50. Lauren
50
Lauren
“God, I look like hell warmed over,” I mutter, gingerly touching a bruise under my eye.
Above me, Dr. Cheng pauses scribbling on her clipboard. “You look quite fine for someone who had a heck of a night.”
“I’ll take your word for it.” Resting the mirror on my lap, I lift my arm for the nurse who’s taking my vitals. Except for the broken leg and the cuts and bruises on my upper body, I feel quite fine. According to Dr. Cheng, I’ll be good as new in a few weeks.
Well, my body will be good as new. My mind is another issue.
“We’re going to keep you overnight for observation, but you should be ready to go by midday tomorrow,” she goes on. I relax against the pillows as she continues with some dos and don’ts for my healing period.
The door closes behind the nurse, and Dr. Cheng rests her clipboard on the bedside table and pulls up the chair beside me, all professionalism gone. “I was sick with worry when Noah told me you were missing. I’d rather you here looking like ‘hell warmed over’ than not having you around at all.”
I smile. “Thanks, Ana. ”
Noah’s ex smiles back, patting the sheet draped over my lower half. “Speaking of Noah, the entire crew is out there waiting to see you.”
Including Marcus? I want to ask.
“I’m going to put them out of their misery,” she says, getting up.
She goes out, and the door flies open a few seconds later. Mom is the first to barge in, then Dad, with Zyon and Noah following suit and Gabriel’s limping form bringing up the rear. No Marcus. My stomach dips as I tear my eyes from the empty doorway and throw a smile as Mom swoops in to hug me.
“Careful of that leg, Charlotte!” Dad booms, pointing to my bandaged leg in the stirrup. Mom pauses hugging me to glare at him.
“I’m literally on the other side, Samuel. Jeez.” She rolls her eyes, and the frown immediately fades as she dips to kiss my cheeks. “Oh, sweetie, I almost lost my mind tonight! It feels so good to touch you!” She kisses me again. “I love you so much.”
“Love you too, Mom.”
“Okay, okay, give the rest of us a chance,” Dad grunts, trying to inch past her. Hell will freeze over before these two stop bickering.
He hugs me, sharing the same sentiments as Mom, then makes way for the others. Gabriel explains that his ankle wasn’t broken like he’d thought, just a slight sprain that should ease in a few days.
Zyon is the last to hug me. She whispers in my ear. “Gabriel knows everything.”
My body stiffens. Is that why Marcus is missing?
I glance at my brother, looking for a sign of what might’ve happened between them, but he seems cheerful, fluffing my pillows. Yet, unease settles in my gut. I’d never considered Gabriel and Marcus’ relationship. My thoughts were only geared toward my needs. In my mind, Marcus and I were two adults who were free to decide whatever we wanted. Not once did I consider how my brother would feel.
For someone hellbent on being taken seriously, that was quite juvenile of me.
“So, Rosy Cheeks,” Dad is saying, pulling up another chair beside Mom. “I spoke to Ana, and she mentioned a six-week recovery time, at least. I’m going to appoint Oliver to run the company until you get back—”
“No,” I interrupt firmly. Oliver back in the CEO chair will not turn out well for me. I refuse to let him have that advantage.
Dad stares at me like I’m a three-year-old on the verge of a massive tantrum. “Sweetheart, in case you missed it, there are bandages on your leg.”
“I’m well aware of that,” I reply. “I’m also aware of a few things they invented, like the wheelchair and crutches. There’s no way I’m sitting at home for six weeks while Oliver takes credit for everything I put in the pipeline.”
He sighs. “I keep telling you Oliver is not your enemy. He’s a valuable ally. Working as a team could take the company back to where it was while Gabriel was around.”
“Dad, I love you, but you are so out of touch. Oliver doesn’t want to work with me. He wants me to work for him . He wants to run the company by any means necessary.”
Gabriel moves into my line of sight, frowning. “Any means necessary? What does that mean?”
“Has Oliver been making things unpleasant for you?” Dad asks, his expression darkening too. “If he is, just say the word, and I’ll get him out—”
“Oh, Dad, you won’t get the chance. I’ll throw his ass out myself. Lauren? What did he do to you?”
“Nothing I can’t handle,” I reply, waving them off .
Gabriel is relentless as he limps around to the other side of the bed. “Talk, Lauren.”
“No. Stop trying to intimidate me. Oliver is my problem, not yours.” I turn my fierce expression on Dad. “I’m going to handle him, and I’m going to take Cain Industries to higher levels than Gabriel could ever achieve. No offense,” I throw at my brother, whose face is slowly brightening with a smile.
He shakes his head at me. “None taken. You’re the smart one in the family.”
“A trait she got from me,” Mom throws in smugly. “You already know how I feel about you taking over, honey. You’re more than capable of steering that ship.”
I smile gratefully. ‘Thanks, Mom.”
