Maxwell rested his back on his office chair when someone knocked on his door.
"Come in"
Edwin Nicolas walked in carrying a parcel with him.
"Mr Kant,Secretary Brown from KB just came by"
"Ricky Brown?"
"Yes"
"Secretary Brown asked me to give this to you" Edwin said passing the parcel to Maxwell. "Secretary Brown said he found one of your cufflinks at Knight Hospital the other day,so he reached out and asked me to give it to you"
Maxwell brought out the cufflink to take a look at it.
"Mr Kant,I'll leave you to it" Edwin said and left.
Maxwell stared at the cufflink in confusion. He took the envelope that wrapped it and saw a note.
Mr Kant,I saw your cufflink at Knight Hospital the other day. I've always wanted to return it to you. That's why I asked for your number last night to return it to its owner. I'm sorry for the trouble last night. I'm really sorry. Thank you for helping me. I appreciate it.
Ricky Brown.
Maxwell turned the paper over and over again to check if there was something else written but found none. He suddenly trashed it in the bin close to him. He tried to focus and continue his work but couldn't concentrate. Then on a second thought he retrieved the note from the bin and kept it in his drawer. Just then he got a call from the hospital where his dad was hospitalized.
On getting there he met the doctor briefing his younger brother,one of his father's mistresses' son on the critical situation his father was in. He stood watching with his Secretary, Edwin,behind him. Then his brother suddenly screamed at the doctor.
"Are you saying you can't cure him? Is he just waiting to die"
Maxwell reacted and said
"Nuel Kant,can you stop screaming in public while carrying the Kant family name"
"Well,well,well.Isn't this Chairman Maxwell?"Nuel mocked. "This is a hospital right? I didn't expect to see you here. Where are you and our father is dying. Do you even shed a single tear? Maybe our dad's life mean nothing to you once you got that chairman seat"
Maxwell didn't respond to his nonsense and didn't care but his Secretary defended him.
"Master Nuel. Among all the kids in the Kant family,only Mr Kant works at the company. He's been working nonstop like a spinning top while the other young masters and ladies can draw as they like,flying from Paris to Tokyo on a whim. He hasn't spared a single time to rest"
"I'm talking to Maxwell Kant,who do you think you are? Its none of your business right?!!" Nuel screamed.
"Secretary Nicolas,there's no need to waste your time on him" Maxwell finally intervened.
"Waste of time?" Nuel felt hurt. "Fine . Then efficient chairman Maxwell,answer a question for me. I remember a year ago you started researching on the highly effective meds right? Where are they? Show me. He mocked.
Maxwell stared coldly at him.
"Hey, say something" Nuel moved closer to Maxwell wanting to hit him but Edwin shielded pushing Nuel away.
"The cure doesn't appear out of thin air,you know" Edwin defended. "Research on such drug takes time. It takes at least ten years"
"I see" Nuel said. "Maxwell is just mute and you are just blind. Do you want to go in and check if my dad has ten years left? Its so funny.The moment my dad got hospitalized everyone thinks they have a say over me" He was mad that he stretched his hand to hit Edwin but Maxwell caught that hand and drew him closer staring at him square in the eyes.
"Are you done?" Maxwell's touch was cold. "If you think the research is slow,why don't you join the lab yourself? The lab doors aren't locked"
"You are crazy--"
"Did I say something wrong? Dad has more than one illegitimate child. Maryline Kant, Edward Kant, Rose Kant, Matthew Kant and Lillian Kant. As long as they are willing to join the research team,they are always welcome,why should everything fall one me? Just because I'm the legitimate one I deserve all the hard work and you illegitimate kids get to do what you want,right?" Maxwell shoved him away.
Nuel said arrogantly. "Being a legitimate kid is a big deal, huh? The only difference between you and me is that your mom married my dad a little earlier. Indeed thats a big deal"
"When my mom co-founded Kant pharmaceutical with dad,your mom was still working at Pentagon serving as a waitress. Nuel Kant,while I still have patience I'm warning you to better tone it down or one day when I stop cleaning up dad's mess--
"You---
"You might have to live off your mother's old gigs"
"You--
"Nuel, if you want to join the meds research team,you're always welcome but with your high school dropout education. I'm afraid you won't have any constructive suggestions" Maxwell said harshly. "Edwin, prepare the car" He then walked away leaving Nuel furious anger boiling inside of him he watched them walk off.
On getting to the elevator,at the next stop to receive another passenger,Ricky suddenly appeared with a doctor, his sad and delicate face paled with his cuteness. Maxwell was taken aback. Ricky walked in slowly listening to the doctor's advise, when he looked up shocked to see Maxwell he stopped in his tracks and walked backward. Maxwell looked away from him. The elevator door almost closed up but Maxwell set his hand between it stopping it from closing up.
"What are you waiting for,get in" Maxwell said softly. He actually couldn't bear to be harsh on someone that delicate.
"Thank you,Mr Kant" Ricky said slowly.
Maxwell didn't respond.
Ricky entered while the doctor continued to brief him.
"I've already explained the overall situation. You must pay the surgery fee this week or your sister's surgery will be postponed"
Maxwell watched how pitiful Ricky looked not having a means to pay he felt moved.
"Doctor is there any way... Can you please do the surgery first I'll pay later ,I beg you" Ricky inquired.
"I'm sorry,I really sympathize with her condition. The surgery cost over six hundred thousand. That's too much for post payment and it goes against our hospital's policy besides you still owe some medical bills. I really did my best to save your sister's bed 201"
"I'm sorry doctor,thank you" Ricky seemed to have accepted fate as he looked away from the doctor. "I'll try to get the money"
The doctor got out at his destination leaving Ricky with Maxwell and Edwin.
"That cufflink--
"KB's salary--
Maxwell and Ricky suddenly said at the same time.Maxwell intended to mock Ricky.
"It seems like your company treats you quite badly" Maxwell said making Ricky blink back his tears. "Secretary Brown,you go to work in the morning,flirt with the boss at night and even serve drinks at a club after midnight.You're working that hard and you still can't get six hundred thousand? Instead of being an escort at Pentagon club. Why not steal a watch from Peem Ronald's wrist?
That alone is worth more than sixty thousand" Maxwell mocked him offensively.
Ricky felt hurt hearing Maxwell talked to him with that tone." Mr Kant I work part time as a waiter at that club but I don't do escort work and Mr Ronald and I are just coworkers. Last night when I asked for your number,I didn't mean anything,I just wanted to return your cufflink. Could you not assume the worst of me?"
The elevator door opened and Ricky walked out upset leaving Maxwell feeling bad about what he spouted.
"So you are just coworkers" Maxwell thought aloud. "Why didn't you tell me earlier"
He then turned to Edwin. "Do you remember all what that doctor said? What was his sister's bed number again?"
"Its bed 201" Edwin replied.
Maxwell made the payment for the surgery without anyone else's knowledge except his Secretary.