Chapter 5- Did she just deny me?

Helen stepped out of her car in front of the hospital, dressed head-to-toe in black, with dark sunglasses shielding her intense gaze. She paused, scanning her surroundings as though she could sense trouble in the air. Instead of heading toward the main entrance, she veered off to the building’s side and pulled out her phone, her fingers moving quickly. What was she up to? Has she not done her worst?

She dialed and pressed the phone to her ear, impatience simmering in her voice. "Why are you keeping me waiting? I’m here for the deal. Put the dead baby inside a bag and bring it to me. Have I not paid for it?"

The woman on the other end stammered, her voice nervous. "B-but…ma’am.”

“Enough with the excuses. Meet me where we usually do, or I’ll take this to your boss.” Helen ended the call abruptly.

The lady’s name who received the call was called Dora, a chubby nurse with a towering figure, who felt a chill run through her. Despite her intimidating height, her face showed just how shaken she was. Dressed in her blue and white nurse’s uniform, she quickly found someone to cover her duties and hurried into her superior’s office, closing and locking the door behind her.

“What’s going on, Dora?” Sandra asked, looking up from her desk.

“It’s Helen, ma’am… She wants the body of the baby.”

Sandra looked at her with irritation. “And this has you panicking? Why?”

“She’s here at the hospital, right now. She’s not taking ‘no’ for an answer.”

Sandra stood up, her fingers tapping rhythmically on her desk as she processed this. “The baby’s body isn’t here anymore. We could try to pass another newborn off as hers, but… why is she so relentless? We did exactly what she paid us for, to make sure the baby didn’t survive. Why can’t she just let it go?”

Dora’s voice shook. “Ma’am, I think she’s planning to blackmail us if we don’t provide the body.”

“Blackmail?” Sandra’s face paled as the weight of the situation settled on her. Dora’s hesitant nod only confirmed her worst fears.

Sandra took a deep breath. “Come on. We’ll figure out what to do. If we can’t handle it ourselves, I’ll speak with her.”

They left the office together, tension thick between them. But Sandra, more composed, reassured, “don’t be afraid. There is always a way out.”

Outside, Helen was still waiting, her foot tapping impatiently as she glanced repeatedly at her watch. Thirty minutes had passed, and her patience was wearing thin. She dialed Dora’s number again, but no one picked up. Anger flared within her as she stamped her foot and clenched her bag tightly.

“What’s taking her so long?” she muttered. I’m not leaving until I get what I came for, she thought darkly. She hadn’t gone through all this trouble just to be left empty-handed.

Then, a voice startled her from behind. “Madam!”

Helen spun around, her eyes narrowing at Dora. “Why have you kept me waiting here? If you’re not bringing me that body, I’ll go straight to the authorities and expose you.”

“Expose me?” Dora’s voice wavered, her hand instinctively moving to her chest as if shielding herself. Maybe it was the spirit of the baby haunting them, she thought in a few moments of fear.

“The child is dead. Why keep pushing this?” Dora pleaded, desperation wrapped around her voice.

Helen’s gaze was unyielding. “I asked for that body. If it’s dead, then why wasn’t the body given to Becky? Why should I have to remind you?”

Dora was at a loss for words, her mind racing. “The baby… the baby didn’t make it, as you asked.”

Helen crossed her arms, her tone growing colder. “Is Sandra here?”

“Um… yes, but… I can tell her anything you want to say.”

“No,” Helen replied, her voice firm. “I’ll speak to her myself.” She straightened her sunglasses, an icy smile spreading on her lips. “I’m going to be the CEO’s wife soon. The biggest corporation in this city. I think she’ll understand that my requests shouldn’t be ignored.”

Helen turned and strode purposefully toward the hospital’s main entrance, her heels clicking against the pavement with each step. “Why am I even bothering with this?” she thought, almost amused by her own persistence. “The baby’s dead…”

Dora watched in silent horror, her heart pounding. If Helen went inside, everything she and Sandra had done might come to light. Their jobs were on the line, and Helen, with her silver tongue, would surely deny any involvement if things went wrong.

“I have to stop her…” she whispered to herself, rushing forward.

Just as Helen reached the entrance, a familiar figure stepped out, making her heart stop. It was Alexander, rushing out of his car and pacing into the hospital.

“Darling!” she called out and she was surprised.

But Alexander, her fiancé, looked furious. His eyes hardened as he glared at her. “How many times do I have to tell you? Stop calling me that in public!” His voice was very unpleasant and his gaze showed his anger. “I don’t know you.”

Those words came out of his mouth fluently, and Helen fell silent, hurt mingling with shock as she looked bizarre at someone she loved dearly. Alexander walked briskly past her, ignoring her presence. Out of nowhere, reporters had gathered, holding microphones and cameras.

“Sir, how is your wife’s health? We heard she had an accident,” one reporter asked, holding a mic too close.

Alexander’s assistant quickly pushed it away, but Helen’s feet glue to the ground as she was astounded. 

“Wife?” she thought. “Did he just deny me?”

Hadn’t he told her over and over to keep her distance?

Her anger gave way to bitter jealousy. “Another accident, huh?” She thought, biting back her smile. Maybe this time it’ll finally end things for good.