The value of things may vary

Rickman was waiting in the lobby of Robert's office pacing up and down.

"I bet that bastard is making me wait on purpose.", he thought.

He walked towards Robert's secretary and glared at her.

"How much longer?"

Linda, the secretary was on the outside a walking talking stereotype. Young, beautiful with curves in all the right places but on the inside, she was a Harvard business school graduate. She was smart. Very smart. The only thing she lacked was connections. She went to Harvard on a scholarship and did her internship at NovaTech. She was Robert's right hand and his most trusted employee.

He met Linda when he gave a lecture as an alumnus a few years ago and she impressed him with her critical thinking and questions she asked after the lecture. The fact that her appearance totally blindsided everyone was a great bonus also.

She was a secretary in name but her salary reached the top twenty people employed by NovaTech and Robert would frequently consult her. She came from basically nothing and she was even more unscrupulous than Robert was because of that.

A lot of business negotiations Robert got on top just because while she was serving drinks and coffee to both parties she picked up on the other parties bottom line and fed that info to their side.

She seemed like an ornamental decoration but she was a vital cog in the wheel of NovaTech.

She just smiled at Rickman and said: "James I already told you he is on the phone with the Asian office. You really should really learn how to make an appointment if you don't want to wait."

Rickman knew she was right but it didn't stop him from glaring at her. He paced two more times around the room and then sat down on a couch.

"You can go in now.", Linda said soon after with a smile. A smile that seemed so genuine that if they gave out Oscars for best secretary she would win it every year.

As Rickman went inside Robert's office he closed the door with force. He knew what kind of snake Linda was. If she was on your side she would be your best ally and if she wasn't she would be a viper.

Trouble was she was Robert's protege and she was always on his side so he got bitten quite a few times by her until he learned who she truly was.

"Jiiiiimy", Robert greeted Rickman with open arms.

"Cut the crap Bob.", Rickman just waved his hand at him to shoo him away.

"You know why I am here. It's unethical to not let the poor kid know his situation and deny him communicating with his mother when we have the capability.", Rickman said with a stern tone.

"Our lawyers think that would be a bad idea. Fitz is adamant.", Robert said as he shrugged his shoulders.

"Since when do you obey our lawyers?", Rickman replied in agitation.

"I obey them when I agree with them." , Robert replied with a raised voice.

"You don't get it since you don't have kids. You have no idea what you are doing to them.", Rickman replied in kind.

"Ohhh the parent card again. Do you want a medal because you managed to spawn one of your own? If kids were really so precious there would not be 100 million born every year. They are like diamonds full of inflated value. Except you can sell diamonds, legally.", Robert replied with evident sarcasm in his voice.

Rickman didn't know how to change his mind so he decided to try with one last push.

"I will blow the whistle on the thing to the press if you don't let him talk to his mother.", he said with a lowered voice.

Robert just smirked at him.

"No, you won't and we both know why. The same reason you want to give him a chance to talk to his mother is the reason you won't dare to talk to the press. You are a parent and you have the same fear and weak spots as all the rest of them. I might not be an animal big enough to hurt your daughter but who knows what the rest of our investors might do to you and your little family if you lose them millions. You don't have the backbone to face what the consequences of your actions could be." , Robert said in a lowered voice and patted Rickman on the back at the end.

"Now go do your thing Jimmy and let me do mine."

Rickman left the office pale as a sheet of paper. When they were opening their company they didn't get to choose their investors and a lot of shady characters invested. With the amount of money, they made them they were extremely happy with them but he knew that happiness would be replaced with a thirst for retribution if they found out he purposely lost them money. Rickman knew he could not guarantee the safety of his family unless he built a prison for himself and them and stayed inside forever.

"I hope your wait was worth it. Please do come by more often. ", said Linda with a smile as he passed her.

Rickman turned around but he didn't say anything. He let out a sigh and walked to the elevator. He knew this battle was lost and probably the war was also not in his favor.

Meanwhile, in the hospital, Rowan got a feeding tube and a urinary catheter.

Things in the game looked a lot brighter for him than in real life though. After he finished eating and drank 2 glasses of water that lowered his thirst Rowan went and talked to Jonas again.

"That filled the spot. It was not quite as good as my wife's cooking but if you practice you might get there. You can use the kitchen and any ingredients you may find as long as I get a share.", Jonas said and winked at him at the end.