CHAPTER 11:Paternal Challenge
"Master Neal... master Neal..." Neal heard the Paul's voice faintly but he's too shocked to respond.
Less than a minute later Dayna came. "Neal, your butler called. Mr. Leagan is in the hospital. You should go to the hospital immediately."
Neal didn't know how but the next thing he knew Dayna was pushing him into the ICU.
"Are you a relative of someone?" a staff inquired.
"He is Henri Legan's son," Dayna answered for Neal.
"W-what happens to my father?" Neal asked. His voice sounded weird, didn't sound like his.
"He got a heart attack."
"Heart attack!" asked Neal, stupefied. He was nervous but he knew what he heard. "I was told it was a respiratory problem!"
"There're several things going on. The doctors are trying to identify what caused it." answered the nurse.
"Can I see him?" asked Neal again.
"It's better if you don't interrupt the doctors. Please wait in the waiting room."
The nurse took Neal to the waiting room.
He was worried sick but his brain was working properly. He knew his father and his family had no history of asthma or heart problems. Something just didn't add up. The nurse pushed open the door to the waiting room. Inside, all top level management staffs who worked directly under his father were already there. They stared at him and soon he was surrounded by them.
"I'm sorry Neal for what happens," started Matt, the company chief operating officer. "This is not a good time, but Mr. Leagan wants me to immediately ask for your directions should he can't attend to his duties."
Ask for my directions!, thought Neal in horror.
"Mr. Leagan is scheduled to hold a press conference," said Frank, president of marketing. "He said you should go if he couldn't attend."
"Neal, how should we inform our shareholders about Mr. Leagan's medical condition?" asked Lowe, the company spokesman.
"About the meeting with Tarbell tonight -," added another one…
A panic sickening feeling was growing inside him. He just could stay there no longer. "M-mom?" Neal said meekly. He needed fresh air. "I haven't seen her. Where's she?"
"Mrs. Fern is in labor. Your mother is with her," answered Dayna readily who stood behind him.
"Bring me to her."
One nurse took Neal to the maternity department. He spotted his mother halfway in the hallway. It was a relief. She should know what to do.
"Mom!" called Neal, running after her. "Everyone was there! They asked me things. I-" Neal faltered. To his astonishment, his mother's usual composed complexion looked deathly pale.
"How's your dad?" cried Sarah, clutching at his sleeves. "How's he?"
Neal shook his head. "T-the doctors don't know. They are still working on him."
Sarah gasped, stood petrified. "How's my husband?" cried Sarah, looking at the nurse.
"Mr. Leagan has not regained his consciousness," answered the nurse.
"No…!" Sarah wailed hysterically. She swayed like she almost fell. Neal quickly reached out to catch her. "Oh Henri... My poor Henri!" She uttered another heart wrenching cry and broke into violent sobs in her son's arms.
"Mom…Mom…" Neal muttered flabbergasted trying to calm her down but she couldn't be calmed. She got so hysterical that a doctor came to have her sedated.
Neal's heart shattered watching his mother. Unexpectedly, she accepted the situation harder than he should have thought.
"Neal, would you want to take a seat first?" Suddenly he heard Dayna's familiar voice. Her tone was soothing and gentle putting the brake on his nerve from falling apart.
She kindly took Neal's arm and led him back to the waiting room. The room was empty now. She had dutifully hold the fort and sent everyone away. That was the first time Neal felt grateful to have her as his assistant.
"I go fetch you something to drink." Dayna efficiently left and closed the door.
Dazed thinking about his parents, Neal sank down on a nearby chair. It was worse – much worse than he thought, even Eliza wasn't around to give her sharp instructions. A knock was heard coming from the door. Neal didn't bother to lift up his head. It must be just another terrifying update.
Dayna entered again. "Neal, Mr. Cook is here. He said Mr. Leagan sent him to see you," she whispered softly. "It seems important."
Neal didn't answer. Dayna left and soon re-entered taking someone with her.
Neal glanced up briefly. He recognized the old man. Mr Cook was his father's most trusted lawyer. He held an envelope in his hand.
"Mr. Henri Leagan asked me to read this to you if something happens to him," Mr. Cook said.
Neal only gave an almost imperceptibly nod in response.
Mr. Cook looked at Dayna. She nodded and bent to talk to Neal again. "Mr. Cook said this is strictly confidential. I'll wait outside, Neal."
After Dayna left, Mr. Cook cleared his throat and wore his thick glasses. He unfolded the letter and read aloud, quietly.
"
To my son,
When you are reading this, something must have been happening which prevents me from running the company. I have been debating how I should prepare for that day, and I realize that I don't really care. I am more interested to know how you will act now that I'm not there with you.
I always believe that you're very capable although you have done little to show it. For that, I'm tempted to give you a challenge: Lead! Yes, you my boy, lead the company!
By now, several of my key staffs must have come to you. I asked them to. I want them and you to immediately know that you are in charge. How you will proceed after this is up to you. Whatever the outcome is, I will be proud of you. Truly, if I could have chosen, I'd rather this company die in my son's hands under his effort than to have it flourish in someone else's hand.
Why? Because, I trust you can do it!
Of course, it's up to you whether you decide to take my challenge. I won't be there to enforce you. Furthermore, whatever path you choose, I want you to be happy.
My son, take care.
With fondest love,
Dad
"
Mr. Cook slowly folded the letter back and looked up to see Neal. He was sitting still looking out of the window.
