Neil had no hesitancy reading the paper in the bag that Onita had brought.It was clear that these were legal doc.u.ments and the reason that she had finally surfaced from her seclusion.In the next hour,several people tried to get through to Neil but he had already clocked out and no one knew that he was still present in the office.
The hue and cry that was raised amongst the gossip mongers in the company was phenomenal and n.o.body could understand the reason for the sudden suspension of a.s.sistant Ping Wan.Everybody knew that Neil was a person of habit and had retained his selective staff throughout the many years.Though she did not have a good rapport with anyone in the office and was generally arrogant and rude,everyone felt sad for her sudden and public humiliation for no apparent reason.The fact that she chose to accept it with grace was what made her even ore pitiful.However,slowly the news spread that because of Ms Ping"s solo decision to not inform Neil about a visitor with a child,the lady had fainted and the company could be sued made them quickly shut their mouths and as the tale spread of how frail the woman had looked and how Yu Dani had tried to request for Mr Neil repeatedly only to be blocked s.h.i.+fted the balance.No matter the business policy,it was just inhuman to keep a person waiting for someone and not even bothering to inform the concerned person.
In the cabin upstairs,Onita woke up with a jerk and looked around hurriedly scared of the unknown place she was at.Her eyes frantically searched the room for her daughter and calmed only when her gaze fell on the little girl nodding off beside her.Her galloping heart calmed after she realized that she must be somewhere inside Lance Inc. as that was where she had fainted.Breathing a small sigh of relief,she tried to look around for someone who could help her but a piercing pain stopped her when she tried to move.Looking down she saw the IV needle poking out of her skin and she almost fainted again.She hated the sight of needles.Immediately closing her eyes,she turned her head to the other side to avoid looking at it.
This is when Neil entered the room.He was wearing a pair of rimless spectacles and having heard some sort of whimper had come on to check.Seeing that she was awake,he raised his eyebrows and said,"Back to the land of living are we?Why have you turned your head away?"
The answer he received was m.u.f.fled,"Scared of needles."
Shaking his head at the woman who was scared at the sight of a small needle,Neil went forward and after checking that the drip was almost finished, called the doctor to remove it.
"The doctor is on his way to remove the needle.Onita,look here please."
Onita slowly turned her head and looked at Neil.She knew that she would have to explain everything soon but she had no idea where to start and how to continue.She looked up at Neil"d face and again her eyes moved away from his.Clearing her throat multiple times,she started,"Neil..I need your help.."Finally,having gathere the courage to speak,Onita spoke haltingly but clearly,"Uhh..I have bee sued by little Alicia"s father for custody..Umm I tried getting a lawyer but most refused and then when I was finally able to get one,I was cheated and he took the retainer fees and ran away.I only have time till tomorrow to get myself another lawyer..Someone at the court said that you could help me..If, uh,if you could just refer me to a good lawyer who could help me I would be really grateful...I know you are a busy person and do not expect you to take the case on for me.."
Neil"s expression had turned graver by the minute as Onita had continued talking.Onita ,however was not aware of this since she had been only looking in Neil direction but her stare was fixed at some point over Neil"s shoulders.
In a soft voice Neil said,"And when do you intend to talk to your lawyer?It is already 9 pm.And how and when are you going to explain the case to let him prepare a presentation?"
Her shocked eyes met Neil"s as she looked at the time and in the next moment her face crumpled and silent tears started to flow out of her eyes.All was lost.Seeing her dejected expression,Neil shook his head.Onita had not once thought to ask him to help her..Whoever had guided her here to come to him must be her guardian angel...
Just as Neil was about to open his mouth and blast her for not thinking clearly,there was a knock on the outer door of the office.Leaving the room,Neil opened the door for the doctor.The doctor was in mis fifties and he had been able to guess that the girl was in a dire situation.Working quickly,he took out the needle and told her in a sympathetic tone,"you must take good care of yourself as well as the baby"s.If you ignore your health,What will happen to your child when you become useless?Alright?So even if you eat less,you must eat.Not for yourself but for your child.Now you need to rest well and eat well as well.I have prescribed some multi vitamins for you.Please be sure to take them."
Onita simply nodded her head and listened to the doctor"s instructions.She promised herself that she wouldn"t skip her meals from now on.But she did not even think of buying the medicine since she had no money.It was a good thing Neil Long had not come back in with the doctor again.Neil,who had waited in the office to let her have some privacy,came back into the room just then.Following him was a man in a plain s.h.i.+rt and trousers.Neil asked the man to lift the bag and other Onita"s items and place them in the car.Neil,then came and picking up little Alicia,he held out his hand to Onita.When he continued to look at it blankly,he just shook his hand a bit and said,"Come Onita..We need to go and get something to eat.Then we will discuss your case and the best action to proceed.For now,come on,let"s go and eat first.."