'I will bring Faye to apologize to the Madame. Assistant Ryan you know our family, you are aware of what kind of people we are. Since the generation of the old master of the Black family we have never dared overstep ourselves. Faye, that child, she just...' Davis hurriedly tried to reason as best he could.
Once he found out what the reason for the president's anger was, he had lost his composure. But when a lot of money and the future of his family were involved, the man had regained his businesslike manner, and that was... resolving the situation in any way possible.
'Mister Davis, even if what you are saying were to be true. The fact that our Madame is currently in the hospital is not something our president can overlook. You certainly know his unbending attitude. You can plead however you want to, but frankly I don't think it will make any difference.' Ryan, having no patience whatsoever, stopped the man from continuing his words.
He already had to deal with the aftermath of the president having taken the day off, even though he was supposed to return to the meeting after his lunch with his wife. He was fulfilling the orders of the president regarding the employees who were to be fired, and on top of that he was also dealing with his usual every day work matters. His hands were full, and because of this he was more sharp than usual.
Well, even if it weren't for how busy he had become today, to see the president's wife in that state, and knowing her condition, he could relate to how Zane was feeling. Not to mention, he knew for a fact that Zane would never change his mind once he had decided on something.
'Even if it doesn't make a difference, at least I want to offer my apologies. Faye will also want to, that child will surely regret the misunderstanding that was created. She is not the kind of a person who is capable to hurt a fly, even less a human. Once the Madame speaks with her...'
Davis could feel Ryan's arrogant voice and he was truly displeased by it. How could a mere assistant talk to a shareholder like how he was speaking now? But of course, his tone was mellow and repenting. He wouldn't show a speck of his true attitude until the matter was brushed over.
'Mister Davis, I am waiting for the signed contract to be delivered until six pm. You have two hours until then. Goodbye.' Ryan had arrived to the end of his patience, so he stopped the conversation altogether, closing the ongoing call.
As if that actress could really repent about what she did. And did Davis really think he hid his displeasure perfectly? Ryan thought as he shook his head, baffled by Davis's poor attempt at covering his daughter's blatant disregard towards their Madame. And what use did the words "that child" instead of "my daughter" had in speaking with him. Was he trying to appear objective? He was Faye's father, he already was as subjective as one could be.
Putting the phone down on his desk, Ryan took the paper that was in front of him, and slid it until the document was on the opposite side of the desk.
'Well then, please sign this document. We have no use in keeping you for the duration of your notice period, but do not worry you will receive the payment for it with your final salary. Just so you don't have any doubts, this fact is written in the document. You can read it before you sign. I expect the document back until 6pm.' Ryan again spoke with the same tone he had used earlier on the phone, unbothered in the slightest by the shocked state of the woman who did not even dare touch the paper from his desk.
Leah, the manager of internal affairs, seemed to think that as long as she did not take the dismissal paper from Ryan's desk, her position in the company would remain the same, or at least that was how it appeared to Ryan.
'B-but I just followed the rules. I did not have any intention other than this. This was just a misunderstanding...' The woman finally spoke with a cracked voice after a brief moment of pondering of how to start her point of view.
Since she had found out who the woman she had tried to forcefully remove from the building was, she had expected that a consequence would follow. But she still would have never thought that the measure against her would be this drastic. Her conduct and duty had been perfect so far... didn't those count for something?
A lot of misunderstandings seemed to be happening today, Ryan thought amused. If everyone could brush off so easily their mistakes, how convenient would that be? They could even commit murder and get away with it very easily by saying it was only a misunderstanding.
'Manager Leah, I am sure you could more or less follow the conversation on the phone, and you also know who mister Davis is. If the president goes to such a length that he cuts off his connection with one of the shareholders because of the disrespect towards his wife, do you think an employee would be spared?' Ryan sighed, frustrated that she was still trying to excuse herself when he had more important things he needed to do.
'But even then, I should be given three warnings. You told me it was just the first warning, but now you are dismissing me completely, this is not right... At least let me resign first.' Leah stated righteously. A dismissal from the consortium would affect other job prospects greatly, she did not want to risk it.
At this point, she had given up on trying to hold her position, especially after overhearing the phone talk, but she should still be allowed to be the one who chose to leave, rather than being let go. Surely, this wasn't an impossible thing to do... and she also had a fair point.
