24. Put her down
James Rutherford
"Has she been here all night?"
"Yes Mr. Rutherford."
"John, how many times have I told you to call me James? Never mind. Did she get any rest?"
"I'm not sure sir. You would have to ask them." He pointed to the men that tried not to look out of place in the hall of the hospital. "You wouldn't know if she's eaten either would you?"
"No sir."
"Thank you." I sighed before pushing the door open. "Natalía." She was sitting in the chair beside the bed and looked up when I called her name. Her eyes seemed a little red, which told me she was having a battle with sleep.
"Have you slept since yesterday?"
"You got here pretty fast." I nodded. "Have you slept?"
"How can I sleep when he's like this? How can you talk about sleeping when your best friend is like this?" She shouted at me. "You should go home and get some rest. I'll stay with him."
"I'm not leaving."
"Natalía."
"I said I'm not leaving."
"At least get something to eat. Have you eaten?"
"I'm not hungry."
She was a stubborn one. Marc probably couldn't have picked anyone more stubborn. I excused myself just so I could send someone to get her a coffee and sandwich. She needed to eat and I would ensure she does. Marc would not have wanted her to starve herself because she was worried about him.
After some begging and guilt tripping using Marc's name, I finally got her to leave his side. John sat with Marc while Natalía ate. "You know that Marc being in a coma doesn't mean he would want the world to stop spinning. You must know this about him. He would want you to go to Paxton Corp. and handle business."
"How can you even think about business when your friend is lying in a hospital bed?"
"It's what he would have wanted."
"I don't care about Paxton Corp. right now."
"You should. Don't forget what will happen if he..."
"Don't you dare finish that sentence," she growled out loud.
"Mrs. Accosi?" The woman that called her name broke the hostile glare she was giving me. "She's awake." Natalía jumped to her feet. "Good. I have some things I want to say to that bitch." From the look in her eyes, I knew she was talking about Andrea. I didn't particularly care for the girl, but losing a child I understand is a very traumatic experience, especially if that child was in the womb when it died.
She stormed down the hall like a bull ready to charge. I followed her because it was clear she wasn't thinking rationally because of the situation. And no doubt she would take out her anger on Andrea. She barged into the hospital room, not bothering to knock. The nurse that was inside looked shocked, and so did the patient.
"You can't be in here. I'm about to do the patient's check up," the woman said. Natalía pushed the woman aside after barking at her to get out. "You. How dare you sit here alive and well while Marc is in a coma?"
"He's in a coma?"
"Shut up!" She held out a sheet of paper to her. "Sign it." Whether it was due to fear or being disoriented from just waking up, Andrea took the papers without question.
"A paternity test?"
"She can read. Let's have a round of applause shall we. Just hurry up and sign the damn paper." She pushed a pen into her hand. "You must be crazy if you think I'm signing this. Marc would never allow this. He knows it's his baby."
"Baby?" I gave Andrea a sad look. "What baby? There is no baby, Andrea! You lost it."
"Natalía enough."
"It's not nearly enough." She grabbed Andrea's arm. "Sign the fucking papers!"
"Let go of me you crazy bitch! This is Marc's baby I'm carrying. I don't need to prove that to anyone." Natalía let go of her arm and laughed. "There is no baby, Andrea. You can thank yourself for that."
"You're lying."
"Am I? Look at the fresh scar below your abdomen. That baby died inside of you before you even got here."
"Shut up!" She covered her ears. "You're lying. I am pregnant and it is Marc's baby."
"There is no baby!"
"Get out!"
"I'm not leaving until you sign the fucking papers."
"Get out of my room! Security! Security!"
"Natalía." I grabbed her and pulled her away. The machines around us started going off. "Let me go! She needs to sign the papers. I need to know." I dragged her from the room kicking and screaming and shouting profanities that no woman should ever know. Andrea's choked sob was the last thing I heard before the door closed behind me.
"Get a hold of yourself! Look at you. You're creating a scene. Do you really think she deserved to be told about the loss of her child like that?" She panted hard. "You should go home and get cleaned up." I knew nothing I said would get through to her. She had that crazed look in her eyes. She walked away from me without uttering a word.
Liam Birke
"Report."
"Mr. Paxton still hasn't woken up yet."
"The girl?"
"She hasn't said much since she was told about the loss of her child. They have been trying to give her professional help."
"And what about Natalía?"
"Everyone seems to be scared of her; the nurses, the doctors and even the guards. It has been three days since she last slept. She hasn't eaten anything either, other than coffee. It's a miracle she even showers. She also moved Mr. Paxton to a different hospital and a private wing where only she and his friend have access."
"What about the company?"
"I'm not sure."
"Find out. And please let Mr. Accosi know that I'm expecting him to be in my office within the hour."
"Yes sir."
Liam Birke sat back in his leather chair and stared through the window of his office. He loved this view. It was his thinking spot. Different thoughts ran through his head on what exactly to do about his daughter. This was not a Natalía he was used to. She was always level headed and weighed the pros and cons of every situation. But she wasn't thinking or acting rationally now. "What to do?" He whispered. His right hand Emilo had downplayed the situation, because he was fond of Natalía and would let her get away with murder if he could.
"Isobelle." I pressed the intercom button. "Yes, Mr. Birke?"
"Please arrange for me to leave for America as quickly as possible."
"Sir? Did you say America?"
"Yes. I need to be in New York as soon as possible."
"Yes sir."
After about an hour, Antonio finally arrived. "Have a seat, Antonio. We have much to discuss."
