CHAPTER 2

Thanks to all my amazing readers. :*

Alice sat by her father's bed. He had just regained consciousness. She could tell he was feeling very weak, he could barely talk. She was with Fabia when she had received a call, telling her that her father had been found unconscious in his office. She had been called home immediately, where her father was sleeping on his bed.

At first she was sure it was stress that had caused this, now she was not all that sure. There were doctors in the house, hospital equipments lined up in his room. It made her worry.

Her father was looking at her now, "Alice, child, I have something to tell you. You'll listen, wont you?" His tone was grave, his voice weak. Alice could tell something was wrong.

Alice nodded, her father scared her. Was there a problem in the office? She doubted that, if there was a problem she would've heard at least something. She had known something was wrong, but only now she could sense that it was something grave.

"Alice," her father said again, drawing in a deep breath, "I have a disease, something that can't be cured. I…I wanted to tell you but I and your mother decided against it, we didn't want to worry you."

Alice went pale at that. No…she must've heard wrong. But she hadn't, she had heard every word her father had said. "Sick? But…why didn't you tell me?! What are you saying? There has to be a cure…it can't be that bad…" Alice started but her dad cut her off.

"It can't be cured. We didn't tell you because we only just found out two months ago. I have small cell lung cancer; it's already spread to my lymph nodes. There's nothing that can be done Alice. Radiation can give me a few months… but that's all."

Alice felt that her world was collapsing. Why? Why her?

"So… you're going to die?" Alice asked, scared. Her father nodded.

"I know it's a lot to process, but… I… there's something else I have to tell you that you are not going to be happy about." Her father's voice, if it could, had grown more serious.

"What is it?"

Mr. Gehabich took a deep breath. "You know I've worked hard to bring this company where it is right now, don't you?" Alice nodded, not liking where this was going. Her father was looking directly into her eyes. If Alice wasn't wrong, she could see guilt in them.

Alice did know difficult it had been for her father. He had started the company from a small room they once lived in. She remembered having no pretty dresses. So yes, she did remember. However, what had this got to with anything?

"Dad... Why are you telling me this?"

"I…After I die, which I will, there's no one who can look after the company…so…"

"No! There's no way I'm running the company. I am Psychologist! Dad please, I'm sure you can find someone else to run the Company!" Alice said, terrified at the idea. She couldn't run the company. She couldn't. She was a psychologist for God's sake.

Her father, despite himself, let out a laugh. "I know Alice."

"Then what are you suggesting?" Alice asked. At that, her father's face went grim again.

"Marriage, Alice. I'm suggesting marriage."

And with those words, Alice felt her world shatter. Shatter and break into tiny pieces. Way beyond repair.

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Shun sat patiently in Dan's office as Dan talked to Runo on the phone. He would've commented on that, usually, but the fact that Dan had called him without prior notice troubled him. After about what seemed like fifteen minutes Dan came and sat opposite Shun.

"Hey, I read your interview yesterday. It was hilarious, if you ask me. I would never have imagined someone asking you if you were gay." Dan said, a little too energetically. Something was definitely wrong.

"Cut the crap," Shun demanded, "and get to the point. No one has time here."

Dan shook his head, "Why are you always so blunt? I was just trying to break the ice. So… coming to the point, have you heard of the Gehabich Group of Industries?"

Shun frowned at Dan, "Of course I have. What's that got to do with anything?" He kept tabs on the company's progress. It had a very large international market. If they could take it over, there would be very few people who could take them down.

"Well, I had a source inform me that that Mr. Gehabich the owner has cancer, last stage."

Shun was well over frustrated now, why was Dan telling him all this? "That's very bad, I agree. Still, why are you telling me any of this?" His voice was devoid of any emotion. Of someone who could mask his emotions very well.

"I'm telling you this because it's our chance Shun. The source also told me that Mr. Gehabich has only a few months to live. He's searching for an heir. His daughter is a Psychologist and well… is not interested in running the company. Moreover, she isn't qualified." Dan told Shun, his eyes shining. He and Shun both knew this was their chance.

"What is it you're suggesting, Dan?" Shun asked, though he has a pretty good idea. And when Dan replied his eyes grew wide, just as Dan had predicted.

"You'll have to marry his daughter."

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