Reminder: Benther: Neal's father right hand man (first appears in Ch 4)

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Chapter 6: Executive

Candy went to the Leagan's office to see Neal but since she had no appointment the security personnel didn't let her in. She then walked around the outside fence, climbed a tree and jumped into the backyard. Unexpectedly, she saw Neal there. He stood alone, staring out emptily in a solitary stance.

"Hi Neal," she called softly.

Neal turned at that familiar voice.

"Candy?" Neal was surprised to see her. She' s looking for me! For a second he forgot of his life problems and moved to run and hug her.

"I heard about it. I am so sorry with what happened," said Candy.

At the word "sorry" his feet froze to the ground.

"You said 'sorry'?" Neal asked. That's not the reason he wanted her to visit him. Among other things, that's the last thing he wanted Candy to feel about him.

"Yes. Poor you. Stear and Archie showed me in the newspaper. Your current bad situation, I also read in the paper. It's terrible, I am truly sorry."

"What sort of bad situation exactly did they say?" Neal asked coldly.

"About the difficult situation your company is having. Your hardship at work..."

Neal scarcely heard her. His mind was imagining how others have been talking about how bad the Leagans were. So humiliating. If Candy thought this, too, then there was nothing left in him.

"So, I feel sorry to you, Neal. I wonder if there is anything I could do to help."

The word "help" drew his attention back to her. He used to insult her and now she came offering help. His situation couldn't be lower than this.

"I'm fine, thank you. Nothing here is worth your pity," Neal said dryly.

He wanted Candy to love him not pity him. His eyes burned with unshed tears. Humiliation and disappointment mixed in his heart and he turned to walk away.

"We don't pity you. You misunderstand."

"Really?" Neal said without turning around. "You and the Cornwells must have one hell of the time laughing at me." He walked on.

They did laugh at Neal. "Wait...," she called.

"Explain that." He stopped and turned. "You never wanted me and today you came to visit me and asked me to stay. Why is that?"

"You were awfully obnoxious."

"I am still obnoxious," said Neal in disdain. "Other than now I am helpless and pitiful, I haven't changed. Is that why I am appealing to you now?"

"You made an engagement party to insult me then obviously I didn't like you," said Candy patiently.

"I tell you again, I didn't have that engagement to insult you."

Must be the delirium was talking. Candy took a deep breath so she didn't burst in outrage.

"Why is it then you had that engagement-" Candy said softly but her soft voice was drowned by Benther's loud bark.

"AH, NEAL! SO HERE WHERE you are hiding!" barked Benther.

Benther appeared with a group of staff scurried behind him. Candy saw something passed through Neal's face as if danger was here.

"No wonder we couldn't find you in the office," said Benther. He nodded at Joey.

"Master Neal," Joey readily stepped forward, "our clients are coming."

Neal forced himself to lift his chin as he stood in front of his staffs.

"I know. Do you bring last quarter financial report that I requested three days ago?" Neal asked, emphasizing on three days.

"Yesterday I was tied up. This morning I was moved to management team," replied Joey.

"Under whose authority? I didn't sign any appointment," said Neal.

"Mr. Benther did, sir," said Joey.

Neal seemed to want to say something before he silently dropped his eyes.

Another staff came forward. "Master Neal, Anne is in charge for public relation but she had a baby last night. Who should replace her this afternoon?"

"Hm... Kathy?" Neal suggested. "Take Kathy, she is good, I think."

"Under normal circumstances Kathy is okay. But not now, while we're facing legal battles from all direction. Take Larry," said Benther. "He replaced Anne a few times when she had medical leave."

There's a brief pause.

"Larry." The staff jotted the name down.

"Master Neal, should we go to the meeting?" Joey reminded.

"You go first. I will be just a moment," Neal spoke up.

No staffs moved. They looked at Benther. Benther made a little nod and everyone left immediately.

"Neal," said Benther after everyone left. "I am still waiting for you to sign my proposal."

Neal tried to pull himself tall. "I need to think it over. I haven't looked at last quarter financial report yet."

"Report?"

"The report is imperative. I need it to decide," said Neal.

"Sure. We have legal battles and someone has to dig the cabinets to find old data," mocked Benther.

Neal's chest felt tight. Eliza and his mother would have yelled at Benther.

"No disrespect, Neal," Benther's tone contradicted his words. "But honestly this company might not even exist tomorrow."

Neal avoided Benther's eyes. "I will go back looking into your proposal."

Benther looked at his watch. "Back to look? Did you ever start? It's only a page!"

"Because no one gave me the financial report yet." His voice shook. He hated it. He should learn to steady his voice and control his emotion.

"Then don't look! I have looked at it!" barked Benther.

Neal felt so useless. He should be tough and bark back at Benther. But if Benther left the company, whom should he ask questions to? He didn't know so many things and his father was not around.

"Neal, I don't have time for this," said Benther. "You sign my form and relinquish your position to me. Give me your 18% shares and I handle everything. You don't need to come to the office anymore."

Another man in suit appeared. "Master Neal, the county judge called. They asked when we want to pay the bail out money to release Mr. Leagan."

"Now. Pay now!" begged Neal. He desperately wanted his father to be back.

"With what?" sneered Benther. "The court froze the company bank account. Otherwise why your daddy needs to be locked up?"

"What can we do then? Can we use my share?" asked Neal.

Neal realized that he shouldn't rely too much on Benther. It's his responsibility as an executive to know the most so he could govern well like what his father always said.

"Make more money," Benther shrugged. "Your 18% share is not enough."

"If we don't pay before the dateline, they will formally charge Mr. Leagan guilty for using the classic pyramid scheme and put him in jail," explained the man in suit.

With a gasp Neal started backwards.

"Jail! P-pyramid...?" A legal term. He remembered reading about it but didn't remember exactly what it meant. "Benther what is it? What shall I do?"

"He will not be put in jail today," said Benther coldly. "As I said, I don't have time to explain everything, Neal. So you will do well to sign my form without further ado."

Neal instantly looked frightened. Candy could sense the gravity of difficulties he was facing.

"I need to think... I need time... to think," Neal stammered.

"We go!" cut Benther. He whisked Neal away.

Neal was in a deep trouble. He's suffering and earning his lesson.

So where was the pleasure? How come she's not rejoicing? Neal saved Bobby. She should not just laugh and watch him drown. That's not how Ms. Pony and Sr. Lanne taught her!

"Excuse me!" Candy burst out. Everyone had forgotten she was there.

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-To be continued-

Thanks for reading.

The point of this chapter: Benther is trying to take advantage of Neal.