***

Daniel checks his schedule as he walks out of the guest room. Usually he leaves for the office at 7 but sleeping in the guest room made him uncomfortable. Now he needs to reschedule everything. Daniel walks past the hall and enters his own bedroom without knocking.

He was about to walk past the bed when a faint voice calls "Sir !"

Daniel looks up from his ipad. "You are awake ?"

Oliver blinks. Didn't Daniel sir left him there ? "I ... How am I here?"

Daniel tilts his head with a questioning gaze.

Oliver lowers his head hurriedly "I mean ... T..thank you .. for saving me again."

Daniel rolls his eyes before walking towards the closet. "Take rest , I am sending your breakfast here."

"No .. I am fine. I will just leave."

Daniel turns at Oliver again "leave ? How ? Can you walk ? Or you want me to be your personal butler? Carry your to the car, drive you to your house and all that ?"

Oliver shakes his head hurriedly "no .. I am sorry. I didn't mean that. I just don't want to bother you anymore."

Oliver looks up as he didn't get any reply to his words. But he finds the room empty. Daniel sir must have entered the shower.

Oliver removes his quilt slowly. He can't just stay here anymore. His former boss looked really offended this time and he has a reason to be offended too. Oliver tries to put down his steps on the floor. Soon a jolt of pain hits his ankle. He takes two steps away from the bed with great difficulties.

****

Daniel walks out of his closet in his office wear. His eyes fell on a struggling Oliver as soon as he came out. He walks behind Oliver and folds his arms in front of his chest. "What are you doing ?"

"Ahhhhhhhh !!!" Oliver jumps and grabs the nearby thing to keep his balance.

Daniel holds Oliver by the waist out of instinct. But then he looks down "Not another shirt !"

Oliver opens his eyes. He didn't hit the floor. He looks at Daniel wide eyes "umm , sorry ?"

Daniel points at his shirt which is in Oliver's fist. "Everytime I meet you, you ruin one of my shirts."

Oliver releases the shirt from his fist "sorry ! .. I didn't.. "

"This is the fourth one !" Daniel shakes his head.

Oliver pouts "how ?"

Daniel looks at Oliver amazed "how ? Well, first you got low BP in my office., lost your sense and fell. My perfect and lucky white shirt lost it's bottons cause I had to carry you.

Second, Alex's blood all over my beige shirt.

Third, you collected all the dirt under my car and transferred it to my lavender shirt.

And now ..." Daniel shakes his head.

Oliver bites his lips "this shirt isn't ruined. I will press it. Give it to me."

"Oh really, it will be a huge help." Daniel taunts.

Oliver makes a face. He has never seen such a stingy CEO in his entire life.

"Are you looking down at me ?" Daniel asks with a cold voice. "I am the one who saved you twice."

"You were going to leave me there."

"Shouldn't I ? Do you know what happens in hotel Daffodils ? Who in his right mind goes there ?"

"You !" Oliver retorts. He isn't liking Daniel is being rude to him. Yes, he made a mistake. But didn't he got in trouble with Alex because of his former boss.

Daniel almost laughs in disbelief "you ungrateful little .."

Daniel stops as his mobile rings in the middle. He glares at Oliver before picking up the call "hello !"

Oliver sits back on the bed. His feet has started hurting for standing too long.

"Then call main brunch and ask Nick to handle the matter. Why are you calling me ?" Oliver hears Daniel replying on the call. His heart aches with the mention of Nick. How easily Nick lived on.. and he, himself ? His life became a mess. Why is life so unfair ?

"You !"

Oliver looks up. "Huh ?"

"You can't leave now. Take rest. I will drop you off tonight after work. And don't you even try to make another questionable decision for your life."

Oliver lowers his head. His eyes turn blurry. Why his life is a mess ? A tear drop escapes from his eyes.

Daniel sighs noticing Oliver's reaction. He doesn't know why he is being rude to Oliver. It's just ,he is frustrated that Oliver didn't listen to him and is still not listening to him.

"I am not blaming you .... for the .. assault. I am ... I just want to show you what happens when you let people walk all over you. One police case could've prevented it. Do you have any idea what would've happened if I hadn't been there ?"

