Chapter 48
“Me, like her? As if!” Samson waved dismissively. “You gotta be joking me!”
Just as he spoke, Vidonia pushed the door open, “What joke?”
Hearing it, Samson’s voice vanished into thin air.
“Who are you gossiping about? Vidonia asked with a curious look on her face. “You’re not keeping secrets and juicy gossip from me, are you?”
Letitia struggled to hold back a giggle.
“No, no, no,” Samson gestured with his hands. “Our Designer Sanders here thought she got overpaid and came to check
with me about it.”
“Oh, right, Letitia, you’ve got to treat us now that you’ve got your paycheck!”
Letitia nodded her head, “Sure, I’ll treat. What do you guys want for lunch? It’s on me.”
Samson was her career’s lucky star, and Vidonia was her best friend. Without their help and support, she wouldn’t have been able to do the job she was good at and loved.
“I guess it’s only fair to have you spoiling me with a lavish meal then,” Vidonia said, her eyes sparkling with mischief, “I want steak! The kind that costs top dollar per person at those swanky places!”
Letitia agreed to it.
However, Vidonia was just teasing. After enjoying their high-end steak meal, when Letitia went to settle the bill, she found out it had already been paid.
That’s what true friends are like. Letitia felt a warm glow in her heart.
After lunch, she went back to the company and headed for the CEO’s office.
“Ranen,” she asked, “is Mr. Ramirez in?”
“Mr. Ramirez should be napping around this time, ma’am. Would you like to go in?”
“I wouldn’t want to disturb him.
“I’m just guessing though, Ranen added, “Mr. Ramirez’s sleep hasn’t been great. If it’s urgent, you can go in.”
After a moment’s thought, Letitia gently pushed the door open and walked in.
Elgin was sitting on the couch, head back, eyes closed, resting. Beside him lay a scented candle.
Letitia tiptoed over, picked up a blanket, and draped it over him.
When she looked up, she caught his deep gaze.
“You… you’re awake, Letitia said, startled, quickly withdrawing her hand.
Elgin gave her a cold look and tossed the blanket aside, “Letitia, you’ve hated me for so long, no need for this fake. concern!”
“I’m not here out of concern, Letitia retorted. “I just don’t want you to catch a cold. Sick people are even moodier, and I’d suffer too.”
“What are you doing here? Who let you in?” He frowned in displeasure. “Ranen!”
came in by myself!” Letitia hurriedly explained. She didn’t want to get Ranen into trouble.
Elgin’s gaze remained fixed on her.
“I’m here to pay you back, Letitia said “I borrowed twenty thousand from you before, and I said I’d pay it back
He squinted at her, “Where did you get twenty thousand from?”
Just ten for now. I got my paycheck today. I’ll pay you the rest next month.”
Chaple 48
Either pay it all at once or don’t bother paying at all.”
Letitia bit her lip, then replied. “Then I can only pay you next month.
“Get out.” Elgin said pressing his temple. “Next time you disturb my nap, I’ll throw you out myself!”
Letitia immediately headed for the door. Before she left, she glanced at the couch. The scented candle was nearly
burned out
Clearly, Elgin used it often.
Letitia decided to make him a new one. She went to buy the necessary materials and, with a brand-new scented candle in hand, retumed to the CEO’s office.
The door was ajar, and voices could be heard from inside.
“Mr. Ramirez, came Ranen’s voice, “we just got a call from the nursing home. Mrs. Sanders’ condition is stable, but it’s a bit tricky
“She’s awake, isn’t she?”
“She is, but she needs to be on an expensive medication for a while.”
Elgin raised an eyebrow, “Expensive?”
In his world, there was no such thing as “expensive. He could afford almost anything he wanted.
“Yes, a special medication for coma patients, fifty thousand a pill,” Ranen reported. “One pill a month, for five years, for the best therapeutic effect.”
Elgin frowned
Suddenly, a determined voice cut through the chaos, “My mother needs this medicine!” It was Letitia, bursting into the
scene
She was still clutching the scented candle, looking at him with hopeful yet cautious eyes…
Such an expensive medication was beyond her means, but Elgin could afford it.
As he glanced at the scented candle in her hand, something flickered in his eyes.
Yet, his words were still merciless, “I’m giving you a chance to be a good daughter, Letitia. You can go and pay at the hospital now and get the medication for your mother.”
Fifty thousand a pill, once a month. That was way too much for Letitia.
“What’s wrong? Elgin said coolly. “If you can’t afford it, then don’t use it.”
“But…”
“Get out!”
Letitia mustered her courage to ask, “What would it take for you to pay for the medication?”
She had no other options but to negotiate with Elgin.
Even though she knew the hope was slim, but she had to try. She gently placed the scented candle on his desk, “I made this for you just now.”
Elgin, with his legs crossed, looked down at her abdomen.
Knowing what he meant, Letitia gasped.
His voice was cold, “If you want me to pay for the medication, that’s fine. Letitia, go to the hospital and get an abortion. and I’ll get them to dispense the medication immediately.”
Letitia’s pupils constricted.
gin’s heart was cruel, presenting her with such a dilemma! On one side was her mother, on the other was her child. oth were the dearest to her!
to forsake one to save the other would leave her with a lifetime of guilt.
“Can’t do it? You want to keep the child?” Elgin sneered. “Then don’t save your mother.”
“No..
“You can think about it.” Elgin tilted his chin up. “I’ll give you time.”
Her hands clenched and then released as she slowly walked out… like a zombie.
Elgin’s voice followed her, “After you get the abortion, tell my grandfather you accidentally fell and miscarried.”
Letitia tasted blood in her mouth. Her body felt numb, her heart torn and struggling.
She just kept on walking, tuning out the world as she left the Ramirez Group behind, weaving through the crowd with a vacant, defeated look in her eyes..
Until someone stepped in front of her, blocking her path, “Letitia
Letitia looked up blankly
“What’s going on? Walden asked with concern, ‘I’ve been calling your name for quite a while, didn’t you hear me?”
“Walden… it’s you” Suddenly, a glimmer of hope sparked in Letitia’s eyes, “Can you lend me some cash?”
Afraid that Walden might refuse, she quickly added, “Not a lot, just forty grand. I’ll pay you back, I swear I’ll find a way!”
“Of course, Walden replied, “I’ll transfer it to you right now, and you don’t have to worry about paying me back.”
