CHAPTER 4

"Matilda, where, where am I? how did I get…where's Hugo???"

Inquired Elyna with a voice above a whisper, as her vision gets slightly more vivid with questions bombarding her worried mind. As realization of her current environment does not resemble their Carnegie Hills mansion, and tries her best to gather strength to sit up straight,

"No, mam there's no need for that, the Doctor said you need to relax, everything will be okay." replied Matilda in a humbling fashion, as she notices the curiosity on Elyna's visage required a more in-depth answer to the question.

"We...we are in the hospital mam, you collapsed, and I had no choice but to invite medical attention" responded Matilda with worry written all over her countenance.

"Where's Hugo?" Insisted Elyna with her voice slightly above a whisper as she notices her hands tied to an Intravenous line, and rotates her head in search of Hugo.

"Why's my hand tied to this?" Elyna exclaimed as she demanded an answer from Matilda.

"The Doctor said you lost water, once you fainted, and the moment you gather enough water, we will soon be out of her" unapologetically answered Matilda with a quirky voice as she could sense Elyna's commanding gestures, despite being bed stricken.

"What do you mean, I lost water, from where?"

Elyna questioned, as she raises her eyebrows by the words uttered from Matilda.

"Uh.." Matilda is disrupted, as an on-rushing palm, the assigned medical doctor's arm is placed on her shoulder.

"Mrs.Dubois, you are free for departure, but I insist that you don't worry yourself on many of the matters that you are facing, as it could result in you being a frequent patient, I mean coming back here ,and possibly staying for a longer period than expected."

" These are your medications, read the instructions that are placed on the labels, they should keep you perfectly fine" instructed the doctor as she hands over the medication package to Matilda.

"Thank you, Doc," replied Matilda.

"You are most welcome, just make sure she takes these medications regularly, for the next 24 hours, as it will help her rehabilitate faster."

The Doctor replied, with a comforting smile, while swinging the ends of her stethoscope,as she ushered them out of the consultation area.

As they make their way towards the car, confusion has taken precedence on Elyna as she's still trying to make sense of her new life that has just started 48 hours ago, and all the events that have taken place from finding imperceptible wealth and unsought love to the kidnap of her newfound soul mate and unprecedented short-term illness.

~CARNEGIE MANSION HILLS~

Elyna gets awakened by a voice message sent from the head investigative search officer. This message is sent at a time that has Elyna on her feet, and ready to tackle the day.

"Greetings, Mrs.Dubois, we have conducted searches on the prospect investors that had a meeting with Mr.Dubois, but to our surprise their identity as well as residence has failed all security tests, and have been found to be fraudulent " read the voice message, as Elyna stretches her back in a swift manner, which causes pain encroaching her, as memories of her recent experience cloud her emotions, and thus her thinking.

"Huh, didn't they check this information before proceeding with the meeting?" Muttered Elyna as she browsed her call logs for the search officer's number. As she prepares to dial his number.

"Greetings, Mrs. Dubois, hope you having a pleasant morning" the search officer replied on the other end of the call. Anticipating a reciprocal reply on the other end of the call

"Why weren't the security checks done prior to placing the meeting?" inquired Elyna as she grabbed the medication package towards her stride.

"No, mam that's not the norm of how we operate, as Mr. Dubois' clients are of a very broad range" replied the search officer.

"Broad range...what do you mean?" Inquired Elyna as the use of broad range enveloped her mind and brought more confusion into the type of business partners Mr. Dubois had partnered with.

"We deal with people from all sorts of life, some do not avail their identity, and in this case the prospect investors offered a bargain, and we could not resist the offer as an organization and had to act fast, as the deal was set to expire before we did not act swiftly." Explained the search officer to Elyna, as he described the circumstance that allowed them to take such a risk.

"Okay, I understand, but what next?" Insisted Elyna as she anxiously expected a positive answer regarding the kidnapping search for Mr. Dubois.

"Mrs. Dubois, we tried our best but could not figure out any other means to gather more significant information, but our team is still on the search." responded the search officer with his voice softer than before.

"What? Have you informed the local police department and local search team?" Elyna asked commandingly.

"On the verge of doing that right away mam" responded the search officer with a trembling voice as he could envision the possible calamity facing his position as chief officer if Mr.Dubois, his boss, the man who might take away his only means of supporting himself and his on-grown family, is not found as soon as possible.

Elyna hangs up the phone, sending it thunping on the centre of the king-sized bed,with a baseball-like throw, and goes on to take her medications, while strutting towards the bathroom for her morning shower.

"Elyna, you have a visitor with an important message for you regarding Mr. Dubois" reported Matilda at the door of Elyna's chambers.

"Okay I'm on my way Matilda", responded Elyna, as she flungs her warddrobe and dresses up swiftly to see the visitor.

Elyna's mind gets pounded with questions as she's on the staircase as she makes her way to the living room where the important visitor dwells.

"Who is this person and what important information does he want to tell me?"