Paxton’s POV
“ARE YOU FUCKING CRAZY?!!!” Charlie yelled when I told him about mine and Janet’s confrontation.
I frowned, “What do you mean?”
“I wouldn’t have done that if I were you,” I still gave him a baffled look. He huffed, “Paxton, the prey herself came to you, and you let her go?” A smile captured my lips when I understood his meaning. He smirked, “Call her back and make her work like a slave!”
My smile vanished, “I don’t think she’d come back now! I mean, after how I fired her? I don’t think anyone would think of coming back!”
“Dear, Paxton! You don’t know her. Janet was desperate for a job and this one was no less than a dream job for her. So, if you call her back yourself? She would take the offer with open arms!”
“You don’t understand, Charlie! I kicked her out with no politeness at all!” I looked away, “Hell if she’s ever coming back,” He opened his mouth to say something but couldn’t when someone dashed inside my cabin and got our heads on him.
“Mr. Grey?” He called, more like releasing the breath he was holding. I slightly frowned, “Is everything OK, Mr. Stanley?” The amount of fear on his face worried me. He opened his mouth to reply but was cut off by Charlie.
“I hope that you’re familiar with the word knocking, Mr. Stanley?” He smiled, not kindly, “Being my uncle’s bodyguard doesn’t give you any right to barge into his cabin this way!!”
He quickly bowed to us, “My sincere apologies for that, Sir. But, Mr. Grey has been taken to the hospital!”
“What?” Both Charlie and I exclaimed, got up on our feet and rushed towards the door, “What happened to him?”
He said, “He had a heart attack!” My body froze and eyes widened. I felt like my soul had left my body, “He wants to see you right away, Sir!”
“Where has he been taken?” I inquired, my body shaking already. As soon as he told me the hospital’s name, I rushed to it and reached it within seconds.
I earnestly stepped out of my Bugatti, and breathlessly ran inside the enormous hospital, stopping at the receptionist. “Mr. Liam Grey!” She looked at me and nodded before looking through her computer. I gulped, my body trembling and sweating. The fear of losing him was scaring me to the core. “Hurry up, please!” I begged, tapping my fist on the counter.
“Your relation with him?” She asked. I clenched my jaw, “I’m his son!!”
“Oh? Alright, uhm, he’s in the operating room. Second floor!” As soon as she told me where he was, I ran to him like hell.
I jerked the door open and released a long breath of relief as I found him sitting on the bed with a tube attached to his forearms. Dad looked at me and smiled, his eyes heavy and weak. I licked my lips and made my way towards him, taking my seat on the edge of his bed.
“You okay, Dad?” I asked, taking his hand in mine. He smiled again, “I’m fine, my son”. I half smiled and hugged him, “Oh, my boy! I’m absolutely fine!” I inhaled deeply, controlling my tears back from escaping my eyes, “I can’t tell how happy I am to see you fine,” I tightened my grip around, “I was so scared!”
“Oh, Paxton,” Braking the hug, he looked into my eyes and added, “I am perfect; you’re unnecessarily worrying, my son!” I opened my mouth, but before I couldn’t when Charlie dashed in and released an audible breath of relief.
“You scared the hell out of us, you nag!” He scolded him amusingly and stood next to me, putting his hands on either sides of his waist, “What happened, huh?”
“Are you really not informed that I had a heart attack?” He asked him. Charlie rolled his eyes, resting his hands down. “I mean, how did you have this heart attack?”
“I don’t know, maybe stress!” He shrugged, “But it’s also possible that I’m aging!”
Charlie chuckled, “C’mon, uncle! You’ve been taking away my dates for years and saying that you’re aging! Ha-ha, my ass!” I laughed, shaking my head.
Charlie is telling a truth. Dad has indeed taken away our many dates because he’s my father, but nobody can say that because he ages like fine wine. He’s still flawless and looks younger than his actual age. In fact, 9 years ago, when we were in our college years, he used to look more handsome than now. All our girls used to hit on him because he was not just a guy with a handsome face and a well-maintained personality, but was wealthy and single as well.
“Maybe I could tell why he had the attack!” A voice chimed from my back and got my head on it. He smiled at me as I got up on my feet after seeing the white coat on him, “I’m Dr. Watson!” I shook my hand with him as I replied, “Paxton Grey!”
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Grey!”
“It’s nice to meet you too,” I withdrew my hand and asked, “You were saying something?”