'One, you did not let the ladies identify themselves, before you decided on your course of action. This could be considered your first warning.
Two, you did not let the receptionists do their job, even if you did not know your own well enough. This is the second warning.
Three, your manner of speech should be the same whether you talk to a person who seems to be a homeless person living on the streets, a person who came to the reception asking for something totally irrelevant, or if the president himself is in front of you. Your tone should never change itself. Your denial of people's requests shouldn't influence your attitude towards them, no matter what. This is in the manual of our company.
And if those three warnings are not enough...
Four, even after you were reprimanded for your mistake, you did not apologize. Not even once did you say you were sorry to the Madame for your error.' Ryan stated the reasons one by one.
Reasons that were indeed correct, giving Leah no chance to refute them.
'Manager Leah, in truth all of this could be easily dismissed, and they could be considered as part of the first warning. But the president wants you gone, and he especially wants for you to be let go of in this manner. Do you really think you could win against him? I advise you to save your breath and seriously consider changing your profession. Or you could also change the country... it is entirely up to you.' Ryan coldly informed the woman, before showing her the way out with his hand.
At Davis's mansion
'Dear, please calm down. I am sure Faye will offer a proper explanation for what happened. After that, it is only a matter of setting things right. Don't be upset, your blood pressure will go up again.' Davis's wife tried to assure the man, though she was not confident in her own words.
Even if the father did not know his daughter well enough, she as a mother of course would know her. Faye was as arrogant as a human could get, so apart from her husband she had also advised her daughter to conduct herself in an irreproachable manner. She was even inclined to not let Faye in Zane's presence at all because of this, but the temptation of being closer to the Black's had been too great.
Although subconsciously she was well aware of these things, consciously she was still upset because of that woman who was married to the president, a woman who appeared out of nowhere and stole the man she had set her eyes on for her daughter.
Had that woman felt threatened by her daughter's beauty and that was why she had reacted like this? Had she faked an illness just so the president would blame Faye? It could be possible, couldn't' it? After all, who would suddenly faint just because of some words that could or could not have been said. Just how feeble was she?
Her daughter was too beautiful, surely she had caught Zane's eyes and his wife could not bear it. Then it meant they still had a shot to rectify the matter, right?
If Faye would become even more pitiful in the president's mind, if she became the victim... What man could resist a beauty becoming frail because of him? He was most likely just swayed right now because he had gotten married recently and wanted to make a statement of power.
In her mother's eyes, Faye was the most beautiful and there was no man she could not obtain, so naturally Zane would be no different in this aspect. As for why she had assumed he was recently married... for the president of the consortium to be married was not an information that could be kept under wraps for a long time, so his marriage was something that happened fairly recently. How would she know that Zane and the previous owner of Aria's body had interacted so little if never in front of other people's eyes, so no one would ever think the president was truly married.
'Father!' A young beautiful woman called out, just as soon as she entered the living room. Her face showed such an aggrieved and wronged expression that you would think that she was the most pitiful person in the whole wide world.
Usually, showing such a face to her father would immediately cause the man to seek justice for his daughter, and even avenge her regardless of the problem that occurred. It would cause his anger to flare up, and punish who ever caused her suffering without a second thought.
She was already imagining her father jumping up from the couch and hurriedly coming over to her, coaxing her and asking her what was wrong. It should have been the same this time around... at least that was how she thought her father would react. But strangely, the man did not move an inch from his seat, not even his head was looking at her direction.
This left her speechless, no one was asking her what the problem was, not even her mother dared to open her mouth. It meant her father was upset by something and she was afraid to speak. Was it about his work? But still her problem was more important than everything else. Feeling even more indignant Faye was about to lose her composure, but knowing that she still depended on her father to solve her matter, she railed in her temper momentarily.
'Father?' Faye asked again, as tears trickled down her face.
Her father still showed no reaction, although Faye's voice was hoarse and sad.
'Faye, sit down for a bit.' Her mother answered in the man's stead, and gestured with her eyes towards Faye. If her daughter sat in front of her father, it would be easier for the man to see her face and thus soften him.
Faye unsure of what the matter was, obediently sat on the chair that was on the other side of the coffee table, just in front of her parents, and waited for a bit, though inside she was already fuming. Never in her life had she been subjected to such humiliation like she had been earlier at the consortium.
