The Billionaire's Torment

Ganged on

Nora

Max sent everybody home, my granny protested at once.

“I want to see your grandfather, we haven't met.”

“No granny, you guys have to rest, especially you granny. You are still recovering, the flight to and from Zerus zapped your strength. Please go home.”

I held her hand,“ he is right granny, you can visit grandfather tomorrow.” Granny eventually agreed to be taken home.

At the hospital, Max hit the ground running as soon as the car stopped. I trailed behind him slowly, l was dead on my feet. I exchanged the high heels for comfortable slippers on the plane. I pushed the door to the ward cautiously and stepped in. From the doorway grandpa looked dead. His pallid face was still, the colour awful.

I closed the door and moved to the foot of the bed. Everyone turned their heads towards me except Max. He held his grandfather's hand, his gaze fixed on his face.

Dr Ralph, Dr Selborne and Dr Russell stood on the right side of the bed while Max stood on the left alone. On the three seater Max’s grandmother, Max's father and Martha sat with morose faces. Peter Ratliff and his daughter glared at me. l averted my gaze and gazed at grandma.

“Hello grandma, how are you doing? I'm sorry about grandpa.”

“ I'm ok my love, considering. I'm sorry you had to rush back without taking a breather.”

“ It's fine grandma.”

My gaze landed on the Drs. Dr Selborne smiled down at me, l smiled back.

“Don't worry Max, he looks bad but he is stable.” Dr Russell reassured Max, who bobbed his head up and down. Tears formed in his eyes and slid down his cheeks. My own eyes filled, l swiped the tears away. I longed to go to my husband, give him a back rub, wipe his tears away. Shyness kept me rooted to the spot.

Max kissed his grandfather's cheek and caressed his face.

“ Max, let's step out for a moment, l want to give you the rundown of what we have done and where we are going with the treatment.”

Dr Russell instructed in a gentle tone. Max nodded and held my hand as he tailed the Drs.

“Max, leave Nora behind. I haven't congratulated her yet, nor have i given her a present.”

Max sighed and stopped but did not turn around.

“Gran, we are tired, after my conversation with Dr Russell, we are heading home.”

“I'm aware you are tired my boy but l need to talk to your wife.”

I gently extracted my hand from Max's and went to the foot of the bed again. As Max's mouth opened to protest, his face stern, the door opened and three strangers came in. It was a girl, a man and a woman who appeared to be the same age as Max's parents.

The girl was about my age. The three strangers’ hostile eyes honed on me. Who were these people who seemed to dislike me on sight?

“Hello Max.”

The man and the woman chorused, the girl tried to hug my husband. He sidestepped and bolted out of the door. The girl gave me the evil eye. What did l do to these strangers?

The man and the woman who I assumed was his wife sat on the remaining chairs. The girl chose grandpa’s bed, her gaze burned a hole in my face.

“Martha, Nora is tired, stand up and let her sit down. Peter, move. l want Nora to sit by me.”

Peter Ratliff 's venomous eyes threatened to incinerate me, he elected to stand instead. I sat next to grandma, she took my hand in hers.

“Child, tomorrow l'm coming to your house to give you something, a family heirloom.”

There were gasps in the room. l kept my head down.

“What are you gasping for? Nora, my grandson was no good before he married you. l mean, he went through women like a hot knife on a brick of margarine. So i waited for him to reject you, but he didn't. The time is right to pass on the family tradition to you.”

“Granny, l will come to you, not vice versa.” My voice came out in a whisper, the hostile environment choked me.

“No, you won't. I want to see what you have done to the house.”

“It's Max's house granny, l haven't done anything to it.”

Granny patted my hand,“ then you are wrong. It's your house, put your personal stamp on it. l want to see your signature style in the house. Throw out anything you find repulsive. It's your home now.”

“Granny, don't put ideas in her head. Max loves his stuff, he will kill her if…”

“who are you to interfere in Ratliff 's affairs Roseline? My wife has my permission to decorate, renovate or demolish the house if she wishes. Are you people bullying my wife?.”

Every head swivelled to the door, when did he get in? He stood there, his eyes blazing. I never felt so loved and protected. At that exact moment i fell in love with Maxwell Ratliff. Previously, his dual personality confused me. One moment he was a monster the next a saint. Right now l knew my life was safe in his hands. It was not easy to go against people you knew all your life.

I gazed at him with puppy eyes. He strode towards the seater, hefted me to my feet and glared around. Nobody dared to breathe.

“Granny, i'm taking you and my wife home, let's go.”

Granny shook her head,“ no baby, l'm sleeping here. l asked them to wheel in a bed for me. My stuff is in the locker.”

“Ok, good night then, we will see you in the morning.”

Max bent down and kissed his granny on both cheeks, she smiled up at him. Their affection for each other was apparent.

I mimicked Max then we hit the road, without saying goodnight to anyone else besides granny.

My mind raced, the strangers in the ward seemed to know and hate me. I decided to question Max about it but not tonight. We were too tired. At home we had a quick shower, crawled into bed and slept like innocent babies.