"Where did you go last night, Isabel? I've been trying your line but it was switched off. Wait! Did you switch up your phone on me? Why?" Ava asked Isabel worriedly.
Isabel had initially dropped off at home, cleaned up, and just arrived at the hospital. She met Ava at the entrance of the hospital, waiting for her.
"I didn't switch up the phone on you, my phone's battery was down and I just charged it this morning. How's mom?" she asked, immediately changing the topic. Both had arrived at the cardiac intensive care unit where her mom was kept. They stood at the window and watched the nurses checking her. Isabel's chest tightened at the sight of her mother lying on the hospital bed, surrounded by machines and tubes.
"She is fine. The doctor checked up on her this morning and he said there is a matching donor now. But the amount for the surgery is too much. He said it's two million." Ava bemoaned.
"I know. Did he say that to the hearing of mom? Isabel asked, her eyes not leaving her mother who was lying helplessly on the hospital bed.
"No, why would he?" Ava replied immediately.
Isabel sighed, "She will be fine," she said, trying to convince herself more. She can't imagine a life without her mom. Her uncle just sold off their family business and has refused to help her mother. If only her father was alive? She thought as a lone tear dropped off her cheek.
"You don't have to cry, Bel. If the doctor said she will be fine after the surgery, then she will be. Don't worry, I will try to source some money from anywhere, okay?" Ava said, consoling her. "I will be going home now. I ordered some breakfast and it will arrive soon. Make sure you eat because mom won't be happy with you if she finds out you didn't. I will be back with lunch, alright?" Ava said, like a mother hen protective of its chicks. She cleaned the tears off her eyes and after some moments, both strolled out of the ward."
"Were you able to get any help yesterday?" Ava asked as both stepped outside.
Isabel shook her head sorrowfully in negative. Her mind drifted back to what happened yesterday. She had tried calling Lia but her number was not connecting. In fact, it felt like the number never existed. And the man, was it their plan yesterday? What did she do to Lia to deserve this treatment from her? She sighed deeply but not after reminding herself to find the man. She needs to ask him some questions. Maybe, just maybe, he will tell her the truth.
"By the way, Jake called. He was saying something about not being able to contact you and you broke up with him. Why? Did he do something wrong?" Ava asked.
Few seconds later, no response. She realized that Isabel was not paying attention to her, she was deep in her thoughts.
"Are you even listening to me, Isabel?" Ava asked, stomping her foot heavily on the ground while glaring daggers at her. "Why are you zoning out? You are yet to tell me what happened yesterday. I can't believe that you just left here, switched off your phone and now you are back with these tales of the moonlight? What happened to you?" she asked, worries boldly written on her face.
"Why? Do you want something to happen to me?" Isabel retorted, losing her cool for the first time on Ava.
"What? W..why would you think something like that?" Ava stammered, momentarily confused as she stared at the back of Isabel who had walked ahead. She sighed, then shrugged and walked faster to meet up with her. "I'm sorry. I guess I'm asking too much. I will go now. Take care of yourself and mom." She apologized, hailed down a cab and left.
She understood what her friend might be going through and the last thing she will want to do is to add to her misery. If Isabel felt that it is not necessary for her to know what happened yesterday's night, then it is not necessary. Her eyes moved to the rear mirror, she sighed and rested her head on the car head. Few seconds later, her phone beeped, and she glanced at it. A message. She read the content of the message and her eyes curved, revealing her sweet innocent smile which had been buried by worries.
Earlier, Isabel had felt sad for how she talked to Ava. She didn't mean to but she just found herself getting angrier at the thoughts of what Lia did to her. She had, for a moment, lost her cool on Ava and regretted it afterwards but when she wanted to apologize, Ava had already left. She quickly wiped out her phone, typed in a few sentences and closed it back.
…
A.R. Corporation…
Alexander Ross was in the middle of a meeting with some of the top shareholders of the company when Lia burst into the conference room, every step of her screaming grace and alluring. Behind her was Ann, Alexander's secretary who had tried to stop her but to no avail. She had tried calling P.A. Ivan but he didn't pick up, now she is left to deal with this crazy woman.
She had followed her while pleading for her to not go inside. On a normal day with normal guests, the security would have thrown Lia away but because she was the alleged girlfriend of their CEO, Alexander Ross, they could only coax her but it is not working today. Secretary Ann could already feel the burning gaze of Alexander on her and she could only swallow hard with her head down.
As Lia approached the table, all eyes were on her. She was indeed a woman with a breathtaking figure. She basked in the attention she's receiving from the men in the room and the sneers that came from the women who she thought were just envious of her. But she failed to notice that her presence in the conference room was uninvited.
Before she could reach Alexander, P.A. Ivan blocked her way, "Excuse me, Miss Lia. You can't go further than here."
"Get lost," Lia yelled at him, her eyes glaring daggers at him. As P.A. Ivan tried to resist her, Alexander beat him to that.
"What are you doing here, Lia?" Alexander asked, his dark eyes turned cold, sending shivers down the spine of everyone present there, including Lia. He didn't like having his work interrupted but Lia had a habit of showing up unannounced even when he was in the middle of serious meetings, demanding his attention.
"You've not been picking my calls. So, I'm here," she said coquettishly, blinking her eyes regularly.
"Can't you see I'm busy?" Alexander asked, his tone flat.
"I missed you, Alexander," she said, her voice low and seductive like she was not the one that just yelled a few seconds ago. She walked past P.A. Ivan. The members of the conference room were shocked, as if her badging in unannounced was not enough, she even addressed him by his first name.
Alexander closed his eyes and ran his fingers through his hair, already getting frustrated. His body tensed. The smell of her perfume wafted into his nostrils and he almost felt like suffocating. He opened his eyes and his sight landed on P.A Ivan who straightened up. "What are you still doing here? Get her out," his tone harsher than before.
P.A. Ivan knew that every second wasted in getting Lia out of here will lead her closer to death. He moved closer to her and she glared at him, her eyes turning misty.
'Okay, we are used to that here, Miss. I mean, your crocodile tears. You shedding it won't work anymore. Aren't you even tired of crying to get the boss' attention? Pfft' P.A. Ivan thought and sneered.
"This way Miss," he gestured as she walked out, her shoulders drooping as she was filled with shame. Once again, Alexander has humiliated her, publicly.
Immediately Lia left, the room became extremely quiet. One could even hear the sound of a pin drop. No one dared to breathe too hard, afraid of incurring the boss' anger. Everyone patiently, rather, consciously waited for his next order.
"The meeting is over," Alexander announced, breaking the silence. He stood up and walked out of the conference room. P.A Ivan followed him, but not after announcing that there will be a new date for the next meeting and it will.soon be communicated to them. After Alexander and Assistant Ivan left, everyone released the breath they all didn't know they were holding in until then.