The Epiphany
Then, she arrived at the gate of the Bailey International Conglomerate with great expectations. She pulled up at the gate, blared her horn and waited while, the security guards who had rested for some days from her type walked up to her.
‘This is the kind of thing that irritates me. Why can’t they just let me in?’
She mumbled. Then, the gatekeeper asked.
“Hello, Madam. How may we help you?”
She glared at the annoying security guard before she informed.
“I wish to see the Chairman.”
“Welcome madam. Do you have an appointment with him?”
The question was for formality’s sake because the Chairman hardly receive visitors. Now, Lorene, who did not have room for honesty, admitted.
“Yes.”
“It is all right. Come down and fill our visitor’s form.”
“I am not coming down. Just open the gate for me. I don’t have the time to waste.”
Now, Mr. Phil Anderson was coming to see the Chairman as agreed so that they can report Mr. Stephen Bailey to the police. He parked behind Lorene, who he noticed was throwing a tantrum and observed her interaction with the security guards. After a while, he got off his car and walked to her car and recognized her at once as the inquisitive woman who was asking endless questions the day they went to install a secret camera for his mother-in-law. Then, he turned to the security man, asked.
“What does she want?”
“She said she had an appointment with the Chairman.”
Phil, who was not comfortable with such a visit, concluded that she must be connected with Mr. Stephen Bailey. Then he ordered.
“Let her in.”
“All right, Young Master.”
Now, Lorene, who recognized him too, was happy that her would be stepson recognized her and accorded her such respect.
“Thank you, son.”
She greeted and got into her car. Phil, who refused to acknowledge his appreciation, got into his car too and drove behind her. Subsequently, she got to the car park and parked, then Phil parked beside her. Now, she got off happily and attempted to begin to walk towards the Administrative Block, but Phil stopped her.
“Stop.”
The shocked Lorene stopped suddenly and looked at the face of the supposed stepson, who was wearing a long face. Then, Phil continued.
“Wait in your car, please. I will get back to you.”
To Lorene Walker, that was more embarrassing than the treatment she got from the gate. Phil got off his car, ignored her and walked to Denise’s office. He met Denise having his lunch of snacks and narrated how he met Lorene at the gate, then Denise asked.
“Do you mean the same inquisitive woman at mom’s workplace?”
“Yes. I was surprised when she said she was looking for father.”
“Let me see her, please.”
“Finish your lunch first.”
Denise took his time to have his lunch while Phil continued with his work on his device. When Denise was through with his lunch, they walked leisurely to the car park to meet the distraught Lorene. Then Denise, who discovered that she was the woman who visited to see his father when he was on honeymoon, gave her a quizzical look before he greeted.
“Good day, ma’am. You were here the other day to see the Chairman, am I correct?”
Now, Lorene faked a smile and responded.
“Yes, son. How are you?”
Denise ignored her question and asked.
“Did you say you wish to see the Chairman?”
“Yes, my dear.”
“Is he expecting you?”
She smiled broadly and gave a diplomatic answer.
“Yes dear. He should be expecting me.”
Phil, who was not comfortable with her response, repeated Denise’s question with a very formal tone.
“Is he expecting you?”
Now, the bewildered Lorene, who was lost and dumbstruck, could not think of any suitable response. She only looked on, and that turned the two gentlemen off. While she was vacillating, they walked out on her unceremoniously and headed towards the Chairman’s Office. Then Phil inquired.
“How am I confident that she is not part of the wolves?”
Denise gave him a searching look and asked.
“Do you know about the wolves?”
“Yes, father asked Stephen about them yesterday when he came to tender his apology, but he could not give any reasonable answer concerning them.”
“I don’t get it. Were you at the Native Home yesterday?”
“Yes, I was there after I left your place to see Max. Father would have killed him.”
“You mean father beat him up?”
Denise asked sarcastically, and Phil responded with a smirk.
“That was an understatement. If not for mom and me, who walked in at the nick of time, the story would have been different.”
“That serves him right.”
Now, they were at the Chairman’s Office and incidentally, he was with a visitor, Mr. Justin Douglas, who visited for two reasons. Jude Addy’s immigration status and to get the details of Mr. Stephen’s attempted assassin. So, they took their seats at the reception.
Meanwhile, Lorene Walker remained in her car like a caged animal, and she could not decide her next move. Leaving without seeing the only man in Dover who caught her fancy and who would make her the first lady of the prestigious Bailey was not an option. Besides, she would not know how she would be treated at the gate since she was led in by Phil, but her common sense advised her that she must be led out by him. So, she continued to wait.
Meanwhile, when Mr. Arthur Bailey saw Denise and Phil sitting at the reception through the CCTV, he invited him into his office.
“Good day, Mr. Douglas. We are glad to have you.”
They greeted one after the other. Meanwhile, Mr. Douglas, who was among the people who would always mistake Phil for his son, responded cheerfully.
“Good day, young men. Good to see you. Which of you wedded the last time?”
Mr. Arthur Bailey laughed at his question and corrected him. Now, they discussed Jude’s immigration status, which he had sorted out, and he commended Denise.
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