83- Doctor Kelly

“I need a final checkup from Doctor Kelly to be sure that everything is okay,” she reminds me. “Right.”
“Blair,” she calls softly. “Don’t you think that things can work out between the two of you?”
My nerves tighten. “Lee Rang, we work together and if you keep hammering on this, it’s going to affect my performance.”
“Because you like him.”
“No,” I almost scream out. “Lee Rang! Stop!” “My bad,” she concedes.
I give her a harsh look and head out to inquire on the details of her discharge.
However as I go along, I can’t help thinking about her words concerning Grady. I would be lying to myself if I say that I have never thought along these lines, but occasionally having a thought about something and voicing it out loud are two very different things.
Now that it’s been plainly stated, things feel a little more established and it agitates the hell out of me.
With a sigh, I focus on requesting for updated details of Lee Rang’s condition and discharge, then try my best to push him out of my mind.

“How about we have lunch at the cafeteria today?” I ask over the phone. The other end of the line goes completely silent.
I tap a pen on the table and at his continued lack of a response, the tapping pace goes even faster. “Hello?” I call. “Why aren’t you speaking?”
Allen clears his throat. “Um, I always get my lunch from the cafeteria. That’s nothing out of the ordinary but you... have you even been there before? If you just show up, you'll give people quite the scare and unless you’re going there to fire someone or for some administrative meeting then please just head outside to eat your usually overpriced lunch or get Blair to handle a delivery for you.
My sigh is heavy at his teasing. “There’s only thirty minutes left for lunch. I’ll be in your office in five minutes.” I rise to my feet and consider putting on my suit jacket. But I wonder if perhaps the extremely formal look will further make me seem unapproachable. So after a bit more consideration, I let it go and also leave my folded sleeves as they are. Soon, I step through my door, and just as I expect, she’s not at her desk but it also stops me for a moment to reconsider my intention to have my lunch in the cafeteria today. I eventually decide against it but just as I turn to return to my office, the door to my reception is pushed open.
Allen appears in his fully suited attire, with a bright smile on his face. “You said you’d be at my office in five minutes. This is ten minutes after.”
“I changed my mind,” I reply. “I think I’ll just order something in.”
“No,” he says and turns around to head out. “You need to eat with the peasants that you milk daily for your company’s progress. And that includes me.”
I frown at his use of the word ‘peasants.’ “Do you usually eat at the cafeteria?”

“Of course. They make the best pecan dumplings I’ve ever had. Even Meredith forces me to bring some over to the house for her.”
We soon arrive at the elevator to wait for its arrival, but when I look over at him, there’s a massive smile on his face that makes me uncomfortable. “What are you so happy about?”
“It’s been about two years since we last had lunch together.”
I’m a bit taken aback by the statement. “Didn’t we have a lunch meeting with CMNDi two months ago?”
“That’s a business meeting,” he says. “This is different, and I want to know what’s prompting it.”
I turn away from his excited face because there is no way in hell that I’m going to admit anything to him. I don’t even dare admit it to myself so the moment the elevator arrives, I step into it without a word.
“It’s a good thing we’re having lunch together. I was going to come over to notify you of something.” “What is it?” I ask.
“Meredith,” he begins. “She’s having twins.”
I turn to him in surprise. It wasn't that long ago that he was adamant about not wanting anymore kids but now, he’s expecting twins?! The almost cruel turn of events is incredibly amusing to me, so much so that I laugh out loud at how forlorn he looks. “Why do you look like that?” I ask. “Isn’t this celebratory news?”
“You know why my face is like this. She won. Women control everything, man. From now on, I won’t even bother voicing an opinion because I’ve realized that there is a noose around my neck and that she is the one that decides where we should go and what should happen.”
“You’re happy about this,” I say. “Sure, you weren’t necessarily expecting it right now, but even your dad has mentioned how much you love kids and wanted a big family, especially since you were an only child.”
“You’re right.” He smiles. “I’m just a bit edgy because when I asked her how all of this even happened, she acted like she didn't know what I was talking about. The woman is more meticulous than even you are and if she didn’t want a baby, she wouldn't have gotten pregnant.”
“True, but it’s definitely not her fault that she’s now pregnant with twins. That’s on you.” “No arguments there,” he agrees.

I shake my head in amusement at the interesting but yet endearing relationship that he has with his wife.
Our elevator soon arrives on the ground floor and as it pulls open, we meet a handful of employees waiting for it. They immediately recognize Allen but it takes a few more seconds for my face to register and when it does, I don’t miss the shock in their eyes. Resonant and excitable greetings immediately follow and I don’t blame them. Except in company gatherings, it is usually rare that they come into contact with me. Their bosses report directly to me and I come in earlier than most of them. I also probably leave later than most of them too, so there are very few chances to run into me.
“Wow,” Allen exclaims as we walk away from the surprised group. “You're like a celebrity. One would think that you didn’t even work in this building.”
He’s amused at this but I’m now all the more worried about going to the cafeteria because if I show up there, wouldn’t it make Blair uncomfortable?
“Anyway,” Allen says. “I want to give you a heads up that I’ll be taking about a week off at the end of next week.
Rest assured that I’ll still be productive enough at home. I’ll handle my workload and ensure that my presence is not missed.”
“Aren’t you meant to be helping Meredith?” I ask. “She’s going to give me a call if she finds that you’re still working when you’re meant to be helping her.”
“Well if she does, then tell her that I need work to keep me sane.” “Alright, that is exactly what I’m going to say.”
We arrive at the cafeteria then and walk into the massive air conditioned space. “I’m kidding,” he says. “If she calls you to complain, don’t ever tell her I said that.”
“I’m going to,” I remain adamant as my gaze takes in the room. Employees are sitting together in clusters at different tables and in the middle of the hall is the huge buffet.
The heads that turn towards us gradually begin to increase and maybe, it’s just my imagination but it also seems as though the room has become significantly quieter.
Allen leads the way to a pile of clean plates.
I walk with him. “How are the meals in general?” I ask. “You’ve only spoken about the dumplings.”

“The meals are great and it better be given the millions I release to Culinary at the end of each month.”
I turn to him with a frown. “Millions?”
“I’m exaggerating.” He grins. “It’s thousands. Mere thousands.”
I give him a suspicious look as he hands me a tray and I proceed to fill it up with a flat plate and bowl. Then we join the line but those who have recognized us immediately step out of it, so that we can go right ahead to the buffet. It brings it all to attention, especially as about a dozen people are now displaced and standing out of what was a straight and civil line mere seconds earlier.
“Thank you,” Allen accepts the gesture.
I have no choice but to walk with him as we head straight up to the buffet.
I receive countless greetings from the serving staff which I am quite happy to respond to. I even begin to strike up a conversation with one of the bubbly ladies that I recall personally interviewing for the position almost a decade earlier when we were just starting out.
But then in no time, the executives come running out with an entourage of about four suited staff with them. I recognize the leader Aaron and his deputy Marisa who are the duo that run the department.
“Sirs, Mr Abbott. Mr Canter.” They welcome us excitedly.
I had held the small hope that we would be left alone but I can see now that until we take our seats, it will probably be impossible.
“Sir,” Aaron speaks. “We have a private room for you and Mr. Canter. You also don’t need to get your food from here. Just come with me and I’ll ensure that you’re properly served.”
“This is fine,” I reply but when I see that he’s about to argue and insist, I immediately give a clear directive, “Please leave. Mr. Canter and I just want to have a quick meal together before our next meeting. And there’s no need to treat us with something special since I’ve heard that the meals in general are great. So if it’s good enough for the staff, it should be good enough for me too, right?”
“Y-yes sir,” he replies.