However, it was likely she felt this way because she cared about him, and it was natural that doctors never operate on family members. They would let their colleagues do it instead, because nerves might get to them and cause them to make mistakes.
“Lie down,” she said.
Diarmuid hence lay on his stomach over his bed, since he was hurt in his back, making it easy for Abigail to tend to his injury.
Abigail took a deep breath to compose herself, and managed to do so quickly thanks to her experience as a doctor. She quickly prepared the medicine and went to work, cleaning his wounds while telling him about her day… and that was when she remembered the journalist she met in court, and suddenly remembered Whitney Cox as well.
Right! That woman resembled Whitney so much!
“Could it be her?” she mumbled.
Diarmuid missed what she said. “What?”
Abigail replied, “When I went with Ricky to court, I saw this woman… Huh, maybe it’s nothing.”
Some people just bear a striking resemblance with others, after all, and she did not want to add to Diarmuid’s troubles since he was very busy at the moment.
Nonetheless, Diarmuid frowned. “What is it? Aren’t you going to finish your sentence?”
“Like I said, it’s nothing.” Abigail laughed. “Anyway, we can put the matter aside after Samantha White’s funeral tomorrow.”
Knock, knock.
Abigail had barely finished when someone knocked on her door.
“Come in,” she said, and the door only opened at that.
It was Stan, and he was carrying a box containing a mess of documents and random items.
He put the box on the table before coming to them and said, “They appointed lan Althoff as CEO.” “Yeah,” Diarmuid grunted in acknowledgement-he was not surprised by the outcome.
It was all part of his plan anyway, since Quincy would only let down her guard once he was gone from Light Group.
Still, Stan felt indignant. “Those board members only care about their money! It’s just so frustrating to see -how much money do they think we made for them over the years? But they couldn’t wait to kick you when you’re down!”
Though it was their plan all along, their heinous behavior left Stan disenchanted and sick to the stomach, and he growled spitefully, “Well, this suits us just fine. They’d actually ruin our plans if they get sentimental -now, I’m looking forward to the day Light Group goes bankrupt.”
While the document stating Light Group’s losses was genuine, Diarmuid had Kathy deliver it to Quincy anyway.
That was because only he and Stan knew that the supposedly lost capital was diverted to a company called Remy in Franconia, and it was the last moveable asset Light Group had.
Right now, Light Group was nothing more than an empty husk without any profitable projects, while any industry that was making money at all had been diverted to foreign soil as well.
lan’s competency notwithstanding, he would never lead Light Group out of the red.
And what would he tell the board during the mid-year and year-end reviews?
It was clear that the board would swallow anyone whole, and they only wanted their profit regardless of how difficult it was!
“Still, now that I think about it, we can do anything without anyone telling us otherwise. It honestly feels cathartic.”
Stan cheered up at the very thought-Light Group might be rich and had plenty of resources, but the board’s approval was required for any megaprojects that might cost upward of a billion. There was no chance of implementation if no approval was given.
On the other hand, everything Diarmuid said goes at Remy. They were certainly in for a much more pleasant time in contrast to Light Group!
In that respect, Stan was actually happy that the board was being that cold. They would actually feel tied down if someone sided with Diarmuid after all that, and they would not be able to leave with such a clear conscience!
“Go home,” Diarmuid said just then. “There’s nothing to do for now. You’ll be in charge when they call for a transition.”
That reminded Stan about something else. “Oh, right-I asked Debbie to move to Remy so that she could keep working as your secretary, but she’s not interested in moving out of the country, and was demanding to see you. What do you think?”
Abigail’s ears pricked up at the mention of Debbie.
Maybe women are just sensitive, or maybe it takes one to know one, but Abigail knew right then that Debbie, was definitely getting funny ideas about Diarmuid!
“He’s already left once today, and his injuries are getting infected. He shouldn’t go out again.”
While she personally did not want Diarmuid to see Debbie, what she said was still the truth-he just had to wear loose clothes for a few days for his injury to start healing, or it would not heal even after two weeks.
Feeling awkward just then, Stan asked, “Well, what can I do? She’s not listening to me.”
“I can talk to her,” Abigail suggested.
Diarmuid turned toward her, seemingly reading her mind right then.
She averted her eyes, afraid to look at him just then!
Turning his face so that half of it was buried in his pillow, Diarmuid said, “You can go if you want.”
Stan pursed his lips, understanding what was going on just then.
Truly, what goes around comes around… to think that the day had come that Diarmuid was kept on a leash- and on a very tight leash at that!
Despite what she said, Abigail remained focused as she bandaged Diarmuid. “Stay here and rest.”
Diarmuid then took her hand and gave it a squeeze. “Come back soon. Have Stan stay with you.”
Abigail nodded and left the ward.
Stan was ready waiting outside.
“Let’s go,” she said.
Stan quickly followed, appearing hesitant to speak his mind despite holding the car keys.
Unable to stand his fidgeting, Abigail said, “Just spit it already.”
“It’s not much, but… I just wanted to say that you might be paranoid. Debbie and I are both indebted to Mr. Althoff, and we’re definitely loyal to him-”
“Why do you think I’m paranoid?” Abigail asked in return, cutting him short.
Stan became quiet since he had no response to that.
Even as he drove, they never said a word as they soon arrived at Debbie’s home.
When Stan knocked on the door, and Debbie opened it to see that it was him, she scowled. “Like I said, I’m not leaving the country. I’m just a secretary, so what can I do over there if Mr. Althoff isn’t there-”
She soon trailed off as she spotted Abigail behind Stan, and her eyes flashed briefly in wariness. “W-What are you doing here?”
“She came to talk to you,” Stan replied, answering for Abigail.
“About what?” Debbie’s gaze was certainly evasive.
“About leaving the country,” Abigail replied, and told Stan, “Wait for me outside. I’ll speak with her alone.”
Debbie appeared resistant. “Stan could pass your message. You didn’t have to come all the way here.”
“You are Diarmuid’s subordinate, and he’s hurt, so he couldn’t come. It’s only logical that I represent him as his wife to try to persuade you, or am perhaps not welcome here?”
Abigail’s words were utterly dominant!
Unable to find an excuse, Debbie looked up to meet Abigail’s gaze and stood aside. “Do come in.”
Abigail entered and cast a sweeping glance over the interior-anyone earning an average salary could never afford a house of this scale, with its location and the furnishing inside.
Debbie was apparently quite rich, and Diarmuid had been kind to her.
Seemingly reading her mind just then, Debbie said, “Mr. Althoff has always been good to his own.”
Abigail nodded in understanding, and Debbie brewed her a cup of tea-it was obvious that she was uncomfortable with Abigail around, although they were in her own home.
“Here, have a drink.”
“Thank you.” Abigail smiled, taking a seat on the couch.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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