“Yes, but before that I’d like to see your father’s monthly health check reports!”
“Sure, just give me a moment!” I pulled out my cell and was about to call home but before I could, Dad stopped me.
“Leave it, Paxton,” he said, “You won’t get the reports!”
“Why?” Asked Charlie before me. He replied, “Because I haven’t been to hospital for months!” That stunned me.
“What?” I couldn’t believe it, “But you told me you were going for checkups on a regular basis!!” I yelled, glaring at him. He remained quiet, looking down at his lap with a guilty face. I snorted and looked at the doctor, “I’m sorry, I should have been more attentive to him!”
“Well, you better should because I’ve learned that your father doesn’t just skip his health checkup but skips his meal and refuses to take medicines as well!” I looked at my Dad in disbelief. Not believing that he could be this careless. He remained unresponsive, his face screaming how guilty he was. “My profession is to care for my patients and make sure that they’re fine, Mr. Grey. But as we don’t have much age difference, I’d like to give you a friendly advice!” When I nodded at him he said, “Better pay attention to your father before it’s too late!”
“My apologies for the interruption, but Paxton does pay attention to his father, Doctor!” Said Charlie, “So, I suggest you not give him such advice! And uncle, you! How could you do this, huh?” He scolded Dad, “Because of your carelessness, your son is being accused of being a bad son!”
“Charlie!” I scolded him. He scoffed, looking away. Sometimes, his such behavior makes me wonder if he’s really straight. He gets unnecessarily violent when it comes to me.
“Whatever the reason is. Just take care of your father. He needs more care now. And where’s that girl, Mr. Grey?” When I heard his last line, both Charlie and I slightly frowned but didn’t say anything. “She left, why?” Replied Dad.
“Oh? Well, our hospital just wanted to appreciate her!” He said, “You know, not everyone does such things!”
Dad nodded, “Yes. People like her are rare!”
“Who’re you talking about?” I asked. The doctor looked at me and replied, “The girl because of whom your father is alive!”
That surprised me, “I’m sorry?”
He smiled, “Yes, Mr. Grey. If that girl hadn’t used her brain on time and hadn’t given her father CPR? Your father certainly wouldn’t have made it through!”
I instantly looked at Dad astounded and asked, “Who was she?” I wasn’t curious or impressed. I was grateful!
“My assistant!” He replied, “And Dr. Watson is right. If it wasn’t her, I was dea-
“Dad!” I cut him off, “Suck it up, don’t let these words out,” I scolded, looking at him severely; he nodded. “And speaking of your assistant? I’ll thank her for the huge favor she’s done me!”
“What’s her name, uncle Grey?” Asked Charlie, but before any others could reply I said, “I know her, Lee. It’s alright!” He stared at me for a brief moment before he finally gave a nod.
“When can he be discharged, Doctor?”
“A week later!” he said. I nodded and looked at Charlie, who was lost in his thoughts. I shook my head at him, “Mr. Grey?” When I looked at him, he added, “I’d like to talk to you about something more!”
“Is everything okay?” I was quick to ask. He chuckled and said, “Don’t worry, Mr Grey. Everything’s fine! I just want to talk to you about other stuff,” I sighed in relief and nodded before walking away with him.
Janet’s POV
“And you say you were once a ruthless bitch!” Said Vero, looking at me with squinted eyes. I sighed, “Call it an effect of good company!”
“I completely disagree!” She stood in front of me with her hands crossed against her chest and said, “That bastard fired you! Gave you another reason to hate him. But you didn’t give a damn about the fact and saved his father!” She grinned, “It’s just in you, Janet, because if I were there? I’d surely have left him to die!”
I rolled my eyes, “It’s a pure lie!”
“No, it’s not, because when I hate someone, Janet? I never help him and would always want to see him in pain!” She said, “So, your act is proof of how kind you are!” I didn’t respond, I couldn’t. After what I had done, no kind act of mine can make me feel any better. I will always feel horrible. She noticed the gloom on my face and took her seat besides me, taking my hand in hers, “Hey, what you were is not you anymore! So, instead of remembering your past deeds, be proud of yourself for saving a life today!” I smiled, “Good! And the matter of your job? There are countless companies out there who won’t think twice, and would hire you instantly. So, chill!”
“Chill?”
“Yes!”
“Alright, go get changed then!”
“Huh?”