"Liam," he greeted me. "What's so important for you to demand my presence here?"
"I trust you've been keeping up with the situation in New York."
"Of course, as have you."
"I'll be leaving for New York in a couple of hours."
"You're going to America? You haven't been there in twenty-three years. You vowed never to go back."
"I'm well aware of what I said, Antonio, but when it comes to my daughter I would walk through the fires of hell to make sure she is okay."
"Natalía is fine."
"Fine? You call not sleeping and not eating fine? The guard have to force her to drink coffee, which is the only thing she will take into her body."
"It's not unusual for her to go without food. She was a model, and I would know. I've lived with her."
"Stop making excuses for her recklessness. You should also take responsibility for your callous act. This is your fault."
"How is this my fault?"
"You are the one that caused her guy to be in that accident in the first place. You are responsible for him being in that coma."
"How do you know that?"
"I'm always a step ahead of you, Antonio. I've been doing this a long time. You care for Natalía. I understand. I also understand your target was the girl and not Paxton. But something went wrong and he ended up getting hurt. Now my daughter is hurting and you need to fix it."
"What do you suggest I do?"
"First of all, Natalía must never find out that you're responsible. She must never know that you planned that accident just to find out if Paxton is the father of that woman's child. She might not take that information too well. Secondly, you are going to go to America and take care of Natalía. If she doesn't want to eat, shove the food down her throat and make sure she keeps it down. If she doesn't want to sleep and continue to terrorize the hospital staff, have her put down."
"By put down you mean...?"
"Sedate her if you have to. You might not be her husband anymore, but nobody there knows that. Exercise your non-existent right."
"You never had any intention of going to America did you?" I smiled. "Why should I when you're here? The jet is fueled and ready to go. You have two hours."
Antonio Accosi
"Your report."
"Mrs. Accosi has been by Mr.Paxton's side for three days. Everyone is afraid of going near her, even the nurses and doctors. The only thing she allows them to do is check is vitals. She is the one that cleanses his body and shaves him every morning. She closed down the entire hospital floor just to have privacy."
"What about the woman?"
"She hasn't said a word. Mrs. Accosi has been banned from seeing her because on numerous occasions she became violent."
"Violent?"
"She has slapped her a couple times and even tried choking her with one of the hospital machine cords."
"And what were you all doing when my wife tried strangling a woman to death?"
"Well sir we couldn't really do anything because she was making it difficult for us, and you gave specific orders not to harm her."
"I see. I'm told Natalía had a paternity test done. Have the results come in yet?"
"I'm not sure, sir. The original doctor refuses to tell us anything until both Mr. Paxton and the woman signs."
"Okay, thank you. Where is Natalía now?"
"Mrs. Accosi is at the hospital, sir."
"All right then. That is where we shall be going." My driver nodded and drove off.
**********
"I said get out!" She flung the TV remote at the poor nurse who was just trying to do her job. "Mrs. Accosi, I need to check on Mr. Paxton's condition. I also need to shave him and..."
"I said get out! Marc is fine. He's just resting. He doesn't want to be disturbed by you. I can take care of him."
"What are you waiting for? Get the doctor," I said to no one in particular. "
Mrs. Accosi, I really need to check on Mr. Paxton. I need to know what condition he is in."
"Just get the fuck out!" She screamed at the top of her lungs and pushed a lock of hair behind her ear. I noticed her hand was shaking. I slowly backed away from the room, careful not to be seen. Luckily the doctor had arrived. Before addressing him I looked at the guards.
"Has she been taking any sort of medication?"
"Not that we're aware of sir." The doctor looked away guiltily. I frowned. "Excuse me for a minute." I grabbed the doctor by his collar and dragged him away. I looked at his name tag. "Dr. Bernard is it? What is my wife on?"
"Your wi...wife?" He stuttered out. "Yes, my wife. What is she on? Her hands were shaking when I saw her just now. You won't be punished if you tell me what you gave her. I know my wife. Whatever she threatened you with I will make sure doesn't happen if you tell me what I want to know."
"She asked me for pills that would keep her awake. I gave her some caffeine tablets." He looked away ashamed. I couldn't really blame the guy. Natalía could be scary at times. No wonder her fingers were shaking so badly. "She's going to collapse soon. I need you to put her to sleep."
"How am I to do that?"
"You're a doctor, figure it out." He thought for a minute. "I could give her a sedative."
"No more pills."
"An injection would also work, but I can't get close enough to her for that and I would need permission to administer it."
"I'm giving you permission, and don't worry about getting close to her, I'll be the one doing it. We'll sedate her then. Prepare the needle.
**********
I silently watched her turn away every doctor that went into that room. She sat there the entire time talking to him and stroking his hair. I probably should have felt jealous, okay maybe I was a little jealous, but I was glad that Natalía had finally opened her heart to someone allowing there to be an opportunity for love to blossom.
"How long will she be out after the sedative?"
"I can't say for certain, anywhere between twenty-four and forty-eight hours. It might even be longer."
"Okay." He handed me the needle, and I entered the room. "Natalía." I called her name softly.
"Antonio. What are you doing here?"
"How could I not come when my wife has been behaving like the she-devil. I had to come make sure you were okay."
"I'm not your wife anymore, Antonio."
"Do I get a hug?" She got up from the chair. "Of course." And stepped into my arms. "Thank you for coming."
"No problem. I just have one favour to ask of you."
"Favour? What favour?"
"Go to sleep for a little while, ll mio amore." I gently stuck the needle into her arm and watched as her eyes started to close slowly.