Chapter 4

Silence echoed through the room, the birds had suddenly stopped chirping and it seemed like time had stopped. Both Hazel and Doctor Benson were waiting for the other to speak first, it felt almost like a competition and neither was ready to lose. Moments later, Hazel lost to the good doctor.

"Ollie, remember how I said the accident was terrible, the state of your car, it was like it had been crushed. When you arrived at the hospital, you were badly injured. You even had surgery, the doctors did all they could but…" She sighed then continued, "The accident had done too much damage and your legs are barely responding to reflex and stimulation." She said.

Oliver turned to Doctor Benson. " Is what she's saying true? Am I never going to work again?" He asked, tightly clenching the blanket, nearly ripping the seams out.

"Mr. Chandler, we were unable to carry out all the tests we wanted to do this morning because you were unconscious but now that you're awake, we can do them to confirm." Doctor Benson answered, completely evading his question, he nodded to the nurse who came forward with a reflex hammer.

"This is a reflex hammer, I'm going to use it to hit the patella tendon in your knees, this test will tell us if there's hope or not." He laughed nervously. He quickly performed the test and Oliver's knees jerked slightly. Doctor Benson released a relieved gush of air.

"So what did you get from the test?" Hazel asked twisting her fingers anxiously.

"The test was good, his response was slow but it was there, so that means with much dedication, patience, and physiotherapy, he could be working again, at least with crutches or a cane." He said with a wide smile, Hazel clapped in relief and excitement.

"Thank God and thank you, Doctor Benson," Oliver said, his brown eyes filled with hope.

"Just doing my job, I'll refer you guys to a good physiotherapist, once you're cleared for discharge," He said and started walking to the door, Hazel followed him.

Outside the room, she stops him. " Doctor Benson, the physiotherapist you're planning to refer us to, I hope they are the best, if they are not, I want the best. If you can't get me the best, I'll find them myself." Hazel crossed her arms over her chest. She tilted her head up as if daring him to overrule her.

"Of course, I would never recommend anyone subpar. Doctor Mac is one of the best, if not the best, physiotherapists I know." He smiled, showing teeth.

" Good. Thank you." She turned and went back into the room. Oliver was scrolling through his phone while waiting for her, luckily the phone had survived the crash.

"Hey, Haze, have you informed Dad about my accident?" He looked away from his phone to stare at her reaction. Hazel scowled as he expected.

"Of course not, why should I? It is not like he has ever cared about us." Hazel spat out.

" Hazel, he's our dad and he's trying, you just don't want to give him a chance." He said softly.

"Ollie, you always see the good in people and that's your Achilles heel." She leaned forward to brush a stray strand of hair on his face.

"Well, yours is that you only see the bad in people." He grinned at her and she rolled her eyes.

********

"Miss Chandler, we can't keep putting off the meeting with McKinley Corp, they are hoping to partner with us for PR services. They are a huge Tech corporation, we need them." Gayle, Oliver's assistant said through the phone, Hazel sighed and rubbed her temple. She was at her apartment, getting some toiletries before returning to the hospital.

"Gayle, you're going to have to. I can't leave Oliver alone, he needs all the support he can get now." She undressed, pulled out a dress from the closet laid it on the bed then stepped into the bathroom.

"Miss Chandler, I know, trust me, it hurts me to bring up business when my boss is in the hospital but we have to get the deal with McKinley Corp, they are already threatening to ruin us if we put them off again." Hazel stopped in her tracks.

" Ruin us? What the hell?" She flinched at how loud her voice sounded, her migraine was back with full force and she couldn't get rid of it.

"That's what the CEO's assistant told me. Their CEO wants to meet with our CEO which is Oliver, since he isn't available, you must go in his place." Gayle said, Hazel could hear the exhaustion in her voice.

"Fine, when is the meeting?" She decided there was no need to put it off anymore.

"Today, by 2 pm at Variloux Restaurant." Hazel checked the time on her phone, it was almost 1 pm.

"That's less than an hour from now, how am I supposed to get ready and prep for the meeting."

" Don't worry, just get ready, I'll send Sean to pick you up so you can read the files on your way to the restaurant."

Hazel sighed and rubbed her forehead, " Thanks, Gayle." She hung up the phone, took a quick shower, and got ready. Hazel pulled on her cream-power suit, did light makeup, and pulled her hair back in a tight bun. She took a good look at herself in the mirror and decided she looked professional enough.

Sean arrived and drove Hazel to the restaurant, she arrived five minutes later even though Sean drove like he was being chased by the cops.

She exhaled, rubbed her sweaty palms on her trousers, and came down from the car. Hazel put on her best professional smile and strutted into the restaurant, the hostess showed her to her client's table, he had his head bent and was on his phone.

Hazel took one last deep breath and pulled on her chair, "Mr. McKinley, it's good to finally meet you." Hazel smiled and stretched out her hand, he raised his head and she made eye contact with familiar green eyes and her smile froze on her face.

Mr McKinley narrowed his eyes at her and her outstretched hand, " You're seven minutes late, is this how you run your company, by be ing late?" He said in a gruff voice, Hazel's smile fell and she dropped her hand.

She cleared her throat and sat down, "I'm sorry for being late, it was due to unforeseen circumstances. I hope you won't hold it against us."

He grumbled something unintelligible under his breath and Hazel narrowed her eyes slightly at him.

"I was supposed to be meeting with Oliver Chandler, the CEO, who are you? Are you the assistant, I already said I would only meet with the CEO."

" I'm Hazel Chandler, the COO, Oliver is currently indisposed, and I'm taking his place. I'm sure you don't have any problem with that." She pulled on her biggest fake smile.

He scoffed, " Of course I do, do you think I won't remember you? You're the girl that stopped abruptly on the road and made me bash my car."

Hazel's hands balled into fists, " Mr. McKinley, that was in the past, we're here to discuss business. Let's move on from that."

" No way, you're also the girl who bumped into me in the hospital, spewing my files all over the floor. Do you lack coordination skills?" His voice had gone louder and people were staring at their table.

"Mr. McKinley, please, you're causing a scene. Let's talk about what made you call for this meeting."

" I don't think so, I can't work with you." He stopped up and pushed his chair back.

"Why?" She stood as well.

"Well, I don't like your attitude, your company has been delaying this meeting for weeks and you were also late. In a nutshell, you're highly unprofessional."

Hazel was taken aback, " Excuse me? I've only been here for two minutes, you didn't even give me the chance to prove myself."

" I don't need to, I've seen everything I need to see." He started walking away.

" You bastard, you're the most infuriating man I've ever met, I hope you burn in hell." She yelled at his retreating figure, but he didn't stop and just left the restaurant.

Hazel's eyes swelled with tears, she looked around and everyone was staring at her with judgy eyes, her first day acting as the CEO and she had already lost a potential client and embarrassed herself.

She grabbed her bag and was about to leave when something caught her eye, Mr highly professional had left behind his notepad, so she grabbed it in anger and exited the restaurant.