"What?!" I couldn't believe it, but it was clear as day. Jackson was a murder suspect. Also, the councilwoman's husband was missing too.
"Oh Ethan, he didn't do this." I quickly start to defend Jackson.
He holds his hands up in surrender, "I'm not saying he did. I just remembered that one of the articles mentioned his name and company. When you confirmed it, I knew you needed to know."
"I feel like I'm in a nightmare right now." I look back down at the phone, which starts to ring. I hand it back to Ethan who answers it.
Could Jackson have murdered a woman and her husband? He was angry the last time I spoke to him. What if this was all my fault?! What if he lost his cool because of me and ...
I'm pacing, shaking my hands, trying to stay calm as my heart starts racing and I feel like something is very wrong. I feel like the walls around me are shrinking and I won't be able to breathe. I feel like I can't fill my lungs with air, I keep trying to breathe and I can't. I'm growing dizzy as I clutch the staircase banister, trying to make my way upstairs where I should be able to breathe. My body feels weak and I'm not sure I am going to make it up the stairs.
"I'm sorry, Martin but I've got a bit of an emergency right now. Have someone cover me! I've got to go!" I hear Ethan's shout as I my vision flashes before it goes black and my head can't stay upright.
I know I'm going to fall and I'm on the stairs, but my body is not listening to me to stay up.
Confused, I feel strong arms wrapped around me and hear the heavy breathing of a chest next to me. My eyes flutter open and I'm surprised to see I'm on the stairs. Then the feeling of falling comes rushing back to me and I struggle to grip the staircase.
"Mel! I've got you!"
I look up to see Ethan who's sitting on the stairs, holding me. He's breathing hard and concern fills his eyes but so does relief.
"What..?" I go to sit up and Ethan lets me gently. I take a deep breath and try to remember what happened.
"You looked pale and I saw your eyes flutter into your head. I didn't think I'd make it before you fell. I've never run so fast in my life, Mel. " Ethan looks me over as I begin to shake and feel cold.
"Mel? What's wrong?" Ethan asks noticing my shaking.
"Help me to my bed please." It takes more strength than it should but I raise my arm to have Ethan help me up and into my room. He carries me once we're off the stairs and places me in my bed even though I protested to him carrying me.
"Do I need to call an ambulance for you?" Ethan's brows are pinched high as he looks me over.
I shake my head, "No, I think I had an anxiety attack."
"An anxiety attack?! That looked like a seizure, Mel." Ethan crosses his arms in front of him and I nod to his assumption.
"I had a type of seizure from the attack. I'm okay. Please don't call an ambulance." I plead.
Ethan chews on the inside of his cheek, a habit he's had that shows he anxious himself.
"This is not okay, Mel. Why would you have a seizure?" He takes a seat on the edge of the bed and covers my tired shaking body with the top blanket.
"It happens sometimes. It's been a while since I've had one, but I will be okay. I promise." I smile weakly at him.
"Well, I'm staying here until I know for sure you are. I don't feel comfortable with you going up and down the stairs right now." Ethan says firmly.
"What about your business dinner ?" I ask recalling that was why we had rescheduled our dinner.
"That was Martin on the phone call. I told him I had an emergency and get someone to replace me." He pauses at my shaky hand reaching out to place a hand on his arm. "Don't worry, I'll explain it to him later. He'll understand. It's not like I was detrimental to this meeting."
"I can't help but feel guilty. I've interfered with your job."
I pull my hand back but Ethan takes it and pats it, "Don't feel guilty, Mel. It's not that big of a deal. Do you need some water or food?" He asks setting my hand down.
I nod, "I need both, but I'm not sure what I have to eat that's ready or easy to make downstairs."
Ethan chuckles, "You know, I've learned how to cook since college."
"Oh you have?" I ask, smiling.
"Yes. Let me go see what I can razzle dazzle your palate with." He grins and heads downstairs. I lean back and pull out my phone. I start looking up the articles on the murder of the council woman and what other information is available. I did find the article mentioning Jackson's company and then naming him.
Tears start flowing again, because here I was thinking he was just being a proud ass when he was actually detained in a foreign country for murder. I start to worry about how he's holding up. I would have thought he'd have his lawyer get a message to me or something. I guess he's been more concerned on keeping his freedom though. Still it was upsetting that there was nothing new to be found.
