He could not work. He kept staring at her, hoping she was okay. She had not moved at all since she was put in that bed. Brandon knew she should be awake by then. It was already four in the morning. He could not sleep. He stood up and walked to her. Standing by the bedside, he studied her pretty face. She looked so beautiful even when her eyes were shut and she was unconscious. He felt the urge to hold her hand, but he was quite good at controlling his desires and emotions. He turned and went to the window and looked toward the city which was always active, no matter the time.
"I am sorry, Ms. Claire. It is all my fault. I was complacent on the dangers she would bring to those around me, especially you. I forgot how much damage she could do. You see, Ms. Claire, I found love, or I thought I did, in her. She was always there, by my side, in my arms. Her arm wrapped in mine. But she had other plans. And she broke my heart. That was three years ago. I found my comfort in alcohol. I almost died, and I have a trembling hand as a reminder of it, every day. Then she left in a big mess around five months ago and I did not hear from her since. I was only twenty-two then. It was naive love. But now, she is back." Brandon said to Natasha, though he was telling himself as he knew that Natasha was still unconscious. He did not notice her right-hand middle-finger move slightly. "I have put you in danger. Just by liking you, I have put you in danger. And I do not know why, but I do like you, Ms. Claire. And I should not like you. I can't. Things such as love and emotions, were not destined for people like me." He sighed and walked back to her bed. He looked at her as she slept peacefully. "As soon as you wake up, I shall let you go." He said in finality.
He went back to the couch and continued to work on his laptop. He worked until dawn. At around six in the morning. He took out his phone and dialed a number.
"Ms. Ryan…" He called out calmly to the person at the end of the line while rubbing his temple.
"Yes, who is this?" Came the sleepy reply.
"I am sure my assistant updated you on what happened to your best friend yesterday as he took you home. The same assistant will pick you up at seven to bring you to the hospital. Bring something to wear and to eat for her. Get ready."
"But I have to work, Sir."
"I'll sort it out." Brandon said and hang up.
Sasha was confused then she gathered her thoughts and snapped out of her sleep and began to get ready. 'But how did he get my number!' She thought to herself as she rushed to get ready. Somehow, she knew that this man did not appreciate tardiness. By seven, a BMW was parked out of the apartment she was staying at and the man driving it was leaning on the front waiting for her patiently. She paused when she saw him. He was really handsome with his well-trimmed short hair and beard. He was dressed in an all-black suit, white shirt and navy blue tie. He had shades on and so she could not see him clearly. As soon as he saw her, he smiled and slowly walked to the passenger seat and opened it for, stretching out his hand to help her in.
"Ms. Ryan…" He called her softly ushering her into the front seat.
"Please, call me Sasha Mr. …." Sasha replied as she settled into her seat and buckled her beat. She watched him go round and settle in the driver's seat.
"Watson. Just Watson. Watson Paul. But call me Watson." He smiled back at her and started the car and drove off. The ride was quiet with Sasha constantly stealing glances at the man next to her. She was breath taken. After ten minutes, they had arrived at the hospital. She was surprised to see that her best friend was taken to the best, most-expensive private hospital in the country. She did not hide her surprise and she looked at the man who was waiting for her to get out of the car after he had opened it.
"Ms. Ryan." He called out softly to her.
"Sasha!" Sasha corrected sternly as she got out of the car and followed Watson as he led the way to the ward. The hospital was very classy and she could not help but admire it all the more. When they got to the elevator, she saw Watson press the tenth floor and was even more astounded. "Isn't that the VIP floor?" She asked Watson, almost in a whisper. He did answer but took off his shades and smiled at her. His eyes as deep as they could then he looked forward after watching her blush. They got off at the tenth floor and headed to the room at the very end of the corridor.
Immediately she got into the room, she noticed her best friend unconscious on the bed and dropped the bag in her hand and rushed to her side. She did not notice the man seated at the couch behind her.
