Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
V eronica
I was worried about Rupert, in more ways than one, although I didn’t want to show it too much because he was already freaked out about being here with me. He took my hand like this was the most natural thing in the world, like we were a couple already, and I relaxed then.He, however, held onto me like a lifeline when we first entered the hospital.
When we arrived at the cardiology ward, I quickly managed to find a doctor while Rupert waited. My heart hammered when the doctor glanced at the chart and then at me.
“We suspected a heart attack, but, luckily it was just exhaustion. We’re keeping your mother for observation and still running some tests to make sure she’s fine. I believe she’s already requested to go home, more than once, but I’d prefer if she stayed, at least until we have the results back,” he said. He was a middle-aged guy with slightly brown hair and square jaw.
“My mother tends to work too much, and no matter what I say, it’s always the same. I promise I’ll talk to her about this,” I admitted, frustrated that Mum was straining herself again. She was still young, only sixty-three, so she had plenty of time to enjoy life.
My stomach churned with unease because I had to consider telling her about working as an escort so she would accept my money. I didn’t want her to worry, and honestly, we’d never been particularly close, but we always got on well. I wanted to tell her the truth. I could quit working for Emperor if I got that brand deal. Then my mother would know exactly where the money had come from, and I wouldn’t have to feel like I was selling myself to earn my living.
After I was done talking to Doctor Kendrick, one of the nurses took me to see Mum. I told Rupert to wait for me as I didn’t want to force him to be introduced to my mother while he was still a little fragile. She was in one of the rooms with two other ladies.
“Veronica, how did you know I was here?” she asked me in alarm. Mum had short dark-brown hair, and she was petite like me.
I told myself to keep it together when I saw her—she was too pale and tired. I had never met my father, and since Mum never had anything good to say about him, I’d never thought I needed him. But right now, I wished he’d been present…I wish I had someone to help ease this pain…
“No, Mum, don’t you dare try to get up. I got a phone call from Pam. She told me you’d collapsed at work.” I tried to stay calm, but it was hard. She never listened whenever I visited and promised to take it easy—a lie, of course. She was as stubborn as a mule.
“Pam and her big mouth. She shouldn’t have called you. I’m perfectly fine and I should be out this afternoon. You didn’t have to come, sweetheart. How did you even get here on Sunday?” Mum asked, as usual coming at me with hundreds of questions faster than I could field them.
I grabbed a chair and sat next to her.
“Pam made a right call. I spoke to the doctor. You collapsed out of sheer exhaustion, mum. They thought it was a heart attack, and the doctor clearly told me that they still needed to run some tests, so no! You’re not getting off so easily this time around.” I knew this was going to cause a storm, but someone had to put their foot down.
“See, Lauren, I told you they won’t let you out so fast. Good for you, hon,” one of the ladies on the far right said, and my mother narrowed her eyes at her.
“Don’t listen to them and that doctor. I didn’t have any heart attack. Maybe I picked up too many shifts, but the money was good. I couldn’t say no, hon. Besides, I’ll rest up and I’ll be back to my usual self.” My mother smiled at me.
But she wasn’t going to fool me with her easy-going attitude. She always picked too many shifts in the care home where she worked. That kind of job was very demanding and mentally challenging, too. I could never imagine doing what she did.
“Mum, stop it. You’re staying here until the tests are done, and don’t even try to argue with me. We both know that your schedule is crazy. You never have a day off. I told you, I’m going to help you out with money,” I said, grabbing her hand.
She seemed cold and so fragile. I had to text Laura later with updates because she’d been at home when I went there earlier on to pack my bag, and she was concerned.
“A friend has given me a lift here, and I’ll probably stay at a local Airbnb somewhere, but I’m going to check the flat later on to see if you need any help with tidying up.”
“Airbnb? Why would you want to spend money on hotels if you can stay with me? This is all too much, Veronica, and you’re blowing this out of proportion. We both know I need money, and I wanted to go for a little holiday with the girls, so I was trying to save up. That’s all.”
“Mum, please calm down. I think my friend wants to stay over with me, so that’s why he’s looking for an Airbnb in the area. For once, please don’t be stubborn and listen to the doctor.” I tried to keep my voice down, but it seemed the other ladies were listening in on our conversation since this room was pretty small.
My mother had been a very beautiful woman in the past, but she’d neglected herself over the years. Her skin was wrinkled and grey, and she must have lost a lot more weight since the last time I’d seen her. It was breaking my heart to see her like that. I was more than comfortable, and I felt guilty that I hadn’t insisted on this sooner.
“Oh, did you come with a man? How exciting! I thought you were swinging to the other side because you never brought a man home. Come on, I want to meet him. Where is he?” Mum asked, as if forgetting about what we were just discussing.
She was right. I didn’t really date, and I hadn’t been in any serious relationship since I’d ended my relationship with Vincent several years ago. He was the only boyfriend I’d ever introduced to her.Ugh, thinking about that arsehole and what he is planning to do to Rupert makes me stomach churn all over again. As if I don’t have enough to think about with mum here, in this place, worried that her heart is giving up, I have to worry about what Vincent could do to the Banks’.
