Chapter 119 - Out Of Time

Colonel Maverick reached the main Headquarters where he was currently working. As soon as he stepped out of his car, one man with the rank of Sergeant came to him and saluted him.

"Sir, Lt. General Haric wants to see you. Please come with me." The Sergeant informed the Colonel with an utmost respect.

Colonel Maverick maintained a calm face and simply followed the Sergeant to the Lt. General's office, though he knew he was up to no good. When they reached the door, the Sergeant left him to entered on his own.

Fixing his uniform and taking a deep breath, he knocked the door and walked inside the office. He stood in front of the Lt. General's desk and saluted him. "Sir, did you ask for me?"

At the sight of Colonel Maverick, Lt. General Haric Geraci's lips thinned. Sitting on his chair, he looked up at the Colonel with an undeniable disappointment on his face. "I can't reach you for two whole days." He muttered. His voice was very calm in contrast to his piercing gaze.

"I apologize." Standing in attention, Colonel Maverick responded. He looked straight forward without any movement like he was trained.

"What about the reason?" Lt. General Haric asked. Placing both his hands on his desk, his right thumb repeatedly tapped his other thumb yet his keen gaze observed the Colonel the whole time.

"I was busy but I know that it's not enough of an excuse. I'm sorry." Colonel Maverick apologized once again. Not glancing at the superior for even once, he looked at the front all the time.

"Maverick, do you even know the mess you created? You were drunk and talking nonsense to Arias." The Lt. General deadpanned.

A hint of ignorance and confusion was seen in Colonel Maverick's face. He vaguely remembered himself being drunk and went to his old friend but he couldn't recall what he said to Arias. However, he soon maintained a face that was devoid of any expression once again. But he didn't respond to the Lt. General and maintained his silence.

Lt. General Haric felt helpless. What was going on with these two young men whom he trusted and favoured the most? Arias was his most favourite and the next one would be this young legend standing in front of him.

"Don't you have nothing to say? I'm being impatient here." Lt. General Haric maintained his voice low and calm. He was never the type to easily lose his cool and he was always praised for being calm and patient in even a difficult situation. Both Arias and Maverick also had these traits and maybe that's what drawn him to them.

"I apologize, sir. I don't have any excuse." Maverick responded and apologized for the third time.

Letting out a breath, Lt. General Haric slowly rose from his seat and glanced at Maverick with his gaze intimidating as ever. "Arias is my future son-in-law. I want to be at peace with him and I don't want any misunderstanding between us, including you. So, I advise you to be careful with your words and actions. I won't tolerate it if this happens again." He firmly stated.

"I will keep that in mind, sir," Maverick responded, seemingly unfazed by the intimidating gaze of the powerful Lt. General.

Lt. General Haric keep quiet and stared at Maverick for a while before he finally said, "You can go now."

With that said, the Colonel saluted him once again and left the office right away.

Lt. General Haric stood still for a while, being occupied by his thoughts. He lightly tapped the desk again and again with his clenched fist. Just when he was about to sit down, his office door was opened and his daughter makes her way to him.

"What brings you here? I thought you hate seeing each other at work." He asked with a slightly amused face.

"I want to have a talk with you. Do you have time?" Ella asked, standing before her father.

The father glanced at his wristwatch and then turned to his daughter again. "Have a seat." He rose from his seat and sat on the single couch. Ella was sitting on another couch on the right which was deemed for visitors.

"You came all the way to my office. That means it's a very important matter. Say it. I will listen."

Ella always felt the pressure whenever her father was around. She can't help but felt nervous no matter how much she tried not to. Maybe she had grown accustomed to it while growing up. Inwardly bracing herself, she looked at her father. "I'm going to quit my job and study again to become a doctor." She declared.

Hearing her daughter's words, the father scowled. "Didn't we already got past that topic six years ago? Why did you bring it up again?"

"You know what I want, Father. Why won't you just let me do it?" Ella retorted. Ever since she was young, she could never win against her father and that's why she was sitting here, wearing an uniform though she never wanted it.

"You are already an accomplished soldier. Why can't you just accept your fate?" Lt. General Haric sighed. If only his son was a bit competent, all these wouldn't be necessary!

"Father, I always wanted to become a doctor like my mother. You never listened to me but this time, you should. Because it also concerns Arias, whom you adored." Ella firmly said, showing no sign of backing down.

At the mention of Arias, Lt. General Haric raised a brow. "What did Arias have to do with this matter? Did he want you to become a doctor?" He asked with disbelief written on his face.

"That's not the case. I have never tell Arias that my dream was to become a doctor. Because I don't want him to see you as a father who pushed his daughter to his chosen path against her will. Do you want me to give you that image?" She deadpanned though pressure swept through her whole body.

She really didn't like her father but she didn't want him to lose his reputation and face in front of Arias. No matter what, he was still her father and the fact cannot be changed.

"Then what is it?" Lt. General Haric Geraci asked.

"You know that Arias hailed from a family of doctors. After his older brother died, the McLean Group of Hospitals doesn't have an heir. I want to become a doctor and succeeded his parents." Ella explained.

"Why must it be you?" The Lt. General always took pride in his capable daughter and expected her to follow in his footsteps and achieved many great things in the future. He can't fathom the idea of his daughter quitting her job!

"It's my dream which I failed to achieve because of your desire!" Ella had become more impatient and as such, she ended up raising her voice at her father before she couldn't even realized it. Noticing her father shocked expression, she paused and tried to calm down herself.

Her father raised her on his own despite being very busy due to his missions and all, she gave him that. That's why she always tried to put up with his pressure and expectations. She still had love and respect for her imperfect father.

"Father." She muttered. Her voice was very calm compared to before. "Now, you have Arias who has the ability to reach your expectations and one day, he might even surpass your achievement. I will marry him and he will be your son-in-law like you always wanted. Can you just be happy and satisfy with that?"

Lt. General Haric keeps on staring at his only daughter while the latter continued.

"Arias is happy with his job. That's why I don't want him to be torn between his loyalty to his job and his family. Do you want him to become a doctor and follow in his parent's footsteps?" She asked her father.

Lt. General Haric couldn't accept. Arias will quit being a soldier and continue his family legacy? That's unacceptable!

"Don't you think that it's better for me to quit my job rather than Arias? It's my dream anyway." She said and look at her father straight to the eyes. She could feel that her father's heart that was always like a stone, was now wavered! But he still didn't say anything.

Ella remained quiet for a while, wondering what she would say to win over her father for the first time. Then she finally spoke up.

"Ever since I was young, I do everything you wanted. I also went down the path which I never want, only to satisfy you, Father. I lived that way all the time and now after 25 years, I sincerely asked you this one thing. Please consider it for my sake. I beg you, Father." She pleaded yet her voice remained firm and clear the whole time.

Meanwhile, in the other building just next to the building where the Lt. General's office was located, Colonel Maverick entered his office with Sergeant Korin following him behind.

The look on the Colonel's face proved that he was feeling troubled... No... It was more than troubled! He stood next to his desk, placed both his hands on it and then narrowed his eyes at the desk. He was trying to think clear, to concentrate.

He suddenly turned to the Sergeant who was standing a few steps away from him and commanded, "Let's rush things. We are out of time."