"Boss, Ms. Sasha Ryan." Watson introduced Sasha who was startled at what he said and turned to look at Watson but she met with an indifferent face looking at her. She got off the bed and walked toward him wiping away the tears that were beginning to swell up in her eyes.
"Mr. Joseph," She began as she took a deep breath to ensure she remained composed, "Thank you for saving her." She said as she gave a slight bow out of respect. Brandon softened up his expression and nodded in return. He tried to bring out a smile. She could see that he was tired from his red eyes. He had not slept. Even Watson could see that. "Please go on and rest. I shall take it up from here. Thank you so much." She said as she turned and walked to her friend.
"You have the whole day off." Brandon said as he stood up and shut his laptop and paused to look at Natasha before he walked out. Sasha looked back in shock to the man who just uttered the last words in the room but only met with Watson's eyes, who smiled and left. Sasha was still confused and looking at the door that she did not notice her best friend blink twice before opening her eyes. She just felt a warm hand touch her hand and she immediately turned to look at Natasha.
"Tasha!" She called out in joy. She then rushed out to get the attending nurse in that floor. In a few minutes, Simon was in the ward getting out the breathing tube from Natasha's mouth.
"You gave us quite a scare Ms. Claire." He said as he watched the vitals on her ECG monitor. "Nothing out of the ordinary. You may get occasional headaches, those will be normal, but if they persist beyond the normal, don't hesitate to contact me." Simon said smiling at her then turned and left. Sasha was shocked beyond words.
"Is that the famous Dr. Simon Peter!" She exclaimed at her friend as soon as Simon left. Natasha nodded as she tried to sit up. Sasha opened her eyes wider in shock then realized her friend and rushed to help her seat up. "You hungry?" She asked still surprised, to which Natasha nodded. Sasha then put a pillow at Natasha's back and headed to where she had dropped her bag. She hoped the fruits she had prepared for her had not spilled all over in her bag. She took out a dish filled with fruit pudding and a bottle of warm milk and pulled the feeding table over to Natasha's chest.
As soon as Simon stepped out of the ward, he dialed Brandon's number. Brandon who was seated at the back-left seat of the car rubbed his aching temple before picking up the call. Simon repeated the same words he had said in the ward earlier to Brandon.
"Brilliant!" Brandon replied in between a smile and a sigh.
"But… Bran, I cannot say for sure how badly her headaches may go. So someone need to really watch her. Because if she gets them and suddenly feels dizzy, she may pass out while in a very dangerous position. You understand?" Simon added.
"Yes." Brandon's smile disappeared and he looked at Watson who was stealing glances at him via the rear mirror. "When can she go home?" Brandon asked.
"Even today evening is okay. But, if she has no one…"
"I understand." Brandon answered and hang up. "Who does Ms. Ryan stay with?"
"She stays with her sick mother." Watson answered. They drove in to The Palace and Brandon headed to his room and fell asleep as soon as he hit the bed. Watson remained downstairs to finish the work of the day, any that his boss had not completed or that was pending.
At the hospital, the girls were catching up. Natasha asked what had happened and Sasha explained everything as she was told by Watson. "Tasha, sweetie, I think he likes you more than both of you care to admit. He saved your life, he stayed up all night to watch over you and only left as soon as I came in. He got me from my house. And he even ensured that he had gotten me from the club all the way home, safe and sound yesterday night. You should have seen him. His eyes were so tired. I doubt he slept at all." Sasha spoke her mind to her friend.
"Yeah, I know." Natasha answered which sent Sasha in to a shock spiral. "I heard him talk to himself yesterday night or today morning- I am not sure. He was apologizing and in between he confessed so. He also said several things which I do not remember because I was slipping in and out of consciousness."
"And you Tasha, do you feel the same way?"
"I don't know." She answered with a sad face.
"Why did William try to harm you?" Sasha asked suddenly, changing the topic.
"I don't know. But when I do, I will strangle him with my own hands!"