After that pregnant woman left, it did not take more than five minutes for the door to Zane's office to open again, and for three security guards to come and quite rudely escort her out of the building. She had tried to let the men know who she was, but none of her words worked on them. They seemed even capable of lifting her up from the floor if she would tarry a bit and make a fuss.
Angered like never before, she had come home to tell her father, and make him go seek answers from the main company on her behalf. Someone needed to take responsibility for her embarrassment no matter what. She could only consider letting bygones be bygones if Zane offered his apologies himself, no one else would make her yield in this matter. She would never let what happened today be considered a misunderstanding no matter what, otherwise.
'What happened today at the main company?' Her father finally asked, not looking towards Faye.
'I just went to meet Zane to ask about the contract, and while I was waiting for Zane in his office, I was rudely chased out by security guards without an explanation or anything. Father you must...' Faye started to quickly tell her grievances, not thinking her father's peculiar mood had anything to do with her. She hadn't met Zane at the main building, so on her part she had done absolutely nothing wrong.
'Before you were escorted out what happened?' Davis asked with a slightly harsher tone.
Hearing her father's question, Faye frowned as she was displeased that the man had not let her finish her words, but still answered.
'What do you mean what happened? Nothing important... Ohh the secretary was also rude, I asked for coffee and even though she did not do it properly she still had the nerve to...' Faye continued speaking, oblivious of her father's decreasing patience.
'I don't give a damn about the coffee! Did you meet anyone else in his office?' Davis yelled loudly as he slammed his hand on the small coffee table. Because of the force, the tea cups that Davis and his wife were about to drink from before he opened the envelope, clattered on their small plates.
Faye flinched, and lowered her voice as she recounted who else she had spoken to as she waited for Zane.
'Only a woman came while I waited and I...'
Carefully Faye told her father how a woman had dared to enter Zane's office without a secretary accompanying her and had even brought a dog, though Zane was allergic to them.
Sensing that something was wrong with her father, the actress sweetened the story in her favor, explaining that she had only kindly reminded the woman that no dogs were allowed in the building because of Zane and that she should bring her pet out before the president came, and his allergy acted up. The woman had not said anything in reply, and after looking indignantly towards Faye, had stormed out of the office without a care.
Of course, Faye left out the usage of her language, her sharp tone and other such things that would incriminate her. Her parents had told her countless times that she should behave as cordial and as well-mannered as possible. Was that woman someone important? Faye was sure she wasn't, but it was better to be safe than sorry.
Though the actress was cautious around her parents and minded her words and actions at this moment, ironically she hadn't thought of making use of the previous proverb earlier in Zane's office.
'You stupid girl, why would you care about other people. You should have just minded your own business. That woman is Zane's wife, she could bring with her even a poisonous snake and it still wouldn't be your duty to point it out!' Davis angered reprimanded Faye, though he had a bit of hope now to right the wrong.
If the matter was as Faye portrayed it to be, then it only appeared that his wife was just arrogant and so had thrown a tantrum for Zane to see it, forcing his hand to deal with Faye in this way because of her pride as the Madame.
Then it would only become a matter of redirecting their pleading to another person. The only other woman Zane would heed at this moment other than his wife was the former president.
If Zane wouldn't listen, considering the problem was not something major, then his mother would. Although the older woman was even colder than Zane when doing business, she was still one who put emphasis on keeping the bonds with the ones who had helped their family in the past, a trait she had inherited from the old master.
But even though he thought like this inside his mind, his words had still been harsh to teach his daughter a lesson for the future, to curb that haughty temper of hers. He even threw the contract to Faye, showing her directly the consequences her actions could lead to.
'W-what?' Faye widened her eyes, hearing about the identity of the woman she had chased out of the office, as a shiver ran up and down her spine. Though the shock quickly dispersed as it was replaced by a sentiment of unfairness. She was miles apart from that woman, she was better than her in any way thinkable. Why had Zane married someone like her? Was it an arranged marriage? It must have been. That woman did not even know Zane was allergic to dogs. How could his wife not know such an important thing about her husband?
