Her father was sleeping peacefully. That was what the doctor had told her when she had gone to see him. She was relieved that he was making progress. Her father suffered from Lung cancer, diagnosed almost two years ago. She knew her father smoked once in a while, but she never knew he went through cigarette packs in his bad days. Fortunately, they discovered the cancer early.
He was on chemo treatment and according to the doctor he seemed to be doing a lot better than last time.
Lacey was seated next to his hospital bed waiting for him to wake up so she could say hello.
Growing up, her father was the only parent she knew. Lacey had never known her mother, although her father told her she left when she was very little.
Growing up for her had been difficult, she only had her father and sometimes her aunt who took care of her while her father was away.
She also didn't even know what her mother looked like, but judging from how her father looked Lacey was very sure she looked a lot like her mother. Regardless of the fact that she had a difficult and motherless childhood, Lacey felt she still turned out alright.
Although sometimes the pain and anger of not knowing who her mother was got to her but she tried not to think too much about it. Her father also rarely told her anything about her mother, it seemed like a difficult topic for him to revisit.
But after today seeing Lila's photo, Lacey couldn't help thinking if they were in any way related. The thought wasn't far fetched either, it was the only thing that could explain the striking resemblance between the two of them. But she needed her father to give her at least something.
Charlie Evans stirred slowly from his deep sleep after a while and Lacey smiled as her father blinked and his eyes opened.
"Hi Dad."
"Hi Lacey."
He said weakly as he smiled. Lacey briefly put her arms around him to give him a quick hug. He was still tired and weak and she didn't really want to push him.
"Doctor Martin said you're doing so much better! That's great news!"
She exclaimed and her father nodded as he cleared his throat.
"Well... I do feel much better. What about you? How are you doing?"
"Oh, I'm just glad you're happy. You gave me quite the scare a few days ago. I thought I was going to lose you."
She whispered. She was right, when the doctor had told her the cancer was not relenting and they only had to hope and pray that his surgery and chemo treatments helped him out.
Lacey had been devastated. For so many reasons. Her father was her only family. She couldn't imagine losing him.
"Lacey... Where did you get the money for this?"
He asked in a low voice and Lacey avoided his gaze. She had been hoping that he would forget to ask. But she should have known better, her father didn't forget things like that. They didn't have medical insurance, her father was a simple taxi driver. There was no way the hospital bills wouldn't have crushed their pockets if Aidas hadn't stepped in and helped.
"I took a loan from my boss. Don't think about that Dad. All that matters is your health."
Her father sighed and shook his head.
"How many loans will you be taking Lacey. We're already drowning in debts as it is!"
His feeble voice chastised.
"Oh Daddy! Don't worry about that. My boss told me I could pay anytime. So please don't worry about that. All that matters is you getting better."
"I just really need you to get better Daddy. I miss you."
She squeezed his hands in hers and kissed his fingers.
"I know. Believe me I'm trying. I hate this cursed place more than you. It reeks of death."
Her father complained and Lacey chuckled.
She missed her father bitching about the hospital. He really hated hospitals. She could understand why he did too.
The air of death and despair that hung around hospitals wasn't her favourite scene either.
And seeing depressed and tired faces of patients everywhere didn't make it any better.
"Dad, I have to ask you a question."
She said as she settled back in her seat while her father smiled.
"What is it?"
She took a deep breath as she looked at her father, she really hoped he wasn't going to ignore or her anything.
"When are you going to tell me about Mum?"
She whispered audible enough for him to hear but still in a low quivering voice.
A long silence followed. So long and tiring that Lacey had to speak up again.
"Dad, I'm not twelve or sixteen anymore. You can't just avoid the topic like a plague. Please, just tell me something about her."
"What really happened? Why don't you have any pictures of her? Even a memory! I just really need to know."
She pleaded as she blinked back tears. For a long while she had stopped asking her father about her mother. That was around when she was sixteen and her father started seeing someone else, a nurse named Debbie. It was the first time she had really seen her father so serious with someone else and she had been happy for him.
Till her father ended the relationship abruptly. Debbie had been devastated, for weeks she still visited hoping to talk things out with her father and she kept on trying till one night where she finally got mad. She said some really harsh and terrible things, one of which being the fact that her father was only a fool still longing after a woman that left he and his child for another man.
