The Disabled CEO is Mine

Chapter 6

Chapter 6.

Jasper’s POV

I heard the door swing open; gently on its hinges and only over a short distance, as though whoever was standing outside had reconsidered coming in. I’d been awake for a while on the hospital bed. Clinton had helped me go to the bathroom earlier before excusing himself to check on something at work—I’d instructed him to keep an eye on things for me today upon his insistence that I remain hospitalized like the doctors had recommended. Of course none of that would have happened if Keira hadn’t poisoned me.

I caught the quizzical look on Clinton’s face as he stuck his head into the room and I knew he’d caught me rolling my eyes at the memory.

“Umm.. boss, your mother’s in the lobby, on her way here. Thought I might give you a heads-up,” he begun saying but I didn’t need to wait any longer to meet my mother anyway.

“Oh my baby. Is he awake now? Would you step aside and let me in,” I heard her say from the other side of the door.

“Of course, Mrs. Hawthorne. My apologies.”

“Eat your apologies for breakfast!” she snapped. “Don’t you ever stand in my way like that again. Good grief,” she said with disgusted scoff.

I rolled my eyes for the second time in a matter of minutes as my mother stepped into the room. She made me think of a walking ball of drama, like an old soapie people couldn’t stand but really couldn’t do without either. She floated over to my bedside with a concerned frown on her face. The manner in which she pouted her lips only mildly amused—almost did.

“Good morning, mother,” I said, sitting upright on the bed.

“Oh Jasper. How are you? I came as soon as I heard last night, but the silly doctor won’t let me see you. I spoke with the director anyway. I think he’ll be using his license somewhere else,” she said, raising her nose with an air of triumph.

“The poor doctor,” I sighed. “Just in case you haven’t heard, mother, this is what happens when you get me a gold digging witch for a wife,” I spat with contempt.

“Oh, darling, you know that was an honest mistake on the girl’s part. Even though I find her a little too clumsy, but she’s trying atleast,” she said.

“Enough about that, mother! I don’t need her to try at all. Isn’t that obvious? I have Clinton to help move me around. Everything else I can take care of myself. You’re just being…” I was yet in the middle of another exasperated rant when my mother cut me off abruptly.

“Being what? I won’t sit here and listen to you discredit my efforts, Jasper. Everything I’ve done, I’ve done solely for your own benefit. Don’t you see it’s our legacy I’m trying to protect?”

Tell me about it, I thought to myself with a roll of my eyes.

“What did you say?” she asked sharply. I hadn’t realized I’d said it out loud.

“Better still,” she said when I remained silent. “It’s expressly stated in the will — you must have an heir if you’ll continue in charge of your father’s estate. You know how much I love you, honey. I’m not about to let you ruin your life. No, not on my watch,” she stated with an air of finality.

“Which is why you’re going to fix things up with Keira this instant,” she said, giving me a sharp look.

“What? No, mum! I don’t want to see her, mum. That woman tried to kill me for goodness sake!” I moaned with an air of rebellion.

“You’ll see her, Jasper, and you’ll fix this mess. It’s all for your good. You’ll see,” she said with an air of finality. “Come in, Keira.”

The culprit sauntered into the room like a penguin, with her eyes trained on the ground. She looked at me and I could almost feel my heart melt from the sight. She was the perfect picture of remorse. I almost fell for it. I looked away immediately and reminded myself why I had to be angry with the woman in front of me.

“Well, I’ll leave you two to it. Talk,” my mother stated and left the room.

“Jasper, I’m really…,” Keira began.

“Oh please, would you not do that. Your words mean nothing to me, especially not after you tried to take my life with your carelessness!’ I hissed midway through what I sensed to be an apology.

“No. It’s not what you think. You must believe me. It was an honest mistake. I’d never do anything to hurt you, Jasper,” she pleaded, her voice breaking as tears welled up in her eyes.

“You could spare me the act, missy. I know it’s my money you’re after. It only irks me more that you’d partner with my brother to try and take my life. If I die you get nothing! Nothing! You hear me?” I barked at her in fury. My chest began to hurt badly from the outbursts and I winced in pain.

“Are you okay?” she asked, her voice laced with concern. She stepped forward and placed her hand gently on my arm.

I looked from her hand to her eyes with a hateful glare and she got the message immediately. She recoiled her hand away from my skin like it was a piece of scalding hot iron.

“I don’t know why you’d ever think that I want to take your life. I’ll never do that. And for the record, your brother’s an asshole. It was he who came up with suggestions for the meal I made you. I’ll never do anything to hurt you,” she explained.

“I wish I could believe you, but it’s hard to think anything good about a woman who’s willing to sell her life and happiness for money. Now, off with you. I need to rest,” I said with a heavy sigh, eager to be left alone.

“No matter how much you try to push me away, Jasper, I’ll be here. And I want you to know that I’m here because I want to be, not because I don’t have a choice,” she said.

I could almost sense the doubt in her voice as she said the last sentence.

“You’re here because of my mother. And your miserable family who hate you enough to marry you off to some…,” my words trailed off and my heart was filled with fresh anger and frustration. My legs still felt like vegetables sticking out from my hips and it drove me to hell with madness—the sheer helplessness of my condition.

I let out a loud roar and my arms instinctively found themselves sweeping across the face of the cupboard beside my bed. The noise came in various items landing to the ground, some crashing into pieces, filled the room.

Keira jumped in shock at the sudden outburst. “Oh my gosh! Jasper, what’s the matter with you? Are you okay?” she questioned with a look of worry etched across her face. She took a few cautious steps to me and attempted bending down to pick up the items strewn across the floor.

“Get out,” I said weakly, but firm enough to convey my impatience. She looked at me hesitantly. “Out!” I reiterated and she shook visibly before holding a hand over her mouth and heading over to the door.

A nurse walked in almost immediately and they bumped into each other. Keira quickly muttered an apology and ran off. The nurse looked at her retreating figure with a quizzical look on her face before shaking her head and turning to face me.

“Mr. Hawthorne. Look what a mess you’ve made now. Did you get overwhelmed again?” she asked in concern as she came up to check my vitals.

I’d shown similar behavior after regaining consciousness and learning my mother had arranged a marriage between me and Keira, hence her question. Clinton has been around at the time to calm me down.

“I was perfectly until my mother decided to ruin my life,” I sighed in exasperation as I reclined my back to rest on the bedframe. My lungs were burning from exertion even though I’d not done anything strenuous. I felt fatigued and in need of sleep.

“You’re okay, Mr. Hawthorne. You’re okay,” the nurse cooed as she helped me relax into a lying position.

I shut my eyes and listened to her quietly and watched her clean up the mess I’d made. She placed the items on the floor back in heir place.

“Just get some rest, Mr. Hawthorne,” she instructed kindly before leaving.

With my eyes closed, all I could see was the hurt on Keira’s face as I ordered her out of my room. My eyes flew wide open in discomfort. Suddenly, I’d lost the urge to sleep. I contemplated going out for some fresh air in the hospital’s garden just outside the part of the building where my room was.

I instantly remembered that I would need to be wheeled out of my room by another person to enjoy that luxury and my mood went sour again. I picked up my phone from the bedside cupboard and inspected it for any damages. Satisfied that it was still intact, I placed a call across to Clinton and waited while the phone rang. An idea popped up in my head while I waited. If I could coax my mother into annulling whatever contract I had with Keira…

“Boss. I was just about to call,” Clinton said once he picked up. I couldn’t miss the urgency in his voice.

“What’s the matter, Clint?”

“It’s your brother, boss. Your brother is the matter,” he announced and my mood went sour all over for the hundredth time.