"What happened!?" I realised my hands were bandaged with a drip stand by my side. "How did I ended up in this condition?"
"The doctor said you lost so much blood,so you should be more careful from now on" Mrs Agnes sudden reply brought my eyes to look towards her voice.
"I saw Sua in my dream.Someone is trying to kill her"
"What!!"
"I need to find her this instant" I brought out my phone to call Xavier, getting impatient for him to pick up.
"Mr Mason!" Xavier said on the phone.
"Any news about Sua's whereabout?"
"I was going to inform you at the office today,but since you called...." He paused and I heard him flip some book pages. "The police traced her last order online and they found out that she ordered for a knife two days ago,which was delivered to her at Kentucky around noon.But the police are still on the process of tracking down her exact location"
"What about the mortuary dash camera.Found anything?" I questioned,looking for a positive response while imprinting the moment in my head.
"There was something suspicious about the camera footage.Mrs Mason walked out of the Mortuary on her own and I could not find anyone else at the scene but it seemed to be strange,Mrs Mason kept talking to herself"
"Do you mean no one stole her body and she wasn't dead?"
"The detectives are investigating on the case but I still have to confirm the hidden truth behind the video"
"Make sure nothing goes wrong or else...." I threatened,almost whispering to him as i walked down to the doorway before saying the last part impudently,
"you know what I can do"
There was a knock on the door and it turned out to be the new Cook.She was in a Brown old styled gown with a blue apron around her waist,her hair was packed in full bun,showing off the wrinkled skin above the bridge of her nose which made her look so much like a nerd and then I noticed something different about her look as if she was putting on makeup.There was a dull familiarity against her sacred impersonation.
"Breakfast is ready" She spoke behind the satisfied facade.I knew she was suffering and for some reasons,I almost thought she was Sua.She had the scent,garanium with a hint of roses that could attract anyone who set their eyes on her.
"We'll be there in a minute" Agnes replied rudely immediately she got up to meet me while the cook left,letting the door shut behind. "Why don't we spend some time together and plan our wedding!"
"Not yet,I have to visit Mr Dennis,I can't just sit back and wait for Xavier's reply.I must take actions" I dawdled into the bathroom,leaving Agnes stranded.
BRIANN P.O.V
The moment I got into the kitchen,Mrs Angeles rushed over to where i stood, she was nervous and was also trying to get over something i shouldn't know.Her eyes kept twitching each time she looked into my mine,I could see fright which was so hard to understand.
"You've to-tally For-gotten about your weekly test at the hospital" She stuttered,pushing me back to the living room. "I just got a call from your personal doctor and they told me to send you over to the hospital this instant"
"But I thought I was done going for tests.Why now??" I questioned,coming to a quick stop just to say, "Are you hiding anything from me? You look nervous"
"Me!? no,I don't.I don't just want the boss to find out about your illness,I can't let you to keep on causing more troubles.And if you don't heal your shortsightedness in no time,you might create a disaster and i'm afraid of such moment,so please go to the hospital for your test.I shall make sure I earn enough money to buy you glasses and also pay for the surgery"
I couldn't reveal how anxious she was.Though,she hid the truth so well that I couldn't judge those lies she cooked up.
"You have to go now before Mr Mason gets down here"
"Alright I will" I took a last glance of the worries written over her face before handing the apron to her and I went away.It felt so strange that she suddenly wanted me to head to the hospital,but can't find any reason.so I just left for the exit and as soon as I got out.A dark-skinned lady bumped into me,she was two feet taller than my height while her skin was bruised as if she had not showered for so long.My clothes got dirty at the touch of her body,so unkept and stinky that I almost threw up.But she shoved me out of the wayand ran into the building just as i sighted some men in suit at a distance who seemed to be running after her.I couldn't just stay to know what was going on,so I decided to further my steps,hoping i would be cured from my illness.
¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤
A nurse eventually came out of the office after keeping me waiting at the reception for over an hour,I was directed inside an office in order to meet the doctor that was said to be my personal doctor.Closing the door behind,there was a brief silence as if the doctor didn't notice my presence,so I took a seat right infront of his table,watching him go through some paperworks with his reading glasses on.He said nothing order than flipping pages until I cleared my throat,already uncomfortable.
