Chapter 8 - Soon you'll get better...

Chapter 8 - Soon you’ll get better

Allister Cross

POV

RING

RING

RING

The sound of my phone ringing wakes me from my sleep. My head pounding. I feel like a truck had run over my head at least ten thousand times.

Bloody hell did I drink too much last night? Did I drink last night?

Too lazy to get up, while laying on my stomach I reach for my phone on my bedside table. I answer the call without looking who it is.

“What?” I bark. Who had the nerve to call me this early in the morning? It was morning right? I didn’t even care to open my eyes.

“Sir we’ve got a problem...” My assistant says.

I sit up “What? What’s going on? Has a deal fallen through?” I ask confused.

I look around the room and see my daughter asleep beside me... When did Leah sneak in here? I sigh standing up from the bed. I walk out of my room and close the door so she could sleep on.

“Sir Mrs. Cross is the hospital. Someone got pictures of her being escorted out of a hotel by paramedics yesterday afternoon its all over the news...”

My heart drops. I run my fingers through my hair. “My mother collapsed? Why didn’t my father call me?” I was confused.

I look at my room door. I’ll have to wake Leah so we could go to the hospital. Is Antonella home?

“No sir. Your wife...”

I blink. “Antonella?”

What the hell was she doing at the hotel? What the hell happened to her that she ended up in the hospital?

“Yes sir. I couldn’t find out how she was doing, even when I told them I was your assistant... The media is having a field day because no one from your family has visited. Only her two friends have.”

I feel my headache getting ten times worse than it already was. Jesus what is she up to now?

I stare ahead trying to figure out my next move. Even if I showed up now the media will still have a field day. Antonella and I might be married but we’re not each other’s emergency contacts.

Wait didn’t she have flu recently? Could it be that?

“Call my parents and ask them to come and look after Leah for me please and clear my schedule for today...” I tell her before hanging up.

I walk back to the room, I search for something to wear.

Once I get something to wear, I walk out. The last thing I wanted was to wake Leah, especially since I had no idea what’s going on with Antonella.

What the hell was she doing at the hotel in the first place? Was it something she ate?

I try to gather my thoughts. There was no I drank last night if I was alone at home looking after our daughter. I would never do that.

I shower as quickly as I can. When I’m done I get dressed and head downstairs and wait for my parents.

I needed a second to get my thoughts in order. Antonella and I weren’t like most married couple’s in many ways. I don’t even know how to ask for her at the hospital. Does she go by Cross? Or Ricci?

As her husband I should know this. I’m going to look like a complete fool. To the entire internet we’re this perfect married couple, when I don’t even think we’ve been in the same room long enough to have a conversation about hospital visits. If our daughter or cameras aren’t in the room we don’t interact with one another.

I call my driver. My head was throbbing and I wasn’t going to try driving myself at three in the morning.

I hate the entire Ricci family. They are bunch of vile animals trying to take everything from my family.

I was forced to marry Antonella and then we were forced to have a daughter together. Her father has been on our case for a son, but Antonella and I both shot that down.

Plus she has that weird affair with her business partner.

I check out what the people are saying online.

God it isn’t good.

‘So called perfect couple and the husband couldn’t even be bothered to visit his wife in hospital...’

‘Maybe he’s taking care of their daughter?’

‘Oh taking care of their daughter? Then where are her parents? Or his? Can’t they take care of their daughter so he can see his daughter?’

‘True something about this couple screams fake. Antonella is constantly travelling and concentrating on her company that she doesn’t eat. The women is ten times smaller than she should be. Has anyone ever even seen her eat anything?’

‘I don’t think their marriage is real. I’ve never seen them together at any of her foundations events. It’s only ever his work events. She doesn’t eat and he has a wondering eye. She’s trying to stay thin to keep him...’

I sigh frowning at that comment. Bloody hell is she that thin?

Why are most of the comments about her weight.

I see a couple of pictures of her arriving at the airport two days ago. I look at the pictures and frown. She does look thin.

Is she not eating? Was it because she was sick recently?

“Allister!” my mother shouts walking into the house.

I stand from the sofa and make my way over to my parents.

I kiss my mother on the cheek and hug my father.

“Leah’s asleep in my bed. Can you get her ready for school and get her to school please. I don’t know what’s going on so I have no idea what time we’ll be back later...” I ask them.

They nod.

“Let us know as soon as you hear something...” my father asks.

I nod “I’ll call you as soon I find out what happened.” I promise before leaving.

I get into my car.

I check out a few more comments about what happened yesterday.

How has it gotten so out of hand on the internet and I only just found out?

I’m assuming Dean is with her? Why didn’t he call me? He must have known the media would spin this out of proportion. A call would have saved us all the damn headache.

“Can you stop for coffee somewhere?” I ask my driver.

I needed so sort of caffeine or my head might explode.

He nods.

I closed my eyes just for a beat.

“Sir...” my drivers voice startles me.

I open my eyes. “Sir we’re at the hospital...” he tells me.

I frown confused. I look around and see we’re at the entrance of the hospital and the crowd is right beside us.

My coffee?

He hands me my coffee. “I got your coffee sir. I didn’t want to disturb your rest...” he tells me.

I nod. Taking the coffee from him.

He gets out and opens my door. I get out and head straight in ignoring the shouts and screams behind me. The cameras flashing as well.

I hated the cameras. I didn’t like being on the front page of a gossip magazine because people want to pry into my marriage.

I take a sip of my coffee as I walk in.

I see Dean Antonella’s friend standing on his phone.

I walk over to him. I drink my coffee as I wait for him to finish up his call.

“I fucking told you I didn’t want Antonella doing those anymore. Look what happened yesterday because she did your meeting when she was sick...” he roars.

I frown. So Antonella overworked herself?