Mr. Cook got up. "I and your father are good friends, Neal," he said heavily. Neal said nothing. Mr. Cook shook his head and sighed. "He's a good man. I wish him well."
Mr. Cook touched Neal's shoulder and put the letter on his lap. Then he left, quietly shutting the door behind him.
Neal heard footsteps retreated and he heaved a deep sigh. Gripping his father's letter, he got up from his seat and walked to the window to read it again by himself. It was his father's own handwriting, no doubt about that.
Love…Dad wrote.Trust…It was overwhelming. Dad never said those. He never knew he had that much confidence in him. Looking into the tree branches outside, Neal's thought went back to the time a long time ago when he was still a little boy. Dad took him to visit his office. Carrying him in his arm, he whispered, "This will be yours, son."
His father never talked about that again. He never thought much of it either. He always thought his father would work for the longest time and there's Eliza who's beyond capable. Suddenly Neal missed him so much. His eyes watered. The handwriting blurred and the paper dropped from his hand to the floor.
Someone tapped at the door. Dayna entered again, quietly shutting the door behind her.
"Neal," she called. "I bring you a cup of warm tea. Drink some."
Neal said nothing.
Dayna bent down to put the tea cup on the small table nearby and glanced briefly at Neal. He was looking out of the window, unmoved, engrossed in his own thought. They stood quietly together she could hear her accelerating heartbeat. She wondered if he heard it too. A gust of wind blew through the window stirring his perfect dark hair.
"You cold?" Dayna filled in. Neal didn't respond. "I go get your coat." She waited for a while then moved toward the door.
"I don't need my coat," Neal murmured.
Dayna stopped walking and turned around. "Neal, how are you?"
"Dad wants me to be in charge of the company," Neal looked down on the sheet of paper that's lying on the floor. She came to pick the sheet up and brought it to him.
"I'm not sure I can," he said grimly.
"Why not? I think you can," said Dayna earnestly. "You're... smart."
"I have never done it."
"It doesn't mean that you can't do it."
"I can't fail, you see. Dad… he had worked so hard. But… Tarbell is difficult… Very...," Neal swallowed, almost got choked thinking of that monstrous case. "And it's tonight… If it fell to our competitor-"
There was some minutes of silence again when no one spoke. "If you want," Dayna said hesitantly. "I can ask the Tarbell folks to postpone the meeting. They would understand."
Neal didn't answer. He's clearly struggling. She had to employ all the power she could muster to not hold his hands and give him a hug. Terrible silence stretched again.
"You're fantastic in managing your team, Neal. I'm sure you will be as fantastic in managing the entire company, including winning the Tarbell case," Dayna said encouragingly. "Don't worry."
Neal inhaled a deep breath. It's not like he wanted another way. He took his father's letter from Dayna's hand and stared at his father's handwriting again. Dad… I'll give my best!
Neal picked the tea cup and took a gulp. "Let's do it!" He turned. His eyes, those amazing brown eyes locked with hers.
Heat rushed in her. "I get the driver ready to take you home," said Dayna, breaking his stare.
"No. I go back to my office," said Neal. He would work hard. For dad."Stay here. I'll be back."
Neal left briefly to check on Eliza, his mother, and his father. When he came back his face looked confident with determination. Dayna quickly shoved to her feet.
"Get in touch with someone in the office. Tell Matt, Frank, Lowe and others to meet me," said Neal.
"Yes, Neal."
"You stay here. Don't leave until someone from the mansion come to be with mom and Eliza," Neal talked as they walked. "If there's any development, anything at all, call me immediately."
"Of course, Neal."
"Sign all routine paperwork. Call me if there're unusual ones," Neal said before he walked out of the door.
She watched his back through the window. Things would be much easier if he were much less handsome,she sighed, tortured. A nurse came, Dayna who's still looking at Neal didn't notice her.
"Paperwork, Ms. He said you'll do it on his behalf," said the nurse. "Ms... Ms.!" She gave Dayna a little nudge.
"Oops sorry…," murmured Dayna, looking up at the nurse.
The nurse smiled watching Dayna's flushed face. "He seems like one caring son."
"He is that rare type of son who will not say no to his mother and a dotting brother," Dayna gushed. "Uhm, what did you say just now?"
"We need to fill up some insurance paperwork. We also need signatures to arrange Mrs. Leagan's room." The nurse handed some paperwork to Dayna. Knowledgeably she filled those information up.
"You are very good to him. He's your fiancé? Husband?" asked the nurse.
Dayna was surprised to hear the nurse's comment. Her palm began to sweat and she bent her head lower to hide her face. "Nope." She managed to say. "Just his assistant." She handed the paperwork back to the nurse.
"Your boss is very handsome." The nurse winked, accepting the documents.
"He's okay," Dayna quipped.
They shared a laugh.
"Is there a telephone here that I can borrow?" Dayna asked, barely could maintain her composure. "For business. He…, my boss, asked me to make phone calls."
"We shouldn't disappoint such a gorgeous boss," said the nurse. Dayna couldn't help to throw a shy little smile. "Follow me." She took Dayna to the hospital office.
oo
Neal spent the rest of the evening reading his father's memos and had meetings with his staffs... He went back to the hospital to be with his family too.
-To Be Continued-
Thank you so much for reading. Merry Christmas to you all. Happy New Year. Happy holidays!
Oo
*About Henri's illness: It's part of the "mystery" which Neal will solve.
Eliza Leagan Fern: Eliza's new last name after marriage to Mason Fern.
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