30. They match

The results came in later that day. Natasha had iron deficiency anemia and it was getting severe especially within the next few days. Simon had suggested that blood transfusion would help her get through her menstrual days. But her rare AB negative blood made it difficult for them to get it in time to help her. It was indeed expensive, but the money was no issue than it being rare to find its donors. Brandon, through Simon's help had been able to get enough to get Natasha through two and a half days or so.

"Watson, do you know where the Owen's are?" Brandon asked the man seated on the couch with his legs crossed. The other three men looked at him in surprise.

"Yes Boss." Watson replied.

"You mean Julie Ann's family?" Fred interrupted.

"They are the only people we know with the AB negative blood. We compromise." Brandon stated with finality.

"But Bran…Julie…" Edward added.

"We compromise." He repeated, turned and walked out of the room. Watson followed, leaving the men in the room looking at each other with questions.

That late afternoon, Brandon flew to CG City with Watson, they had already set up a meeting with the Owen's at their new mansion. The mansion was set at the coastline of the city with a beautiful view of the deep blue Indian Ocean. To make a peaceful meeting, Brandon had requested the meeting to be without Julie Ann's knowledge, to which her parents surprisingly agreed.

"Mr. Owen, Mrs. Owen, thank you for having me. I know it is sudden, but I would not be here if my situation was not urgent." Brandon started as they sat down at the visitor's lounge. The old couple did not look old at all. At first sight, one would think they were a young couple. But they were in their late forties.

"We did not expect to see you here, Mr. Joseph. Not especially after what happened between our daughter and you." Moses spoke first. "And what happened thereafter."

"Mr. Owen, the issue between your daughter and I, is simply between us two. I am sorry that you got involved. I really am. It was not my intention. You know you and my parents have been business friends since Julie- Cecilia- and I were young. Please accept my apologies. I also give you my word that I did not attempt to put any of your lives in danger. I am sure someone blew the whole issue out of proportion. We tried. Julie and I, we tried to get along but it was almost impossible."

"We know. We know." Isabella spoke sweetly. "We know that you did not love her. We may be old-fashioned, but we definitely are aware of where there is love and where there is not. And with you two, there was definitely no love. At least not from you Brandon." Isabella said openly and the room felt awkward for a while. Brandon could not say whether she said what she had in good or bad faith. He let it slide.

"How can we help you Brandon?" Moses asked, breaking the uncomfortable silence.

"Well, a colleague of mine, is in dire need of blood transfusion. She is suffering from anemia and her situation is critical. She has been unconscious for two days now. I came to ask for you to be her blood donors. Her blood is AB negative." Brandon got straight to the point. The couple looked at each other confused.

"How old is she?" Mr. Owen asked.

"She is twenty-three. Turning twenty-four in the next two months."

"Just like our daughter." Mr. Owen stated.

"When our daughter was born, our doctor said that she did not have enough blood for she was as pale as a corpse. The doctor warned that it might disturb her as she grew up. But as she grew, it is as if the problem disappeared. Not once has Cecilia complained about her being anemic." Mrs. Owen added.

"Are you in love with her?" Moses asked. The question got Brandon off guard and he looked at Watson next to him, who was struggling to control his laughter. There was a minute of silence. Mr. Owen looked at Brandon and smiled. "It is okay. We understand. If you do love her, then don't be shy to tell us. You and our daughter were constantly fighting anyway. Cecilia is hard-headed, hot-headed and stubborn. We wonder where she got those qualities from anyway. Do you love her?"

"Yes." Brandon answered. For the first time, he was sure of his answer and his feelings. Watson looked at him, shocked. Brandon kept his face indifferent.

"Okay. Let us grab our coats and we shall be off." Mr. Owen said and stretched his hand to get his wife's hand. The couple stood up and left the lounge. Brandon took out his phone and called Simon: "Get the room ready, we shall be there in an hour. How is she? Okay." All this time, Brandon avoided to look at Watson, who was still absorbing what he had just heard.

"Boss, do you… is it…." Watson began.

"Yes." Brandon answered affirmatively.

The private helicopter landed at the Heal Care Hospital landing patch on the room and the couple got off followed by Brandon and Watson. They walked straight to the VIP lab section of the hospital, where they were received by Simon who directed them on what to do. After several tests, their blood was ruled fit for donation and was transfused to the storage unit for later use. By then, it was almost seven in the evening. Brandon was tired from all the flying and hospital activities but he still had some business works that needed his attention.

"We would want to see her." Isabella suggested to Simon as he was checking their blood pressure.

"You two are doing okay. Your tests are impressive. Very strong couple you are." Simon applauded them. "As for seeing the patient," Simon looked at them then at Brandon who was waiting for them at the VIP corridor then back at them. They understood. They thanked Simon and slowly approached the man pacing at the corridor. As soon as Brandon saw them, he smiled.

"Thank you so much Mr. and Mrs. Owen." Brandon said gratefully.

"You are very welcome. Just, please ensure our daughter does not know. And, can we see her?" Isabella asked Brandon, who was shocked at the request. He nodded in agreement, though finding it awkward. He then directed them to the room at the end of the corridor. He pushed the door open and allowed them in first. Only Jacob and Edward were in. Fred had gone out to find them food. Natasha lay on the bed, unconscious, unmoving. Still. Her breath as feeble as a new born baby's legs. The old couple walked towards her as Brandon sat on the space found in the couch. The couple paused and looked at Natasha, she was beautiful. Moses looked at her and observed that she looked so much like his wife when she was younger…

"Brandon, how did you get them to agree?" Edward asked curiously.

"They just did."

"Does Julie know?" Jacob asked.

"Unless any of you tell her."

"Do they know who she is to you?" Edwards asked again.

"Mm-hhmm." Brandon agreed rubbing the space between his eye brows.

At the hospital bedside, the couple hand in hand.

"My wife, do you feel that?" Elijah asked.

"Feel what?"

"The connection. It is as if we know her. She looks like a younger version of you. Don't you see?"

"Come on. You are being emotional for nothing. We have Cecilia. Though at times, most times, it feels that we share no connection with her, she is still our daughter. We better go on now. It is getting late. Let's go." Isabella said to her husband and they turned around and were escorted to the helicopter by Brandon.

"Thank you so much, once more." Brandon said to them as they got to the plane.

"Come on. You are family my dear." Isabella replied.

"Bran, please. We hope that our daughter did not ruin love for you. If you love that woman in that bed, if she is nice and got all what you want, hold on. You may have found her." Mr. Owen added as he rested his arm on Brandon's shoulder, who nodded at the advise. The couple left.

Back in the room, Simon called Brandon out of the quiet room where they were enjoying their evening meals, chatting. "Have they left?" Simon asked anxiously. Brandon was too tired to notice.

"Who? Have who left?"

"Mr. and Mrs. Owen. Have they left?"

"Yes. Like ten minutes ago. Is there something the matter?"

"Bran, there is something I think you should know."

"What?"

"It is about the Owen's blood and Natasha's."

"Please don't tell me that they do not match and that we have to find another match for her!" The thought made Brandon anxious again. The feeling he despised most.

"No, not at all."

"Then what? Spit it out!"

"It is not that they don't match at all, it is that, they match, completely, in all aspects!"