CHAPTER 3 - The Devil
1115 Words
Ayla rushed into the hospital and took directions from the nurse at the reception to the ward where her father was.
She walked briskly and tiredly with her heels making a clicking sound on the floor.
Ayla had managed to take an excuse from the almighty 'Lucas Steve’ and he had given her just an hour to see her parents.
She planned on staying longer though, it was only the first day of supposedly working for him and it was starting to feel like ten years already.
Ayla sighted ward number 13 where her father was admitted and as she walked to it, she gripped the doorknob and stopped as she heard her parents' conversation.
“You think selling off the company to him is the best thing to do” Her father asked, his voice was tired and laced with difficulty.
" We are not entirely selling it off to him, we still have a share in it” She heard her mother say," Besides, the company was on the verge of going bankrupt and we would have lost on both ends”
Mr Morrison sighed," If only there was another way, if not for my health challenges, I would have groomed the company. And Jayson isn't doing anything to help”
" It's fine, dear. Ayla is trying to see that you are back on your feet, Jayson is only twenty, he doesn't know much about business” She cornered.
" He doesn't know or he isn't interested, that son of yours wouldn't be the end of me,” He said and coughed.
They said nothing and Ayla guessed her mother had quickly given him some water because he muttered his thanks and sighed.
Ayla sighed too, she wished things hadn't taken a negative turn towards them. A tear slipped down her eyes even as she forced herself not to cry.
“Where is Ayla now?" Mr Morrison asked after some time.
" She-” Her mother was starting to say.
Ayla quickly wiped her face with the back of her hand and twisted the doorknob, pushing the door open.
Her parents turned in the direction of the door and a smile appeared on both their faces.
“Hey, mum, dad" She called with a smile on her face.
“Speak of the devil " Mrs Morrison smiled back at her, "You were late, did it go well?"
Ayla nodded and walked to the bed where her father was lying weakly, she leaned down and planted a kiss on his forehead before sitting down beside him.
“It went well, Dad" She beamed down at him," He has paid just as he promised and your surgery would be kicking off immediately, Dad”.
She could see the joy that danced in their eyes as she spoke, it gave her warmth and happiness.
“Thank God," Mrs Morrison said, clasping her hands together and looking heavenward.
“This is good news," Mr Morrison said,” Thank you, dear"
She took his hands in his, his hands now looked like a bag wrapped around his bone, his skin loose and dried up with veins swelling out like works.
“You don't have to thank me, It's for the best, Dad. I believe we will soon get back our lives and be back on the road” She assured him.
He smiled at her, his eyes crinkling at the sides,” What can we ever do without you?"
Mrs Morrison smiled," You're a gift to us, dear. Tell us how your encounter with Mr Steve went”
Ayla drew in a breath as she was forced to remember Lucas again, she hated the fact that she had to.
She wondered if now was the right time for her to tell them that he now had the greatest part of the shares and was in charge; she knew it would break her father's heart.
Ayla smiled,” I think I would be working for him now, at least he would pay me and I would still have the company in close sight”
She said this quickly so their reaction wouldn't be quick before she could finish. She was glad she told them this quickly because her father's expression which was starting to change relaxed a bit.
“Oh my," Mrs. Morrison said,” Are you sure you can work for him, everyone knows how Mr. Steve can be to anyone around him?”
" Your mother is right, no one had ever had a good experience with him” Mr Morrison contributed slowly.
That was very true, Ayla said inwardly but she smiled still.
“Don't worry, dad. Working with him would fetch us more money to cover up the little debts we have hanging on our necks” Ayla told them.
Mr Morrison exchanged a look with his wife who shrugged and took a deep breath.
“We don't want you inconveniencing yourself because of us, dear,” Mr Morrison said sadly," If you think you can work with Mr Steve then go ahead “
Ayla's phone made a muffled ring in her back and she quickly fetched it, she glanced at the caller's ID and frowned at the ‘ MR DEVIL’ the name she had used in saving Lucas’ name.
She knew he was calling her because it was time for her to head back to his company. She sighed and was about to pick it up when he hung up.
“Who is it?" Mrs Morrison asked
Ayla shoved her phone into her bag and smiled,” Mr Steve, he wants me back to do some…stuff”
" Already” Mr Morrison asked
Ayla forced and smile and planted a kiss on his forehead again,” I will be back to stay with you tonight so Mum can go home and rest"
Ayla headed out of the room after pecking her mum on the cheek and dashed out of the hospital, luckily for her, she got a cab quickly and drove down to his company.
She knocked and slipped into his office, breathing heavily from having run right out from the cab to his office.
“Sorry I'm late," She said out of breath
He looked up at her through the file he was going through,” You took your sweet time getting here, I won't tolerate that"
“I'm sorry," She muttered.
He closed the file and dropped it on the stack of files on his desk, before Ayla could blink, he sent them all flying across to her.
Ayla gasped as they all dropped on the floor, she looked up at him wide-eyed.
“Get to work” He muttered.
- Writer
