Chapter 22

Chapter 22
“How do I operate this messy thing?”

As Rory attempted to separate the wires, she sighed in frustration. She immediately got out of the chair when she noticed a box close to the closed window. Rory popped the box open and started digging around inside. At the very least, there ought to be something that could direct her as to what to do or where those wires would go.

When she spotted the pamphlet sandwiched between other wrappers and wires, she picked it up and began to turn the pages. However, as she did so, her eyes flicked back to the box when she thought she saw something.

“A glue?” Rory took it in her hands and looked at it carefully. "What is the glue supposed to be used for?"

When she opened the manual again, she discovered some instructions regarding the wires that were on the chair. They were called electrodes, and now she understands the purpose of the glue. It served as a means of securing those tiny sensors to the scaps.

Before returning to her chair, Rory stuffed the mess she had made on the floor back into the box and put it back where it belonged. She persisted in reading the manual until she understood what to do—not what to do—during the test.

Her scalp was clean; she had washed her hair that morning. Rory began to divide her hair into various sections as she took off her cap.

After attaching glue to each of the twenty sensors, she placed one on each area of her scalp. They were sticking to Rory, giving the feeling that she had used an expired conditional.

She read the instructions carefully and learned the movements she needed to make in order to record the brain waves. High waves indicated that there might be a problem with the person's brain, whereas low waves indicated that everything was normal and healthy.

The recorder started to capture her brain waves as she lay on her back, closed her eyes, and put the manual down. When she was done, it had taken her twenty to thirty minutes of inhaling and exhaling and opening and closing her eyes.

During her reading, she’d also learned that the result would not be available immediately but rather in a few days or weeks. It will be necessary to analyze the recordings first. She removed the sensors and put her cap back on. Although she was feeling a little lightheaded, she reminded herself to focus on the fact that she was on a mission for her master. She has to stop the doctor from using the same scanner on Eren so that he won't discover that it has already been used by someone else. If Mr. Lewis found out about it, their plans would be ruined.

After setting everything clean, just as she had found it, Rory cleaned the disk of the sensors, then she returned to Eren.

At the dinner table, Eren and the highly qualified specialist were already seated. In his mind, he had hoped that Rory had discovered a solution for the test he was about to take.

"Dr. Webb, you are early," said Eren. He reached out to shake the neurophysiologist's hand.

Eren was approached as the man got up. Eren reached out his hand and extended it just in front of himself. Eren's hand was then shaken by Dr. Webb. "This time, Mr. Lewis instructed me to arrive on time. Are you occupied or would you prefer that we take the test later?” Dr. Webb took a seat and sat down a short distance from Eren.

“Yes. That is a fantastic idea. Are you interested in some cola? Or would you rather have coffee and cookies?”

"Mr. Cyrus, I'm fine."

"Come on, now. You should eat something. It would be rude of me to refuse to give you something to eat or drink since you traveled so far to come here.”

Dr. Webb laughed. “I will take the cola.” He placed his briefcase on the desk and remained still. When he offered the doctor something to drink, Eren believed he was buying time for Rory to complete her tasks.

“Is anyone out there?” Eren called out to one of the maids standing a few inches away from him.

Dr. Webb was immediately greeted by a maid whose eyes met his as she approached them.

“Get the doctor a cola, a cup with lots of ice, and some biscuits.”

“Yes, young master.” The maids sprinted away. Eren inhaled deeply and continued to wait.

Dr. Webb decided to ask when he thought the prolonged silence between them was too much. “How are you doing, Mr. Cyrus?”

"I am doing great," Eren gave a reply. Actually, all he was thinking about was Rory finishing the task.

“No nightmares?”

At first, Eren hesitated to answer that question, then he gave his reply. “No. No nightmares.”

Dr. Webb noted them down and continued with his inquiry. “Has your head been aching lately?”

“No, it hasn’t.”

“What about your mind? Has it been calm?”

“Very relaxed.”

The doctor cleared his throat and jotted down everything Eren had said.

