CHAPTER 7 [Change of Plans]

Evelyn took hesitant steps towards Mr. Harrison's office. She stopped in front of his cabin. She plucked up the little courage that was left and knocked on his door. When she got the affirmation to enter she walked in.

"Oh what brings you here Ms. Davis?" Mr. Harrison inquired softly with a slight smile while taking his glasses off.

"Sir…Umm….Sir I want to talk to you." She hesitantly said while looking down clutching the hem of her skirt tightly.

"Ok. Please take a seat." He gestured towards the seat in front of him. "I told you Evelyn you can share anything you want to with me. Now tell me what is it?"

"Yes sir." She gulped. "Sir you know that …that my mother is in a.... coma, right?"

"Yes I am aware of her condition. How is she now? You told me that she was progressing before." He asked with concern.

"She was." Her tears were on the brink of slipping out of her eyes but she tried to remain strong.

"But yesterday her …. Her lungs collapsed. She is on a ventilator now. The dohc-doctor said if they don't do the surgery her chances of surviving are very low." She completely broke down, sobbing.

"Then what's the problem dear?" He stood up from his chair as he rounded his table to come sit beside the crying girl.

"They are asking for a lot of money. Mine and my brother's savings are not enough. We are helpless, hopeless. I know it is impossible but we want to try." It was getting hard for her to control her tears.

"What do you want me to do dear?" He patted her shoulder to console the weeping girl sympathetically.

"Sir I was thinking…. Cah-can I get my salary in advance and can I try to get the loan from the company?" She sniffled as she looked up her boss anticipating for his reply.

"About the salary in advance yes you can get that. You can get 5 months' salary in advance. You would have to sign some papers for that. I would get them ready if you want. But about the loan…" he trailed off thinking, rubbing his chin as he scrunched his brows. "Taking a loan from the company is a very lengthy process. You need to sign a lot of paper works, many legal policies and … it takes almost a month to get issued and I think that would be very late. But don't worry I will try to think about a solution. And I think its best if you go home and rest for a bit…and stay with your mom today. You can't work in this condition. I will work something out by tomorrow." He said to her while nodding his head.

"Thank you so much sir." She repeatedly thanked the kind man as she stood up to leave. She felt a little at ease. 'Everything will work out just fine.' She assured herself.

*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*

It was already so late Travis was waiting for Evelyn. She was the one who directed the project with him so she was also supposed to assist him with the making of the contract.

He was fuming in anger. Just yesterday he told her how important the project was and how she would fully direct the project with him. He clearly told her yesterday that she will be needed for the work. 'What kind of ill-mannered girl is she?' he thought.

He picked up the receiver to call his dad to complain about his dad's favorite girl's punctuality.

"Where is that damn, Miss Davis? I was clear yesterday to her that were supposed to form the contract today." He snarled as soon as his father picked up.

"Travis!" His father scolded. " is this how you talk to your father? Is this how you talk about your employees? If you can not respect your employees….I am having second thoughts to make Alessandro the heir of the company and not you."

"What the hell, dad! He is not even in this field. I was trained from the start for this. It is my destiny." He replied a lot more composed then before. His property and status was everything for him. He worked really hard to get here and he can't lose just like that.

"If your behavior stays like that young man I might take some severe actions."

"Geez. Fine! I am sorry. Now can you please tell where that girl is?" He asked, this time a little nicely.

"Yes, she came to me in the morning. Poor girl was really worried about her mother's surgery expenses. She was asking for a loan and advance salary. You know the loan policy. It's hard. She was so distressed so I told her to take a day off while I think of some way to help her." His father replied gravely.

"Is she going to come tomorrow?" He inquired.

"Yes. I told her to come tomorrow so I can manage something for her."

"Hmm. Ok! Thank you dad." Saying that he ended the call.

As soon as he put the receiver down there was a knock on the door. Allowing the person to come in. He looked up to see Liam, his very trusted colleague and 'spy'of the company, standing there with a proud smile.

"I got you some big news sir." He excitedly sat on the chair.

"I am not in the mood. If it is good then go on and if it's bad get the hell out of this room. I am already very mad." He turned his swivel chair away from the guy to look out of the window.

"It is not good news but it is important. It is about your position as the next CEO?" He said in a hushed tone.

Hearing that Travis turned his chair towards the table again. He quickly stood up to sit beside Liam.

"What is it?" He quirked.

"I saw your family lawyer entering your dad's office so I decided to eavesdrop. Mr. Harrison has changed the 'Will'." He whispered.

"WHAT?" His eyes widened from shock. "Wh-What did he change?"

"He said that you have spend 1 year of successful marriage to gain the position of the CEO. I also heard him say that he have already threatened you with the arrange marriage situation so you would have taken the hint by that."

"Ok." He replied calmly. If his father wanted to play like that then he will do it his way. He smirked.

"Do me favor Liam." He said as he stood up to stand beside the window looking at the busy road outside. "Run a background check on Evelyn Davis. Find every detail about her and bring it to me by today, before evening."

"Yes sir."

"Now go." Hearing that Liam quickly left the room.

An hour later Liam entered the cabin again but this time with a file in his hand.

"I got all the information about the girl, sir."

"Good. Now tell me everything from the start."

"Evelyn Davis, turned 23 last month, is the daughter of Ronald and Veronica Davis. She has a brother, Carter Davis. She recently dropped out of university to start working in this company. Before that she was majoring in English literature. Her portfolio shows that she wanted to be an author but due to lack of facilities and increasing burden she dropped that field. Her brother runs a street hotel with his friend. 5 months back her parents got into an accident. Ronald died on spot but Veronica survived. But since then she is in a coma. Recently she has been-."

"I know what's wrong with her mom and how's her recent condition." Travis snapped. "Tell me about her love life. Any boyfriends?"

"No sir. Her love life is totally clear?"

"Her sexual life?"

"That also is clean. It looks like she was a nerd and focused on studying more than anything else."

"That is even better. Now tell me did you get her address?"

"Yes sir. Here it is." Liam presented a piece of paper which held the complete address.

"Good. You can leave now."

He sneered looking at the scribbles on the paper as he swiveled his chair.

'Let's see how you deny me now Miss Evelyn Davis. Helplessness can drive people to take certain decisions and you will too.'