"So why are you here? Didn't I told you that you don't have to come for your weekly test anymore" His impudent words were filled with disappointment,not paying any slightest bit of attention to me.
"Well...Mrs Angeles,I mean...my mom said you called" I spoke,squeezing my palms so tight beneath the table.
"I never called anyone and I have no business with you anymore.I've done all I could for you,so...." He paused just as he pulled off his glasses and placed them on the table. "So what else do you want?"
"Can you check if I'd improved?"
"There's nothing more to discover,you have been diagnosed and the only solution is by undergoing a surgery and I also gave you another solution for preventing yourself from straining your eyes"
"Isn't there any medication that will be able to work instead of getting glasses?" I asked curiously.
"I hope there was.But I'm afraid the only cure is surgery" He sighed,lolled his back against the chair and folded his arms. "Astigmatism has so much effect if not treated at the early stage,it could lead to total blindness,so I advise you to always prevent your eyesight from direct sunlight and you should undergo surgery before it become too late"
"But I would like to know if my condition has worsened"
"Alright" He finally got up,pulled out a machine before he took a pen by his drawer and began to scribble somethings. "I have to test how your sight had become.So look carefully and tell me what you see"
I sat nervously in the ophthalmologist's chair,my hands gripping the edges of the armrests.The room was dimly lit except for the glowing chart of letters projected onto the far wall.I blinked a few times,squinting hard.Without direct light,the letters blurred into soft,shapeless shadows.
"Let's begin," The optometrist said gently,adjusting the large phoropter in front of my eyes.
He flipped lenses back and forth as he asked, "Which is clearer.One...or two?"
I hesitated. "Um...two,I think"
The process continued,click after click as the lenses shifted and my gaze momentarily sharpened,then smeared again.I hated this part.The pressure to choose correctly felt like a silent test i might fail.
As the smallest row of letters lit up,the doctor asked, "Can you read the bottom line?"
He moved closer as i leaned slightly forward,squinting instinctively,my nose almost touching the machine. "E... F... P?" I guessed,uncertainty thick in my voice.
The doctor jotted something down,nodding. "You're definitely not improving.You really need the surgery as soon as possible"
I exhaled in dissatisfaction.Soon,the blur would turn me blind and my sight would never come back into focus anymore if I don't have the surgery.
"Your condition is already at the third stage and in no time,the surgery might not be able to cure you, so you have to..." He leaned against his table,eventually getting moved by my situation, "I understand it's hard for you,but we can help you with the finance, you can take a loan for the surgery from the hospital.It's not compulsory you pay the money back immediately.You can take your time and pay installment"
"I know!" I gave out a deep sigh and got up when the nurse came in with a lady by her side.
"You can come anytime for checkups,I'm always here to help"
"Thanks doctor" I responded before walking out of the office.
MASSILO P.O.V
I didn't need to check the time.I am the time everyone else runs on.But punctuality isn't about being on the clock.It's about control. Discipline.And today's board meeting? It's not just business.It's a reminder.
The navy suit fitted like second skin,tailored in Milan,cut sharp enough to command a room before I speak.The fabric moved with me,like it knew who was wearing it.It should,it was made for no one else.
White shirt.French cuffs.Platinum cufflinks with a silent nod to the kind of deals that doesn't make headlines,but changed balance sheets.I slided on the tie,charcoal, micro-check,tied with precision.Luxury shouldn't beg for attention.It was meant to assume it.
My watch was Patek Philippe vintage.Rare. Quiet power on my wrist.I buttoned the jacket,smoothened the lines.No creases, no flaws just like my reputation.
They'll be waiting when I walk in.
Some eager.Some nervous.A few pretending they're competition.
I could see them all.
Most of them work for a paycheck. I work to own the room.I built the walls they walk through.I sign the papers that decide who gets to stay.
My employees do respect me or maybe they just pretend to.Doesn't matter.Fear and admiration felt the same when I speak.And my rivals as if they dress like they're trying too hard.They blink first.I make moves before they know the game started.
