Chapter 5 The Encounter

The next morning, while Bibi was packing up some of her belongings from the Swiss restaurant, which she would be needing for her new role at the Eternal Enterprise, she suddenly heard a knock on her door.

"Come in," she said aloud, and Mellissa poked her head into the office.

"And how is the new executive officer of the Eternal Enterprise doing this morning?" Mellissa asked her best friend, who smiled in response.

"Oh, Mell," Bibi smiled, "I don't even know how I feel about all of these."

Mellissa entered the office, slightly leaving the door open. "Come on now, Bibi, you and I know you have dreamt of this day all your life," she said, "You've always wanted to be a part of your family's business, and today, you've been given that opportunity to finally prove your worth in that company."

Bibi sighed as she sunk into her seat, "I wish it was all that easy, Mell. It just doesn't make any sense to me. I mean, why on earth did my father think it was alright to make his only dying wish be one which would compel me to take up such a huge responsibility in the family business after so many years of refusing to let me partake in its growth?"

Mellissa sighed as she walked up to Bibi, taking her hands. She assured, "Well, maybe your father finally realized his mistakes and decided to make things right before his death. I think you're worrying too much, my friend, when you should be celebrating."

Bibi bit her lower lip, "I wish you knew my father as much as I did, Mell. Maybe then you'd understand the reason for my apprehension. Steven Stone was never the type to admit to his wrongdoings when he was alive, let alone when he is dead."

"I know you never liked your father," Mellissa encouraged, "and I also know he was nothing close to a good father to you. But you need to trust the process. I'm sure whatever it is, it will certainly be a life-changing experience for you, so why not look on the bright side and worry less. Besides, your father is dead, it's time for you to live your dreams with no limitations."

Bibi thought about it. Maybe Mellissa was right after all; her father was dead. What was the worst that could happen now? She finally got to partake in running the family business, yet things didn't seem to sit right with her.

"Besides," Melissa added, "the Swiss restaurant would be right here, waiting to have you back if anything goes wrong at your father's company. You can always come back here whenever you've had enough of your sister's taunting."

Bibi looked at Mellissa; how lucky she was to have a friend like her. In fact, Mellissa was just like a sister to Bibi; they had been that way from childhood as the both of them had attended the same school, while Bibi's parents could afford it, Mellissa was granted some scholarship from an anonymous source.

Mellissa was the sister Bibi lacked in Vivian; she was her best friend and confidant so much that life without Melissa was simply unfathomable.

"Thank you so much for stepping in for me while I'm away, Mell," Bibi said gratefully, "I would never have been able to entrust the restaurant into the hands of a total stranger, but with you here, I'm sure it's in the safest hands."

"You don't have to thank me, Bibi. Besides, isn't that what sidekicks are for?"

The girls laughed at the inside joke. While growing up, they had always joked about becoming superheroes. While Bibi had always wished to become Wonder Woman, Melissa had always insisted on being her sidekick, as long as they got to fight crimes and be together always.

"Come on now, Mell, you're more than that to me," Bibi said in honesty, "You're a sister to me."

Mellissa was about to respond when they suddenly heard loud noises coming from the restaurant.

"What's going on out there?" Bibi asked Melissa, who shrugged in response.

The both of them hurriedly ran out to see what was causing the commotion.

Inside the restaurant, customers and waiters had formed what looked like a semi-circle as they looked on.

Bibi and Mellissa rushed towards them, "What's happening?" Bibi inquired from no one in particular when one of the customers turned to her and responded.

"Someone passed out, I think he was choking on his meal or something."

Bibi and Mellissa gasped, "Oh my goodness!"

They both struggled to get into the midst of the commotion to try and help out when suddenly, they spotted a dark-haired man in a neat tuxedo leaning over another man who seemed to have passed out.

Someone from the crowd suddenly yelled, "I think he's dead!"

"No, he's not!" the hoarse commanding voice of the dark-haired man in the tuxedo came, "Can everyone give us some space here? He needs to breathe."

"Someone, call a doctor!" another voice rang.

"I'm a doctor, Miss, now please, everyone, give us a little space." The man in a tuxedo repeated.

Everyone went quiet as they all watched in curiosity as the man who had now been identified as a doctor proceeded to attempting to revive the old man.

"Now does anyone know this man?" the doctor suddenly asked hurriedly.

"Yes...!" came the voice of one of the waiters, "He comes in here twice a week in the mornings to have some tea, often without any with sugar."

"Yes, yes," another voice rang in the background, "He only orders bowls of salad or low-carb meals; I think he once mentioned that he was diabetic."

"Diabetic?" The doctor paused for a moment, as if thinking, then he suddenly started to quickly check the pockets of the man who was lying still.

Quickly, he brought out a needle-like device; it was an insulin injection. The old man had suffered a crisis caused by his diabetes.

Instantly, he injected him with the insulin injection on his shoulder, and the old man suddenly sprang up to the astonishment of everyone present.

One person from the crowd suddenly clapped, and then another person followed, and in the next second, rounds of applause rang throughout the restaurant as everyone cheered the brave doctor.

Bibi and Mellissa struggled to get to the old man to make sure he was alright when suddenly, the heroic doctor stood and turned around, face to face. He stood, staring at Bibi.

Bibi felt her heart skip. All her life, she had read about the Greek God, Zeus, and his incredibly handsome son, Hercules, but never for once had she dreamt of meeting him in person. For the man in front of her looked nothing short of a demigod. He was so handsome, and when he smiled at her, she felt her legs go weak.

"Hello," the doctor said, "My name is Ethan Turner."