It doesn't take long before Ethan is back with two glasses of water on a tray with two plates of scrambled eggs and toast with some leftover roasted potatoes and peppers I had.
I lift up my gaze to him and chuckle, "Oh! I'm razzle dazzled for sure."
Ethan just cracks a smile, "I told you I would." He takes one of the plates and lifts it up, "Bon apatite."
I smirk and go ahead and start eating. I eat what's been given me, it all being edible, if a bit bland compared to the potatoes but overall it was not bad.
Once finished, I set the plate down and Ethan's eyes twinkle at me. "It needed some salt." Ethan grins, finishing his toast.
I try to suppress the giggle that wants to bubble up, but it just comes out as a snort. I cover my face with my hand to smother the rest of the giggle but I can't help it as Ethan grins sheepishly.
"Oh Ethan, how in the world have you not learned to use spices in your cooking?" I giggle some more.
He shrugs, "Hey I learned how to follow a recipe and if the recipe calls for it, I use it. Scrambled eggs don't have a recipe."
"Well other than the lack of salt, it tasted fine. Thank you, Ethan." I reassure him. My body still felt weak but now I knew I wouldn't faint from my blood sugar dropping.
Ethan picks up the dishes and informs me, "I'll go clean up my mess."
"I think I will take a quick shower." I move to get up and Ethan is quick to set the tray of dishes down.
"Do you need help?"
I hold my hand up, "I'm good enough to shower myself, thank you."
"Okay. I just meant to turn the water on and help you to the bathroom. I know better than to help you shower." His cheeks and ears turn red as he picks the tray back up and heads downstairs.
I get up and close the door, picked out some clothes to wear and took a quick shower. When I finished I didn't have the strength to dry my hair, so I left it down to air dry. I had dressed in some comfortable slacks and loose blouse before I came out of the bathroom.
I go and open my bedroom door and shakily made my way down stairs. This was the part I hated the most about my anxiety attacks, the vulnerable weakness afterwards. Ethan's whistling a tune while washing the pan, as I stepped into the kitchen. His whistle turns into a hum, before he breaks out in the chorus.
"Never gonna give you up. Never gonna let you down, never gonna run around and desert you."
"Really? Rick rolling my dishes?" I state as a joke.
Ethan starts and turns, "Shit, Mel. You snuck up on me like a ninja." He clears his throat and pats his chest, his eyes wide as he glances at me and then back to the dishes.
"Sorry." I suppress my smile, "Thank you for doing the dishes and cleaning up."
He shrugs again, "No need to thank me. I made the mess." He grabs the hand towel and begins drying the pan, turning to look me over. "So you're really okay now?" He steps closer and opens up the cabinet to place the pan away.
"I told you I would be." I shrug as my phone starts ringing. I pull it out of my pocket and see it's Eric.
I hold up my finger to my mouth and answer the phone. "Mr. Dornell." I take a seat at the kitchen bar.
"Ms. Xenos. I wanted to call and let you know, no one on the board is displeased with you. You did the best you could to provide evidence that something wasn't right and that all of it pointed towards Ms. Gray. The company is still going to do an investigation, especially since she's now switching to Morgan Corporation. Do you know why they would hire her? I thought Jackson didn't even want to be in the same room as her, let alone have her working for him?"
"I don't sir. I thought the same thing. So I'm guessing he doesn't even know that she's been hired, since he's been busy out of the country."
Eric sighs, "Yes. I saw the most recent update on the case. I can't believe what some of these news outlets are saying. A secret affair and murder? While the husband is still missing? Do you know if his lawyers have a plan of defense?"
My heart aches, 'a secret affair and murder'?
I clear my throat and tell Eric, "I'm sorry but I don't know what their plan is. I'm sure they'll prove his innocence in no time. Then all these news outlets will be eating their words, not like they care if it's the truth or not." I mumble the last bit.
"Well, I wanted to call and let you know. I knew you needed to cool down after that meeting and I'm sure you're concerned for Mr. Morgan as well. I'll let you go to try and relax for the evening Ms. Xenos."
"Thank you Mr. Dornell." We hang up and I set the phone down. I place my face in my hands and just try to take a few calming breaths. I was more than concerned for Jackson. I was terrified. I don't think he would kill someone, especially since he was trying to do business there. I try to remember to breathe and stay calm, but I had wanted to hear Jacksons voice so badly the past few days. Now, who knew if I ever would again?