The Devil

C H A P T E R 4

I make a call with my butler, asking him to get my car from the cafe where I had my meeting yesterday. Should have asked him beforehand and now I am in a rush.

Glad thing the hospital has bathrooms I could get access into. I wore a black pencil skirt and a white blouse. I might get scolded by Terry for having such a low taste for fashion but who cares? I’m going to work as a doctor, not a model or a fashion designer.

I wear my beige trench coat and before I leave I gave a peck on my son’s forehead then left for work. As soon as I step foot out of the hospital building, the familiar royal blue SUV had been parked in front of me. Just in time. My butler went out of the car and bowed at me, I heave a sigh of relief then said, ”Thank God you’re just in time. Please take care of Noah while I’m off to work. Tell the nurse that you’re working for me and ask her for Noah’s medication schedule.”

”Yes, my lady. Have a safe drive and great day to work.” He bowed his head. I went into the car and drove away from the hospital. I hope I’m not late!!!

Earlier today I’ve asked Supervisor Yang to send me the location to the CEO’s house. Yes. I’m working at his house. Obviously, I am his personal doctor, I am more likely working as his secretary but the only difference is, I am on call during his working time and when he’s at home.

I arrive in front of a huge and lavish Victorian mansion. This brought back memories of my grandparents' chateaux back in Finland. I wonder how long I’ve never step foot at that place ever since I moved out of Finland to move to Japan. The huge glass French doors had been swung open by the maidens and there in the middle stood a tall well-built man with a much older woman clinging onto his muscular arms.

Alexander made his way towards me with the woman still holding onto his arms as if they are inseparable. Wait... Isn’t she Tatiana McQueen?!

Of course, who wouldn’t know the famous fashion designer Tatiana McQueen? Every fashion industry would want to start a business with her due to her God-like hands whenever she glides that graphite onto a clean sheet of paper. There’s always a masterpiece as the end result.

I didn’t realise that I stared at Tatiana for too long and she snapped me out of the zone. She said, ”Oh my, you must be shocked to see me. You immediately turned speechless.”

”Oh, uh, M-my apologies Ms Tatiana, I wasn’t expecting to see you here.” I quickly broke my stare and look away. Alexander gestures his hand as if he is displaying Tatiana. He said, ”Dr May, meet my wife, Tatiana Lee. In the industry, she is known as Tatiana McQueen.”

’ARE YOU f*****g KIDDING ME RIGHT NOW? WIFE?! TATIANA IS LIKE IN HER 50S WHILE ALEXANDER IS JUST A FEW YEARS OLDER THAN ME.’ My thought couldn’t stop screaming words that explain my inner expression. You must be kidding me right now, how could it be possible for such a good looking and tough young man getting married to a woman who is old enough to be his grandmother?!— Love sure is blinding indeed.

After a short introduction with Tatiana and a few of the chief staffs, I was shown to my office by one of the maidens working in the Lee’s mansion. I went into the room to be welcome with a huge spaced office, the flooring is being covered with wood and the place was divided into two by a huge book racks. The first part of the room is the actual office which had been decorated with everything that I would need as the family’s doctor. A huge mahogany study desk with a few organizers on it while in front of the desk is an area where you could relax on the couch and had a huge flat screen on the wall. Behind the study table is a huge window which allows the sunlight to pass through and illuminates the whole room, might need those vitamin D!!! This is totally an ideal working environment yet an extra working environment just for a mere doctor like me. The second part of the room is a resting room where there’s a huge king sized bed being provided and a counter to make beverages. This is TOO LUXURIOUS!

As I had finished looking around the room in awe, I turn around and to my surprise, Alexander was standing by the door with his sides resting against the window frame. Okay, I know this might sound exaggerating but... I never realized that his height is as tall as the door which is around 6 feet by eye measurement.

I shuddered out of shock and a few moments later relaxed a bit. I said, “Mr Lee! I did not hear you coming in. May I help you?”

A small laugh left his pink lips before he said, “Shouldn’t it be me asking you that question? Do you need any guidance or maybe any complaints about this room?” He asked. I am flustered by his question as I have not yet scan through the flaws in the room. Everything seemed perfect yet I still got the feeling that the room is not yet complete... “May I know where’s the medications?”

“Oh? Medications? I never thought of that.” He said. I rise an eyebrow then ask, “Uhm, are you not prescribed any medications by doctors?”

