Not even in her wildest dreams did Kaya think that she would be in a position like this. The terrified and worried expression on the nurse's face when Kaya ordered her, was all too familiar for Kaya. Just earlier today she was in the nurse's shoes, scared of a rich person, she even lost her job for a rich girl, and now?
Now she was going to marry Sylvan Park. As soon as Kaya entered the name on the internet search, her phone screen filled with articles, photos, and magazine cover photos of him, Kaya's mouth fell open. She expected him to be rich but was rich-rich, like generations of wealth types of rich.
As the nurse brought some ice packs and started pressing down Kaya's side, Kaya leaned back and started scrolling through the articles.
Sylvan Park, the CEO of the Blossom Industry. The face, voice, and brain of the biggest company in the country. From Interior Design, Hotels, and Resorts to Fashion, Music, and Movies, the Blossom brand was everywhere. Sylvan himself was the brand not just the owner of it. Every magazine gushed over how amazing he looked at a recent red carpet event or a resort opening in Switzerland, or just a regular press conference. Every picture of him was worthy of magazine covers. Sylvan was one of the most desirable bachelors, said one celebrity show, and one of the youngest CEO, pointed out a magazine.
More and more information and photos of Sylvan flooded Kaya's screen and she felt her stomach dropping. Judging by the photos, Kaya realized how much people cared about Sylvan's life, which meant she had to keep up her appearance far more than she thought. For a moment, Kaya let herself imagine standing in front of the whole world as his bride. And it scared the hell out of Kaya, how was she supposed to do this? Convincing a nurse who wouldn't ask questions, was fine, but how would she convince a hoard of reporters, while the world watches them? Not to mention, Sylvan's family.
Kaya tapped into an article about Sylvan's family. The Blossom company was founded by Sylvan's grandparents and after them, Sylvan's father and Uncle took over, the next was Sylvan, who was handling the company when he came back after studying abroad five years ago.
Kaya was about to go into more detail about the family when the nurse finished whatever she was doing and stood up.
"It's done, Ma'am," the nurse bowed. "But I would still suggest the tests."
"Yeah, thanks. I will do that later," Kaya stood up, adjusting her top.
"Ma'am, I would also suggest a bit of rest and —" The nurse said worriedly seeing Kaya stand up.
But Kaya gave her a small smile ignoring the dull pain on her waist.
"I'm fine really."
Before the nurse could say anything else Kaya walked out and looked around the hallway for Sylvan, until her eyes found him. Sylvan Park was standing looking outside a wall-length glass window.
Even seeing him from afar, Kaya's breath hitched. The setting sun threw a long orange shade on his side, and he looked picturesque. Kaya's mind wandered back to the pictures she saw on the internet. How he looked beautiful in every one of them without a miss. Maybe it wasn't the cameras, but him.
"Did he look gorgeous all the time?" Kaya muttered under her breath before approaching him.
Hearing her footsteps stopping near him, Sylvan glanced at Kaya.
"How are you now?"
"That was unnecessary," Kaya said bluntly.
"On the contrary, I believed your injury needed to be checked," Sylvan stated with his casual attitude. "No matter how small they are, they could easily leave a mark in the future."
"Not the injury — though I think it that was unnecessary too. I was talking about you throwing me in that situation in front of the nurse," Kaya crossed her arms in front of her. "You are lucky she didn't ask many questions."
"Luck has nothing to do with this. I knew she wasn't going to interrogate you. The worst she would have done was to ask or say something stupid in her excitement," Sylvan lowered his voice looking at Kaya. "Am I wrong?"
Kaya didn't want to answer, so she just scowled looking away from him, which amused Sylvan.
"Anyway, your mother's surgery just ended. They are moving her up here in a suite. You can see her after she is settled."
Kaya's head snapped back to Sylvan as he gestured at a suite a little farther from them.
"Ma is — how — why didn't the doctors call me? Is she ok? The doctors said it can take a few hours," Kaya's eyes became frantic and she started shaking. "Where is she now? I need to see her."
Kaya was about to run when Sylvan caught hold of her arm. Surprised Kaya looked back at him, she froze as her eyes met his. His eyes looked equally surprised seeing her like that. But as soon as he realized she was shaking and his eyes changed to worry.
"Look at me, Kaya," Sylvan said trying to sound very calm. "Your mother is fine. I already asked the best doctors to treat her. She was operated on by one of the best surgeons today. You can see her very soon. They will bring her here any minute now. Take a deep breath. It's ok. Your mother is ok"
A familiar feeling washed over Kaya and she found herself listening to Sylvan and taking deep breaths with him. Slowly their breaths synced and Kaya stopped shaking. They held each other's gaze a bit too long, probably wondering the same thing.
Suddenly, Sylvan let her arm go, and Kaya blinked awkwardly and quickly looked away from him. Clearing her throat Kaya stepped back and processed what Sylvan just told her.
"Mr. Park, when did —"
"Call me by my name," Sylvan said interrupting Kaya. "If we are to pretend we are in love, we need to get used to each other's names."
"Ah, right," Kaya nodded and was about to ask when he got time to order everything for her mother, but then decided against it. "I was just trying to thank you."
"You're welcome," Sylvan answered very formally and didn't meet Kaya's eyes again. He looked past her as he spoke. "After you meet your mother. I would like you to meet the most important member of our family. My grandmother. It's important that we meet her today."
"Today? Your Grandmother?" Kaya looked at the evening sky through the glass wall behind Sylvan. Kaya was already worried about breaking her marriage news to her mother, but now she also had to meet Sylvan's grandmother today? Kaya opened her mouth and then closed it. He already did his part of the bargain, shouldn't she do the same? "Where are we meeting her?"
"Just thirty-seven steps away from here," Sylvan said with bitterness in his voice.
"Just thirty-seven steps?" Kaya's eyes widened in shock. "You called your grandmother here?"
"No, she is already here," Sylvan answered solemnly. "In a suite."
"In a suite? Why? Is she not ok?" Kaya asked concerned.
Sylvan finally looked at her to see the genuineness on her face. The fact that she already cared about his grandmother, made Sylvan a bit warm inside, though he didn't show it.
"She is the reason I have to do this," Sylvan said shortly before looking around. Even though the top floor wasn't flooding with staff and patients, there were still many people. "I will elaborate when we are alone. For now, know that I can handle other small tiny mishaps but with her, we have to be very careful and convincing. Especially you."
The seriousness in Sylvan's voice made Kaya worried.
"Ok," she nodded.
"Also, after you finish talking to your mother, meet me at the lounge, I have — here, they are bringing your mother." Sylvan broke off mid-sentence and tilted his head back, Kaya instantly followed his gaze.
Indeed, the hospital staff and nurses were rolling Kaya's mom into a suite. Without waiting, Kaya ran after them.
"How is my mother doing?" Kaya asked a nurse as Kaya's mother was still unconscious.
"For now, she seems out of danger, but we need to observe her overnight to be sure if the surgery went well," the nurse replied as they whisked Kaya's mom inside the suite.
After hesitating for just a few seconds, Kaya walked in after them and watched as they put down her mother carefully and then attached the needles and machine to her.
"When will she wake up?"
"Maybe in an hour," another nurse responded.
Kaya didn't say anything else, she watched them quietly in a corner of the lavish suite. After a few more minutes, everyone filled out and Kaya sat down beside her unconscious mother.
"Please be ok, Ma. Or else, everything I agreed to do would be in vain. Please just be ok." Kaya murmured lightly holding her mom's hands.
As Kaya kept mumbling things to her mother, Sylvan stood in the doorway, watching her.
"Why do I feel like I already know you?" He whispered.