TRICKED TO MARRY MR. CONTROL

The lights above her flickered above her and a buzz that seems endless has replaced the sound of snore from the patient in front of her. Coco Benett adjusted her gloves before checking the patient’s vital signs one last time before stepping out of the room. Her oversized scrubs were a little damp with sweat and her hair which was once her pride was already looking stressed, it had just been twelve hours into the shift and every fiber of her being screamed exhaustion. Nurse Collins from spotted her from down the hall, relieved he screamed “Benett!”, ICU wants you STAT! Of course they did. They always did. Coco quickly moved through the hospital’s corridor. The hospital was never really a quiet place. But this night it seems to have changed its rhythm, almost as if it was asleep, slowly breathing, suffocating. She could even hear her sneakers squeaking lightly. Arriving at the ICU it didn’t take much for her to realize what was going on- a patient actively coding. An intern handed her the charts “Heart failure case,” he muttered. “This is the second time he’s coding. We’re trying to stabilize.” She nodded automatically almost as if she was a robot, her hands were already in motion to the patient’s chest. The next thirty minutes, her world narrowed to the rhythm, the beeping sound of the machine was sounding distant, the strong smell if the antiseptic, she wanted to snatch this man’s life back from the cold hands of death. It was only when the patient’s vitals steadied that she allowed herself to breathe. She did not need to look at the clock. It was not necessary at all. Her body already knew it was past 3 a.m. It was finally time to clock out of the hospital, New York city had fallen into that strange silence before the break of dawn, it always looked different any time she clocks out from a night shift. Almost emptier, lonelier. She quietly waited for the bus while still reflecting on the crazy shift she had last night. Her arms wrapped around her while she threw her head against the wind. Her thought was interrupted when her phone buzzed. Mommy. She smiled faintly, even though her voice was as coarse as sandpaper, she answered “Hey mummy” “Are you on your way home?” her mother’s voice was soft although laced in worry. She always calls her any time I run a little bit late. “Almost, you should still be asleep by now.” “I can’t sleep until you’re home safe baby.” “Mom…” Aria hesitated, looking at cars pass by she asked “How are you feeling today?” She paused. Before she knows it a wet, harsh and coarse cough came out of her mouth. She was unable to control it and that twisted something deep inside Coco’s chest. “I’m feeling the same as yesterday, it’s okay, just…*coughs* just come home baby”. “I’m on my way” Aria finally climbed onboard the bus when it arrived and sank into the back of the bus by the window so that no one would be able to see or notice her. While leaning on the window, she stared back at her reflection, her light brown eyes that scream tired, her hollow cheeks and her not so chapped lips. All she wanted to do is to get some rest but she can’t The rent was long overdue, her mother’s health seems to get worse. She said she was getting better but deep down, Coco knew she was lying. She’s been working double shifts that is humanly possible to do but the medical bills keep stacking up like tombstones. Sometimes she wonders what it would be like to be a normal family and stop worrying about money, without saving every dollar and finally have a normal meal without the guilt that she’s spending too much. She’s always a strong believer that an honest hard work would get you rewarded sooner or later. But it seems to slowly eat them alive till there’s no soul left, just an empty barrel. Finally arriving home, she opened the apartment door and noticed the door is loosely hinged “Another bill to settle I guess” She noticed the apartment was dark except for the light coming from the television. Her mother had fallen asleep on the couch with her favorite podcast playing on the radio besides her, her oxygen tank softly hissing and her face mask slightly aloof. Coco gently pulled up the blanket and adjusted the face mask. For a moment she stares at her mom, watching her chest rise and fall, tears began to stream down from her eyes. “I’m so sorry mom” she whispered. “I’m trying really really hard I promise to get you the best treatment there is”. Coco wasn’t sure why she was crying and apologizing, maybe it was the medical bills, or maybe it was the door that didn’t see any appropriate time to spoil but now, or just maybe it was the fact that all the applications that she sent out regarding home care/private care programs did not get back to her. It’s been month for f**k’s sake. The next morning, a phone call interrupted her sleep, this time it was a private number. “that’s odd”. She muttered. ” A very good morning to you ma, please am I onto Miss Benett?” a smooth voice asked. “Yes, this is her” “This is Crest industries. I am calling from the HR department. You submitted an application for our private care program am I correct?”