This wasn't just my company.
It's my kingdom.
I came to a sudden stop when I heard a scream at the living room as if there was someone calling for my attention and I bounded down the stairs just to find out the reason for the fuss.
A dark-skinned lady stood at the entrance like she owned the ground or was daring someone to tell her otherwise.Her skin,a deep,beautiful brown,was weathered by the sun and the wind,marked by days that bled into nights on concrete and blistering asphalt.Her eyes burned,not with helplessness,but with a fury that came from being seen and still ignored.
Her hair was matted,tied back with something that used to be a shoelace.Her coat was two sizes too big and stained by rain and time hung off her shoulders like it remembered better days,even if she didn't. In her hands,she clutched a torn grocery bag filled with what looked like everything she owned.One boot had a hole at the toe and the other was missing laces.
She wasn't just angry,she was tired of being angry.Of being invisible until someone needed a warning or a reason to look tough.Her voice,when she spoke,was low and cracked like old pavement,but every word carried weight.
"Don't look at me like I'm broken," She yelled at me who stared too long and cared too little. "I didn't come here for pity.I'm here to take what belongs to me"
She was fire under the ashes,not hopeless,but hardened.Not lost,just furious that the world had taught her survival and then punished her for it.
"Who is she? And why is she in my house!" I said at the brink of yelling.
"You son of a bitch!"
My jaw clenched and a nerve twitched in my temper as the words hit me like a slap.At first,i said nothing,just stood there,fists tightening slowly at my sides,the knuckles turning white as my chest rose and fell,the rhythm short and sharp like i was holding back a storm behind my ribs.
My eyes which was once calm,flared with something darker,rage simmering just beneath the surface.When i finally spoke, my voice was low and tight like a dam on the verge of breaking. "Say that again" i growled,each word laced with warning.
And then,i snapped,walked up to her and took in a sharp breath.
"It's would be better if you say that to my face"
"You killed your own wife and still want her relative dead.You monster! How dare you bring in another woman. Your life is a total mess.You murderer!!"
My hand slammed the door on her face,rattling everything on it,the sound echoing like a crack of thunder.My whole body vibrated with fury,controlled only by the last thread of restraint i hadn't yet burned through.
I didn't yell,not yet.But the fury in my silence was louder than any scream.
"You refuse to treat your workers well.You're so cruel" I heard her cried out from the other side of the door.
"Get her out!" I screamed at the top of my voice,turning my glare to Michelle and Xavier who stood at the banister.
"Xavier!" My call made him terrified and he rushed over to meet me immediately. "How did she get into my house,does this mean the securities aren't tight enough??"
"You need to see this sir! The news about Sua's death has been aired,so reporters would be at your door in no time"
"What!?" My eyes went wide,going really quick to switch on the TV and I saw what I never imagined.The video of mom forcing Sua into a kiss was on broadcast. "Why am I seeing this!? Why is this video on the news,why can't you shut every broadcast up,is that too hard for you?" I was already yelling when i dropped the remote,my voice sharp and ragged like it had been scraped raw by rage.Words tumbled out in furious bursts,every sentence louder than the last as if volume alone could make my anger understood.
My face was flushed,jaw clenched so tight it looked like it might crack.My eyes burned with fury,so wide,wild,unblinking and flashing with the kind of heat that made people take a step back.Anger flew with my words and my hands moved with jerky, violent gestures like i didn't know whether to point,punch,or pull my hair out.
I wasn't just angry.I was livid,pacing like a caged animal,my voice echoing off the walls,each shout sharper and hotter.The air around me felt tense,heavy as if even it didn't dare get in my way.
"Sir it's everywhere including the internet" He trembled out of fear with his sweaty palms holding his IPad so tight.I knew i would punch him in the face if I dare face him,so I decided to steady my gaze at the door.
"Then shut them up immediately.I don't want to find a single article about this or else I shall do it my way!"
"Alright sir" He bowed,still not over the fear i instilled into him.Whoever that did this has definitely crossed the wrong line.