20 The first official meeting -III

Anything could be classified as literally anything and everything. Given the power that this man had in his hands, she could ask for a tour of Sandringham Palace and he would make it happen.

Bad thing was, she did not want a tour of any kind of Palace, handshakes or a tea party with the royalty or any signed autographs from a celebrity. Joyce had been so content in her life that she wondered if she wanted anything at all.

Except one thing.

She swallowed her nerves. It was the first time that she was ever going to ask anyone about this and it scared the hell out of her.

"Is there a way that you can convince my father to allow me to marry someone else. Someone out of…" she waved her hand in between them, signalling him of the background they were from. "This?"

His expressions turned and something resembling petty, sympathy made its way to his face making her avert her eyes.

This was humiliating.

"I am afraid that anything in this context just does not hold any power. I do not plan to manipulate your father in allowing you to marry someone who cannot protect you, Joyce."

"Pro—"

Adrian raised his palm, silencing her immediately. "I have a sister, Ms O'Sullivan. If your father decides to get you married to someone who does not have any kind of protection to offer You, he might as well give you a way to his enemies. That is something I cannot agree on."

Tears started to build in her eyes. Joyce looked down on her lap. Humiliating, humiliated what she felt in that very moment. Did she really have to ask him that?

"A word of advice, Ms O'Sullivan," he said quite softly, " you can carry on your little love affair as much as you want, as long as you want, but when your father decides to fix your marriage you must end it. At least for the sake of his life."

A sob came out of her at that moment. Something she was unable to control along with many other things.

Joyce had always known that this was a possibility. If anyone ever came to know about her relationship with George, they would kill him, Chop him up in pieces and then he would be found in the other end of the country.

There was always this possibility, she knew it, but having him say it to her face only solidified the fact that it would end in his death.

"I am aware." She said weakly. There was no defensive argument against this. The position that she and George were in, the love that that man had in his eyes for her, everything would point out that they had a romantic relationship. Something that was much further than a regular friendship.

Uncomfortable silence descended in between them. Where she controlled her tears and he pushed a box of tissues in front of her.

"Why don't you take this as an IOU? You have my number, so message me what you want to be done. Is that alright with you?" He offered and she generously took it.

"Yes," she nodded, "I would like that very much. Thank you." At least now, she could use it for something valuable and, whatever that would be found out in the future.

Hopefully, it would be something good or at least she prayed it to be as she hailed another cab outside the building.