"Come in!"
Nora walked into my room with a tray. A bottle of gin and a glass cup were on it. "How was your day with Lexa, sir?"
Nora knew me too well. That was the reason she was still there. "You could say it was… interesting."
"What do you think Lexa feels about you, sir?"
I poured the gin into a cup and gulped it in a single swallow. "If she's the girl I met 547 years ago, I'm sure she feels me."
"You're method of persuading her is very unlike you, sir."
I took another gulp of gin. "Yes, you're right but Alexa is very valuable to me. I don't want to lose her again."
Lexa's POV
I managed to escape mum once but this necklace is not safe anywhere. We have a very small house so hiding something this sparkly is a challenge.
I searched for the perfect hiding spot, also thinking of where I could conceal it. Keeping this was trouble but this was the least I could do for Elliot. He really did a lot for me.
I wondered why he did these. When I asked him, he never gave me a proper reply. Something was definitely fishy about him. I'd love to find out because I, Lexa, cannot resist adventure.
Elliot was like an adventure story just waiting to be opened.
I continued thinking of a reasonable hiding spot when an idea came in. I locked the door for safety and picked the necklace from my bag.
I bent and looked for the displaced tile. Where are you? I felt a shaky tile and removed it with ease. This tile always gave me problems but it was the perfect solution. Under the tile was a box-like compartment.
It was the perfect hiding spot. Not even Elliot could imagine it in there. I quickly placed it inside and sealed the tile in.
"Problem solved," I said to myself.
Thinking was difficult but I appreciate it. It's like a workout for the brain. It isn't shocking that I'm such a great student at math.
My heart skipped a bit when I heard a loud thump from the direction of the living room. I unlocked the door and rushed to the living room. I panicked when I saw my mum in the terrible condition she was in.
"Mum! Kim! Are you okay?"
My legs didn't want to move but I forced them to. I knelt before my mother and tried to get her to wake. I felt for a pulse… it was thankfully still there but I didn't know how long it would stay.
I needed help. I couldn't do this alone. "Mum, please wake up!"
She didn't wake. I tried my best but I felt so helpless. I hated this feeling. It made me weak and vulnerable. I hated it!
I mustered all the courage in me. This was for my mum. I'd do anything for her. I'd never let her go. Never.
***
My palms were on my face, my butt was on a cold bench, my head was on pure air and my legs were numb.
I got her to the hospital while she still breathed. I've never been so active and brave before. It wasn't easy for me but I got the help of a neighbor I didn't even know I had. He was a life saver. I didn't know what I'd have done without him.
"She'll be fine. Be glad we brought her on time."
I almost forgot he was still beside me. "I don't know how to thank you. You're an angel. If you weren't there maybe she would have…"
He placed his hand on my shoulder. "It's okay. We brought her to the hospital and everything will be okay from here on."
There was much tension when I first met him. I didn't even know his name. I was so well mannered that I dared to introduce myself to him. "I'm Lexa… Lexa Halton."
I extended my hand for a shake. "Liam Javeline. It's an honor to meet you."
Liam was such a gentleman. He had dirty blonde hair, flashy brown eyes and the smile of a prince.
"The pleasure is mine." It was wonderful that someone could make me smile at the time. Truly wonderful. Footsteps got louder. We stood up as soon as we sighted the doctor. "Is my mum alright?"
He gave Liam a short faint smile before facing me. "She's fine. As you know she's a cancer patient and she doesn't have much time left. Things like this can happen at anytime and anywhere. Someone must always watch over her. You can't be there every time so the right thing to do is to admit her into the hospital. It will guarantee her a longer span of time. Also, this would have worsened her case if you didn't arrive on time. When this emergency comes and you can't reach the hospital on time, I'm not sure if she will live to see another day. For your mother's utmost safety, admit her into the hospital, Miss Halton."
I never knew it would come to that. There was nothing I could do. I kept to my words for keeping her alive for as long as I could.
I turned to Liam. "You've been a great help. I can't thank you enough. You must be busy with other things. I don't want to stop you."
He understood. "Take care of your mother. We'll meet again, Alexa."
Alexa? I wanted to turn and call him back but… he was gone. Was it scary that I truly believed he was an angel? Liam Javeline, mm.
"I will show you your mother's ward. She's in ward number 45. Afterwards, we'll go to my office to take care of the bills and paperwork."
I nodded as he led me to ward number 45. We reached the ward. "I will return. This is the ward."