He shook his head then said, “I am way healthy than how I look.”

“... You would be even healthier if you stop smoking and drinking alcohol.” I replied and immediately cover my mouth as I realize what I’ve just said. Stupid girl! You wanna lose your job already?!

I look over at Alexander who stares at me with widen eyes. He asked, “How did you guess that correctly?”

“Uh, I uh, well, doctors.” I briefly replied. Yeah, great replies Nayla, doctors had some spiritualism senses shits stuff going on huh?

Now I am cussing my subconscious mind for being an ass and is not helping me. Alexander burst out a laughter then said in between his laugh, “Seriously... you are... adorable you know that May?”

A-adorable?! My face turns red and I could feel my cheeks getting warmer out of embarrassment. I quickly change the topic, “W-well, I appreciate that this room is near to perfection and is very well suitable in terms of medicating patients, but I do need to prepare some medications before hand just as an emergency back up.” I said nervously. Hope he did not hear my shaking voice, I was so damn nervous!

He went up to me then took my hand which causes me to jump a little from his sudden action. A credit card was placed on my palm and he said, “Use this to buy everything you need for this room. You could also buy stuffs you want to buy like handbags or anything, I don’t mind. This card is all yours’.”

I quickly shook my head, “Oh no, you don’t have to give me this. The salary you gave me to work here is an extremely high amount and I am sure that it is more than enough to give me all of the fortune I would desire but for the time being of course I don’t have anything I would want in mind.”

“Did I ask you a question just now? This is more likely a demand. This is your card now, if you don’t want to leisurely use it then use it wisely.” He said then before I could even debate, he left the room. I stare at the open door before looking down at the card. The f**k just happened? Did he just gave me his card?!

At the pharmacy, I went to buy every single utensils I might need just to make it as my emergency kit while I’m on duty. Suddenly, a tap on my shoulder made me spun around and came face to face with a lady. Her dark brown hair grabs less attention, however those sky blue eyes made me wonder where did I met this lady before?

“As I thought, it IS you!” She exclaimed in excitement. I furrow my eyebrows then forced a smile, “Uhm, if you don’t mind. Who are you?”

“Seriously, Lin?! It’s me! Cassandra.” My jaw dropped. Of course, I knew this lady! It’s Cassandra my bestfriend back in highschool!

“Oh my god, Cassandra?! Is this really you?” I gasped then we pull each other into a hug. She giggled then asked, “Where have you been, gurl?! Do you even know how hell of a month I’ve gone through when you went missing without a trace?! Everyone is going rampage the first week you’re not there.”

“Woah woah, calm down now, I am sorry that I left school without telling you guys. I move to Japan and live with my grandfather.” I replied. She said, “But still, atleast leave us a note. But then no, you leave us like the wind.”

I laughed at how we both still have that small bickering. This reminds me of the good old days. Wish I have not experience that event that causes me to decided to move to Japan, I would have graduated High school with my friends back then.

We went to the cafe where we both used to hang out at whenever we visited her grandparents in the states. Before, the place have such a vintage aura, a checkered flooring, top half of the walls painted a sunny bright yellow while the bottom half is decorated with emerald green woods vertically sticked to the wall. The wall was also decorated with vintage black and white pictures. Back then it was more towards a restaurant vibe. Now, the restaurant had been completely turned into a cafe. The yellow walls had been replaced with a plain white bricked wall. The flooring had also been changed, no longer checkered tiles but, a printed dark wooden tile with a rough anti-slip texture. The space is also decorated with green plants which made the place more authentic and monotone-ly aesthetic.

“Things sure change a lot here.” I chuckled after taking my order and watching the waiter left. Cassandra said with full of anticipation, “I know right?! It’s such a bummer that as soon as the owner passed away, the children decided to modernize this place and turn it into a cafe.”

“Damn! The tomato soup here is the most famous in town. It’s a shame that I won’t get to taste that nostalgic menu again.” I sighed with full of disappointment.

Excitedly Cassandra gently clapped both her hands in a fast pace then asked, “So how was life in Japan? Did you get yourself a boyfriend?”

“Seriously Cass? That’s the first thing you wanted to know from me?” I face palmed at her questions. Cassandra laughed, showing off both her dimples and her perfect white pearls. She said, “Guuurl, come on. You’ve been missing without any news for years. Of course, things must have changed a lot!”