She felt even bitterer once she saw the contract of the shares being sold to a woman with the Black last name. It was surely that woman. Clenching her jaws in anger, Faye clutched the papers until her knuckles turned white, wrinkling the document in the process. That woman wanted to mock her by showing her a display of power.
'You, you...' Davis shook his head, wanting to scold her even more. She did not seem to have learnt anything from what he had taught her.
'Alright, alright. You heard it yourself. The matter is not how Zane's wife put it. Who knows what that woman wants with this? Maybe she is only using our daughter as an example for everyone to know of what happens if they approach Zane, she is just establishing her position. Faye is not responsible.' Davis' wife tried to mediate the discussion, she was also sighing in relief that Faye had conducted herself as she should.
With a still sharp gaze, though visibly a lot more relaxed than before, Davis said nothing more to his daughter. What mattered now was mending the problem. A problem which absolutely had to be resolved today.
Waiting no more, he hmphed then coughed to clear his voice in preparation for the phone call he was about to make.
'Yes?' The clear aloof voice of a mature older woman was heard after a couple of rings. As always, Zane's mother was not one to greet and ask trivial things.
Whenever she talked with someone, the other person would have to get right down to the purpose of his or her call, otherwise he or she was facing the possibility of the phone call being closed abruptly.
'This is Davis, I am calling you...' Davis started to speak with a determined voice.
At the hospital
'Say ahhh...' The tall cold man expressionlessly said to the small woman who was looking blankly at him.
How couldn't she be stunned at the image of the grown-up man who had a spoon in his hand, and was waiting for her to open her mouth to eat.
She did not know whether to cry or laugh at his gesture and his handsome look despite his nursing posture, she was as confused as she could be. Though she knew one thing for certain, and that was she was feeling as ashamed as never before in this moment.
And if you would ask her why this was, well because each of Zane's actions since she had woken up until now, were exactly the ones she had done for the man, just some days earlier when he was the patient and she was the kin. They were a carbon copy in fact. Knowing this and experiencing on her own skin how the other person on the receiving end of such actions would feel like, Aria felt like she was about to die of shame.
Had Zane also felt like her? Was he also embarrassed, but was forced to accept whatever she did because of her pushiness and firm attitude regarding his health, just like the man was doing right at this moment?
She had tried to keep Anne with her, assuring Zane his presence was not needed, but just like how she insisted to remain at the hospital with Zane, the man also pressured her like so, using this exact reason.
At his words, Aria was tongue tied, and was forced to accept whatever Zane wanted to do for her without a fuss... unfortunately. It was her fault after all, and so she couldn't say he did not have to care for her himself, because he could also say the same to her.
Awkwardly, Aria opened her small heart shaped lips, as the man waited patiently with his hand raised in the direction of her mouth, holding the spoon without any intention of taking it away unless its content arrived safely in her stomach.
Without a choice, Aria ate everything the man gently brought to her mouth.
Well, at least she had a small hope that this situation would only continue for today, after all Zane still had his work. He would return to his office tomorrow, then she could finally breathe easily.
Just as she was fed the last spoon and had her mouth also wiped with a tissue by the somber man, Aria finally felt she could sigh in relief, when Zane's phone rang interrupting the "nursing atmosphere".
'Yes?' He replied holding his phone in the crook between his shoulder and head, as his hands were occupied removing the food containers from the small bed table.
Attentively, he was also wiping Aria's hands with a wet tissue, gaining another small blush from the already flustered woman.
'No. Push all the meetings to next week. Whatever documents need looking over send them to my apartment.' He answered as he removed the wet tissue, and brought a glass of water, holding it for the woman to drink.
'No, I already said all of them...' Zane replied to the person who was most likely asking him about specific people who he was supposed to absolutely meet himself.
'Only if it will be absolutely necessary you can set up a video call, but it shouldn't be during the meals. I have to take care of Aria properly this week.' Zane continued.
Even though he was very attentive to Aria, holding the glass at just the right angle, so not too much water would rush to her opened mouth, as he spoke about his work, the small woman still choked unexpectedly.
Zane frowned thinking it was his fault, as he was also talking on the phone, and immediately rushed to pat her back. How would the man know that he was the cause of Aria's unfortunate accident, but not for the reason he assumed.
A week... was the thought in Aria's mind while coughing, as she hoped for what she understood to only be a misunderstanding.