Chapter 32 A Husband's Duty

Victor had initially believed that Curtis's call was an invitation for some much-needed fun. He had been cooped up in the office for days, and the monotony was taking a toll on him. Victor felt like he might be getting sick. Otherwise, why would he find resting such a headache-inducing task? "Did you call me to suggest a hangout spot? I've been bored out of my mind lately, so we can go anywhere," Victor suggested, hopeful for a break. Curtis, however, quickly dashed those hopes. "No, this isn't about hanging out. Sabrina's grandfather has come to visit, and he needs a medical checkup. You’re a shareholder in Haven & Kent Hospital, so could you arrange that?" Victor was already frazzled, and now Curtis wanted him to sort out a hospital visit? "What are you saying? Why should I be the one to organize this? You know full well..." Suddenly, it dawned on Victor. Curtis had mentioned himself as a shareholder but nothing else. Could it be that Sabrina was right there with him? That would explain why he said what he did. Annoyed, Victor shot back, "You do realize I'm a busy man, don't you? And need I remind you, I'm your boss. Is it appropriate for you to ask this of me?" Victor's claim of being his boss almost made Curtis laugh. "As my boss, maybe you can explain why you're so bored these days?" Victor sensed an unspoken threat. If he rejected this request, Curtis would undoubtedly drown him in tasks. Faced with a choice between boredom and work, Victor reluctantly chose the former. Succumbing to Curtis's ultimatum, he sighed, "Fine. When are we planning this hospital check-up?" Curtis looked at Sabrina, who pondered for a moment before suggesting the day after tomorrow. Hearing Sabrina's voice, Victor felt relieved. He had been right to assume Sabrina was there. Luckily he had been smart enough to prevent Curtis's true identity from being exposed. "Don't worry, I'll handle it. You two just focus on keeping the old man company," Victor assured. After ending the call, Victor had to cut short his precious downtime. He threw on his coat and stepped out to make the necessary arrangements. Sabrina could finally breathe a sigh of relief as the most urgent matter on her list had been taken care of. Their nightly arrangement remained unchanged. Sabrina took the bed while Curtis slept on the couch. Over time, Curtis had gone from feeling uncomfortable to being perfectly at ease with the couch. Before heading to work the next morning, he first popped over to the neighboring unit to check on Parker. After finding out they were planning a leisurely walk, he even recommended a few charming spots for them to visit. Surprisingly, they even left the house together. Sabrina was taken aback when she discovered this. It was not an action she had expected from Curtis. Although his motives were rooted in putting on a facade of a loving husband for Parker's benefit, the contrast between this behavior and his usual demeanor was stark. On the other hand, Daniel was thrilled. "Don't look so surprised," he told Sabrina. "This is exactly what he should be doing as your husband. Taking care of your grandpa is his responsibility and privilege." Daniel felt that this marked a warming in their relationship. Curtis had always been distant and robotic, only beginning to thaw emotionally after they got married. All of this was thanks to Sabrina. Daniel knew that Sabrina was the perfect match for his grandson. "Well, this is still quite unusual. I need to head to work now. Call me if you need anything." Daniel chuckled and waved his hand dismissively. After all, what could an old man like him need help with, sitting at home? As Sabrina arrived at the office, Felicia couldn't help but notice her radiant expression. "Someone seems to be in a great mood," she teased. "Did Sharon give you a raise or promotion?" Sabrina knew Felicia was just joking and replied, "If I'm actually up for a raise, please talk to Sharon about it. I'll be forever grateful." "No way, I can't afford to do that. Sharon will just look at me like I'm a disappointment and ask if I need more work to stay busy." "Good heavens, the last thing I want is more work. I’m helplessly allergic to it," Felicia quipped, pulling a faux grimace. She was already overloaded with tasks. Sabrina burst into laughter at their playful banter. "Actually, my grandpa and brother came to visit, so I'm quite happy. I need to leave work early to spend time with them." "That's great! You better get cracking then." Falling in line with that sentiment, Sabrina wasted no time. She settled her desk and dived into the day's workload. Ever since Aaron's last outburst, he and Nina had toned down their usual antics. This had undoubtedly made Sabrina's life easier, but it also made her wonder if they were cooking up a new scheme. Glancing over, she noticed Nina's seat was vacant, again. Nina had not been in the office for three days now, but Sabrina did not dwell on it. At lunchtime, Sabrina and Felicia headed to the company cafeteria together. As they exited the office, they unexpectedly ran into someone in the elevator whom Sabrina had not expected to see. "Finnick?" Running into Finnick at the office was a genuine surprise. "You work here too?" Finnick was just as shocked. He knew Sabrina worked in tech, but he had no clue that it was this one. His heart raced with excitement. He had been contemplating how to ask Sabrina out again, and unexpectedly, fate had presented him with the opportunity. "Yeah, I work here. How about you? What brings you here?" "There’s been a shake-up in your legal department. So, I've been brought in as a legal consultant," he replied, being quite open about the reason for his presence, as it was something the entire company was aware of. Sabrina and Felicia exchanged knowing glances, well aware of the situation. It was the recent embezzlement scandal, and ever since the big boss's arrival, his fury had been palpable. The scandal had not only rattled the top management but had also triggered a thorough shakeup across multiple departments.