Reminder: Stephen Leagan = Neal's father.

Chapter 4: At Work

Candy tossed Neal's car key over the bridge and quickly walked to Happy Clinic.

From the outside Happy Clinic still looked the same except at the closer look Candy noticed the windows had been fixed and the roofs were neatly lined. She went directly to the backyard where the dumpster was to dumb Neal's roses where she bumped into Dr. Martin

"Good morning, Candy!" greeted Dr. Martin. He was posting a sign "Vaccination day today" at the side window.

"Morning, Dr. Martin!"

Dr. Martin gestured at the roses. "For romantic dinner with Todd?" he winked.

"Not really. It's from... er an acquaintance. Don't know what to do with it." She moved to the dumpster.

"We can display it in the patients room," said one lady who's wiping the windows. Eagerly, she took a closer look at the three dozen roses. "They are beautiful. Could we, Dr. Martin?"

"If Candy agreed. Sure. Our patients will be delighted," Dr. Martin responded. He turned to Candy. "This is Mrs. Park."

Mrs. Park and Candy greeted each other.

"Candy, why don't I show you around. Follow me," said Dr. Martin.

Dr. Martin seemed in a rush. Thinking to take care of them later, Candy put the roses on the window sill and followed Dr. Martin immediately into the building.

Inside the clinic was divided neatly with white cloth into three section. The largest section for Dr. Martin and his patients, the middle section for waiting room and vaccination room, and the smallest one gave a private space for her, the nurse.

Dr. Martin took Candy to the largest room. He gestured to the seat in front of his table and Candy sat there.

"What do you think?" He smiled.

"Fantastic," said Candy. She looked around, impressed.

Dr. Martin laughed. He took a set of key from his pocket and gave it Candy.

"Would you guard this for me?" He rubbed the back of his neck shyly and gestured at the nearby cabinet that's chained and locked. "Have been sober for a year. I want to keep it that way."

Candy smiled. "Of course." She picked the key up and put it in her pocket.

"We have Mrs. Park now, so you don't need to do any cleaning."

"What can I do to help? Besides guarding whisky?" she joked.

"A lot..." His eyes sparkled. "So you're my first full time nurse. Happy Clinic is under government grant now. I will need to go to conferences to defend what we are doing. if I am not around can you look after the clinic even during weekend or vacation? I trust you can do it. I can't say the same with other new hire."

"Sure!" She was instantly feeling important.

"You're my lucky star." Dr. Martin looked at the clock and got up from his seat. "We have a lot of patients. I am working to get the second grant so I can have someone to help you."

"Thank you!"

"Let's save that for when we actually won the grant." He laughed heartily.

Candy smiled. Dr. Martin was the best of doctors.

The rest of the day passed so quickly. Patients continuously came. They worked straight through the lunch and long after office hours.

After the clinic closed, finally Candy had the time to sit in her desk to admire her private space. Then, she remembered about the roses from Neal that yet had to be dumped to a garbage can. She went looking for it. To her surprise, the roses were already displayed nicely in the waiting room. Mrs. Park apparently had put the roses in metal bucket and filled it with water.

oOo

Meanwhile, that same morning, Neal arrived very late to his office. He was already late and he had to look for the key Candy tossed under the bridge. When Neal arrived at the meeting room, his father, his father's number two man, Benther, and a group of chiefs of staffs just finished the meeting.

"Neal is here. Get him up to speed with Entsy," Stephen told Benther.

"Yes, Mr. Leagan," replied Benther.

"Joey, give last quarter financial summary to Neal," Stephen told his chief financial office.

"Right away, Mr. Leagan." Joe instantly disappeared to prepare the documents.

"Kathy, could you brush up Neal's communication skill? Train him how to get engaged in pleasant and persuasive conversation. I want him to start getting his own clients."

"Sure, Mr. Leagan," said Kathy.

Stephen made a gesture and took Neal inside the meeting room. He closed the door behind them.

"You are late!" Stephen said curtly to his son.

