CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

"Hello, father" Josiah greeted his father.
In all honesty, he was never going to perform surgery on anyone. He was aware that his father was coming and needed an excuse to drive the pesky woman away.
"How have you been?" Mr. Griffon asked with concern laced in his voice. He loves his son very much.
"I have been doing great. I should be asking you that question, you look stressed"
Josiah also loved his father. They had the perfect father and son relationship.
The reason why he was never really home for most of Jack's life, was that, he was taking care of his other son. The one without a mother.
Josiah was twenty-eight years old while Jack was twenty-six.
Mr. Griffon was madly in love with Josiah's mother but his father never allowed him to marry her because of her lowly background.
That's why he chooses not to interfere with any of his children's relationships no matter how silly they may be.
"I am stressed. I have been busy preparing everything for you. The time has come for you to take over the Griffon group"
"Isn't that too soon"
"I've already settled everything, the board members are satisfied with your performance and are happy to have you"
"Ok"
" All that is left now is for you to take your place"
" I guess I have no choice"
" Don't say it that way, it sounds like I'm forcing you. You know, if you don't want to, it's your choice" Mr. Griffon said sadly.
Mr.Griffon always wanted Josiah to have the best. He always supported Josiah, even when he said he wanted to study medicine before working in the company. He supported him wholeheartedly.
If it were to be Jack, he would have beat the shit out of him. He could hardly keep up with business let alone Medicine. Josiah has always been a brilliant child and as for Jack, he was a little below average.
"No, I want to do it. I will make you proud father" Josiah said.
"I'm already proud" Mr. Griffon smiled warmly at his son.
"I will start the preparation for the banquet where you would be introduced to everyone else"
"Yes father"
...
" Mabel" Jack called.
" Mabel" Jack called again but there was still no reply.
"Mabel"
"What?" Mabel snapped.
"It's happening, finally the banquet is to be held soon"
"What banquet?"
"I'm finally going to be appointed to my position, as the CEO of Griffon's Group" Jack excitedly hugged Mabel.
"Finally, I really can't stand this place any longer," Mabel said.
" When is the banquet? "
" It hasn't been fixed yet, but soon"
" Good. We have to go shopping I have almost nothing to wear, and as your fiancee, I have to look the best"
" Yes, of course, I will buy you the most beautiful dress and jewelry"
" Weren't you short of money? "
" I can borrow, when I claim my position I will pay them back twice as much"
...
Josiah's office door was pushed open. He didn't have to look up to know who it was.
" Good morning Miss..."
" Mabel, it's been two weeks now and you still can't remember my name"
Yup, two weeks of constant pestering from Mabel. She would always come to the hospital and wait in Josiah's office. Even if he was not going to be present for the day or he wasn't In the office she would still wait.
"I'm truly sorry, I just have a lot of work, as you can see"
He was tired of Mabel's company. He wondered where it all went wrong for him to receive this kind of punishment.
All he wanted, was to help the injured lady. He had always had a soft spot for a female's health, especially after his mother died. He became a doctor because that's what his mother wanted.
And now he was being tormented simply because he was caring.
" Other than loitering around my office all day, don't you have places to be or maybe someone else to bother?"
" They aren't worth my time"
She was mostly referring to jack. Jack hadn't even noticed Mabel's daily routine. He was busy boasting and inviting all his friends to the banquet,
Although, he himself wasn't invited to the banquet. He came up with the excuse that his father probably only wanted to surprise him.
" And I'm important?" Josiah asked.
" Of course you are"
Josiah walked closer to Mabel but still made sure to keep a safe distance from her.
" Tell me something. What do you want from me?"
Immediately he said that Mabel pounced on him and forced a kiss on his lips.
He quickly pushed her away and wiped his lips with his hands.
"What do you think you are doing?
" Don't act dumb Jose, you and I both know that we are attracted to each other"
Josiah laughed.
" So this is what this is. How shameless of you"
" Shameless?" Mabel gasped at the term he used on her.
" Can miss... Marina leave my office please?"
" That's not my name, and I'm going to stay here until you admit that you are attracted to me. I will also come here every day if I have to"
" Very well then, you can stay. This is my last day here anyways"
" Did you get fired? How am I supposed to marry a jobless man? Ah, don't worry I'm going to be a star in the future. I will take care of both of us, but you..."
" Slam"
Josiah couldn't take it anymore and walked out of his office. If he didn't have respect for a lady, he would have called security to take her away or he would drag her out by himself.
" Josiah"
" What?" He snapped.
" I'm sorry to bother you" Lia said.
" Sorry I yelled, I thought you were someone else"
" That person must be annoying"
" You have no idea"
" Can I see him"
" Of course, you can, he is probably already waiting for you"
Josiah look around them as if he was searching for someone.
" You didn't come with that rock today?"
Lia laughed.
" No, I came alone. He had an important meeting"
Josiah escorted Lia to her father's room not wanting to go back to his office, he decided to stay with them.
" Darling"
" Father"