Chapter 7 cancer trouble

"Why would you let this slip!" Xavier snarled at Jerry, flinging the documents away while Jerry kept a straight face. He didn't bother rendering his excuse because he knew Xavier wasn't going to take it.

"What do you have to say for your self"

"He assured me that he was going to sign the contract".

"Well he didn't" Xavier bellowed at him, tapping his feet incessantly on the floor out of anger and frustration.

"I think it's because of the article," Jerry said quietly. "He believes everything in the article is real. The drug importation, the...... "

"Enough" Xavier snapped. He couldn't believe how soft hearted Austin could be when it came to business. If this concerned the confraternity, Austin wouldn't have the balls to do what he did.

"Schedule a meeting between the two of us"

"He doesn't want anything to do with Jexs. Including any form of meeting" Xavier snickered when the words came through. At this point, he found the scenario funny. Austin had no idea who he was messing with.

"After buying shares from his company. Interesting" he humphed afterward. He also gestured tensed Jerry to leave.

What Austin didn't realize was, no one messes with Xavier. At first, he didn't want to get his hands dirty when it came to Austin, but at this point, his ego had been dragged to the mud.

He picked up his phone, dialed Duong's number, and waited for an answer. The moment Duong answered, he parted his lips to speak.

"Schedule a meeting with Austin. Make sure he attends" he said firmly. If Austin wanted to play ball, then Xavier was up for it.

****************

Rachael met with the nurse at the entrance, dropped her information, and was directed to where her mother was. This wasn't their regular hospital. Chloe probably rushed her to the nearest hospital as a result of her condition. Rachael felt a lump in her throat as she walked toward the room. She couldn't do this. How could her mum collapse when she was reassured not too long by her doctor that the chemo was working?

When Rachael got to the ward, she found her mother on the bed and Chloe by her side. The sight broke her. All she wanted to do was stay here and cry as much as she could, but she knew she couldn't do that in front of them. She had to be strong for them.

After much breathing exercise, she opened the door and got in. Her mum was conscious now and a frown crept to her face when she realized it was Rachael.

"You left work" her raspy, strained voice had a lot of disapproval in it.

"Chloe told me what happened," Rachael said. "And I was already done with work" she added the last part to make her less concerned about herself.

"I'm doing better now," she told Rachael. Rachael glanced at Chloe. The sadness in her eyes couldn't be hidden. She knew the situation was more than her mother painted it.

"I uh..." Rachael paused. "I need to see the doctor," she said, getting up from where she sat. Her voice had changed a lot and that was a result of the tears she was holding back. She didn't want to bawl her eyes in front of the two of them.

"I'm coming too" Chloe said, trailing Rachael from behind.

They both got outside and Racheal turned to look at Chloe.

"The doctor said the cancer is spreading faster. She is terminal Rachael" she broke into tears.

Rachael gasped as she held the wall for support. It felt like her world came to an end with that news. She stared at Chloe who's eyes dripped with painful tears, but she couldn't do the same. Rachael found it hard to cry. The only thing she could do was stare around in utmost dismay. This was something she didn't see coming. Just when she thought her mother was getting better, this news came.

"Aren't you going to say anything" Chloe snapped at her while Racheal gaped at her, not showing an ounce of emotion? She tried to speak, but her mouth was too heavy.

"Chloe I....." She stopped to catch her breath. "I don't know what to say" she sniffed, staring at her 23-year-old cousin who had been like a sister to her since her parent died in a plane crash. She remembered the first time Chloe came to the house. How much she hated him, but now it felt like they shared the same type of emotions.

Rachael brought her trembling hands to her eyes as she wiped the little tears off them. "I have to go now," she said, surprising Chloe.

"You want to leave?"

"Yes Chloe"

"For God's sake Racheal, she is dying, don't you care about that?" Chloe barked at her.

Of course, she did. How couldn't she when these were the last days of her mother. The pain doubled, but she couldn't break down at this crucial point. If she couldn't be strong then what would become of Chloe?

She clutched the hand of her purse, turning her back against Chloe. "Doctor said she has a month" the statement added to Racheal's agony. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she blinked rapidly, taking it back. Maybe when she got into a cab, she could cry her eyes out.


*************

Rachael sighed in exhaustion when she sighted her office door. The numerous turns and hallway had her confused. Her mind was not in a settled mood to aid her search and she couldn't ask anyone because they kept staring at her like an alien.

Rachael held the doorknob and opened the door. At least Xavier had no idea that she left.

The moment she got into her office, her mind skipped a few beats. She was wrong. Xavier knew she left because he was inside her office, seated on the table!