccchhhhh! She could smell the money from here. Oh, sweet heaven! She was loving this rebirth intro. She hoped everyday could be as wonderful as this. "T–that's fine Mrs Susan. It sounds like a good deal to me." The elderly woman laughed. "Now, let's talk about the details of what I expect from you." ____________~~~~____________ "Mom! Come on!" Richard huffed in frustration and rested his two hands on his waist. He stood at the centre of the huge living room in the villa where his parents lived. "I thought we had talked about this. I can take care of myself. I don't need a new nutritionist." He made sure to glare at his mom before he looked away. Susan Harrison gasped in disbelief and clapped her hands together in a dramatic way. She aimed at him, moved quickly and grabbed his left ear, holding it firmly but not too tight that it hurt. "Ugh! Mom" Richard groaned, exaggerating the intensity of her action. "Did you just glare at me? Huh?" "Yes, he did mom. Break his legs." Richard's younger sister, Sophia muttered as she sat on a sofa, grinning at the 'drama' playing in front of her. His mother pulled his ear a bit more before letting it go. "At this rate, you'll make me go deaf in one ear." Richard pouted and stared eye to eye at his mother. His mother smacked his shoulder and glanced at his sister. "Can't your brother see I'm doing this for his own good?" "He can't. His digestion is poor. His eyesight is even worse." Sophia smirked. Richard glared at his sister. "Let's see who is going to take you shopping this Saturday. Let's see w—" His mother smacked his head lightly. "I will take her, okay? I will take her shopping." His sister winked at him and laughed. "What is wrong with you? I just can't understand…." His mother groaned dramatically. "....Bring a girlfriend home. No! Bring a wife. No! Give me grandchildren. No! See a nutritionist, No!" "Mom, it's n—" "Shut your mouth!" Susan snapped and Richard moved a step back. "I'm warning you now…." His mother raised a 'finger' at him. "....you will never inherit your father's company or my hospital. Never! As long as you refuse to treat yourself and bring a wife home." "Wow, this is serious." Sophia chipped in. "It is!" His mother retorted and faced Sophia. "I have mentioned it several times. He knows I'm not joking this time. He's lucky you have no interest in my company, if not I would have given it to you." Sophia laughed. "Make up your mind, Richard. You can't hide anymore. The media thinks you're impotent. Are you sure you aren't?" Richard's face turned bright red and he glared at his sister. "I am very potent a—" Sophia burst into laughter and his mother followed. Richard looked away, his cheeks heating up. These people, seriously…. He rolled his eyes and sighed. He couldn't run away from this like before. He really wanted full ownership of his parent's companies. "Mom, I get it. I'll find a wife this time, I promise you. Also, I'll welcome the new nutritionist." His mother raised an eyebrow. "Are you pulling my legs this time?" "I'm serious. Really." "And follow through with everything she says?" His mother asked "Sure." "You'll meet the nutritionist tomorrow. Deal?" Richard nodded in response. "Deal"