Sixty Five

CHAPTER 65

Antonio sat in the hospital waiting room with a commanding posture, yet his eyes betrayed a tension that could not be hidden. The chairs around him were mostly empty, amplifying the eerie and oppressive silence of the space. