Chapter 9: Finding Sylvia A Home

"What's the matter? Do you despise this job?" I asked him back. "No." "Then what?" I teased him, "Is it because you're afraid of what I'll do to you?" He looked up and glared at me. I realized that I might really be a doomsayer. I had just lied about Yancey's back pain, and the next day, he sprained his back. Yancey was fifty-five years old this year and it was time for him to retire. This time, he not only sprained his back, but his legs got arthritis too. I simply offered him a long vacation and gave him a generous bonus. With that amount of money, he could live without working for the rest of his life. Yancey had been working for me for many years and I was actually quite sad to let him go. After visiting Yancey in the hospital, I called Elias, "Elias, it's all your fault. Last time I said my driver was not well and he really sprained his back and hospitalized. Now I don't have a driver. Tell me, how are you going to compensate me?" There was no sound at the other end for a long time. I probably knew what he was thinking about. I guessed he was thinking that I had gone too far. If not, I would not be me. "Elias, I'll give you one last chance. Monthly salary of $20,000, eight days off a month, and a variety of benefits and bonuses. Yancey, my former driver, has been driving for a few years and has already bought a small villa for retirement." Elias still remained silent. "As my driver, you have another benefit that no one else enjoys." Elias finally opened his mouth, "What benefit?" I slowed down my words, "That is, you get to spend time all day with me from now on." Beep... The call was suddenly hung up. Elias' bark was worse than his bite. He showed up at my door the next day with a straight face and reached out his hand to me, "The car keys." "Have you figured it out?" I raised an eyebrow at him. "You can't find a driver for a while, so I'll drive you for a few days and you can find a reliable driver during these days." "Sure." I handed him the keys. How could I let him out of my car so easily once he was in it? Naive. "Actually..." I walked up to him, "You can also apply for another position. It's up to you if you want to hear it or not." He was just stubborn but not stupid. As he pressed the bottom of the elevator, he gave me a soft glare, "I don't want to hear it." The elevator door opened and I stepped in with a grin. Since Elias had been driving for me, I noticed that my routine had become much more regular. Usually when I immersed myself in my work, I basically had to finish it before I looked up. But now, I got a regular alarm clock. Every time I worked past 8 pm, a humanoid alarm clock would call to remind me, "It's time to get off work." I laughed, "Elias, I'm your boss and it's up to me whether it's time to go home or not. If you're really bored, go back to sleep or do something else, and come pick me up when I call you." The other end didn't say yes or no. Shortly after, the office door was pushed open. Elias walked up to me with some food and said with a gloomy face, "Do you skip dinner every day?" Shortly after, the office door was pushed open. Elias walked up to me with some food and said with a gloomy face, "Do you skip dinner every day?" "Almost." I nodded, "I can not only save time but also lose weight, all in one go." "Come over and eat." He took me by the wrist, brought me forcibly to the sofa, and got my chopsticks ready, "Eat." "Nosy." I muttered in a small whisper. "What did you say?" He didn't hear me clearly. "Nothing, I said..." I blinked at him, "I didn't expect you to care so much about me. Yancey would not have asked me if I had eaten or brought me breakfast or dinner before. You're no different from my boyfriend." I always liked to have the upper hand. Elias looked at his watch, "It is going to rain at 9:30 pm and you have half an hour to eat." I was helpless. After dinner, I was a little sleepy. Besides, I didn't feel like working because Elias was such a beautiful man in front of me, so I packed up and prepared to go home. As soon as we got into the car, Mrs. Sanders called and said in a sobbing voice, "Elias, Susie... Susie has passed out." Elias made an immediate decision, "Mrs. Sanders, don't panic. Call 120 right away and don't let the other kids surround Susie. We'll get to the hospital at once." "Okay, okay." The hospital was brightly lit at night, but Elias and Mrs. Sanders both looked very grave. Not long ago, the doctor told us that Susie had to be operated on as soon as possible, or her life would be in danger. Mrs. Sanders was in a hurry, "What should we do? We don't have enough money for the operation. What should we do? Susie…" "Mrs. Sanders, don't worry." I reassured her, "Don't worry about the money, I will take care of it. And I think it's better for Susie to change to another hospital. The Concord Hospital is an authority in this area and I know their director. My opinion is to transfer Susie to that hospital as soon as possible." Mrs. Sanders looked over at Elias, who nodded at her. Everything was decided. Luckily, Susie woke up and was temporarily out of danger. We immediately made preparations for her transfer. I personally contacted the director of the Concord Hospital, who told me that Susie could have surgery at any time. On the day of the surgery, I put off all my work and came to the hospital. When I arrived, Susie had already changed into her surgical gown and was lying weakly on the bed. When she saw me, her beautiful eyes lit up instantly and she called me weakly, "Jacqueline." I went up to her and held her hand. Elias reassured her, "Susie, don't be afraid. Mrs. Sanders, Jacqueline, and I are all out there, so just close your eyes and sleep for a while, okay?" "Okay." "Jacqueline," Susie waved at me and I came close to her. She whispered something and I froze slightly, then looked over at Elias. He was looking nervously at the respirator. "Jacqueline, I hope when I wake up, you and Elias can be together, just like the picture I painted." Said Susie. "Yes, we will, for sure." Susie was sent to the operating room when we had to wait outside. I knew how Elias was feeling at this moment and patted his shoulder to comfort him, "Don't worry, the director of the hospital will operate himself and there won't be any problem. And you have to believe in Susie. Her life has just begun and she will persevere." "You're right." To reassure Elias, I made a suggestion, "I'm thinking about finding Susie reliable foster parents after she recovers from her surgery, is it okay?" He looked at me, "Foster parents?" "Don't worry, I know a couple who are friends of mine. They love children, their family is good, and I can guarantee their character. Susie will have a good start in life when she lives with them." "We'll see." Elias stared at the red light of the operating room, "If it's good for her, how can I refuse it?" "You..." I was a little confused, "Why are you being so nice to Susie? I mean, I always feel that the way you treat Susie is not the same as the way you treat other kids." "She has been in a similar situation as me." Elias mumbled. "Do you have a heart disease too?" "No." "Then what is the reason?" "Mrs. Sanders has told me about Susie's story. When Susie was an infant, she was abandoned by her biological parents at the entrance of the orphanage. It was raining heavily that day. If Mrs. Sanders hadn't gone out, Susie wouldn't have survived at all." After hearing what he said, I felt sad in my heart. Some people were born as the pride of heaven, while others were born to suffer. "What does this have to do with you? Do you..." I didn't dare to continue.