Chapter 2: Merinda
One Monday morning.
Altheda's HQ is buzzing with excitement as the news of the Carson's inheritance spread like a wild fire throughout the office. Every employee of Altheda signs a non disclosure agreement on their first day, so no matter how sensitive the information that circulates within the walls of Altheda, nobody dares squeak a word outside. The penalty for breaking the contract will be AUD 1 million per word said, such an outrageous amount drafted by Altheda's very own lawyer, Jacky Carson.
At exactly 10 o'clock, the black stinger pulls up in front of the HQ's main entrance. A tall slender figure emerges from the driver seat. The security guard takes the keys away from his hand and secures the vehicle in the VIP parking area, just outside the building. The man has a defined jawline, a dimple peeks on his left cheek every time he smiles and his eyes are the same colour of the sky. He nods his head in a friendly but authoritative manner as he walks along the marbled hallway, greeting his employees, or whoever dares to return his gaze. Standing at 196 cm tall, Blake Carson is easily noticeable. His demeanor changes depending on who he talks to. Sometimes he is very down to earth, sometimes he is very cold and unapproachable. Today, he looks a little bit out of it as he makes his way into his glass enclosed office.
There is another man with a similar presence to Blake, sitting in the arm chair inside his office. The wrinkles on his forehead shows that he is deep in thought. His jet black Gucci glasses perched on his pointy nose, his hazel eyes darted around quickly scanning the documents in his hands. He perks up when Blake steps in, a tense smile formed on his lips.
"You're late." he scoffs as he closes the documents in his hands.
"You're always early, J."
Blake loosens his cuff links and placed his sunnies (Australian slang for sunglasses or shades) on the desk. He leans on the edge of the desk facing his brother, Jacky with a slightly amused expression.
"You do realise you look about 5 years older now that you are running a hospice."
Jacky rolls his eyes and stands up.
"Don't you have a fiancee to find?" he fires back at Blake, with a raised eyebrow.
"Sure bro if you know where I can order a fiancee in a box, let me know."
"Pretty sure you were dating Melissa, has it changed now?"
Blake sighs.
"That bitch was cheating behind my back when Mum was ill, I broke off the engagement."
"I thought you're the one who is at the other end of the affair."
"It's not funny."
Jacky laughs. Even though they both are grown ups, their banter never really evolved. Jacky is 5 years older than Blake, while Elena is 9 years older. Jacky and Blake have always been close, although people perceive them as frenemies, due to their occasional headbutts.
"Alright, let's get straight to the point here. I need you to come with me."
Blake raises his eyebrow with a questioning look. "Where?"
"Merinda."
"No way, that's like an hour drive away!"
"Oh come one Blake, it's not like you're the one driving!"
"Nope! It's freaking 38 degrees outside and you want us to drive over to the country where the temperature is higher by 4 units? You mad, mate?"
"Have you ever heard of air conditioning?"
Jacky does not budge. He is determined to drag his younger brother to hell together with him, or so he thought. Summer in Australia is comparable to a living hell. With the heatwave rising rapidly everyday, New South Wales is predicted to suffer over 40 degrees Celcius weather for a week.
"If you come with me today, I promise I'll help you with your bride hunt. Besides, who knows maybe someone there has a granddaughter to introduce you."
Blake seems to be deep in thoughts before finally agreeing to go with Jacky.
"Fine, you owe me three scoops of icecream."
"I'll get you five."
"Deal."
Jacky grabs his business hand carry bag, stuffs the documents inside it and walks out the door. Blake puts his sunnies on and follows him with a subtle pout, as he imagines how dry the rest of the day will be.
====================
On the way to Merinda, Jacky's chauffer and trusted assistant, Taylor is driving over the speed limit numerous times that they get to the hospice before Blake manages to fall asleep. Merinda Hospice offers a full range of services for aged patients - from home care, palliative treatment, outpatients appointment, patient transport, counselling and financial support for low income families. The late Mrs. Alicia Carson founded the hospice in 1980 and expanded the service to include an orphanage in 1987. She was a Merinda born local country girl who scored the jackpot of marrying the billionaire, William Carson after meeting him at college. The facility takes up a vast area of land, it has become the biggest facility in the small town of Merinda.