A short while later, Rory ran in his direction. She bowed and greeted the doctor, who was seated a few inches away from Eren. “Young master!” she called.

Eren cocked his head in her general direction and extended a hand. “I will be right back.” said Eren to Dr. Webb. After assisting him to stand up, Rory left the room with him.

The maid brought the cola in just as they were leaving, and she assisted Dr. Webb in pouring some into the ice-filled cup.

"How did it turn out? Did you use your other options?”

“I used the first plan I had.” Eren was puzzled as she spoke. He had advised her to come up with a different strategy, but she had chosen the one for which she wanted to use a YouTube for the solution.

“And how did it go?”

“I figured it out but…”

“But?”

“There is a problem, young master.”

Eren scoffed. “Problem? I asked Rory Anne Spears to bring me a result; however, all you brought was a problem?”

“Well," Rory mumbled anxiously. “The fact that the outcome won't be announced today is the problem. There will be a delay of a few days or weeks.”

Eren gasped. As if having a panic attack, he asked, "Weeks?"

Rory gave a nod. "I just need you to stop him from using the same machine to scan you," she said.

It took a few seconds before Eren spoke again.

“I won't do it.” He laughed, fully aware that everything he had planned would be ruined if Mr. Lewis drove him to the hospital and had his cousin or any other qualified doctor give him a prescription for medication.

“You have to do it, young master. This is where you come in, remember?”

“No. You will be doing it.”

“And what... if I don't agree to do it?”

Rory questioned, expecting him to scream at her or have her thrown out, but Eren didn't act in either of those ways. He responded instead, "Then I won't be giving you the salary for this month."

Rory remained motionless while her mouth moved like a fish and made no comments in her own defense. There was no way she would win even if she tried to stand and argued with him. Eren would win. He was her master and she was just a nobody working for him just so she could get paid. She needed that money. It had always been just what she needed. There is no room for her heart to continue beating that fast every time she sees him, so it should take a break for a while.

The hush was broken by Eren. "Will you do it or will your salary be forfeit?"

“I will do it,” Rory said.

“Good. Take me back to the doctor now, and do your best to convince him to believe you.”

Once they were back at the table, Eren reclined in his seat. When the doctor saw Eren returning, he set the last biscuit back on his plate as he was about to finish it.

He inquired, "Is everything all right?" with a look of unbridled curiosity on his face.

Instead, Rory replied to the doctor. “No, there was a problem.”

“What is it?”

“I don’t think the young master will be able to do his test today.”

“Why not? He claimed he was healthy and in good spirits.”

“He is in good condition, but the scanner is not.” As soon as Rory finished speaking, Eren abruptly turned his head toward Rory.

She told a pathetic lie. How could she? Who would fall for that sort of lie?

“Oh. If that's the case, perhaps I ought to tell Mr. Lewis to use the one in my office.”

Immediately, Eren and Rory both yelled at once. “No!”

Dr. Webb gave them a perplexed glance. “No?”

"I mean, if we give it out for repair, it'll be a week or two before the scanner is ready. You know what?...You don't have to discuss any of this with Mr. Lewis. I will personally let him know.”

The doctor's brows furrowed. "Are you certain I shouldn't let him know? It seems serious.”

“You shouldn't worry, doctor. When the young master and I inform him, he will make the necessary repairs and summon you back to the mansion to complete the test.”

“All right. Another week can wait since Mr. Cyrus isn't experiencing any pain or nightmares.” Dr. Webb got up from his chair and closed his briefcase after putting his book and biro inside. “I'll be taking my leave now,” he said, picking up the briefcase from the table. “Have a good day, young master. I appreciate the cola too.” He grinned while flashing all of his teeth. “The cookies taste great,” he said as he reached out for the final piece. Then he turned away from them.

Rory heaved a sigh of relief as she watched the doctor leave, watched as he disappeared from view. Following that, she gave Eren a high five.

Her plan could not possibly have just succeeded. Eren was bewildered.