The Heir

Chapter Eight

PHYLLIS SANK IN her seat slowly, her tablet in her hands and eyes widened with surprise. Roland was dead? How sudden could that be? She thought. And, just like an hour after his death, the news had spread all over the whole country. If Roland was dead, then how was Richard faring?

She pitied him, a lot, but didn't know why. With the present situation at RolRay, that was the time Richard needed Roland the most. She wondered how he was doing and feeling.

She sighed and dropped the tablet on her desk. She wanted to see Richard but she couldn't dare to expect him to come to her restaurant with what was going on. Still, she wanted to see him and she knew couldn't go to the company.

Maybe she should call him, she suggested to herself. What she knew was that James always had the phone with him. She'd simply expect James to pick the call instead of Richard.

Concluding with a nod, she picked her phone and called Richard's. She waited. And waited..., James answered.

"Hi...", she said, "James, right?"

He was silent for a second. "My boss is busy right now", he said and made to hang up.

"I know, wait, please", she exhaled deeply. "Is he... fine?"

"I think so. He's been alone in his office for a while now".

"Can I meet him?"

He was silent again. "I don't think so".

"Tomorrow? Can I -"

"The funeral's tomorrow".

"Oh... Can I come?"

He took seconds to reply. "I'm not sure. But I guess I could work it out. Maybe you should prepare in case".

"Okay... Are you sure he's okay?"

"Literally..."

"Thanks anyway".

"I'll tell him you called". With this, he hung up the call.

Phyllis lowered her cellphone slowly and sighed heavily. If all James said was right, then Richard was not okay at all. She needed to find out herself, when she'd see herself.

She glanced at the clock and scowled. It was just half past two in the afternoon. It disgusted her to leave her office but she'd already planned to visit the mall that day. And there were orders to make for the restaurant's needs.

She shrugged, picked her bag and coat and went out of the office. Her eyes met Michael's immediately and she received a smile from him.

She rolled her eyes secretly as she walked towards the main door, trying to ignore him. But he stood up and followed her outside.

"Are you going somewhere?" He asked, standing in front of her.

"Yeah, obviously", she replied, evidently uninterested in talking to him.

"Where?"

"Why?"

"You know..., I could give you a ride... as friends".