Oliver sniffs. "Easy for you to say."

"And why is that ?"  Daniel takes a chair and sits in front of Oliver.

"What would happen if I file a police complaint against him ? Will they arrest the Alex Brown ? Will he stay in jail ? No ! He will come out even before I sign my FIR. Then ...

He will target me in corporate. Target me in my mortgage situation. I will be homeless again and I am already jobless. But whatever remaining chance I have to get a new one, will be ruined forever. You believe in law because you have money to bend it at your convenience. I don't."

Oliver wipes the tears from his both cheeks. "You are this upset because I ruined your shirts, Alex Brown can ruin my entire life. Shouldn't I be upset ?"

Daniel takes in a sharp breath "Now I know why the main branch's performance detoriated this much in last week ? Oliver Barrer, you really have the ability to do everyone's job. You are the victim, you are the police, you are a lawyer and you are the judge, delivering judgement too."

Daniel stands up and puts his hands inside his pockets "you know what's your problem Oliver ? You don't have problem with Alex doing the wrong thing. You have problems with me, bending the law to bring justice.

You are insecure about your own life and you are offended with me because I am not. It doesn't take money to shout out the truth , Oliver. It takes courage and acceptance."

Oliver scoffs "All the rich people think that. Big talks ! Courage, acceptance everything fades when reality hits."

"You think, You are the only one who faced reality? What am I ? Alice in Wonderland? I don't know what could happen and what couldn't ? You are the only one who can see future ?"

Daniel clenches his jaw in frustration "Do you know who Albert Adams is ? The best business lawyer in town. He handles all the legal terms of Fussion. He deals with people like Alex without bathing an eyelash. Do you know , you were representing Fussion that night ? The case would've been Fusion against Alex ? Not you against him?"

Oliver looks at Daniel this time. His face is red from crying. His lips trembles.

"I was there Oliver , by your side , trying to pull you out of the mess but You didn't even try to hold my hand."

"Why?" Oliver asks.

"What?"

"I didn't know you would help me. I .. ruined your million dollars business deal. Why would you help me ?" Oliver sighs "I am insecure ...it's not about you. It's about my future."

Daniel takes a step forward. He was about to reply when someone knocks on the door.

"Dan, secretary Ray wants to meet you."

Daniel hears Mirium aunt's voice.

"Come in !" He takes a step back from the bed.

Secretary Ray walks in with a file in his hand "good morning, sir ! I tried to contact you but no one was picking up."

Oliver hesitates a little on the bed as Secretary Ray's eyes fell on him. This could be a great misunderstanding.

"What happened?" Daniel asks without any hesitation.

"The digital production file isn't completed yet. I couldn't contact main branch. And branch II hasn't completed their previous deadlines yet. They can't take over this one. But the client wants this file today before 5."

Daniel clenches his jaw. "Then fire them all. What am I paying them for ? For missing deadlines?"

Secretary Ray lowers his head "Sir, the recruitment for supervisor position, We made a official post on our portal."

"Give me the file and contact Nick as soon as possible. And schedule a branch leaders meeting tomorrow at first hours. I want all the managers present there. "

Secretary Ray gives the file directly in Daniel'S hand. "Ok sir !"

Daniel sits on the chair tiredly and pulls out a cigerette from his pant pockets. "If you don't like to smoke , then go downstairs for breakfast."

Daniel whispers to Oliver with closed eyes.

Oliver stays silent.

Daniel blows a smoke ring towards the ceiling. "Tell me, why you used to do all the work yourself ? You like to do free labour ?"

"Huh ?"

Daniel throws the file on the bed. "This is the file main branch delivered this week."

Oliver takes the file with a frown. But he can't see anything clearly. He looks around for his glasses, holding his nose. He finds it on the bedside table.

Daniel keeps on smoking.

"Is it urgent ? I can fix it ?" Oliver asks after a while.

Daniel opens his eyes "another free labour ? You are easy to deceive."

Oliver looks like protesting but Daniel chuckles "why do you think I gave this file to you ? I need it ready before 5."

Oliver rolls his eyes "this is not free labour. This is my thank you." .

Daniel laughs knowingly "you can use my laptop." 

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