chapter 10: Tension

Tessa's POV

Elvis's laughter slowly subsided, but he still has a smile on his face, " you are beautiful when you're grumpy,"

i ignored his words

" How long have you been here?"I asked, sitting up with a stern look.

Elvis's smile didn't waver, but his eyes sparkled with amusement at my attempt to change the subject. "Long enough," he replied, his voice low and teasing.

He sat up on the floor, leaning against the bed frame, and gazed at me with an unapologetic grin. "I didn't mean to cuddle you for so long," he said, "but you looked so peaceful, I didn't want to disturb you."

"I didn't ask you that", I cut him off rudely, but he didn't seem to mind.

Looking towards the bedside table, I sighted a document, Elvis' gaze followed mine.

"we need to talk about that", he said referring to the document, the playful atmosphere dissipated without a trace.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, the emotions I tried to hide, seeping through the cracks.

‘At one point, Rolex came to my mind. Should I ask for his help? On second thought,he has been doing alot for him. I can't just involve him in my personal issues, if not for anything, I should be able to settle my own issues’. i weakly sat back on the bed, still looking wearily at the document, wondering what is written inside.

As I stood up, my legs felt heavy. I took slow, deliberate steps towards the document, my heart racing with every step. The air seemed to thicken, making it hard to breathe, and my mind was a jumble of worst-case scenarios.

My hand reached out, made contact with the paper. I unfolded it, and my eyes scanned the contents, the words blurring together as tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. A lump formed in my throat, and I felt like I was drowning in a sea of emotions - fear, anxiety, and helplessness.

The words on the page seemed to leap out at me, taunting me with their finality. I felt like my world was crashing down around me, and I was powerless to stop it. The document seemed to hold the key to my future, and I was terrified of what might happen next.

As i stood there, frozen in fear, Elvis's voice cut through the silence, his voice calm " i figured you will choose to stay for 2 weeks, so i made a contract according to that

I felt like I was standing on the edge of a cliff, staring into the unknown, and the ground beneath me was crumbling away. I was scared, and I didn't know how to take the next step. The emotions swirling inside me were overwhelming, and I felt like I was losing control.

suddenly my phone rang, i felt a flicker of relief wash over me.

'Whoever is calling, is my savior'. I murmured before picking up the phone, seeing it's Rolex, a hint of a smile appeared on my face.

I wasn't sure why Rolex was calling but the timing was perfect..

and I felt a sense of gratitude towards him.

As I was about to answer, I caught Elvis's gaze, his expression had shifted. His stance changed, his face turning completely dark and cold. it was as if the call had disrupted his plans. I excused myself and entered the bathroom to answer the call.

""Hello? " I said, my voice low, to avoid Elvis overhearing me. While wondering what prompted Rolex to call, his worried tone only increased my concern.

"Tessa, I'm sorry," he said, his voice laced with panic. I could sense his hesitation, unsure if he should share what it is or not.

"What's wrong, Rolex? You're making me nervous," I replied, my anxiety growing. I'd never seen him this scared before.

"Shally's in the hospital," he said, the words rolling out. I felt like I'd been punched in my gut. I leaned against the wall for support, my legs weakening. In my shock, I knocked over the showerhead, and it clattered loudly.

The sudden noise seemed to echo through the bathroom, and I worried that it might have alerted Elvis. Sure enough, he knocked on the door, his voice following suit. "Are you okay?"

I muttered a hasty "yes," but I no longer cared if he heard me or not. My mind was racing, and all I could think about was my daughter. "What happened? How is she?" I asked, trying to keep my voice low and steady despite the turmoil inside.

Rolex's reassuring tone came through the phone. "Calm down, Tessa. It's not very serious, and she's fine now. I just thought you should know about it." His words were meant to soothe me, but I still felt a sense of worry and concern for my daughter's well-being.

I asked again, still worried, "What happened to her?" Rolex's voice was laced with guilt as he replied, "Well, I took her with me to the salon, and she mistakenly put her index finger in the hot water... I'm sorry, I shouldn't have taken her with me."

His words painted a picture of the incident, and I could imagine the scene. I felt a mix of relief and guilt towards Rolex, I mean he no longer has his privacy.

"Accidents happen, I'm sorry about the stress you may have been through". I said, feeling a heavy headache knowing I can't go back because of Elvis. "How's her finger now?".

“she is okay now, once she wakes up, i will let her speak to you”. he said reassuring me.

"Uhmmm, I know the meeting is over, why aren't you coming back yet?" he asked, his voice laced with concern. I hesitated, wondering if I should involve him in my personal matters. "I have a little matter to take care of," I said vaguely. "I'll update you later."

Before I could finish my words, Elvis banged on the door, his voice firm and commanding. "Come out now." The sound made me jump.

Rolex's curiosity was piqued. "Who is that? What's going on with you, Tessa?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.

I didn't want him to notice or know anything about Elvis yet. "It's nothing," I said hastily. "I'll call you later. Bye." I ended the call quickly, feeling like I was escaping or hiding something.