Chapter 4
1391 Words
CELINE'S POV
"...then you can call this deal off!" I managed to unnerve her with my words.
"No dear, look at the bright side. You can get whatever you want, you will be among the elites and you don't have to worry about anything that has to do with finances." Doris pushed further.
"And how far has the so-called prestige and wealth gotten you?” Setting the cup on a nearby desk, I firmly rebutted her words. “you are basically a terminally ill patient and your family members are yet to show up. I don't think money is everything."
"How do you expect me to make peace with my stubborn son? He technically killed his uncle, my brother, with his bare hands." She asked defensively.
Her face grew pale as one who had seen a ghost and her eye balls almost bulging out of its socket in horror as if reliving the whole scenario.
With gentle movements, I smoothed the rumples of the cotton bed sheets and adjusted Doris's pillows and blanket.
"Listen Child..."
"Make peace with your son or our deal is off." I repeated again, secretly smiling and exiting triumphantly.
"There is no way she would pull that off. " I muttered to myself.
A smirk hung on my lips as I slowly shut the door behind me.
"Pull what off, if I may ask ?" Christian asked, causing me to jump in fright.
"Uhhm nothing...You... You creeped me out." I retorted.
I proceeded to my office... or used to be my office, a few days ago. Christian followed suit.
"What do you want?" I asked calmly, briefly recalling what Rose said concerning him having feelings for me.
"I am sorry for the way I spoke to you over the phone earlier. I shouldn't have done that." Christian apologized with his head bowed low, "I still consider you my superior."
His sweet smile caught me off guard. I noticed that there was something different about the way he smiled.
The way his eyes illuminate and warmth spreads to his eyes and entire face structure.
Christian was really a Model standard beauty. A diamond face shape, jet black hair, slender fingers, well built with elegant long legs.
I just realised that I really looked down on him all those years he worked as her assistant.
"No problem, you are forgiven!" I replied, smiling sheepishly and waving my hands awkwardly in dismissal.
"I think he's kind of cute." I thought out loud. My eyes roamed from his head to his toes, capturing each of his features.
Eyes which beheld gory sights and surgical techniques were now yearning for a man.
How ironic.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" He asked, confused but chuckling still.
"No reason at all…you know… you just look good today." I replied, giggling with a flushed face.
My cheeks turned crimson and the rosacea on my cheeks fully highlighted.
"I always look good, take away the scrubs and behold a handsome lad." Christian said, flipping his coat in a funny way.
His really good sense of humour had me laughing hard. Gesturing to his scrubs and making a funny face with an arched eyebrow really made me laugh hard, till my ribs hurt.
"Well I do have something to ask you," Christian said nervously while rubbing the back of his neck with his palm.
"Is he going to ask me out?" My movement stiffened.
It was happening. Although this wasn't the setting she wanted, she was okay with anything.
"I kinda need your advice on personal issues. Don't know… if you'll pitch in some of your bright ideas." He continued, breaking into an awkward laughter.
"Okay go on." Clearly disappointed but I urged him on with a crooked smile.
"I met this beautiful girl yesterday,” Christian explained. “I think her name is Tessy and I think I like her but I don't know how to talk to her."
My eyebrows twitched in disappointment and anger. Hands balled into fist and I swallowed hard.
"So go ahead and speak to her, why ask me? " I replied curtly, getting ready to leave.
"Hey, what's up? " Christian asked, confused, he moved a little closer to me.
My eyes turned misty and he rubbed my hair and pulled me in for a hug.
"Don't you…you know...love me?" I asked, a timid voice that held a little bit of hope.
He burst into laughter but stopped when he saw that I was serious.
"Wait, are you serious?" he asked, a little surprised.
"And what if I am? " I asked. My eyes probed him to speak.
"I like you but ...really Celine...not in a romantic way." He replied hesitantly. He leaned in to console me but she pulled away.
"So you chose someone you just saw yesterday over me? I've been here with you for a long time Chris. Almost two years now." I stood confused.
My emotions were conflicted. Before me stood a man whom I got vulnerable with, rejected me and just revealed that he was in love with someone he just met.
My ego crumbled like an ice glacier.
I couldn't understand what was wrong with all the men in my life. They were either nonchalant, cowardly or loved someone else.
"I know but... " he tried to explain, not until he realised the warmth in my eyes was quickly replaced with a cold glare.
"Forget it. You men are just not worth the hassle. " I replied, cutting him short, before walking out.
"He likes Tessy...to hell with Tessy! I shouldn't have listened to Rose." I scowled, stomping down the hallways.
"Hey watch your step, Mister!" I yelled at the man I had bumped into.
"My apologies, Doctor." A familiar deep voice rumbled.
I froze. That voice. Smooth, empowering, and deep.
It triggered a flash of memory: soft silk sheets and a devastating touch. I looked up, but my vision was blurring with leftover tears and fury from my confrontation with Christian.
I saw only a blur of expensive tailoring and a towering figure.
"And why are you staring at me?" I spat, my voice tight.
I didn't wait for an answer. I was too angry and too hurt to register anything beyond the fact that he was another rude, arrogant man standing in her way.
"Guys with low tolerance to women... poor upbringing," I mumbled to myself before walking away in a hurry, wiping my nose with my sleeves.
Darius POV:
I wasn't angry; I felt a surge of surprise and satisfaction. There she is.
My personal assistant, Dan, was also shocked.
"Do you want me to do away with her?" Dan asked.
"Don't you even dare to touch her, or that would be the last day you breathe," I threatened, my voice a low, cold warning.
I watched the receding figure of the woman who had broken through my composure. The only woman I wanted.
"So where's Doris' room... I have little to no time to spend on trivial matters, talk more of a conniving sly hag."
I took a deep breath before pushing the ward door open, my countenance never changing.
"Hello Mother!" I greeted while standing at the edge of the bed, completely avoiding eye contact and devoid of warmth.
"What do you want?" Doris asked, sipping her tea and staring at the blank wall nonchalantly, as if there was some sort of amusement there.
"You literally called me here after so many years of going silent. I think I'm the one in the position to ask you, Mother." I countered, adjusting my suit.
My resentment for her burned deep and it served as a comforting campfire for me
"Listen to me..... I have found someone for you, right here in this hospital." She said smiling.
"Yuck... So I'm supposed to be marrying just anyone now." I replied and spat in disgust. "I have refined and good taste in my women, not some hospital slob in ugly scrubs."
"My woman should always be elegant, clothed in luxurious brands. Not one in scrubs, crocs, a smelly bun and smells of Tylenol."
The thought of being with someone at the hospital made me shudder.
"My marriage is not some charity case event." I concluded coldly, while reaching for the door but her next words stopped me right on track.
- Writer
