CHAPTER 3

Antonio's POV

When I wake up from my deep slumber, I groan remembering what happened earlier. I have no idea what that crazy girl gave me that made me sleep for so long. I am sure she knows nothing of me, if not she wouldn't have done that. I am going to show her who I am, no one messes with me and goes scot-free, except Xavier's gang because I have no power to fight them.

I am sure it was one of Xavier's men who shot me.

Xavier, Brandon, and I have come a long way, we used to be good friends until something tragic happened, and that will be a story for another day. Xavier and I became enemies and since Brandon is always by my side, Brandon became his enemy too but his hatred for me surpasses that of Brandon's. 

I have been tagged as the youngest Billionaire in New York, but I lack protection. I hate going out with guards but I guess I have to start doing that now. 

I have no idea where Xavier got his power from, even though he has no money compared to mine. He has the most powerful Mafia group in New York and I know he will not let me go until he sees me going down. This is how much he hates me.

Xavier is the least of my problems right now, all I want to do is to deal with that miserable, crazy nurse that was pinning me down like a 10-year-old boy. I am embarrassed right now and all I want to do is to make sure she gets fired.

I stand up abruptly from the bed and groan when I feel pain in my bandaged waist. I need to be out of here. 

I told Brandon to help me inform mom that I was going to stay the night away. I stay a few distances away from my parent's mansion and that is because of my health and my daughter, Alexis. I am asthmatic. I know if I don't go home before tomorrow, mom will blow my phone up with calls.

I stand on my feet to go out to see the doctor before going home when Brandon comes in.

"Easy, where are you going?" He runs to my side.

"Where the hell have you been, Brandon?" I wince in pain after the yelling.

"I went to pick a few things you would be needing for the day. Your shirt is ruined and......."

"I'm not staying any more days here. You've been away since noon, Brandon", I interrupt him.

"I came in earlier to see you sleeping. Why won't you stay here till you are fit to go home? The doctor says you will be discharged in two days."

"I don't fucking care. I want to be out of here."

"Where are you going?" He asks as I move to the door.

"To see that fucking doctor and look for ways to sue him."

"Sue the doctor?" He furrows his brows. "What happened?"

"How can a big hospital like this employ a crazy person as a nurse?" I can see he is still looking confused.

"He moves close to me. "If she is working here, I think you misunderstood it. It means she isn't crazy."

"She is", I insist.

He sighs. "What makes you think so?"

"You don't need to know." I turn back to go.

"Don't do anything rash, Antonio, so the poor girl won't lose her job." He advises me.

That stops me in my tracks. "Well, that is the exact thing I want to do. I will make sure she is fired", I growl and walk to the doctor's office slowly, supporting my waist with my left hand.

****

Harley's POV

I wake up right on time. I am done with my shift. It is time to go home since it's morning already. 

When I stand up to stretch my tired body, I realize I am awake because of the noise coming from the reception.

I move out of the cubicle that was hiding my sleeping body because my head was on the desm. My presence can only be made known when I am standing.

I am about to walk to the reception to see what is happening when a hand drags me back. It is Anita.

"Hey, what is happening?" I rub my sleepy eyes.

"Harley, you need to help me", I can sense the alarm in her tone.

I open my eyes wide and stare at her for a while trying to think of what help Anita needs from me again. Anita and I aren't close. None of my colleagues like me, they think I am crazy and weird.

"Ok?"

"I'm sorry for letting you do my job but I want you to please tell the doctor that you offered to help me......"

"Why?" I ask with a creased brow.

She swallows hard and looks down at her feet before looking up at me. "The doctor wants to see you." She informs me.

"Why?" I ask again, pondering over her weird behavior.

"The Billionaire wants to sue the hospital management", she announces.

"What? Why? Who is this fucking Billionaire that thinks...."

"The man you injected in ward 10", she cut me short. That brings back my memories and I recall what happened a few hours back. 

"He is the richest Billionaire in New York", she announce and it dawns on me that I have just tampered with the famous Antonio Rodriguez.

"The doctor asked me to call you. Let's go", she grabs my hand and practically drags me towards the doctor's office. 

When we are outside the doctor's office, she stops and turns to face me.  She put her palms together to plead with me to help her. I am speechless so I only nod in response.

She pushes the door and we enter.

"Harley", the doctor calls when he sees me. I look around to see the arrogant man glaring at me furiously and another guy seated beside him. He has an amusing look on his face and he looks handsome.

"Doc", I bow.

"Is it true?" He asks to my amazement.

"What?"

"You insulted him...." His voice is raised.

"He called me miserable," I reply, cutting him short. 

"And you pierce him hard on the buttocks", the doctor utters with disbelief. "Is this how you were taught to treat your patients?"

"He was proving hard to deal with and he didn't even allow me to......"

"Shut up", he snaps at me, with a look of anger.

"You have to apologize to him now. He wants to sue the hospital", I can see the fear in the doctor's eyes. I have always respected the old man. He reminds me of my father but standing here before him, seeing how scared he is makes the respect and admiration I have for him vanish into thin air. 

This is what they call power. The silly man thinks he has the power to do whatever he wishes and go scot-free.

I fold my arms around my bosom. No one can make me apologize to the ungrateful bastard.

"Aren't you going to apologize? Are you rich enough to pay a compensation fee?"

I shrug nonchalantly. To be honest, I am less concerned about the whole thing happening, they are the least of my problems. 

"Well, if he is willing to take 50 dollars." 

That is the highest I can afford. I feel it is better than apologizing to the idiot.

"What?" The doctor and the other guy exclaim. The arrogant man snorts and his friend starts to laugh.

"$50 as a compensation fee for a Billionaire?" The man questions, still laughing.

"Are you kidding me, Harley? Do you know what you are saying?" The Doctor sighs. "Do you have a million dollars to compensate him?"

"No", I answer honestly. I have never seen such money in my whole life.

The arrogant man sneers and says with a cold voice, "I should have known you were this poor."

"Excuse me?" I turn to him with a fierce look on my face.

"Next time, you won't ever cross my path again." He points his right hand at me angrily.

"Really? Who the hell do you think you are?"

"Are you seriously asking me that?" He chuckles. "I am a man of my words. When I say I have the power to destroy you, I mean it."

"Really? What sort of power do you have that you couldn't even protect yourself from getting shot?"

"Wow!" His friend mutters. He looks amazed that I am replying to his friend's statement.

"Harley", the doctor calls me angrily. "Quit the rubbish and apologize now!" He orders.

"I can't, doc." Just thinking of how he called me poor makes me feel he is not worthy of my apology, no matter the punishment the doctor will give to me.

"You won't?" He is surprised that I am not willing to apologize.

"I see no reason why I should apologize. You didn't even bother to hear my side of the story. I was just helping....."

"Harley, apologize now", he commands me.

"I won't", I stand my ground, ignoring the whispers from Anita.

Everyone fall silent until he leans forward and blurts out. 

"You are fired!"