Fan Fiction |
by Sensitivegal
Chapter Thirty ‘For Charlene's Sake!'
Unknown to Charlene Patrick Velcois called up Edison’s secretary to invite him to Hong Kong for a meeting. Unexpected as it seems he had to have a chat with Edison personally. This he did not think he would ever do. He knew what was going around, and he knew from the beginning that Edison wanted the Velcois Enterprise.
Patrick took a deep breath before picking up the phone. He dialled some numbers and waited patiently for the receipt to answer his call. ‘I hope I’m doing the right thing,’ he said out loud. He let out a sigh only to catch his breath when a soft voice answered.
‘Hello.’
‘Daphne,’ Patrick whispered.
‘Patrick?’ Daphne’s gasped could be heard. ‘Why are you calling me?’ Her voice went from shocked to confuse.
‘How would you like to come to Hong Kong for a few days?’ he went straight to the point.
‘Erm…’ the hesitation in her voice made it clear that it would be a no.
‘Let me explain before you make a decision,’ he quickly stated.
God, why did he get himself into this mess? He wished he never met Daphne. He wished that he never fell in love with her. What really took up his nerve was that he could not remember sleeping with Daphne after Louis found out. She had said that she conceived Edison on the day they both got drunk. He remembered being drunk one night with her but that’s all he could remember.
Patrick shook his head. ‘Edison will be flying over for a meeting I’m holding up,’ he said. ‘I want everything sorted out.’
‘Wha-what do y-you mean?’ she stammered.
‘I know there’s more to the story than what you told me, Daphne.’
‘N-no, there isn’t.’
‘I knew you long ago very well, Daph, and I don’t think you could have changed that much,’ he told her. ‘When you stutter like that it means you’re hiding something.’
‘That’s not true,’ she cried out.
‘Really? What’s not true, Daphne, hmm? That you don’t stutter or that you’re not hiding anything?’
‘I have to go now. I’m going to have to say no to your offer.’
Before she could hang up he carried on. ‘Do you want your son to hate you for the rest of your life?’
That hit her sensitive spot. And he knew it. If he was going to get his daughter back then he had to go to all lengths for her. And that was Daphne who knew the truth more than himself.
‘Do you see Edison around anymore?’ he badgered on.
‘No,’ she whispered.
‘Then why play this game? Louis has been dead for a very long time, God rest his soul! He isn’t here no more. This secret you’re hiding from the world and your son is going to break many hearts.’ Then, ‘Two already broken!’ he added.
He waited for her reply. There was silence on the other side. Then he heard her crying. He may have stopped loving her when he found Charlene’s mother but he still couldn’t stand to hear her cry.
‘Daphne,’ he said. ‘Don’t cry.’
‘Rick, I have four children who left home and have a family of their on,’ she cried out. ‘Edison could have left home leaving me anytime but he didn’t. He told me once that he would make sure that I don’t be alone. I’m alone now!’
Patrick took a deep breath. ‘I’m sorry,’ he sympathized.
‘It’s my fault,’ she went on. ‘Edison would never have hated me if only I wasn’t a selfish mother.’
‘You’re not a selfish mother,’ he told her.
‘You don’t understand,’ she said. Whatever she was going to say next was cut short. ‘Patrick I’ll come to Hong Kong,’ she informed him all of a sudden. ‘I don’t want to be selfish no more. And I want my son back!’
Patrick could not reply because she had already hung up. He let out a deep breath. This was his chance to get Charlene back.
Meanwhile, unknown to her of what Patrick is up to, Vicky walked into Dr. Su’s office closing the door firmly shut behind her. Alec was sitting behind his desk, head bent and writing down a patient of his record. ‘Come sit,’ he beckoned with his free hand but not at all looking up to see her.
Vicky ignored that her heart flipped at the sound of Alec’s voice. She didn’t want to admit that she liked him. Well, not like exactly more like love. She knew that Alec never mixed business with pleasure. She knew his reputation before he joined the hospital. The last place he worked he had to quit because two women fought over him.
Vicky sighed. She walked to the chair he had pointed out and sat down. She waited patiently while he finished up his paper work. Looking around she noticed for the first time pictures on his wall. Surprised and shocked at the same time that it was only pictures of her and him in the days she goes out with him. It was the days she would be stuck with him when Charlene never gets to join them, which she doesn’t really mind.
Charlene was a good friend of Alec but not a best one. She wouldn’t tell him her inner most secret. For some reason she would hold back on him. Alec didn’t mind. He was a good friend to her and a doctor as well. That is how they met. And that is how Vicky had the guts to talk to him.
