Diana was sitting in her chair besides Clara's bed wondering why this kind of thing had fallen on them. Why would Clara have this kind of accident now that they wanted a prestigious contract with one of the richest families in the city? Who would lead this bidding proposal? Now they want to cut off Clara's leg, her beloved Clara will have one leg. Diana shook her head. This must be the work of some evil people in her life, she thought. A nurse came in to look at the monitor to see if it was working fine and how what the figures were on the screen.
'Excuse me ma'am. The doctor asked me to remind you that the window for amputating your daughter's leg is closing. Soon, it will too late. He is asking me to tell you to decide fast.'
Diana only nodded. She was too sad to respond. She hadn't thought about that part. She didn't want to because how can her beautiful Clara lose one leg to an ugly mistake. The nurse felt pity for her. It is painful to watch a mother looking at her daughter on a hospital bed.
'Permit me to say ma. But I think I know someone who can help.'
Diana looked at the nurse as if she was mad. She looked at the nurse with the side of her eye and removed it.
'I am serious ma'am. I had a patient whom I was taking care in her home. She fell ill and we tried every medication available but nothing could be done. After I left the care of this young woman, I heard she got better in a matter of weeks, miraculously. When I asked, I was told that a healer had come to her and nursed her back to life. She is very fine now and going about doing her business.'
Diana was very interested now. Any information to help her daughter is welcome. So she turned in her seat, so that she was face to face with the nurse and asked.
'Where can I find this healer? I have money, I can pay.'
'Hold on ma'am. I will have to make findings on this man and his whereabouts. I didn't meet this man. But I will ask those who told me the story then I will get back to you.'
'Please do. Any amount it will cost I am ready to pay.'
The nurse nodded and walked out of the room. A new hope emerged in the heart of Diana. There is hope. She would not tell the doctor anything yet, pending when this nurse brings information to her. Diana looked at her daughter, stretched out to touch her and said, 'rest well child, help is coming.'
Michael was looking at the reports Cynthia had sent him about the bidding and how many companies had sent in proposals. The incident with Clara at the car park still made him laugh. Even after everything he had done for the Robert family, they still think low of him. People can be such ungrateful brutes.
His phone rang. The number was a strange number and when he picked it was Isabella on the line. She was crying, she sounded strained on the phone.
'What is it? What happened?'
Michael was agitated. He left the papers he was reading and started pacing up and own the apartment.
'It is daddy. He was having a meeting where he had a heart attack. The doctors are with him now in the theatre. I didn't know who else to call.'
'What hospital are you in?' Michael asked, reaching for his car keys while running to the bedroom to fetch a coat and shoe.
'It is the Sinai hospital. I am at the reception.'
'I am on my way.' Michael nearly tripped over the table as he tried to put on the shoe.
'Please don't rush on your way. Drive safely.'
'I will.' Michael responded, fitting the shoe to his feet as he answered.
The road was free from traffic. Even though he had a driver who was assigned to him by the company, he preferred to drive himself sometimes. Tonight he decided he wanted to drive himself to the hospital. Sinai hospital, as one of the foremost and most technologically advanced hospital, is owned and run by the Donaldation Company. It was one of the project the company had company the previous year and enjoyed patronage from everyone in the city, both poor and rich. It had the finest doctors from the city and outside, a highly trained staff and many cutting edge medical equipments.
Michael arrived at the hospital in less than an hour later; a porter was waiting to take his car. He ran to the front desk and asked for the theatre section. The lady told him to take the elevator to the last floor. When he got there, there was another reception with a front desk. He was about to approached the front desk when he saw Isabella where she sat by the window, with her head in her hands.
He went to her, called her name and wrapped his arms around her. She fell into his embrace and sobbed.
'Your father will be fine. Don't cry.'
He rubbed her back and held her for a while. After a while, he released her from his embrace and asked.
'Have you heard anything from the theatre?'
