Meeting Mr. Mogul(31)

"Ms. Peterson, how are you doing?" he greeted as he made his way towards my father's bed.

"Fine. I just recently found a job," I replied with a small, shy smile.

"Oh, where are you working now?" he asked with interest as he got my father's patient's board from the foot of his bed.

"I work as a secretary at a company," I replied vaguely, not really in the mood for another round of the Maxwell Effect.

"Oh. Good for you," he stated with a smile. He turned to my father and smiled, ending our conversation.

When Logan started his usual checkup, I stepped out of the room to give  them space and to grab something to eat from the vending machine. As I  walked back to the room, the nurse in the station noticed me and called  out.

"Ms. Peterson, can I ask for a few minutes of your time? I need you to  sign a few things," the nurse stated, gesturing me forward as she patted  a folder on the counter.

I nodded in confusion and walked up to her without saying a word. My  first guess was that they might be some of my father's bills from his  last episode a few weeks ago. That wasn't really covered by his health  insurance, which meant that I had to pay for them with my own money. I  mentally cringed at the sum of money that would be printed on the paper.

"I just need you to sign some of these documents so that we can finalize  your father's balance for this month. Since you have another health  insurance, your balance isn't as harsh as the first month," the nurse  stated with a warm smile as she opened the folder.

I looked at her in bewilderment, not sure what she was talking about. "What do you mean have another insurance?" I asked.

She looked up to me with a confused look. "Didn't your company inform  you about the medical insurance they provide? You do work at Maxwell  Enterprises right?" she asked, pointing at the name listed below my  father's health insurance company.

"I wasn't informed about this … " I gaped as I glanced down at the name.

Maxwell's health insurance benefits included all of the employees'  families. As I continued to assess the paper, I noticed that Maxwell had  paid for the operation my father underwent. It also covered his daily  medication and room charge in the hospital. In the end, that would leave  me nothing to pay but his personal medications. I couldn't really grasp  what I was seeing and stood there, glued to the floor.

When I finally signed the paper on my father's behalf, I walked back to  his room still stunned with what had happened. Did he do this? No, he  couldn't have. Maybe his sister did it. She was very generous with the  apartment, and she knew about my father but I couldn't be sure about it.  I speculated, although I don't know whether I had enough guts to ask  either one of them. But then, a thought crossed my mind.

I stopped a foot from the door of my father's room and got my phone from  my pocket. I scanned the caller I.Ds until I found what I was looking  for. I didn't hesitate and clicked the call button, knowing that the  person would answer.   





 

"Hey Andy, is there something you need?" Maggie asked urgently.

"Maggie. No. I wanted to ask you something," I replied, huffing out a  sigh. "Uhm... Do you know about the health insurance that the company  provided for my father?" I asked hesitantly.

"Oh, right. I forgot to tell you, sorry," she replied guiltily as I heard soft tapping of keyboards on the background.

"What are you doing?" I asked out of curiosity.

"Oh. Sorry. I'm typing out something William had just given me," she  replied softly as the disturbance stopped momentarily. "Excuse me for a  moment..." she added and continued with her mouth slightly muffled.  "Andy is on the phone. She is asking about the health insurance for her  father."

"What? Don't tell..." For a second, I could hear William's voice on the other end before the call ended.

I removed the phone from my ear and looked at it with confusion. What was that about?

I tried to call Maggie again but I couldn't reach her. After three  tries, I give up and put my phone back in my pocket. She wouldn't be  able to avoid me when I get back to work on Monday. By then, she should  have a good explanation about all of this.

Over the weekend, I didn't let those thoughts dwell in my head. So when  Monday came, I almost forgot about it. Almost. It all came back when  Terry texted me before lunch, reminding me about it. I was glad that I  told him when I stayed over at his place yesterday. I was starting to  miss his living room couch.

"Maggie, what is this about a health insurance in the company?" I asked  after reading Terry's message. If I prolong this until lunch, I would  lose the confidence to say a word.

Maggie stopped typing and glanced up from her computer.

"Oh, that," she replied with a nervous chuckle. She glanced quickly at  William's closed office door before turning back to me. "I'll tell you  when he leaves," she whispered.

I looked at her confusedly and opened my mouth to ask. But I choked on  my words when William's door suddenly opened. This was the first time I  saw him since I came to work. It seemed that William arrived earlier  than I did.

"Maggie, I'll be out for the rest of the afternoon. I have a meeting  with a few possible partners," he announced as he closed the door behind  him and pulled out his phone from his pocket.

As he made his way to the elevator, he didn't once look up to either of  us. When the steel door closed on him, I snorted at his arrogance. I  thought he had changed. Maybe I just dreamt about it.

"Glad he's back to his usual self," I remarked as I returned to my work.

Beside me, I heard Maggie chuckle softly in agreement. This made me glance in her direction. She looked amused.

"So, are you going to tell me now?" I asked expectantly, again.

"William told me to set up one for you and for your dad," she replied with a smile without any trail of hesitation.

I looked at her with wide eyes. "Did I hear you clearly? You mean..." I asked, trailing off in disbelief.

"He is not as bad you think," she stated with a smirk. And after saying  those words, she turned back to typing something in her computer.

I faced my computer monitor, looking at it without seeing anything. My  mind was swirling from what she said. Is this what he meant about  helping me last time? With a sigh of defeat, I shoved all thoughts  regarding him to the back of my mind and went out for lunch earlier than  usual. I needed some space to think.

I wondered around aimlessly on the street near the company building,  looking for some new place to eat. I settled on a quiet bistro just a  few blocks away, which looked homey rather than the usual classy  ambiance that most places have around this part of the city.

When I finished my meal, I decided to stay for a few more minutes to  soak up the soft classical music that was playing in the background. I  leaned my elbows on the table and placed my head on my curled fingers,  just feeling the peaceful moment. I was so absorbed that my eyes had  started to close, which I later realized was a big mistake.

The first thing I heard were soft murmurs coming from the entrance of  the bistro. I ignored it for a while until the voice grew louder. I  decided to look up when I heard a chair being dragged across my table.   





 

When I looked up, I stiffened in my chair as my eyes zoned in the  familiar striking blue eyes that were staring directly at me. What was  he doing here?

While I remain shocked, William raised his eyebrow at me, his lips  stretching into a grin. Did he find my reaction entertaining? What was  wrong with this guy?

My gaze hardened as my eyebrows scrunched together in annoyance. And  from the way he lightly chuckled and looked away, this was the reaction  he wanted to get from me.

Since the peaceful moment was gone, I gathered my things and swiftly  made my way out of the bistro. In the corner of my eye, I could feel  William's gaze following my every move. It took all of me to ignore his  presence and had to force myself to get out of there before any verbal  clashes would start.

For the rest of the afternoon, William stayed true to his word and  didn't come back to the office. I was glad that he didn't because I  wasn't exactly sure about how I was going to respond to him. I just  found out that one, he was responsible for paying my father's medical  fees, and two, he doesn't want me to find out about it. Either he just  wants to be a silent hero or he doesn't want to tarnish his  I-don't-give-a-damn image.

For the next few days, I was less responsive towards William's  occasional morning greetings. It was hard to face the man when I'm torn  between two things and I don't know how things ended the way they were.  Maybe the friendship thing wasn't the best thing for us. I didn't seem  to be holding up well on my end. And on Friday morning, William thought  so, too.

I was about to sit down at my desk when he arrived. He called me as he  walked out of the elevator. Startled at his sudden arrival, I looked up  at him with wide eyes.

"In my office now, Ms. Peterson," he commanded, stopping by my table for a second before proceeding to his office.