The day he walked in the hospital while she was looking at an x-ray of her patient, at first she didn’t notice him until she heard every female gasp and sigh did she then think to look at what was happening. She too did the same. Gasp and sigh. The thing was she couldn’t talk to him. Every time either her tongue would get tied or she would do something embarrassing like accidentally hit him with her clipboard – which happened at least four times.
Patrick had changed Charlene’s doctor to Alec hearing upon that he was now the best doctor there. Charlene once came when she became very ill. Charlene and Alec hit it off. Talking like they were friends for years despite her illness she would still have a laugh with Alec. Gradually they actually became friends. Vicky used to visit Charlene when she was off call and Alec would be on call then so they never actually got acquainted. Charlene would tell one about the other. Eventually the two became very fund of each other.
After two weeks Charlene was discharged. She then wanted both Alec and Vicky to meet. And they did meet, becoming friends as well.
Alec cleared his voice after he finished writing and noticed that Vicky was in her own world. ‘Earth to Vicky,’ he said. He waved his hand in front of her face snapping her out of it.
‘Sorry,’ she smiled at him.
Alec’s heart skipped a beat. This was not the time to think about her. He bent down and pulled open his draw taking out a small bottle. He placed it on table in front of Vicky.
It took Vicky a few seconds to realise what it was. She let out a small gasp. ‘For a second there I almost forgot my plans,’ she admitted, guiltily. She picked up the bottle and examined it. Already she had a guilty conscious. She looked at Alec then back at the bottle. She shook her head. ‘I don’t think this is a good idea,’ she said. She put the bottle back at the table as if it had stung her.
Alec sighed. He stood up and walked around the table coming in front of her. He leant a little on the desk and looked down at Vicky with a frown. ‘I thought this was about helping Charlene?’
‘It is,’ she told him. Vicky looked down at her legs not wanting to meet Alec’s eyes. She felt like she was back at school, the teacher scolding her after school for playing pranks on Charlene. At that time she wasn’t friends with Charlene and thought she was weird who likes to keep to herself.
‘Then why are you changing your mind?’ he questioned her.
Vicky didn’t know herself. She didn’t know if she was doing the right thing or not. She let out a cry of frustration. Not wanting Alec to see her face she covered it with her hand. Then she couldn’t control the tears, the tears for her distressed friend who she didn’t know how to help.
Alec looked at Vicky. His heart went out for her. He bent down on his knees to get to her level. He moved her hands away from her face. ‘Don’t cry,’ he pleaded.
It only made her cry louder.
‘Vicky, please stop,’ he whispered. ‘With you crying, you are hurting me as well.’
Vicky sniffed and stared at Alec confused.
‘Vicky, I love you,’ he blurted out. Realising what he had said he shot to his feet and moved away from her, turning his back on her. ‘I’m so sorry,’ he quickly apologised. ‘Now isn’t the right time to declare my love to you.’
Vicky was dumbfounded. She had never expected this. She never thought she’d hear Alec say those three lovely words to her. She wanted to jump up in joy but Alec was right this wasn’t the right time. ‘Maybe we should come back to this later,’ Vicky told him. She wiped away her tears and got to her feet.
Alec turned around. He couldn’t tell if he had just ruined their friendship or not. But he would let it go for now. One thing for sure, when Charlene is back to her normal self he would sort out his relationship with Vicky, if he still had a chance with her.
Both eyes met then travelled to the table where the bottle lay. ‘Do you think I’m doing the right thing?’ Vicky’s voice came with a screech from the crying.
‘I know you wouldn’t make a decision without thinking over for at least a thousand times until you know what is best,’ he said, proudly.
Vicky looked at Alec and smiled. He actually knew her very well, she mused. She took a deep breath. ‘Okay, I’ll do it.’
‘Take your time, Squirt,’ he told her. ‘When you think it’s the right time give it to her then.’
Vicky nodded. ‘Thanks, Alec.’ She went up to him and gave him a quick hug and a small peck on the cheek. ‘You’re the best!’ With that she took the bottle and left his office.
Alec touched his cheek where her lips stick was printed and smiled. Maybe their friendship wasn’t in ruins, he thought happily. He then thought back at Charlene. He hoped Vicky’s plans works.
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have no idea what to call the bottle coz its just made up. but u'l kno mayb in the next chap or the chap afta wats it 4. of course not to kill charlene! can ny1 guess whats goin to happen?