He left me at the door. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I held the handle of the door squeezing with all my anger.
I dried my tears. "I wish it was me instead of my mum."
I entered the ward. It was like any other hospital ward I saw in the movies. The last time I remembered visiting a hospital was when I was thirteen. I didn't actually visit it. I was a patient. The accident that killed my family, spared only me.
I was in a terrible condition. I barely remembered any of my siblings' faces but I can't forget my parents' faces. When I entered the evil world, I realized that my parents were the nicest people I've ever met.
I was the youngest so they over-pampered me. My siblings weren't happy about it but I knew ways of avoiding them.
"Please clean your tears, dear."
I did so and sat beside her, holding her hand. A drip was attached to her, she wore hospital clothes and her hair had thinned than the last time I saw it.
"You look beautiful." She looked away and tried to stop the tears. "You're crying and you tell me to clean my tears." We ended up crying in each other arms. We were emotional fools so… none of us could stop the other. "The house will be incomplete without you."
"I'm not dead so far."
"You have to stay in the hospital. It's the best thing to do."
My mum sat up and pointed to the ceiling. "I thought it was over until I saw an angel. He had golden long hair, he told me to hold unto my life. He said so many nice things. Without him I may have never survived."
I rested closer to her and brushed her hair. "I also saw an angel, mum. He was the nicest thing I know than my parents."
Darkness cloaked my eyes as I yawned and slept.
I shook my eyes open a minute later and looked out the window, everywhere was dark. I stood up from the bed and rested her on it well. I planned to stay with her through the night but I'd never make it to work early if I do so.
I kissed her forehead and walked out of the room.
I left for the doctor's office before heading home. My no-mum home.
***
"Good morning Miss Halton." Were we that familiar with each other that he already knew my name?
"Won't you scan me?"
"I have been updated. I am an improved version and I have face recognition and wide memory span."
"Your last version didn't talk so much. Please, let me in."
"As you wish, Miss Halton."
The gate opened. I smiled and gave the bot a pat before heading for the maid quarters. I was sure I saw the bot smile. Elliot can be unpredictable.
Normally, I would never see a single flower but my eyes brightened and widened when I saw what I saw.
The vast empty land I persuaded Elliot to get a jasmine garden in was full of jasmines. It was unbelievable. I never knew he was serious. Moreover, how could he do it in the matter of 20 hours?
My mind blew.
I went towards the garden and picked a jasmine. It smelt wonderful. I never knew where my love for jasmines came from. None of my family members loved them, they either liked roses or daises.
I knew I was different. I was also different from everyone in school. I never fit into a group. I was among a cool set of girls because I dressed well and I was beautiful but… I never felt like I fit in. I never did.
I didn't try but I got a lot of attention from school. It was either because of my voice, my hair, my face or my attractive body but never because of who I really was. If I showed my inner self, I wasn't sure they'd like me.
It was just a few years of high school. I had to survive it.
I kept it in my bag and hurried into the maids' quarters.
It was a lovely surprise that I saw Wendy first. "Hi Wendy!" I said from a distance as I walked to her.
"Hey. Ana called sick."
"She isn't here?" Wendy shook her head. "That's a bummer. I hope she's okay."
"It's a cold."
I opened my locker and and got my utensils out. "Have you seen Nora today?"
"No, but she should be around."
"Nora called me yesterday. She said sir would have a meeting in his room by ten so she put me in charge of Elliot's study room."
Who puts a meeting in his room? Elliot is very unpredictable.
"Sir, is more appropriate. Don't draw attention to yourself."
"Right, sir."
I waved her goodbye and went to the study room.
Elliot's POV
It was ten. I got a message the day before. It was not about business since that's the only reason I get messages. I wondered how the person got my number.
Whoever it was, I could deal with him. I sat with my desktop and looked at the message once more.
'Call for a meeting in your room by ten. Take it seriously because if you don't, we'll take someone you love dearly. We'll take her either way. Be there.'
Whoever messed with me, messed with their life. Whoever messed with Alexa, mess with their life, body and soul and whatever is left of it.
He was doing it in two ways. I'd make sure he'd regret it for the rest of his life, except that he wouldn't be alive to regret it.
The door knocked. Was it him? I wasn't afraid but I was angry. If not for anything, I would kill him for threatening the devil.
I opened the door and found no one in my front. The person who did this had some guts because they didn't know who they were dealing with. It couldn't be any of my employees because the old generation always instilled fear into the new generation of employees. It was a cycle.