Chasing Mr Arrogant

CHAPTER THREE

Edward~

I sat at the edge of the leather sofa in my bedroom while Dr Matthew took a few more blood samples with his injection. He tapped the sample as if it could somehow provide a kind of answer.

He placed the blood on the table, then his gaze drifted over to the prescription bottles sitting next to it. His eyes flickered up to meet mine.

“You’ve missed several doses of your medication, Mr. Benowitz. I strongly advise you start following the prescribed regimen again.”

I didn’t respond. He found all that out by just taking a few liters of my blood. Impressive.

He wasn't wrong though, I hadn’t been taking the damn pills. What was the point? I had no real reason to keep pretending. The world around me could spin, but none of it would still matter.

“What’s the point?” I murmured. I didn’t look at him, couldn’t bring myself to meet his eyes. “I’m still going to die anyway.”

The room went silent, and a rush of bitterness ran through my chest. I didn't need a doctor to tell me that. I’d been living with that truth long before I’d hired him to keep me alive longer than I deserved.

Dr. Matthew didn’t move for a moment, then finally, he sighed.

“Mr. Benowitz, I know this is difficult—”

I stood up suddenly, cutting him off with the sudden movement. I walked toward the large glass windows, looking down at the city below me.

“Difficult?” I spat, the bitterness turning to a harsh laugh. “You think I don’t know that?”

I faced the glass now, my hands gripping the windowsill, feeling the cold under my fingertips. “More pills, more treatments, more time... none of it matters. The end’s still the same.”

He took a step toward me, but I couldn’t bring myself to face him. What was he going to say? That there was hope? That everything would be fine? I didn’t need to hear those lies. I had lived in this hell long enough to know the truth.

“You’re prescribing me more pills, more meds, like it’s going to make a f*****g difference,” I muttered to myself. “What’s the point in extending the inevitable?”

“Mr. Benowitz, it’s not just about extending life. It’s about making the most of the time you have left. You have more to live for than you realize.”

I turned to face him then, a sneer twistee on my face. I was done with this conversation.

“Thank you for more medications, Dr. Matthew. I'd try to remember to take them this time although I don't promise anything.”

I let out a bitter laugh and turned away again.

I heard him shift, taking a slow breath. I knew what he was thinking. He wasn’t going to change my mind, and he knew it.

“I’m prescribing you the medication again. I strongly suggest you take it unfailingly.”

I shook my head, the words slipping out before I could stop them. “I’m done, Doc. You’re wasting your time.”

He didn’t reply. He just stood there, watching me, knowing I wasn’t going to listen. After another long, uncomfortable moment, he turned and walked toward the door. I stayed where I was, staring at the city below. The pills would be there when I felt like swallowing them. But I wasn’t sure I ever would.

Once the door clicked shut behind him, I was alone again. Just me, my thoughts, and the ever-present reality that time was running out.

A message from my secretary flashed in and the new employee–Rachel Hornet’s resume popped up.

I only needed to glance through to know she was an exception with her work strategy. Even from the first time I crashed into her I could feel her determination from a mile away. I didn't have any problem with her dress code, if anything it was one of the best I'd seen from all the recruits; simple yet professional.

She wasn't what I was looking for as a recruit. Instead I think the role as my P.A was much more for her and a challenge for me.

When I'd bumped into her at the airport, I wasn't myself at all. The anxiety from everything was bubbling up.all at once and my disability was surging with full force. I thought just maybe I could handle myself just enough but the sickness had other plans.

When she came back to question me, I found it both audacious and amusing. No one had ever spoken to me that way, young, old, child, they feared for their life and family. But for her, it only felt entertaining to watch her think that everyone in the world would have the same kind heart as she.

I was about to put down my phone when a call came through. I didn’t need to look at it for long to know who it was.

I pressed the answer button.

“Hey, what’s going on?” A familiar voice answered.

It was Thomas—my childhood friend, the one person who somehow still managed to find me, despite everything.

"Tommy," I muttered, rubbing my temples. "What’s up?”

“Yeah, I'm good.”

“Okay, if you say so.”

The bond between us had only grown stronger over the years, but even at that, I still hadn't told him about my health issues.

He didn’t beat around the bush. “Got a call from home. She's gone. She waltzed out of the house a few days ago. Just like that—she’s gone.”

I blinked, trying to take his words. I wasn’t sure what I expected, but I certainly hadn’t prepared for that.

“She’s gone?” I repeated, “You’re sure?”

“Yeah, I’m sure. She got fed up and just left. She’s done. Finally... done but you can't blame her.”

There was a long pause on my end. Part of me felt a strange relief at hearing those words—she was finally gone. No more guilt weighing me down. But at the same time... I felt terrible, God knows the pain she'd have gone through before she made such a big decision like that.

“I—I didn’t expect it to happen like this,” I murmured.

“Yeah, well, life doesn’t care about your expectations, does it?” He sympathized

“But look on the bright side, you're a free man now, you can finally breathe.”

Tom continued, "We're going out tonight, just you and me. Fancy club. Drink a little. Have some fun. You’ll feel better about it."

“I don't know-”

“Since when do you turn down stuff like this? You, of all people, used to love nights like these. You’d never say no to a good drink and a better crowd.”

“Those were since college days,Tom.”

“Yeah, take a break tonight too.”

It felt like an eternity since I’d actually gone out for something fun. Time was running and honestly, I didn't have enough to waste.

~••~

Two hours later, we were both seated at the VIP lounge, a drink in hand while the music boomed through the speakers.

I drowned another bottle of tequila which was at least the fifth one I'd had that night. Thomas on the other hand had excused himself with a blonde, reminding me of those college days playing all over again.

Meanwhile, I on the other hand was hardly seen with women, not because I didn't like them but because I didn't see the point of building a future knowing fully well I wasn't going to be in that future with her.

My eyes scanned through the crowd before drowning another shot of tequila. Just as I roamed to pick up another, my eyes fell on a familiar fisty Jade green eyes.

Across the dance floor was none other than my new, ever so blunt, P.A–Rachel.

She wore denim jeans and a casual top, nothing remotely resembling club attire. She was with a man who had a firm grip on her arm, leading her toward the exit.

I narrowed my eyes, there was something different about her, she was struggling subtly, her movements too small for most to notice, but I did.

Something inside me snapped. I abandoned my drink, weaving through the crowd until I stepped outside just as the man was shoving her into his car.

“Hey!” I barked.

He turned when he heard, his eyes widening as he noticed me coming at him. Before he could let any word out my fist flew to his jaw.

“What the heck man–”. He started, touching the blood on his jaw.

As soon as he try to make a move, I threw another punch, this time to his nose and he stumbled back.

I raised my hand to throw the next punch but he raised his arm to surrender.

“Sorry! I didn’t know she was yours!” he stammered, backing away.

My eyes burned with rage. To think this was how women were easily assaulted and r***d made my blood boil.

With one final kick, he slumped unconscious to the ground and I opened the car door, pulling a drugged Rachel from the inside.

“Mr. Arrogant?” She slurred, when she saw me. “What are you doing here?”

I bent to pick her up, but she stumbled, crashing into me. Her hands clutched at my shirt, and her eyes dropped to my lips.

She bit her slightly, sending an unfamiliar feeling through my veins.

She suddenly tilted her head and before I could react, her lips crashed into mine.