. Coco’s eyebrow furrowed. “I…I did, but that was months ago. I thought I didn’t get in. “Well, you were shortlisted, but now the client requested an interview tomorrow morning by 6:30, at the Crest’s Skyscraper. “But isn’t that a little….” The call ended immediately. “Well, that was rude! Who in their right minds would schedule an interview by 6:30 am?” She’s heard of Mateo Crest, the 26-year-old billionaire. The media did not say anything much about him because they suggested that he didn’t accept any interviews from the press. But what they have been able to gather so far is that he is a cold recluse with a reputation as cold as his business. Rumors have it that people that got close to him never stayed whole. It like all their enthusiasm and reason for happiness was sapped away as soon as they started working for him. Why would a man like that need a private nurse? And of all people why is it her? Despite the rumors Coco knew she cannot let an opportunity like that pass her by. She quickly called in sick from work and made arrangement to attend that interview. The next day came by rather quick. She had barely slept a wink last night. She needed to secure the job like her mother’s life depended on it, maybe because it does. The lift to the top floor of the skyscraper was lined with glass. She caught a glimpse of her reflection- clean maroon blouse, with black bottoms to go with it. The slacks hugged her figure nicely, her hair tied up neatly in an afro. Physically she knew she looked good but her hands were still trembling slightly. She saw a man at a corner behind a counter like frame, looks like he is the receptionist. He wore a black suit and wore an elegant smile. It looks fake, almost like the kind of smile she pulls at difficult patient back at her work place. “Mr. Crest would see you now.” Coco stepped into the room that was pointed to her and the first thing that welcomed her was the cold air and strong cologne that screamed power. Behind a sleek desk was a was a man in a tailored suit, his hair was slicked back. He has the most beautiful eyes she has ever seen, his face chiseled to perfection. This man right before her was a very handsome looking man, and she knew it. He didn’t stand nor did he smile. He just studied her. Like an exotic animal- slowly, deliberately, as if he was a lion deciding on what part of his prey to devour first. “Sit”. He said at last. His voice deep and sinister. Just that word got her heart racing and she obeyed. He had one more look at her file then locked eyes with her “It seems you’ve been a nurse for four years and all those four years you spent working at a private hospital called St. Catherine’s Specialist Hospital.” “Yes sir” “You live in Brooklyn and have a mother that suddenly stopped working three years ago due to personal reasons. Ill maybe?” Coco didn’t like the sound of that. She quickly replied; “With all due respect, that is a personal matter that I do not wish to discuss…. sir” He smirked. “I should be aware of everything concerning my employees, that includes their family matters and status. I need to know your values and what drives you, I can’t just…” “money” she interrupted. “I need money”. The air between then became tensed. He leaned forward and kept his eyes locked on hers, for a moment, his gaze flickered- surprise, interest or maybe he recognized something in her. He stood up moving to the glass window “I value your honesty” … he trailed. “This position isn’t easy, you’ll be working closely with me, handling confidential matters. Confidentiality is now a negotiable, am I clear?” “I understand”. “You don’t, but you will”. He said and finally turned back to her. “So, when do I start?” she said as she finally met his gaze. His lips pulled to the side. “You already have, Benett”. “Excuse me?” He broke away from his gaze when the intercom rang “Sir, Mr. Jeff is here for the merger briefing” “Cancel it, I’m busy with an interview” “But sir… he said…” “I said cancel”. He looked up to Coco. “You will move to my place first thing tomorrow morning. And Miss Benett” “yes?” “I suggest you begin to learn how to survive in my world because from now henceforth you belong in it”. Her pulse rate quickened. How does he expect her to know what it means. As she stepped out of the office, her heart finally became at ease and only one question popped into her head why the heck would someone cancel a million- dollar merger for something as simple as an interview? She looked back at the tall building behind her one last time feeling like she just signed a deal with the devil Mateo stares at her from the window as she walks away. On his desk is an old photograph, slightly faded of a younger version of Coco in the corridors on a hospital besides a stretcher. So, it really is you, after all these years…Coco.