Harper was nervous entering Met Gen hospital of San Francisco. It was for the first time that besides her, her brother and Smiths someone else was coming to meet her mother. The nurse at the reception desk smiled at her.

"Visiting Mrs. Ellington, Harper?" she asked.

Harper just nodded in reply and smiled. Reaching the destined floor of oncology a feeling of dread filled her. She recalled what her mother's oncologist has said to her about the bad recovery. Colton sensed her uneasiness and entwined his fingers with hers, Harper looked down at the entwined hands and then towards Colton. He smiled reassuringly. Taking a deep breath she entered her mothers' room. When she pushed open the door, she was surprised to see her brother sitting beside her mother's bed.

"Alexander!"

Dark brown hair, bluish green eyes just like her sister, and handsome faced boy with a great height of 5 feet 8 looked towards the door and smiled.

"Harper, it is so good to see you sister"

Harper moved forward and embraced Alex in a bear hug.

"How is school love"

"Great! I hope you are coming to my soccer match this weekend"

"Of course. You know I will never miss it. Hey mum, how are you?" She looked towards her maternal figure and kissed her on her forehead.

Her mother was smiling formally to greet Harper back. This pierced her heart. She noticed that her mother's weight has decreased and that there is hollowness in her eyes. The desire to live was dead in her orbs. Yet Harper beamed and said "Mum look, Colton and Lilly have accompanied me. You already know Colton and this is Lilly, the only girl friend that I have and mentioned in front of you."

Everyone laughed at this.

"How are you Mrs. Ellington?" Lilly asked and Colton said a quick hi  and pressed a kiss on Mrs. Ellington's forehead.

"Please call me Julian dear." Harper's mother said looking towards Lilly. "I know if she has brought you here to meet me, then definitely you are the closest person to her. I haven't heard any names mentioned from her university besides Colton and you. And I am much better than before, thank you for asking dear"

"It does not look like you are better than before mom. Dr. Burke called me today and told me that you are not cooperating with them and neglecting your treatment. Why?" Harper asked anxiously.

Julian sighed a painful sigh "This is not living Harper. All the time I am stuck with these machines. I was happy when I was diagnosed negative from cancer but this reoccurrence has taken a toll on me. I can't fight any more. Let me go now peacefully."

Harper and Alex gasped.

"You didn't mean that. Do you mom?" Alex asked dreadfully.

Julian nodded her head.

"You are a coward, mom" Harper whispered angrily.

"Harper! What are you saying?" Colton reprimanded.

She ignored Colton and continued "Yes mom, you are a coward. I have stopped living my life so that I can manage the hospital bills so that you can live. So that you can be the mother that Alex requires, that he needs. A moment of truth mom, you do not want to live because that pathetic excuse of your husband has left you not because you are tired of your cancer."

"Harper" Julian reprimanded.

"Yes mom, face it. The day that man left us we not only lost our father but our mother too. Tell me why else do you prefer to call yourself Mrs. Ellington even after the divorce. You are a coward to not accept the fact that your dear husband bailed on you. You are a coward to not fight your disease so that you can live for your children. Your daughter was forced to grow up and to become a guardian of teenage boy, so that your son will not be put into the foster home system. I am fighting with every breath of my life for this family but you are bailing on us just like our father. If you think you can't live for yourself then please live for your son Mrs. Ellington" Harper said the last word with bitterness.

"Harper" Colton pushed Harper back towards the exit.

"Don't Harper me Colton. She needs some tough love now. I will very happily take the role of mother to Alex but for once, Mrs. Ellington please think does your son deserve this? Does he deserve to live a life without the tender love of his mother? Can I replace you in his life? Can a sister help her in places where only a mother can. Does your son deserve to be called an orphan because our father is equivalent to dead to us. I won't come to see you from now onwards because I don't have the tolerance to fight for you and with you. When you are ready to fight for your battles, mother, only then will you see your daughter. And I hope next time I meet you, you will be Miss Daniels rather than Mrs. Ellington and mother to your children."

She exit from the hospital ward after her angry rambling and rushed towards the elevators.

"Harper, wait."

The anxious voice of her brother forced her to stop dead in her tracks.

Alex looked towards the tear stricken and painful face of her sister and engulfed her in a hug. She dropped all her barrier in the warmth of his brother's embrace and cried. For the first time in her life, she was tired. She needed someone to take care of her. Alex cooed her and tighten his hold.

"It is okay Harper. Let it all out."

Once she was able to take hold of her emotions she disentangles herself from her brother's embrace and said "I am sorry for acting like a jerk in there."

Alex chuckled. "No you did right. I saw mom in you at that moment. Remember when I was 6 and I was not stopping eating chocolates even after mum prohibited me due to my cavities."

