After Jax left, the phone rang.

It was Mr. Gomez on the other line.

He was discharged from Santos Gen and asked if we could meet up at 5 on a Friday afternoon.

I agreed without checking my schedule.

Linda can work her magic and take care of my appointments.

He told me where to go and before he hung up, I asked if he could bring my phone.

"Your phone?" He sounded surprised.

"I forgot it at your house."

He said he'd bring it.

Before he hung up, he stressed that he wanted to talk to me alone.

#

Mr. Gomez was sitting at a corner table when I entered the coffee shop.

I walked over to his table and saw a half-eaten raisin scone on a plate and a cup of tea.

"Do you want something to eat?" He asked as I placed the briefcase on the chair.

"I'll go get something."

I walked back to the counter and ordered a green tea Frappuccino and a slice of chocolate cake.

When I came back to the table, Mr. Gomez put down the newspaper he was reading.

"Sorry to bother you, Julia. I know you're busy." He took out my phone from his sport coat and gave it to me.

"Thank you." I said then sat down.

"Is something wrong, Mr. Gomez?"

He clasped both hands and thought for a moment.

I took a sip from my drink and waited.

He always had a serious expression but today, he looked grim.

"My company is in trouble." He began.

He told me how it never really recovered from the recession.

Since most of his transactions are overseas, the board of directors decided to bring in new people to help him manage the business.

"They wanted me to be a consultant."

He gritted his teeth as if saying the word was too painful to utter.

"That's their subtle way of slowly pushing me out the door of the company I built."

I studied his face.

The lines on his forehead and his cheeks were deeper and more prominent.

"I didn't want to tell Paula. She's worried enough as it is."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Because I know you won't tell anyone else. Not even Arizona."

He stared at me, checking if I get the hint.

"I see." He was using the patient-doctor confidentiality.

I looked outside the window and saw a red two-seater car pull up in the parking lot.

"Did you ever think that this could be a blessing in disguise?" I asked Mr. Gomez who was also looking at the car.

He turned his attention back to me.

"What do you mean?"

"I got your test results."
"And?"

"This is really not the right place to discuss it."

"Just tell me."
"The EKG results were abnormal which was to be expected since you just had a heart attack. The troponin tests showed similar results."

He exhaled.

"So what are you trying to tell me?"

"I think it's time to reconsider what you want to do with your career at this point."

He raised an eyebrow.

This was a man who was used to telling people what to do and not the other way around.

"Sir, I know your job is very important to you."

"But?"

"I cannot guarantee what will happen especially now that you're under a lot of stress."

"We both know how this will unfold."

"Is that what you want?"
He sighed.

"Paula has been very understanding." He smiled when he said her name.

"She knows how important my career is and she never really complained about the long hours I spent at work. If it wasn't for her support, I don't know how I'd manage to keep the company afloat for so long."

Mr. Gomez looked at me, the gloomy expression replaced with something more tender.

"She deserves something better and not a man who died thinking of how to keep his company above water." He chuckled.

It was strange to hear it because I don't think I've ever heard him laugh in all the years I've known him.

"I knew better, Julia. I was just hoping to stay until everything goes back in order. But that's a shot in the dark. With the current state of affairs, I'd be long gone before things get better."

"Sometimes, bad things have to happen before we realize what truly matters."

I felt like he was referring to my current situation--the conflict with Shay and what happened between Arizona and me.

"I kept Paula waiting too long."

"Are you thinking of retiring?"

He nodded.

"But I have to set my affairs in order before I leave."
"Sir, I think it's a good decision."

"Don't say anything to Arizona. I wanted to be the one to tell them."

"You can count on it."

He took the cup and drank the rest of his tea.

The door opened and Mr. Gomez craned his neck to look.

He was facing the door and I turned around to follow his gaze.

My heart stopped when I saw who came in.