“Well, I’m a wife and a mother of a little baby boy.” I dropped the bomb immediately, not even giving a chance for Cassandra to breathe and causing her to choke the air.

Cassandra wave her hands infront of my face with that denial written all over her face while she choked her saliva. “You *cough* must be f**k *cough* f*****g kidding me!”

“b***h, I ain’t got time for some jokes. I have a husband and a son already.” I said insisting that I am telling the truth. Cassandra cover her mouth while staring at me with a ridiculous expression. I laughed at how hilarious and how a mood she is before dropping a question, “By the way, since you’re in the states now, are you visiting your grandparents in Oregon?”

“Well...” She paused and the smile on her face is gone being replaced with a face full of sorrow and grieve. A soft sigh leave her red lips and she said with the most heart broken voice I’ve ever heard coming from her, “They both passed away a couple of weeks ago.”

“Oh my god, I am so sorry to hear that!” Immediately I reacted to the surprising news. She weakly smiled then said, “Naah it’s okay, your prediction is right anyways. I’m here to pack all of their stuffs and visit their graves before going back to Finland.”

Damn that question sure is a boomer, I don’t even know what to ask her anymore. The silence was then snapped by Cassandra, she asked, “Onko suomesi edelleen hyvä? (Is your Finnish still good?)”

She flashed me her teasing smirk and I replied, “Olisi sääli, jos kykyni puhua suomeksi menisi wc-kulhoon. (It would be a shame if my ability to speak in Finnish goes down the toilet bowl.)”

“Damn guuuurll! You still got that accent.” Cassandra gasped then high five with me. “Come on Cass, my grandparents are Finns. My mom is a full blooded Finn. Of course I speak Finnish.”

“Well yeah, not to mention you speak a tone of language so to say that you are a bilingual is like an understatement. You’re more likely a polyglot.” 

“Tsk, I don’t speak a lot of language.”

“You gon’ drop that lie again? Now tell me all of the languages you can speak.” Cassandra said with a demanding tone. She never change, always that wanting to win type in a debate HAHAHAHA how I miss her so much. I sighed then said, “Fine. I speak, French, Italian, Finnish, Japanese, Hokkien, Mandarin, Cantonese, Hakka, Korean, Bahasa Malaysia, Bahasa Indonesia, Bahasa Brunei, Russian, Swedish, German, Spanish, English, Thai, Burmese, Vietnamese, Tamil and Arabic. It’s not that many!”

Cassandra massage her temples then took a sip of her drink, “I seriously need to kill you for being extremely humble to the point where people sometimes just misunderstand you for silently flexing.”

“Okay okay, I will shut up.” I said while putting both my hands up as an act of surrender. 

We then continue our hang out conversing about life and the good old dumb memories back in high school and before I realize, it is almost 5 hours that we’ve been in the cafe.

“Hey do you still remember how we’ve been so damn annoyed of the school’s badass fuckboy?” Cassandra asked with full on anticipation. I rise an eyebrow then said, “Really? Did we?”

“Oh my god, you’ve only been missing for 4 years and you already forgotten about it?” She asked. I laughed softly then apologized, “Well, Sorry Ms. Cassandra, I don’t know who you’re talking about.”

“Come oooonnn, It’s that famous douche bag of a group back in high school consisting of the sons of CEOs from big companies.” She paused, “I see how filthy rich they are.” I said. She continued, “Not only they are filthy rich, but they are super hot as well and seriously famous and the girls in town are seriously going crazy for them. Especially the leader of the group.”

“The leader?”

“Yes! The Casanova king, The almighty prince among the princes and the shining star among the sea of diamonds, his name is—“ suddenly, she was cut off by the sound of my phone alarm went off. I jumped from my seat and now all eyes are on me because of the loud sound coming from my phone. I quickly shut the alarm and with a blushing face I apologize to all of the customers for interfering with whatever their doing.

Cassandra said, “Hey, someone texted you.” I grab my phone and look at the lit up screen. 398 messages from an unknown number. Suddenly, I remember something. I panicked, “Oh shoot!”

“What? What’s wrong?” Cassandra started to panicked as well. “I forgot that right now I am actually running errands! s**t, Sorry for having to rush. I have to leave now and hope to see you soon!”

I place a cash enough to pay our foods and drinks before leaving in a hurry back to the mansion. GODDAMMIT HOW COULD I FORGOT ABOUT THIS! I am totally screwed.