Harper nodded and smiled.

"Mum placed the jar in front of me and asked me to eat as much as I can and I did. Afterwards I got sick and vomited out every last morsel in my stomach and I was disgusted to even look towards them. That was her way to teach me a lesson which I was not ready to be taught. That was tough love and exactly that is what our mother needs now. I will come and visit mom everyday in your absence. She will realize her mistake."

"Thank you my sweet little brother. As much as I deny that I don't need anyone to take care of me, it is not true. I need you to be there for me."

"And I will be always present" Alex replied.

"Tell Colton I will be waiting for them in the parking lot" Harper asked and Alex nodded.

                     **********"

"You okay?" Colton asked once they were back in the apartment.

"Why? What happened?" Dave asked coming out of kitchen sipping his coffee

"What are you doing home so early?" Harper asked.

Dave shrugged "I got free early"
Harper nodded. "So what happened?" he asked

"Why do you think something happened?" Harper asked in irritation.

"Okay, never mind. Colton what happened?" he directed his question to Colton. Harper groaned at his cleverness.

Colton described everything in quite a detailed manner. Dave looked towards Harper.

"I don't need moral lectures now"

"I wasn't going to" Dave replied.

Harper sighed "I am late for my work, I am leaving"

"I will drop you." Colton offered.

Not in a mood to argue Harper just nodded.

                    *****

"You are late" Antonio the owner of the Mexican restaurant where Harper work as an accountant reprimand.

"I know and I am sorry. It was family emergency. Else you know tardiness is not my specialty" Harper replied.

He nodded "Can you make the sales graph before checking on the account statements?"

"Sure. Do you mind if I occupy the corner seat of the restaurant rather than your office. Tough day for me. And I don't want to be cooped up in office"

He shrugged nonchalantly "Suit yourself." and left

Harper took the corner seat and logged in her laptop to start working. Harper was so engrossed in her work that she did not paid attention to person calling for her attention until he tapped her on the shoulder.
When Harper looked for the disturbance she saw a man, no  not man rather a greek god sitting on her neighbouring table. His fine suit and expensive watch, convey the entire tale of classy rich business man. The dark hair and brown eyes and chiseled jaw and an aura of superiority was enough to enlighten that he is someone influential. And suddenly she recognised that face from all the business magazines available in her uni's library and she gasped.

"Jason Maxfield!"

He smirked and nodded.

"What are you doing here?" She blurted out. He raised an eyebrow questioningly.

"Sorry that came out wrong. I meant what are you doing here in this restaurant. Its not your usual hangout place"

"So I have introduced myself to my stalker?" he chuckled.

Harper blushed "Sorry, I mean you are the owner of Maxfield industries, this place does not seems like it suits your choice"

He nodded satisfied with her explanation. "I was just in a mood of change.

She furrowed her eyebrows and just shrugged to let it go.

"So, back to my question that I have clearly asked many times and you were so engrossed that you didn't even heard." He said and she blushed again. He chuckled at her awkwardness. "So tell me. Are you a business student or employee somewhere"

"Yes I am a business student at the University of San Francisco and I am part time accountant at this very place. I was making a sales chart" she replied.

"Your skills are pretty impressive and my company is also coming next week in your campus for the recruiting interns. I will be interested in your resume"

She looked sheepishly towards him. "I am flattered really but it is nothing personal and it does not mean I don't respect your work ethics and all or your company is...

"Stop rambling" he said

"Right. Sorry. I was hoping to get an internship in Luciano industries. That is my top priority" She replied awkwardly.

"Wait that Italian industry. You want an internship there. Why?" he asked dumfounded.

"I have done my research. There per capita growth is marvelous. Plus there marketing strategy and clientage review are awesome. There turnovers are sick. I mean good." She rambled

He nodded. "I didn't catch your name."

"Harper Daniels" she replied.

Meanwhile the waiter came back with his order and he started eating. She thought that she have in a way insulted him and was about to appologise when he beat her to it and said. "I kind of agree to what you said they are our major competitors and knowing that a business student is so impressed by them, I need to fix my shit and be on the top of game again. Your views were an eye opener. And I am seriously saying this, if you don't land at your dream internship, just give me a call and I will be happy to hire you. Here take my card. I have seen you working and you are good with what you do. With proper guidance you could be an asset to any company."

Harper took the card from him and thanked him profusely. "I must head inside Mr. Maxfield, I have accounts to check. It was very nice to meet you. And thanks again for your offer and appreciation" He just nodded and she left

She was happy and glee, when she entered the office. A 28 year old CEO of a multi-million industry just complimented her on her work and gave her free pass for internship. But she hope to get a chance in Luciano co. As shitty as this day was, it turned out to be an awesome one in the end.

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