Oscar went upstairs to get changed once the conversation between grandfather and grandson came to a close.
An hour later, the two of them arrived at Sunny Avenue and found Mr. Ywain.
Mr. Ywain was an old friend of Oscarâs who specialized in the likes of fortune-telling and esoteric medicine.
The man took a look at the herbs contained in the pack and took whiffs to identify what was in them.
He began to explain, âI canât say for certain that this is a formula from the Adelmar Clan but to see herbs formulated this way and working this well⦠Only Robert Adelmar would come up with something like this.â
Oscarâs expression turned grave.
âBut Robert hasnât been in the country,â Mr. Ywain said. âWhere did you get this, Oscar?â
âA girl gave this to us,â he answered. âIâll be interrogating her.â
âIn my opinion.â Mr. Ywain stroked his beard. âIt wouldnât be far- fetched to say the girl is a disciple of Robert himself.â
Oscar and Adam shared a look and left with their findings.
The elder began to speak once they stepped out of the courtyard. âEmmeline is not a simple girl, is she?â
âIs she here to mess with the Rykers on purpose?â Adam frowned.
âThatâs impossible.â Oscar immediately pushed the notion aside. âShe was pregnant with Abelâs children.â
âShe mustâve met Robert Adelmar in the four years after she gave birth then. She then returned to us,â
Adam deduced.
âBut she doesnât seem like sheâs trying anything. She gave birth and was more than ready to settle down after marriage.â
âYou forget, Grandad.â Adam lowered his voice. âYou told me yourself that you and Robert Adelmar hold a grudge against one another. He wouldnât just forget about it now, would he?â
âBut itâs me who canât let it go! The pain of losing a sonâ¦â
Adam listened intently only for the old man to wave it off. âForget it.â
âAre you going to keep Emmeline around with the Rykers then?â
â¦â Oscarâs brows furrowed. âYou think Emmeline might be targeting me?â
âIâm afraid she might be a pawn Robert had planted.â
âThatâ¦â Oscar didnât know what to say. âSo, what do you say we do?â
âIf she really is someone from the Adelmar Clan, that means we have a ticking time bomb in our midst.â
âYes, but Abel is on her side. How are we going to get Emmeline long enough to interrogate her?â
âThatâs easy.â Adam leaned in to whisper into his grandfatherâs ear.
âLure the protector out from a favorable position?â A glint flashed in his eyes.
Adam smiled coldly. âThe businesses overseas have resumed production, no? Why donât you have Abel sent there to take a look?â
âWe can do that.â Oscar agreed. âWeâll do that then.â
Two days later.
Abel was in the CEOâs office when the secretary called in.
âOld Mr. Ryker is here, Mr. Ryker. Heâs on his way up.â
Grandad is here?
Abel was surprised but didnât show it.
âSure.â He nodded. âI got it. Direct him to my office once heâs here.â
âYes, sir.â
Oscar was at his door no more than three minutes later.
The secretary pushed open the door and respectfully ushered him inside.
âGrandad.â Abel got up. âWhat brings you here?â
âAm I not allowed to come to check on your work?â
âOf course, you can. Feel free to drop by anytime.â
âHm. Well, why donât you walk me through the different departments so I can see whatâs going on.â
âSure.â
Abel took his coat jacket off the rack and put it back on. âLetâs go, Grandad.â
The two men then went down to the eighty-eighth floor and started their inspection from the domestic marketing department.
Abel meticulously explained everything to the elder as he led the way.
Oscar, meanwhile, was happy to hear about the growth of the company.
A smile gradually made its way to his face.
The main purpose of his visit was not to check on Abelâs work but he was more than happy to know that the Ryker family was in good hands.
They had gone through five departments by the time they reached the eighty-fourth floor.
Oscar was panting from exhaustion.