Secret Ties with the Cold CEO

~"Well be Alright"~

“If I die, will you and Mum promise not to grieve for too long?”

What?!

Shira felt some ringing in her ears as if she had been slapped. She couldn't have heard him well.

“Chuck, what are you saying? You're not gonna die.” She said immediately she found her voice but noticed that he had already drifted into a peaceful sleep, his chest rising and falling gently in tune with his breathing.

“Oh, Chuck, You're not going to die, you can't die,” Shira said in a quiet voice, stroking his temple gently, a complete contrast to the heartache and turmoil she was feeling inside. Then she thought sadly that that was probably what occupied the mind of the little boy now and then. Chuck had always been mature for his age. He had taken the news of their father’s death far better than most twelve year-olds would and had always been supportive, and now he had to bear this weight as well.

She felt broken, crushed. Tears welled up in her eyes and she let them fall down her face. Before she knew it, her body was shaking with silent but bitter sobs.

Only a few months after Mr. Williams had tragically passed on, Chuck had been diagnosed with Kidney failure and it had been such a trying time for her and her mother.

Shira could remember that day clearly. Chuck had only just gotten back from school that hot Thursday afternoon and he was having a heated argument with Mrs Williams on why he should be allowed to play basketball after school.

“You already play football, Chuck” Mrs Williams said calmly as she chopped some vegetables for dinner. “You joined the chess club and you're volunteering for the press club. I think that's enough extra curricular activities for one boy.”

“But, Mom!” Chuck continued to whine, “ I wanna play basketball as well. I'm really good at it.” He said, fiddling with the strap of his backpack.

Shira shared an exasperating look with her mother and sipped at her glass of juice, smiling.

“Chucky, we've talked about this…” Mrs Williams was saying slowly but was interrupted.

“Chuck?” Shira called. He had suddenly slumped to the ground.

“Chuck? Come on, get up, it's not funny.” She said to Chuck’s slumped figure on the floor but he wasn't moving

They had both rushed over to him.

“Chuck! Chuck! Can you hear me?! Chuck?!” Mrs Williams held him in her arms but he was out cold. After that, the things that happened felt like a blur to her. They had called 911 and rushed him to the hospital.

“...He has a condition called kidney renal failure, ma’am, which means his kidneys no longer function properly and are unable to filter waste as usual…”

“...he fainted as a result of a build- up of waste in his blood…”

“...he has to begin dialysis immediately, twice a week…”

All this information had just been swarming around in her mind as if she had a swarm of angry bees trapped inside her head.

After that, Shira had taken over the small family business while Mrs Williams took care of Chuck and for the first few months, the business had thrived but despite her diligence, the business soon packed up as Chuck’s treatment and weekly dialysis cost a lot and they kept on piling up loan upon loan.

Now, Shira and her Mum had to struggle daily to make ends meet.

Shira stared sadly at her little fighter. Yes, that's what he was, a fighter. He had been fighting from the very first day and Shira was confident that he would fight it to the last.

“You will be alright, Chuky,” She said between sobs.

She couldn't stop the tears now, they kept on flowing. The dam was broken. A dam that Shira didn't even know had been in place. She silently let go of the tears, willing to let go of the pain as well.

Why?

She wanted to know. Why could it not have been her. Why should she have to watch her little brother suffer?

She continued to weep, burying her face in her hands then she felt a presence and raised her head.

“What's the matter, honey?” Mrs Williams said, her brows furrowed.

“Mom,” Shira sobbed and threw her arms around her. She had just returned from her part time job in a Chinese restaurant and still had her coat on. She held on to Shira and rubbed soothing circles on her back.

“Hush, darling. What's wrong”

“I just want him better, Mom,” Shira sobbed. “I don't want him to be this way anymore.”

“It's okay dear, that's enough. Hush child,” Mrs Williams said in a soothing voice.

***

“What did you say?”

“She doesn't work on Wednesdays, Sir.” The tall black woman repeated.

“Oh, right.” Cole said in a distracted tone. “Get me a glass of wine then, the usual.”

“Alright sir,” She said and went out of the nest looking a bit flustered. It was probably because he usually didn't come to the club to ask after random waitresses. Or it could be because it was his first time coming to the club on a weekday.

He never drank on weekdays. He had just come in hope to see the lady who had occupied his mind for the past few days. He had read and reread John's email report of Shira’s background check that he now knew it by heart.

He was still taken aback by how much he was fascinated by the young lady. No one had ever enthralled him like she did. Well, not since her…

He changed the channel of his thoughts immediately. He hadn't thought of his first love in a while and for good reason. Let the memories remain buried.

“Shira…” He tasted the name on his lips like foreign wine. ‘What a lovely name.' he thought.

“Shira…” Such a lovely lady with such a tragic story. Cole was certain he had found the person he wanted but he had one issue. Would his parents approve of her?