A week had gone by, and neither of them had woken up yet. Matter of fact both of their health was declining by the day, and bits of me were attaching itself to Adam. That's why I was always in his ward again, waiting for some sign of life.
Wake up, please.
### Chapter 3
A month has gone by since the incident. Adam had been in a coma for a week and in recovery for a month. My grandmother's condition, however, worsened. She had been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. As an ex-soldier, I expected nothing less. She was in for a battle with herself.
It had spread so rapidly that saving her was completely off the table. This too was not new at all. Many elderly individuals and even middle-aged folk died before their time because of the harsh chemicals we are all surrounded by daily.
Napalm, acid, gunpowder. Each and every chemical plays a major role in our oxygen. We even have children who don't make it too far because of this. Many died from this war, whether it was an external wound or an internal one. Internal ones seem small when they arrive, they seem less important, but they always come out when one least expects it.
My grandmother knew this. She knew a lot. She taught me a lot, but all that she had given me from her experience and charm don't matter because they don't benefit anyone.
Adam may have been out of the office, but work continued for me. Aliyan and I held the fort while he recovered. It was a deep wound, and he sure as hell will feel it for years. Unfortunately, there wasn't much that I could do except create schedules and collect laundry.
At least I was useful in some way. It was nice to feel needed, even if what I was needed for was trivial. I chose this, however. I chose to be needed for trivial matters.
"Have you heard that he's better?" Aliyan said, walking with me towards the elevator. "You should pop by; he's been asking about you."
"If he's better, that means we'll meet in the office instead. There's no need for me to pay a personal visit."
"He saved…"
"Fine… you don't have to say it every time," I replied, hopping out of the elevator.
I took the stairs instead, and once I finally reached the ground floor, I noticed a strange car parked near the building. The window slid down.
A masked man. I could tell from the mischievous look in his eyes that it was him. The hero, my grandmother's savior. He hopped out with vigor, placing his hands into his pockets as he always did.
I smiled, approaching him. "Looks like there's no need for me to visit. I can just thank you here," I said, reaching for my employee card, hoping that he would tap it in approval.
Moments later, he was in my personal space. He took the string attached to the card and wrapped it around my neck. His eyes challenged me, inviting me to come closer and taste their wilderness.
"You owe me," he replied, pulling me closer. "As for the thank you, you can thank me by moving in with me."
That alone was enough to chase me far, far away. I pushed him off, trying to catch myself. What did I just hear?
Live…
Surely he was not being for real.
"You're joking. That's absurd. What happened to 'you owe me dinner' or 'I'll check you on that one'? You want to live with me?"
"Not really my forte. Your grandmother asked that I keep you safe, and I know you'll be safe living with me."
"You're insane. I don't believe you for a second. Besides, I won't believe you until she says it herself; what if all that you said to me about knowing her was a façade?"
"I'm giving you 24 hours, or I'll use force," he said, getting back into his car. "And stop wearing pencil skirts; you look like a middle school teacher."
He revved his car before racing away with his sports car. The least he could've done after that much trauma was give me a damn lift.
Twenty-four hours. To decide?
Yes, I owe him a lot for saving not only my grandmother but me, but how is living with him meant to be a thank-you if it's a form of him giving me more favors?
I went back into the building and tried to get back to work, but I could not stop thinking about him. I had slowly attached myself to him while he was asleep, and being far away from him left me no choice but to worry.
I worried a lot.
I worried and wondered if he was safe. If he got shot again. And if he did dumb stuff like eat and sleep. I never cared.
I don't want to care.
But I can't stop myself. Why do I care...
"Here's June's report; you'll have to do it for August. Use this as an example, and that should complete your late training."
"It's an honor, man."
"Well, Ara, Adam thinks you're ready to take over, and after today, the HR team will officially hand over all of Aliyan's duties to you."
I smiled, sealing the deal with a handshake. That was both good and bad news. The good news was I got to be around Adam at all times to keep an eye on him. The bad news was… I had to be with Adam 24/7.
I was living near the city now, in a hotel while I looked for a place to stay. There was no home left for me or several other individuals. There were zero homes available, even the shabby ones were taken, and now my hotel room...
It had to be Adam's doing. The stupid rich kid who uses his money to maneuver things.
"But, ma'am, I had been living there first. Surely, this has to be against policy."
"I apologize, ma'am, but the hotel owner requested the room for his personal use."
"And who is this owner per se?"
"I can't tell you that. Here are the details of another hotel. The owner did, however, say that if you wanted the room, you may share it with him."
"Ridiculous!"
"Ridiculous indeed for you to allow my brother to misplace one of our customers," a man said from across the reception. "Excuse me, ma'am, I have a room for you. Compliments of the hotel."
Where do these strange men keep appearing from? And since when did Adam have a brother...
"No, thank you, sir. I think I'll do well on my own. Besides, your brother is already a pain. I would hate having to live in the same building as him."
"Pity, he's not really my biological brother. Just half. Our father had plenty of lovers."
"I think that you and your brother have a boundary problem. You barely know me, yet here you are telling me about your family history."
"My apologies. The room offer still stands, though. I have to get going."
He took the stairs to whatever place he needed to be, and I took the spare key to my old room and found that Adam had indeed poached my place.
"You have nowhere to go," he said, sitting up. "My house is way better than this."
"Then why'd you steal it from me?"
He walked towards me, tossing the keys in front of me.
"I gave you an option. And you didn't pull through."
"Twenty-four hours haven't even gone by yet."
"I grew impatient."
"I—"
Before I could respond, there was a knock on the door and then a key card sound. The man I met earlier, Mr. Half Brother, was now in the room with us, and he seemed more annoyed than I was. He was taller than Adam and looked older. They did, however, smell the same. Privilege maniacs must be a trending perfume flavor among the rich.
"What do you want this time, Adam?"
"Is that how you greet your younger brother?"
Whatever it was that they were brewing did not smell sweet at all.
I tried to sneak away, but Adam pulled me into his arms, holding my waist as tight as it ever has and ever will be. I was now trapped in the arms of my boss and stuck in a room filled with anger and mystique. I wouldn't have asked for a more relaxing afternoon.
"How about I give you two some space?" I asked, trying to get Adam's arm off me.
"No," they both said...
What have I gotten myself into?
"Stay," his brother said. "I haven't seen my brother in a while and just wanted to talk."
"No need for me then," I replied, trying to pull myself away, but each time, Adam tightened his grip.
It was all fun and games until Adam and I were standing at gunpoint.