<h4>Chapter 56 - TEMPTING OFFER</h4>


    He was thankful when Greyson didn''t take offense against his prying question. Instead, he looked at him across the table with a determined look fixed on his face before he mumbled ''no'' for an answer.


    "She is myst love…. The only woman I truly loved." He added without filters.


    "Rubbish!" Alexander eximed and shook his head in disapproval. "Let me guess you broke her heart?" It might be called a reckless and bold question but he can''t stop himself from asking.


    "That''s an understatement, Sir. I did not only break her heart, I smashed it into pieces." It was his brave reply.


    Alexander clenched his fist under the table, fury bubbled inside him. He badly wanted to smash his fist into Greyson''s face.


    "I was a bastard, a jerk, a devil, and the stupidest man for breaking her heart," Greyson admitted.


    The Crawford patriarch rxed and unclenched his fist, "I couldn''t agree more." He muttered under his breath.


    "Pardon me, Sir?" It was Greyson again.


    "I said you''re careless for losing something valuable as that."


    "No Sir, I value my first masterpiece. I did not lose it. The painting was stolen." He replied grimly, his expression darkened with rage.


    Alexander took a deep long breath, he was no longer amused It''s time to go back to business, he thought. "How could you so be guaranteed I possess the painting?" He raised his disgruntled face to Greyson who appeared to be least affected by what he felt.


    "I hired a detective. He said you got the masterpiece from an auction house."


    "That''s a wise and calcting move on your part. That''s exactly what happened to the painting Mr. Greyson. To tell you frankly I spent a huge amount of my fortune to possess the painting and I hate to disappoint you if ever I have ns to sell it—which I don''t—I wonder if you will ever be able to afford it."


    As far as Alexander knew, Ace Carter Greyson was disowned by his father and cut off his inheritance after he shocked the world after stepping down as the CEO of Greyson Enterprise. What made his father even more furious and pushed him to jump to such drastic measures of disowning his child was Greyson''s failure to marry his fiancée, he left her on the altar. And so to save the woman, his brother Vince married Ang on that day.


    Greyson was now a poor man without a cent on his pocket. If he ever had money with him, it wouldn''t surelyst. How ironic that the man who had everything at his feet was left with nothing. That must be karma getting even.


    "I''m willing to work just to afford that painting Sir. Even If I have to pay for it for years, I don''t care as long as I get what rightfully belongs to me now." It was a surprising response for a man who lived a privileged life before his downfall.


    Alexander nearly smiled at the man''s remark. He busily tapped his fingers on top of his table. ''I''m willing to work just to afford the painting Sir.'' The words yed inside his thoughts over and over again. Everything was going ording to his ns.


    "But Mr. Greyson, how could you prove to me that you owned the painting? Forgive me but I don''t trust a word from a man I barely know."


    "If you turn the painting outside down, the gown made of hellfire will turn into a phoenix rising from its ashes."


    Alexander was shocked. No, the shock was an understatement, he was totally bbergasted that he didn''t know how to react. He straightened from his seat and stared at Greyson with concealed admiration. He wasn''t in awe of this man—it was his amazing talent in art he was astonished.


    It never urred to him, who was a big fan of rare pieces of art, that it could be possible to create such a dramatic piece of painting that could produce two different meanings by turning it upside down. This man in front of him—he already said it a while ago but he would say it again—was born a genius. The proof of his amazing talent was secured inside the vault to avoid the same mistake Greyson did.


    "Well Mr. Greyson, I have a proposition which I swear you cannot say no for an answer."


    Greyson did not reply, he just looked at Alexander with a paper nk expression masking his face.


    "I will offer you a job," Alexander eximed and smiled triumphantly at the shocked expression on his visitor''s face. He was finally able to take Greyson''s full attention. "In exchange for the painting, I shall ask you to be my employee. Isn''t it a win-win offer?" He added cheerfully, enjoying the look of shock on the younger man''s face.


    Greyson scrunched his eyebrows in confusion. He was quietly contemting the offer. "What job are you actually offering me, Sir?"


    "I want you to be my gardener, Mr. Greyson. Take it or leave it."


    Wild astonishment lit Greyson''s face. He looked across the table over Alexander as if he was a candidate for Bem.


    "Pardon me, Mr. Alexander Crawford?" For the first time since he entered the library, he addressed the master of the house with his real name. "Are you kidding me?" He added, swallowing the urge tough hysterically.


    "Got no time for nonsense Mr. Greyson. As you could see, it was the only job avable in my household. I happened to need a gardener."


    "What would happen if I choose to work for you?" He asked grimly, clenching his jaw in frustration.


    "I shall give you the painting when your contract ends."


    Greyson stood from his seat, he had the look on his face as if he had had enough.


    "My apologies Mr. Alexander but that would be impossible. Thank you for your time but I shall leave now."


    After saying the words he walked out of the door, he didn''t look back to see the amused glow on Alexander Crawford''s eyes who, whether he liked it or not, would soon be his employer.