Chapter 12
NADINE.
I opened my eyes and saw Butler sitting by the bedside, his legs crossed.
"Ahh, you're awake," he said with a smile. "Feel any better?"
I did not answer. I tried to stand up but as soon as I made an effort, I felt this ache in my head and neck that made me return to my supine position. I groaned and the butler put his hand on my shoulder. "Relax," he said, "you passed out."
I tried to remember what happened and it began to come back in pieces.
"Ohh, no," I said after I remembered what Naomi had said about my sister. "Ohh, fuck."
"Relax, okay?" The butler said again. He offered me a glass of water which I refused.
"My sister, she's sick," I said, tears streaming down my face. "She's fucking sick, and it's all because I'm trapped inside of this fucking house." "Mmm, what is wrong with her?" The butler asked.
"And how the fuck am I supposed to know that?" I responded, getting irritated by his presence. "Do I look like a fucking doctor to you?"
He said nothing, then, "I'll leave you for a while and check on you later."
As he was about to leave, it reminded me that I should still talk to Naomi. I knew nothing about the situation and I needed more information. Perhaps Anna had gotten better since I passed out. "Can I make another phone call?" I asked him.
"Actually, I think you shouldn't do that now," he said and began walking to the door. "Get some rest. I'll be with you in a few hours, and you can make the call then."
"Wait-" I called out, but by then, he had already left and locked me in again.
I swung my legs off the bed and began to pace the room. My head still ached; I should have asked him to get me an aspirin or any other analgesic. But what worried me more was Anna. Even though I felt an immense gratitude to Naomi for taking care of my younger sister, I couldn't still help the thought that I would have done a better job. It's just the way it is with loved ones, I guess.
The butler returned earlier than I had expected and found me standing.
"You're on your feet," he said with a nod. "That's good."
He brought in a plate of cookies and some drinks to restock the refrigerator with and handed me a card of ibuprofen which I thanked him for.
"Can I make the call now?" I asked him.
"Not until you're done eating those cookies and taking your drugs," he said to me.
I groaned my displeasure but did as he said. He was quite frustrating, but deep down inside me, I was grateful to him; he had been so nice so far. When I was done, almost begrudgingly, perhaps because of the way I dropped the phone, he handed it to me.
"Careful now," he said. "And remember, you have limited time."
I dialed Naomi's number but she didn't pick up. I tried it a few more times, but she still did not pick.
"Fuck, Naomi, pick up," I said out of frustration.
I tried Anna's number and surprisingly, she picked up.
"Anna, are you there?" I said, my heart beating with the expectation that I would hear my sister's voice.
"Yeah, Nadine, where have you been?" She said,
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"Oh, my God, Anna, I've missed you so much," I said, almost crying. "I'm... somewhere. But don't worry about that. How are you? Naomi told me you've been ill."
"I have been, but I'm better now," she answered. "Although, I'm going to the hospital tomorrow for a scan; the doctors requested it. Besides, Naomi has been nothing but nice and she-"
"Wait, did you just say a scan?" I asked.
There was something about her voice as she spoke, it was weak, subdued, as if she was struggling to get the words out. It made me afraid. Anna was vivacious and spunky, and her voice was usually airy with excitement. "Yeah. But it'll be okay, I guess," she said.
"Okay, Anna," I said to her. "Be good."
"And where are you, Nadine?" She asked. "When are you coming back?"
"I can't tell. you that now, Anna," I told her, "but I'll explain as soon as I get back."
"And you'll get back soon, eh?" She said,
"Of course," I answered her, even though I knew that was impossible.
I handed the phone back to the butler and he left me alone with my thoughts. I couldn't rid myself of the feeling that something terrible was wrong with my sister and these thoughts weighed heavy on my mind, ruining my entire day. Clayton:
Trent had a way with the ladies, I had to admit. Soon, he had the blonde sweetheart walking towards me. I sat under an umbrella, sipping a margarita, my dark shades shielding my eyes from the rays of the sun.
"So, Clayton, meet Bella," Trent said, introducing us, "and Bella, Clayton."
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Bella was even more beautiful than I had thought. She had the perfect figure, like a Greek goddess, and her face had the best arrangement I had seen in a lady before. I was enthralled by her beauty. "Hi," she said as she sat in front of me.
"Sweetie, you look amazing," I told her, extending a hand for her to shake.
"Okay, so my job is done here," Trent said in a good-humored manner. "I'm gonna leave you too to bond with each other."
He walked away.
"So, Bella, what do you-?" I started.
"Wait. You look so familiar," she said to me. "Did he say your name is Clayton?"
"Yes?" I said, getting confused.
"Hold on," she said. She began scrolling through her phone, frantically. I wondered what was going on.
"Any problem?" I asked.
"Oh, my God, it's you," she said.
"What?" I asked.
"You're the CEO whose video is all over the internet," she said sniggering. "You're Clayton Rocco."
She burst into laughter, stood up and left and I felt a rage I'd never felt in my life before.