Blake stretches his arms and his back as he emerges from Jacky's white Mercedes. Meanwhile, Jacky has already gone into the main reception building. He looks over at the orphanage, kids are playing tag in the courtyard. One particular shadow catches his attention. It was the only adult running around chasing the kids with a big smile on her face. He thinks to himself that she's probably the teacher who volunteers at the shelter and continues walking.
Inside the building, carers are seen pushing their patients in a wheelchair or talking to them as they enjoy their morning tea. Jacky is seen talking to a neatly dressed middle-aged woman behind the reception counter.
"Ah... if it's not my little brother Blake. This is Mrs. Lindt. She's the current manager of the hospice and Mum's best friend in college." Jacky introduces the both of them.
"It's my pleasure to meet you, Blake. Ali talked about you a lot."
"Pleasure's mine, ma'am. It's probably because I'm the troublemaker of the family."
"Nonsense! You're her golden boy, and please, call me Jenny."
Jenny Lindt nods at both of them with a gentle and warm smile.
"Let me show you around, oh and watch out for Mr.Collins, don't let him catch you staring at him if you don't want him to grill your ears with his wartime stories how he's got his ear blown off by a grenade."
Jenny winks at them before leading them down the hallway.
==============
After the hospice site visit, Jacky and Blake are down by the small creek of Merinda, indulging in cold sweet treats under the sweltering heat. As promised, Blake got himself a huge cup with five scoops of different flavoured icecream. Jacky is slurping on his frozen raspberry while wiping sweat off his forehead. Suddenly, they hear a friendly chirpy female voice from inside the store. Blake turns around to see the same girl as the one who was chasing the children in the courtyard. She has a really nice vibe about her, with her long ginger hair tied up in a messy bun and chubby cheeks puffing up as she smiles. Jacky straightens his posture when he sees the girl.
"Debby?" he softly calls out.
She turns her head to the source of the call and yelps.
"Oh my god is that really you Jacky??"
She runs over to Jacky - instead of taking his outstretched hand for a handshake, she lunges at him and gives him a big squeeze. Blake snorts icecream at the sight of it, almost dropping the whole cup of half melted icecream.
"How have you been? It's been 8 years since graduation and look at you, looking so poised and perfect, such a sore eye." her cheerful greeting makes Jacky smile.
"I've been good. I just happen to visit, didn't expect to see a familiar face."
"I know! The last time I saw you was at graduation when you tripped over your robe on the way to the podium for your valedictorian speech-"
Jacky quickly puts his hand over Debby's mouth to shut her up. Blake stands there wide eyed for a second before bursting into laughter. Everyone remembers Jacky's mishap at his law school graduation and it is forever immortalised in the graduation CD.
"Anyway, I volunteer as a teacher at the orphanage on the weekdays and back in the city on the weekends. Maybe we could organise a proper catch up this weekend?" Debby invites Jacky out bluntly, something that people don't normally see. Jacky is known to be unapproachable and he is a homebody, he doesn't go out on the weekends for a social hangout unless it's an official formal event. Blake tries his hardest to hold his laughter as he watches Jacky's expression slowly turn awkward. Debby turns to look at him. "Oh hello there, didn't see you. I'm Debora - Debby. I went to school with Jacky boy here..." she nudged him with her elbow right on his ribs and Jacky cringed.
"Nice to meet you, i'm Blake." he offers his hand and takes Debby's outstretched hand, plants a kiss on her soft plump knuckles.
"Aww you.. such a gentleman.." Debby's cheek flushes red as Blake withdraws himself.
"If only he's like that to every other girl he dated..." Jacky mutters under his breath but Blake hears it, so he lands a foot on top of Jacky's leather shoes. "Ouw! What the fuck is wrong with you?!"
"Payback." Blake winks at Debby as he makes his exit and leaves them.
"You guys seem close."
"Not as close as you imagine us to be." Jacky clumsily massage his foot before saying farewell.
"I'll text you the address. We shall catch up this Saturday."
"I'll be waiting."
Debby slips a torn up receipt with her phone number on it, into Jacky's jacket pocket and waves him goodbye, as he hobbles into the car.
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