"I-" Neal started.

Stephen lifted his hand. "Good executive works the hardest and never be late. They answer questions not ask. Learn how to manage your staff! I'll be busy with Entsy!" Stephen said. He opened the door and walked out.

Benther entered.

Neal just joined the company for about three months. His father made his staffs helped him keep up, but Benther had been pretty much like his mentor. As his father's number two men, Benther knew pretty much everything.

"So Mr. Leagan is the executive CEO, myself is the president, and you are the non-executive officer. That means you will replace Mr. Leagan should he can't perform his duties," Benther concluded his update.

"Okay," said Neal.

"Mr. Leagan also decided to invest in Entsy," said Benther.

Neal nodded. "How much does he want to invest?"

"He will contribute all his shares to Entsy. He asked how much you want to invest," Benther said

"How much share do I have?"

"18%," said Benther who was all-knowing.

"Hold my share," said Neal. His gut feeling told him there's something weird about the scheme. "Don't use any of it."

"Fine, Master Neal." Benther nodded.

Joey knocked at the door. "The finance report, Master Neal." He carefully put a stack of document on Neal's desk and excused himself.

Benther picked up the document and looked at his watch. "Mr. Leagan wants you to meet Entsy folks with him. We have half an hour, would you want to go over our accounting methods with Entsy ?"

"Okay," Neal nodded.

Neal's whole day was filled with following his father to attend meetings and watch presentations from Entsy corporation.

When Neal woke up in the following morning the first thing he thought was Candy. Yesterday their meeting ended abruptly, he hadn't had the chance to demand her to do something for him for saving Bobby from the rip current. He got up and had his staff arrange roses for Candy. He wanted to see her again in Happy Clinic. This time, he would take Stewart so he wouldn't be late for work.

"Morning, Master Neal," greeted Stewart the driver. He stood smartly next to the vehicle.

Dorothy came behind Neal carrying his briefcase and three dozens roses which she put carefully in the back seat.

Stewart opened the door for Neal. "We see Miss Daisy, Master Neal?" asked Steward, nodding at the roses.

"Candy." Neal looked up at Stewart and settled into his seat. "Candice White. Happy Clinic."

Stewart tipped his hat apologetically and shut the door behind his boss. He was turning on the engine when Dorothy came running asking them to stop.

Neal rolled down the window. "What?"

"Master Neal, Mr. Leagan called. He asked you to come right now. The earlier the better."

Neal cursed inwardly. He wanted to see Candy in her nurse uniform. She must look lovely like an angel. But yesterday he already came late to work, he shouldn't come late again today.

Nodding at the roses, Neal said to Dorothy, "Deliver to Candy in Happy Clinic."

So, everyday Neal was very busy around the clock with Entsy. But he never missed sending three dozes roses to Candy in Happy Clinic. Since Candy was busy attending patients, before she had a chance to dumb the roses, Mrs. Park always had displayed them nicely in the patient room.

-oOo

A few days later Stephen transferred his shares to Entsy. To everyone's horror, three weeks later the stock went to $0.1 or worthless. The following month after that Entsy declared bankruptcy.

The court summoned Stephen and accused him for collaborating with Entsy to steal money from their clients. Stephen denied the accusation. He was given time to prove it and in the meantime he's put under house arrest. While in the house arrest, Stephen could not contact or meet anyone including Neal.

Stephen lamented. Neal had just started working less than half a year. He didn't know much. Although he's intelligent, corporate intrigues and power struggle were not something to be mastered in a few months. Should Benther choose not to cooperate, could Neal control him?

-To Be Continued-

Thanks for reading.

I hope the office stuff is not boring :")

Thanks to my friends:

Sabrina: Thanks for noticing. Hope you like the office stuffs. Never wrote one before :") We'll have more. Thanks for the support.

Elsa: Thank you. Thanks for the support. Neal works here. We'll talk more about him at work :)

Mia8111: Thanks for the support. Happy to have you here.

Sandy VG: Thanks for the support. Hope you like it.