12 A ride into the past..

Shirley took her bag and walked past Patrick. Patrick followed her. As soon as she was out she said to Lily" Manage all my appointments for the next 2 days. Give them my apologies." Lily hastily replied " Rest assured Boss." Shirley waved bye. And got into the elevator. She said " Thanks Patrick and please convey the same to Mr Marshall." He nodded in agreement

They drove to the airport and Shirley called her Mom " Hi Ma. I got the news.. I am just coming to say my goodbye... Nothing more .. ok I'll be there soon... Bye. Love you."Patrick could feel the trembling in Dr Shaw's voice and could see in his rear view mirror eyes tearing up. He couldn't bring himself to ask the obvious, instead at the signal when the car stopped he texted his Boss. They arrived at the airport everything was ready as they were walking towards the aircarft a Black Maybach Exelero car came and stopped besides them. The driver got out and hurriedly opened the back door.

Mr Marshall got out, his majestic aura filled the atmosphere and everything went to a stand still. But Shirley was too occupied in her thoughts that she didn't even realize he had come walking towards her and was too close to her. He just stopped her with two fingers on her forehead to avoid her from dashing into him. Shirley suddenly felt a sharp force on her head. She lifted her eyes to see him. She was shocked for a sec and hit his hand swiftly. Daniel responded " I was avoiding you from dashing into me... would have liked that to happen!" Shirley starred in shock....he went on to say "You don't look so good.. is it an old lover thats involved... Looking at you it seems like unrequited love... It's good if it is...Better go and get it over with it. . I don't like my brothers doctor being distracted at her work."

Shirley became agitated ..'this rich guy. ..Huhhhh .. If it was not for her Uncle and Micheal she would have smashed his head right this moment'. She calmed herself and said " Why are you here? Aren't you busy ? Or you have personally took time out to send me off... That would not make any sense." She sneered and continued " Multi- billionaire like Mr Marshall taking time out for his brothers Neurosurgeon... Looks like a controversy waiting to happen... don't you think so? " He chuckled " Don't think so highly of yourself. I am here to take a flight to London. Micheal had been shifted to the new place as soon as you are back Patrick will help you with your shifting. Till then Bye. .. yeah don't forget to give my regards to your lover.." and he winked and left.

Whatever she was feeling before had all gone and now she was filled with anger and hatred towards Daniel Marshall. Patrick got a message while on the flight" How is she doing ? Still crying?" . Patrick responded immediately " Dr Shaw is not sad anymore she is furious with anger.. all Thanks to you Boss She keeps murmuring.. I bet she is abusing you." Daniel read the message and chuckled and said to himself " So cute" His assistant Betty had never seen this look on her Boss and it left her speechless. She has been working with him for quiet a long time and the smile is the first for her. She also didn't know why they had rushed to the airport when his flight was scheduled 2 hours later from the time they arrived at airport and why he went and met his brothers Neurosurgeon. He never did anything like this for anyone before.

Shirley received a text from Naomi and she messaged her back. And then she was staring out the window and everything came back to her. She is from a small town called Beurin. She had grown up there with her parents who were both professors in the University. She shifted to this new residential complex where she was fascinated by the view outside the window of the sycamore tree. She painted it and always admired it's beauty from her window. She and Naomi had become best friends from school time.

It was one weekend when she was waiting on the tree branch for Naomi to come when she saw the new boy who had shifted to the house besides Naomi's. He was 3 years elder to her in school, she was mesmerized by his looks tall, cute and handsome and his name was Andrew Guild. He was not so good in studies but was good in painting and was the drama team head...that day as she was waiting he had walked to the tree and sat below it and was all low and crying... She didn't know whether to console him or just wait till he stopped so as to not embarrass him. As she was waiting she heard a voice " You don't have to worry you can come down.. and stop staring at me now."

Shirley was shocked and she saw him get up and walk off. Later on in the day she came to know he had lost him Grandfather in an accident. She felt sorry for him.

It was late after dinner she was watching the moon from her window when she saw Andrew walking in the rain towards the sycamore tree. She was worried, she hurriedly took her raincoat and an umbrella and slowly sneaked out from her back door. She rushed towards the tree, he was sitting in the rain crying. She opened the umbrella and held it out to protect him from the rain. And he looked up to her with those eyes which said it all .. and that's how it all started.