'i have not. No doctor or medical professional have come out of there. No one is telling me anything.' She wanted to cry again but Michael hushed her and embraced her again. His heart melted and he felt sorry for her.
'Don't worry. Everything will be fine. Your daddy will be fine. Have you eaten anything?'
She shook her head.
'then let us get something to eat.'
They stood up to go and immediately were face to face with Diana and Steven. They were at the other side of the room, coming into the theatre reception room. Michael was surprised to see them here. He wanted to go and greet them and ask what had brought them to the hospital but when he remembered his last encounter with Steven and Diana, he withdrew. But Diana saw him and together with Steven, walked to Michael and Isabella.
'You are here again. What are you doing here? This is a hospital, where sick people come to get well. Have you come to steal and spread your bad luck? I have warned you not to come anywhere i am. I have warned you.'
'Why would you think that I am stalking you?'
'It is because you are a low life bastard who wants to ask for a second chance from me. But let me tell you, you will never get a second chance from me or any member of my family.'
Diana's voice was loud. When she called Michael a low life bastard, everyone around gasped. Isabella stood and watched
'And why would you think I would want to be associated with people like you again?'
Diana gushed, as though she had been stabbed in the heart. It was Steven who responded.
'You dare respond to my mom like that?'
Isabella had had enough of the shenanigans-- from these people.
'Shut up you. I thought I had warned you before not to disturb this man or insult him ever. Why are you here?'
Steven was taken aback. He fidgeted and couldn't say anything. Diana interjected.
'And who might you be to give commands like that, another one of his many whores?'
Isabella was shocked. Who dare call her a whore? It was Michael who responded Diana.
'Enough of this talk woman. Don't you ever call this lady a whore again. Do you know who she is?'
'I don't care.'
'I am not done talking woman.' Diana was taken aback. Is this the same Michael that fidgeted when she spoke that was talking aback at her now? She put her left hand on her breast and watched him with surprised eyes. Michael continued.
'You know looking back now, I am happy that I am no longer associated with the lot of you. And i will have you arrested if you talk to me or anyone associated with me in a rude manner. I have had it up to this point with you folks and this won't be the last you hear of me.'
Michael pulled Isabella away from them and walked out of the reception. On their way out of the hospital, Michael dropped their phone numbers, that of Isabella and his, in case the doctors in the theatre were done before they come back.
They went to a Chinese restaurant. Isabella requested chicken fried rice and chicken in sweet and sour sauce. Michael wanted some chicken wings, chicken noodles and shredded beef in black pepper sauce. They found a spot in a quiet corner to seat and unwrapping their food, they settled to eat.
'What do those people have over you? Every time they meet you, they like to wag their tongues like serpents.'
'I don't have anything with them. Neither do they have with me. I was previously was married to their daughter until two months ago, she requested for a divorce all of a sudden. I begged her and asked for a reason, but she refused to say. Her mother told me that i was not good enough for her daughter, so signed the document and left the marriage.'
'Hmm, you don't mean it.'
'I don't even want to talk about the many insults I suffered at their hands while I was married to their daughter. It was an experience and I am glad that it is over.'
'I heard about the altercation you had with the woman, I am guessing that that is their mother. It was at the other day at the office. A friend of mine who was at the office that day saw it and told me.'
'They do that every time they see me. The last time, Clara, my ex-wife and their daughter, brought her proposal to the office. I didn't wasn't to see her. She is the director of Robert and co. Her company wants to bid for the park project. Cynthia saw her and she was so humble, doing everything Cynthia asked her to do. She was supposed to bring back some documents. Cynthia said she hasn't seen ehr since then.'
'Those people are a bunch. That means they hate you so much. Do they know that you are the director of that project?'
'No they don't. I told Cynthia to keep it that way. I never want to see them. In fact, Cynthia will accept and interview the applicants for the project. I have told her to do so.'
'I think that is the wise thing to do. Once they see that you are the director, they will beg to have you back and even worship you.'
'They are already doing that.'