Dad throws his hands up. “Look, I never once said you couldn’t do it. It’s just that Oliver has great talent you could use if you decide to keep him on your team.”
Another smile emerges on my face, a bigger one this time. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”
He nods. “Yes. When the financial year ends, I’m going to officially appoint you CEO of Cain Industries.”
“Oh, yay!” I shriek as a round of applause erupts around the room.
Dad harrumphs. “We’re going to have to work on that little schoolgirl response.”
I giggle.
The others give me congratulatory hugs before Mom suggests they give me some time to rest. As they make their way to the door, I speak up. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
Everyone turns to look at me. Gabriel frowns deeply. I can already tell the reason behind that frown and he confirms it by blurting, “You’re pregnant? ”
“No.” I narrow my eyes as he clasps his chest and breathes an exaggerated sigh of relief.
“What is it?” Mom asks, worry filling her face.
Making myself comfortable, I consider the simplest way to start the topic. “My eggs are running out.”
“Your what?” Dad squawks.
In unison, they move back to my bedside as I tell them everything; from the cancer scare to the egg retrieval procedure coming up in a few weeks. Well, it was coming up in a few weeks.
“After what happened tonight, I’ve decided not to freeze my eggs,” I finish.
“Why not?” Gabriel asks. Zyon raises her brows at me.
Dad shakes his with clear disapproval. “Honey, I understand your reservation about the procedure, but there’s no other option. Your mother and I want more grandkids. Gabriel says he’s one and done—”
“And I’m sure you’ll get more grandkids if it’s written in the stars,” I interrupt, biting back annoyance. “I’m not freezing my eggs.”
He sighs, looking over at Mom. “Charlotte, please talk some sense into her.”
Mom reaches for my hand. “Sweetie—”
“Give it up, Mom. I understand that you all think it’s the right thing to do, but I’m done making decisions for anyone’s sake but mine. I don’t want to endure that process, so I won’t.”
“You understand what that means, right?” Mom asks.
“Giving birth isn’t the only option for motherhood. If my reserves run out before I’m ready to settle down, then I’ll adopt. There are plenty of kids out there who need love.”
There’s a brief pause as they contemplate what I said, then a chorus of, “True”, “She’s right”, and “You have a good point” makes me smile .
“Sometimes it’s hard to remember you’re no longer a kid,” Dad says. “You’re quite capable of making your own decisions.”
“Which is exactly what I’ve been telling you all this time,” I point out.
“Yes, but no matter what, you’ll always be Daddy’s girl.” He kisses my forehead. “Good night, Rosy Cheeks.” He sees me frown. “Lauren.”
“Much better.”
They all file out except Gabriel, who lingers by the door for a beat before limping back into the room. His expression tells me what the next topic of discussion will be.
“I noticed you didn’t ask about Marcus,” he says, dropping himself into the chair.
“Zyon told me you knew everything,” I reply. “Did you put your hands on him?”
Gabriel chuckles. “Do you see a black eye or a bruise anywhere? As much as Marcus thinks he deserves a beatdown, he’s not going to stand there and take it.”
Add to the fact that Marcus is a few inches taller and at least ten pounds heavier, I’m glad Gabriel wasn’t angry enough to start a fight.
“If you’re going to be mad at Marcus, then be mad at me too. He didn’t force me to do anything.”
“True, but he knows better.”
“So do I! I should’ve thought of how this would affect your friendship, and I didn’t,” I tell him. “If I had a choice, I’d have talked to you first.”
He scoffs. “To do what, get my blessing?”
I scoff back. “Of course not! I’m not your child, Gabriel, but I respect you. I should’ve told you everything before it even got started.”
“Yes, so I could caution you to stay away from him,” he throws back.
“Right, because he breaks hearts for fun. I’ve been around long enough, remember? ”
“Knowing that, why would you willingly sleep with him? Lauren, you’re not that type.”
“The type to do what, give myself to the man I’ve always loved?” I blurt out, irritated by his judgmental tone. It takes another few seconds for the words to sink in, and Gabriel’s eyes widen.
“You love him. Fuck. Here I was, thinking it was a simple crush. Jesus, Lauren.”
“Yeah, yeah, judge me on your way out, please. I’ve had enough of this conversation.”
Gabriel stands, sighing harshly. “I didn’t want this for you.”
I sigh too. “I didn’t sign up to get my heart broken, okay? First, it should’ve been a one-and-done—”
His hands fly to cover his ears. “I don’t want to hear about any of that.”
“—then he mentioned not being with anyone else for a while, and I thought—hoped—that it meant he felt something more than lust for me.”
Gabriel groans.
“Earlier tonight, I realized how wrong I was when I saw him with Harper. I didn’t even know she was back in town.”
“She moved back a few months ago. His dad had plans for them to get married,” Gabriel explains, his hands falling.
My heart drops to the floor of my stomach. I gape at my brother. “What did you just say?”