My thoughts were debating whether I should find a way to escape or not while Eric was still fast asleep. I may have avoided Eric’s sexual advances tonight, but this night’s absence would only increase his hunger. With that in mind, I downloaded an SOS app, and I called the emergency response unit using Eric’s phone. Not long after, the sound of the ambulance’s siren reverberated through the confines of the bedroom.
I tiptoed out of the room, throwing glances at Eric. My heart leaped in fright when he suddenly moved just as I turned the doorknob. Thankfully, he didn’t stir again, and his face showed a relaxed expression telling me that he was indeed fast asleep. Just as I walked past the bedroom door, Eric’s phone rang. I brought it with me because that was my only weapon against the guards stationed outside the gate. I turned it on a loudspeaker mode as one of the emergency responders spoke from the end of the line.
“Dr. G
Sean looked so stunning in my dream; his eyes were filled with love as he looked at me. That gentle gaze probably held some magic spell because I melted like wax against candlelight, suddenly forgetting all of his sins. Smelling that musky scent of his body, I got drawn to the comfort I missed for a couple of days already. I snuggled into his chest, and his arm wrapped around me tightly. The last thing I remembered about that dream was when he kissed my temple before I drifted off to deep sleep.“Dr. Red?” a gentle voice pierced into my ear, waking me up. I turned to my other side, wanting to sleep more.“Dr. Red!” This time, she rubbed my upper arm. And when I didn’t move, he shook me gently.I forced my eyes to open up, meeting the worried look of the housekeeper.“Yes, nay?” I also addressed her the way Philip and Sean called her.“Dr. Red, you should wake up now. You slept too long already. You al
As soon as I hit the red dial icon, the light started flashing, signifying a coming call. I stared at the screen for a couple of seconds before making up my mind. Just by looking at the last few digits of that unsaved number, I knew it was Eric. I was afraid to talk to him again, scared that I would fall into his trap.The constant ringing eventually convinced me to accept the call, and I was not mistaken. The rich, masculine voice that brought about a domineering tone was indeed, Eric's.“My love,” he said, and my hair crawled at his endearment. “I underestimated your capacity to escape. I felt scared for you. Where are you now?”“I’m fine. You don’t have to worry,” I answered in a lazy tone, followed by a yawn.“Where are you?” His voice cracked a little, somewhat irritated.“It’s not important.”“Red— “he paused for a while, drawing out a hiss,
A ring from my phone stopped me from answering Atty. Evarez’ question. How could I tell him that I knew it from Eric? I didn’t want him to know that I had been abducted. And as lots of revelations unfolded, I had suspected that the mastermind behind it was Ian, himself. Though that abduction was somewhat a child’s play, I knew it just served as a warning that something huge was cooking for me should I refuse to submit to his demand.I picked up my phone from the table in front of me. Upon seeing Eric’s number flashing on the screen, I gestured at Atty. Evarez to excuse me. I went out of the function room then held the phone in my ear.“Eric, what is it this time?”
“What is bothering you, babe?”His voice--quite loaded with concerned tone--drew out the melancholic side of me. Instead of telling my intention, I ended up breaking apart, howling out my grief and confusion into a wail. I didn’t know how long I emptiedmy heart this way, but the crackles I heard from the other line implied that he was patiently listening.“Sean, I’m already so confused,” I said in between my stifled sobs after a long while.“I’m sorry.”“Sean, please take back the company. I was such a fool to put itat risk. I want to go back to my old, simple life. I don’t want this kind of trouble anymore. You know, I can already fend for myself and my child as a doctor.”His silence for a couple of seconds was his response. Afraid that he would drop the call, I continued talking.“With so many lies, I don’t know whom to trust anymore. I just wa
What could I expect? I was just a rookie against these experienced magnates. No matter how I explained it to all of them, no one would agree that Mr. Ian had ill intentions against the company.“When can I meet this, Mr. Ian?” I asked in a frustrated tone. It had already been an hour since the meeting started, but he still did not arrive.“He is currently trouble-shooting in one of our companies. Ever since Mr. Grey’s resignation spread around, we are already facing lots of problems.”Just as I got this answer, Atty. Evarezphone buzzed out and rotated on top of the glass table. He tilted his face and glanced at me before he stood up to answer the call. Not even a minute passed when he came back with an announcement.“Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Ian sends us his apology. He could not make it today."No one seemed to appear frustrated more than I was. They were just chatting casually and even throwing jokes as
I woke up seeing an unfamiliar, white ceiling later. Moving my eyes to the surroundings next, I realized I was on a hospital bed. I raised my arm and an IV tubing dangled, drawing my eyes into the IV site in my hand. I did not know how long did I doze off, but the ache in my back told me I had knocked out for a long while already.I snapped when I recalled the reason I was here. I pulled myself to a sitting position, trying to assess my condition. A minute passed and I did not feel any lightheadedness, so I assumed I could now go down and walk. Before my feet could land on the floor, the door opened and a lady in a blue scrub suit entered.“Mrs. Grey, good morning!” she greeted with a twinkle in her eyes and a broad smile on her triangular face. “I am nurse Jera, a private duty nurse assigned to you by your husband.”“My husband?” I furrowed my brows, wondering if Sean came in and brought me here.“Yes, your husba
Several hours passed by, and nothing happened. I tried to take my thoughts off from my stressors and allowed myself to get dragged off to sleep. Ever since I arrived in this place, there seemed to no cease from things that deprived me of rest and sleep. And my body was then claiming for the rejuvenation it needed. In the afternoon, the obstetrician-gynecologist finally arrived.“Dr. Grey,” she greeted, and I saw Jera’s eyes flickering in surprise. “How are you now?”I propped up on my bed, and she did not go ahead until I had leaned my back on the bed board.“Hello, doc. I’m into several hours of sleep, I guess.”She smiled while fixing her gaze at me. I saw glints of concern in that look, and I began to get nervous.“I know you’re eager to know about the status of your baby. While stress is not good for our overall health, no study links it to any termination of pregnancy. And bleeding in
Maybe because I had come up with a decision, my lower abdominal cramps did not recur any more. I had a dreamless sleep all through the night, and all those body malaise and dizziness I had were gone. With the help of Jera, I was able to get ready for my meeting with Mr. Ian that morning. Atty. Evarez informed me through a message that he and Mr. Ian would come in the morning, in response to my message about selling my share.I changed to a casual dress that Nay Mina had sent me. With a soft touch of pink lipstick and a blush-on, I did not make any effort to appear presentable before Ian. Anyway, I was confined at the hospital and what anyone may expect was that I would be in a hospital gown.Since I occupied the most expensive hospital room, there was a sitting area for the visitors. It had couches, a center table, and built-in cupboards. And before the shorthand of the clock on the wall hit number eight, I was already sitting in one of the couches, anticipating their