The CEO's Contract Wife

CHAPTER 7: ICU

The plane was very quiet.

Like, quiet.

Just the sound of the engines. Zayns breathing. Zayn was looking out the window.

Not seeing anything.

Aria was holding Zayns hand. Very tight. Fingernails digging in. Please. Please be okay.

That was the thing in Arias head on repeat. 4 Hours.

4 Hours felt like 4 years.

Every minute Zayn checked the phone. No updates.

Every minute Aria. Didn’t even realize Aria was praying. New York.

Car was already waiting on the tarmac.

No words.

Hospital. 20 Minutes. Felt like 2. Zayn didn’t let go of Arias hand. Not in the car. Not in the elevator. Not once. ICU.

White lights. Too bright.

Beeping machines. Everywhere.

Smell of disinfectant and fear.. There was Ben.

Small.

So small in that hospital bed.

Tubes in Bens nose. IV in Bens arm. Oxygen mask.

Monitors beeping. Aria stopped walking.

Legs just... Stopped.

No. No no no. A nurse looked up from the desk. Tired eyes.

“Family only. 2 People at a time."

Zayn nodded. Jaw tight.

“We’re family."

Voice didn’t shake.

Zayns hand did. They went in. Bens eyes opened. Slow.

Tired. Pale.

Then Ben saw Zayn.

Ben smiled. Small. Crooked.

“Mr. Zayn... You came back."

Like Ben wasn’t sure Zayn would. Zayns face cracked.

Right there.

Zayn sat on the edge of the bed. Careful. Like Ben would break.

“Hey kid." Voice was rough. "Yeah. Zayn came back."

Zayn brushed hair off Bens forehead. Shaking.

“You scared me you idiot." Ben looked past Zayn.

“Aria too?"

Aria couldn’t talk.

Throat was closed.

Aria just nodded. Sat on the side. Took Bens hand in both of Arias hands.

Cold. Bens hand was cold.

“I'm here baby." Aria whispered. "I'm not going anywhere. I promise." Ben coughed. Small cough.

“I had a dream. About the fever. It was really hot."

“I know " Zayn said. Thumb rubbing Bens hand.

“It's over now. Zayns here. Arias here.

_. Zayn isn't leaving again. Ever._" Doctor came in. Young. Tired.

“Viral fever. Spiked to 104.. We caught it. Antibiotics are working. He's stable now."

Zayn exhaled.

Like Zayn had been holding breath for 3 days.

“Can we stay?" Aria asked. Voice hoarse.

“Yes.. Quiet. He needs rest. No more than 2 at a time." Night came.

Hospital night.

Fluorescent lights that never turn off. Zayn didn’t move from that chair.

Not once.

Aria fell asleep with head on the bed still holding Bens hand. At 3am Ben whispered.

Dry voice.

“Mr. Zayn?"

“Yeah?" Zayn was awake instantly.

“Are you and Aria... A family now?

Like in the drawing?" Silence.

Only the beeping. Zayn looked at Aria. Asleep. Dark circles. Exhausted.

Zayn looked at Ben. Sick.. Waiting for an answer like it mattered.

Like it was the important question in the world. Zayn squeezed Bens hand.

“Yeah kid."

Zayns voice cracked.

“We're trying to be." Ben smiled. Small.

Then fell asleep. Morning came fast.. With it. Elena. Heels. Clicking down the hall.

Perfect suit. Perfect hair. Perfect everything.

Except the eyes.

Elenas eyes were mad. "Zayn Carter."

Zayn stood up. Put himself between Elena and the bed.

“What the hell are you doing here? Board meeting is in 2 hours." Zayn didn’t move.

“Board can wait." Elenas eyes went to Aria. Asleep in the chair.

Then down.

To Zayns hand.

Still holding Arias. Elenas smile vanished.

“So."

“So what?" Zayn said. Low.

“So this is it. This is why you threw away London. Why you missed 3 meetings."

Elena looked at Ben. Then back at Zayn.

“You really picked her. Over the company. Over everything we built." "Don’t " Zayn said. Warning. "Don’t what? Tell the truth?"

Elena stepped closer. "You're making a mistake. A big one." Aria woke up.

Saw Elena.

Stood up instantly. Back straight.. Not backing down.

“Elena." "Aria."

The name was like spit. The room got cold.

Colder than London.

Colder than anything. Ben stirred. Small voice.

“Aria? Is that lady yelling?"

“No baby " Aria said fast. Turned. Smile forced.

“No ones yelling. Go back to sleep." Zayn stepped between Elena and the bed.

Body blocking.

“You have 10 seconds to leave.

Before Zayn has security throw you out of this hospital." Elena laughed.. It wasn’t nice.

“You really chose them."

Shaking head. "Over 10 years. Over the board. Over me."

“I chose my family " Zayn said. Simple.

“No contract. No games. My family." Elena looked at Ben. Sleeping.

Then at Aria.

Then at Zayn.

Something broke behind Elenas eyes. "Fine."

Elena turned.

At the door she stopped.

“This isn’t over Zayn.

The board won’t forget this." Door closed.

Hard. Aria let out a breath Zayn didn’t know Aria was holding.

Shoulders dropped.

Zayn pulled Aria in. Right there in ICU.

Hugged Aria. Tight.

“I'm not letting you go " Zayn whispered into Arias hair.

“Don't " Aria whispered back. "Please don’t." Ben opened his eyes.

“Are you guys fighting?"

“No " Zayn and Aria said at the time.

Then looked at each other.. For the first time in a long time...

Zayn laughed.

A real one.

Short. Surprised. Ben smiled.

“Good. Families don’t fight."

“Families don’t fight " Zayn repeated.

Looking at Aria. Aria nodded. Tears, in eyes. Smiling too.

“No. Families don’t fight." Outside the window the sun came up. TO BE CONTINUED...