“His name is Rupert, and he’s just a friend for now, so don’t get overexcited.” I sighed, slightly reluctant to introduce her to him. Things between us were still complicated, and I wasn’t sure how he felt about it.Hell, I wasn’t sure how I felt about things.
“They all say that. I bet he’s more than that.” One of the other ladies to the left sent me a wink.
I couldn’t help but laugh. My mother had scored some good company for her stay because it seemed these ladies didn’t give a fuck about listening to other’s people private conversations.
“Where is he? Can you call him to come here? I know I don’t look my best, but—”
“All right, don’t worry, he’s outside. I’ll introduce you, and trust me, you are fine,” I cut her off.
Mum didn’t really have time to watch the news, so she wouldn’t know that Rupert was the brother of Spencer Banks, the prime minister of our nation. Besides, the man always kept a low profile, but still, this whole thing was pretty nerve-wracking. The other women in here might recognise him from somewhere, even though he kept a low profile so that was unlikely.
I got up and went outside. Rupert was in the main waiting room, staring out the window when I approached him. He was much better than before, and I felt a little guilty that I’d brought him inside the hospital, knowing how traumatic this must have been for him. My stomach was churning again, and I didn’t remember when I’d last eaten. After this visit, we needed to grab something to eat.
“Mum is fine, but they’re still running tests on her, so I managed to persuade her to stay until the results are in,” I explained.
“That’s good, so shall we go? Your visit was rather short?”
“No, no, I just told her I’ll be staying for a few days and as always, she asked too many questions, so now she wants me to bring you over because apparently she wants to meet you.” I rubbed my forehead in defeat. Rupert was so freaking handsome, and he was so out of place here. I already knew that Mum and the other two ladies were going to swoon at the sight of him.
He gave me a lazy smile. “Really? She said she wants to meet me?”
“Yes, and there are two other ladies with her, so there won’t be any privacy.” I sounded a little less confident now.
Rupert laughed, and I was suddenly glad that he was somehow more relaxed than before.A lot more relaxed than I currently was.
“Lead on, sunshine. I’m sure I can handle them,” he said with a wink.
A few other women stared at Rupert when he passed by. He was definitely less cocky than his brother, Spencer, but it shocked me that he didn’t notice how many women stared at him whenever we were together. It was surprising that he didn’t date, too.
When we entered the room, we quickly approached Mum’s bed.
“Mum, this is Rupert, you know, the friend I was telling you about,” I said, pointing at the man of my dreams. I thought if I referred to him as such, he eventually would become one.
“Hopefully, soon a boyfriend. It’s very nice to meet you, Miss Micelli,” Rupert said with such a charming tone that I felt like I might faint.
The other two ladies stared at him completely speechless, and one of them fanned herself with a book, almost too dramatically.
“Oh my, so my Veronica wasn’t lying… Dear, dear, did anyone ever tell you that you’re a very handsome-looking young fellow?” my mother asked.
I laughed. Rupert looked a little flustered—was he shy?
“No, but thank you for the compliment. You gave Veronica quite the scare. I hope you’re going to be good and listen to the doctor’s orders,” Rupert said, more sternly this time, wagging his finger towards my mum.
Fuck me, my ovaries high-fived each other, and my mother looked at me like I’d grown two heads. Obviously, she was never going to say no to a hot-looking guy like him.
“Yes, yes, dear, you don’t have to worry about me. I think everyone is exaggerating a little bit. I’ll be as good as new in a couple of days. Now, I think you two should go. Veronica’s stomach is growling, I can hear it all the way over here. She always forgets to eat when she’s stressed,” Mum said. It seemed that suddenly her colour came back because she was rather flustered.
“It’s always good to be cautious about these things, Miss Micelli. Besides, you can have all the money in the world, but if your health is failing, then you have nothing. Please remember that,” Rupert said.
My heart squeezed.
“Handsome and smart, too. She caught that one,” one of the ladies commented, throwing me off of my line of thought.
Rupert smiled and sent me another wink. Could I fuck him now? There was no way I could keep ignoring my own feelings when he was so awesome.
“Oh, you’re right, I promise I’ll start to look after myself, Rupert,” my mum mumbled.
“Okay, Mum, so we'll be going but we’ll pop over tomorrow in the morning. Just rest and don’t worry about anything. I’m here now,” I said to her with a smile.
Half an hour later, we were back in Rupert’s fancy car, and I was suddenly very turned on. How was I supposed to keep things casual between us? This was going to be impossible.
“Your mum will be fine. I have a feeling that if I stay here, I might be able to keep her in line,” Rupert said when we joined the line of traffic.
I looked at him, still feeling pretty bad that I’d made him lose control in the hospital.
“Thank you. I know it wasn’t easy for you being there,” I admitted. “Where are we going now?”
“Restaurant, because we’re both starving, and straight after, we could go to your mum’s flat to make sure it’s all okay there,” he said.
I nodded, quickly realising that I was so fucked. This man was so kind, caring, and stupidly handsome. I was going to be in love with him sooner rather than later.