'How? That meeting back there at the hospital didn't look like worship to me.'
'I mean that it my appointment as director of the park project has been a quiet affair. No one really knows who i am. They don't know my face. So I can walk into any place and not worry about being recognised. Moreover, Clara brought a bottle of chardonnay with a bouquet of flower and some chocolate for the new director, being me. I am sure that she did that thinking that it will make her get more preference for the project than anyone else. Imagine what would happen if she knew that her ex-husband is the new director.'
They both laughed. Isabella fell more in love with Michael. He was so handsome and brave, exhibiting a lot of common sense. She felt so lucky to have him. By bringing her out to dinner, he had removed the worry from her mind. She felt better now, having this food with him. They ate their food. Isabella's phone began to ring. It was the hospital.
'Your father is out of surgery and the doctor will like to speak with you.' The receptionist's voice was measured and clear.
'Alright. Thank you for letting me know.'
'Was that the hospital?' Michael asked.
'Yes, we have to hurry up. Dad is out of surgery.'
They ate the remainder of their food in silence and went back to the hospital. They saw Diana and Steven sitting at the reception when they came back but went straight to the receptionist for directions to the doctor's office.
The doctor was young and female. She was signing some forms when they met her. The doctor greeted them and introduced herself. Then she said
'I am glad the surgery was successful. It was an arterial embolism but we found and it has been removed. I advise some bed rest before he can resume any physical activity.'
'Doctor, does it affect what he can eat and not eat?' Isabella asked.
'No it doesn't, but as a older person, he knows what to avoid and what to eat. Let him keep to that and try to exercise.'
'Alright doctor. Thank you. Can we see him now?'
'Sure. The nurse will lead you.'
Michael accompanied her to the room where Mr Donald was kept. It was like a hotel room, complete with gold fittings and a large area for receiving visitor. The view from the room was magnificent. Oversized curtains adorn the whole length of the room, only at this time; one of the curtains was drawn to bring in natural light into the room. There was a large TV with the console on the table in the centre of large chairs.
'Isabella dear, you are here.'
'Oh dad, you are awake. How do you feel?'
'The doctors say I am good, and I believe so. They say I have a strong heart.' He laughed out loud and continued. 'I get it from my parents you know. We are strong people in our family.'
Isabella hugged her father and smiled. She was glad that he was out of danger. Mr Donald looked pale, a little weak and coughed at intervals.
'Ah, Ash, you are here. It is good that you are here. I have wanted to talk to you about something'
Just then the donaldation lawyer and Mr. Donald's personal lawyer came in. They apologised for coming. Mr Donald waved them to sit at the visitor's area, where there was a large couch and sofas.
Helped by Isabella, Mr. Donald walked to the visitor's area, chose a sofa and sat on it. The lawyers dropped files on the table. Isabella saw this and wasn't happy.
'Bella dear, relax. I am not working. In fact I am taking work off my chest.' Then he turned to Michael and said. 'I have decided that you Michael west will be the chief operations officer of donaldation while my daughter here, Isabella will be the chief executive officer chairman of the board of trustees.'
Both Michael and Isabella were shocked. They had never thought the man had this idea in his mind all along. The lawyers cheered and clapped.
'Thank you so much sir.' Michael said.
'Nah, I should thank you. Since you came into my life, I have had many testimonies of good things. I have heard how you are handling the park project and the other projects in the pipeline. I believe you will do well by this company.' And to Isabella he said, 'this is me stepping down from the active role within the company, so that you the younger ones can step in and run the place.
'Thank you sir I won't let you down.'
'Thank you daddy. This calls for a celebration.' Isabella said.
They all cheered and agreed. Michael went to get the drinks and one of the lawyers got glasses for everyone except Mr. Donald. He left them and went back to the bed, assisted by Isabella.
One of the lawyers said, 'a toast to the new chief executive officer and the chief operations officer of donaldation.'
They all chorused cheers. After which, Isabella and Michael signed the papers prepared by the lawyers.