I chuckled, “Let’s hang out today! And call Olivia also. After her break-up, she hasn’t been out!” She nodded, her lips pressed in a thin line. “I wish I hadn’t gone to that party that day. At least, she wouldn’t have the break-up!”
“It wasn’t your fault!” Said Vero, but I disagree because it was indeed my fault. If I hadn’t been to that party, nothing would have happened. My brother’s voice note would still be with me, and so was my job.
Paxton’s POV
“You called me, Sir?” She asked as she walked inside my cabin. I looked over at her from my laptop and nodded. Charlie was also sitting opposite me, eating a hamburger.
“Please have a seat, Ms. Wolfe,” I said, gesturing my hand on the chair next to Charlie. When she took her seat, I slammed my laptop shut and took out an envelope. She looked at me skeptically as I offered it to her.
“What is it, Sir?”
I replied, “It’s your salary in advance with a ticket to Hawaii!” As these words left my mouth, her eyes widened.
“What-what did I do, sir? Why are you terminating me?”
Didn’t she hear, Hawaii?
I let out a low chuckle, “No, Ms. Wolfe, I am not terminating you. It’s just a thanks from me!”
She frowned, “A thanks for what?”
“Thanks for saving my father’s life, Ms. Wolfe,” Hearing me, her frown deepened. “I know this is kind of weird, but that’s all I can do for the angel who has done a great favor to me!”
“Not just this, Roxanne. Your salary will be double from now on,” Said Charlie, “And a new assistant will be hired to assist you!”
“What?” She whispered more like to herself. I knit my brows together and asked, “Are you my Dad’s assistant?” She replied, “Uhm, y-yeah,” I opened my mouth to speak, but Charlie cut me off.
“Are you the girl who saved Mr. Grey’s life this morning?” He asked, looking at her doubtfully. She stared at him mutely for a moment, then pressing her lips together, she looked at me.
“Answer us,” I demanded. She broke into a clumsy smile and gave us both a nod, “Yes, I-I saved him, I have saved Mr. Grey this morning!” Don’t know why, but I wasn’t sure if it was her because the way she’s acting is uncertain. But considering the huge surprise I have given her, it’s normal, I guess.
“If you ever need my help, just let me know, okay?” She nodded, “Good!”
“Thank you!”
“Don’t thank me, Ms. Wolfe; it is only me who is supposed to be thankful!”
“O-Okay, Sir-
“Paxton!” I cut her off, “For you I’m Paxton. Just Paxton!” She smiled nervously, giving me another nod. “In fact, consider me your friend! Okay?”
“Me also!” Charlie said, taking her eyes on him, “I’m good at being friends!” He winked at her and her cheeks turned tomato red.
I controlled my chuckle and said, “Ah, you may leave now, Ms. Wolfe. But don’t forget, if you ever need anything, just let me know,” She nodded and got up, heading out with weak steps.
Is everything OK with her?
“Rox?!” Charlie called; she halted and turned to him. Playing with a pen, he asked, “Are you free this evening, babygirl?” A blush crept into her cheeks as he added, “I mean, I’d like to take you out!”
I controlled my smile so as not to make her flustered, but forgive me because I couldn’t. She looked at me, then at him and with many efforts she replied, “Uh, I’m-I’m... I’m not free! I’m sorry,” And hurriedly walked away.
“You scared her, dude,” I said between a chuckle. He turned his chair on me and said, “I’m not into her. I was just teasing her!”
“Hm, clearly,” I muttered, opening the laptop.
“By the way, have you called Janet yet?” He asked; I shook my head. “And why?”
“Because she won’t return!”
“Did you try?” He argued.
“When I already know the result, then why should I waste my time on trying?”
“You know, an apology works the best!” I shot him a glare, “C’mon, Paxton. Do you seriously don’t want to punish her for what she did to you? To us!” I rolled my eyes, “Paxton?”
“She slapped me, I fired her. We’re over!” I said and continued my work, shaking my head.
“But I’m not!” His words got my eyes on him. He said, “She’s the reason my girl left me, Paxton. I hate her! You must be over with her with your utterly easy revenge on her, but I am not! I will make her pay for my loss!” He got up and walked towards the door to leave but was stopped when I called him.
“What?”
“You’re right... I-I shouldn’t have just fired that way. It was so simple. I think I should really call her back. Make her work with no rest and then should fire her. It will not just make a bad employment certificate of her but will break her future into pieces too, wouldn’t it?” He smirked and I winked.