That was the day Lacey caught a glimpse of what her father was going through. If her mother had left her father, no wonder it was so hard for him to talk about it.
"Lacey, the only reason I have avoided talking about your mother for so long is because I don't want the truth to hurt you. And no, I don't think you're ready for it yet."
Lacey furrowed her eyebrows.
What did her father mean.
"I don't understand..."
Her father sighed as he looked away.
"One day you will."
Lacey was about to pester him further for answers when her phone beeped. It was a text from Aidas and he needed her urgently. Although he failed to state what exactly what he needed her for.
"I've got to go Dad. Take care of yourself."
She said as she stood up. Her father forced a smile, obviously still a little thrown off balance by her questions.
"I'll try. Take care of yourself too Lacey. Remember that I love you."
He said as he kissed her cheeks as she leaned in for a hug.
Lacey smiled.
"I love you too Dad."
ONE WEEK LATER.
To say she was nervous was an understatement as she walked out of the elevator that led to the CEO's floor.
Lacey was at the brink of chewing at her fingernails out of anxiety. She had prepared for the day, she had waited for it and she had even counted down to it.
The day she was finally going to meet Hunt Adler.
Aidas had made sure she was well dressed and prepared for the part. Imelda had taken her shopping and they had gotten a few office outfits for her. Like the black checked skater dress she was wearing paired with low heels. Everything down from her hair, makeup and clothes was in a fashion and style that closely mimicked Hunt's late girlfriend.
Lacey had argued with Aidas that it wasn't necessary but he refused. He claimed that it would make things even more better and speed things up a little.
Lacey stopped at the reception desk with a bright eager smile plastered on her face.
"Welcome to Crete Inc. What can I help you with?"
The receptionist asked in a chirpy voice.
"Candy Holmes. I'm here for the interview."
Lacey replied quickly and the redhead nodded as she checked her laptop.
Crete Inc had an unapologetic, modern and cutthroat beauty to it. Everything Lacey could see was glass, glass, more glass, sophisticated paintings and white marble floor.
"Of course. Last office down the hall."
"Thank you."
She replied with a small and the redhead nodded.
"Good luck."
Down the hall, there was a large waiting area with the view of a large office in front. The walls were glass, so Lacey could see right through the office. She didn't need anyone to tell her that it was the CEO's office. It was obvious from the way it looked.
As Lacey took her seat next to two other women and a man, she felt strangely anxious. She politely said hello to the others but only one of then replied with a smile. The rest only nodded at her.
So far, there was no sign of Hunt Adler or the fact that he was even in the building. Lacey picked up her phone again to go through the questions Imelda had been asking her about the company to get her prepared. She didn't want to rely on the fact that she looked like his late ex girlfriend alone. She also wanted to look and feel like she was genuinely interested in the job.
From what Aidas had told her, Hunt Adler was always suspicious of the people around him, he rarely kept anyone too close or made friends easily. It was one of the reason Aidas had found it very hard to infiltrate his inner circle.
"Ladies and Gentleman. I hope I haven't kept you waiting for long."
A deep voice said from the hallway and Lacey sharply turned to the direction of the voice.
Her stomach plummeted to the floor as her eyes held and beheld the gaze of Hunt Adler.
He paused for a while, watching her closely till his eyes briefly widened in realisation.
"Who are you?"
He simply asked and Lacey in her nervousness turned around to see if he was addressing her or the other interviewees.
"Candy Holmes."
She replied as she tucked a strand of hair between her ear trying to be coy.
Hunt furrowed his eyebrows. Lacey lowered her eyes, she couldn't bare to stare at the intensity of his gaze.
"Come with me."
He answered and he started walking towards the office. Lacey looked around and found that the other interviewees were just as confused and bewildered as she was.
One of them however was brave enough to talk.
"Sir? What about the interview? We all arrived much earlier than she did."
The man among them said and Lacey rolled her eyes.
Hunt paused and turned around slowly.
His face held an amusing look and he hardened his jaw briefly.
"You can all leave. Sorry for wasting your time."
That was all he said as he turned back and continued walking.
"What? Because of her?"
One of the females murmured and she picked up her purse angrily and stormed away. The man and woman followed shortly after giving Lacey menacing glares.
Lacy ignored them all, closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She was ready.
She walked towards Hunt Adler's office.
He was already expecting her.