Chapter Seven
"Nothing!" Monica yelled as she glared at Alex to not mutter a single word.
Ren raised his eyebrow at Monica's unusual behaviour as he decided to ask for one last time out of consideration."Are you sure?"
Ren's unprobing question relaxed Monica to some extent. "Yes. I actually need to go to the cafe beside the hospital. Can you go in with Alex?"
"If there's something you need, I can get it for you." He shrugged as he offered again, trying to be as polite as possible. 'It's a good opportunity to spend. I can just buy the cafe for Monica.'
A small, thankful smile flashed across Monica's face at Ren's thoughtfulness. "Thank you, Ren. But, I'll manage. You go in with Alex first."
'Guess, I'll just take care of the hospital bill first.' Ren sighed as he watched Monica disappear.
"Soooo… Ren?" Alex grinned as she extended her hand in Ren's direction.
However, before Ren could get a feel of her soft hands, the device in Alex's tight fitted jeans's pocket started buzzing.
Alex took it out but as soon as her eyes landed on the caller ID, the flirty grin from her lips vanished. Her current expression no longer matched that of a flirty lady from a moment ago.
"Ren, could you go inside first? You can ask about Neil Young at the reception. I have to take this."
"Sure." Ren nodded as he left Alex to attend her phone call and made his way to the hospital's main gate.
Alex watched Ren's figure slowly disappear from the parking lot as she finally glanced back at the screen of the buzzing device in her hand.
Team Leader
The caller ID read as Alex swiped at the screen, placing her phone at a little distance from her ear, bracing herself for the sound that was about to burst her ear drums.
"ALEXANDERA VANCE! HOW LONG ARE YOU GOING TO TAKE?!"
A female voice boomed through Alex's phone, making Alex screw her eyes shut tight on impact.
"Calm down, Leader," Alex muttered, wincing. "I assure you I'm trying my best to find good candidates for our guild."
"Trying your best?" The voice on the other end was sharp, honed by years of frustration. "Your 'best' is going to land you in a newbie guide position for the rest of your natural-born life! The board meeting is in two weeks, Lex. Two weeks! And you haven't submitted a single name! Again!"
Alex pinched the bridge of her nose, her previous flirty demeanor completely evaporated. "I'm aware of the deadline, Leader. But you can't just pluck S-rank candidates off the street. These things take time. A few hundred years at minimum."
"You don't have time, Alex!" the Leader snapped. "I have covered for you more times than I can count but my hands are tied this time.
The higher-ups want results. And, you're going to give them results cause I don't want a new nuisance on my team. So, listen very carefully.
You will have to get a newbie streamer for our guild. I don't care if they're a D-rank hunter with a bad attitude. Find someone to get signed before the next board meeting and get them prepared for The Great Elexian Towers!"
Alex's jaw tightened. "The next meeting is in two weeks! Finding a candidate in that little time and help him pass the Elexian Towers? Leader, that's-"
"Impossible? So was your last assignment, but you pulled it off. This is your new one. You get this done, or you can kiss your agent manager and undercover recruit position goodbye. Permanently. Am I clear?"
The finality in the Leader's voice was a cold hand clamping down on the back of Alex's neck. She swallowed the rest of her protests, her gaze drifting back towards the hospital gate where Ren had just vanished.
"Crystal," Alex said, her voice quieter this time.
"Good. Don't call me until you have a name."
"Ye-"
Beep.
Alex stared at the phone then at the hospital's main gate. 'Haizzzzz… Where will I even find a suitable candidate and convince him to become a streamer? But my salary… Fuck!'
She stuffed the phone in her pockets once again as she ran in the direction of the hospital's entrance.
'If Ica finds I left Ren by himself, she'll kill me before Leader. God! Why is everyone trying to kill me?'
Alex groaned, running perfectly fine despite the five inch heels that clicked against the ground with each step she took.
Meanwhile, Ren inside was gritting his teeth as he stared at the rude receptionist.
"How can you just put a young child out in the hall and refuse treatment?!" He groaned in frustration at the receptionist.
However, he wasn't completely surprised at the situation after witnessing it so many times back on Earth.
The receptionist, a woman with a receding hairline, didn't even look up from her computer screen. "Sir, I've told you three times now. Neil Young's treatment's payment was due yesterday. Since, the payment was not made. The senior doctor asked us to move him into the hall and clear the room for a VIP as there was a shortage of rooms for already paid patients."
"You have a barely filled parking lot and you're telling me there's a shortage of rooms in this huge hospital for treatment?" Ren scrunched his eyebrows, gritting his teeth.
The receptionist finally looked up from her screen, her expression unimpressed at Ren's clothing. "The parking lot's fullness isn't a medical metric, sir. The VIP patient required the room. It's already been arranged. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have work to do."
"I'll pay the dues of Neil Young in place of his guardian, Monica Young. So, arrange a room for the child." Ren sighed as he stuffed his hand inside his pocket to pull out his wallet.
But, before Ren could have pulled it out the receptionist stood up from her chair having enough of Ren's nonsense. "Sir, I have had enough of your nonsense. You're wearing cheap clothes and you expect me to believe that you're going to pay a four hundred two thousand dollar bill?!"
"What do my clothes have to do with my money?" Ren raised his eyebrow at the receptionist, clearly confused at her logic.
"Security! We have a vagrant here trying to harass the staff!"
"What is going on here?"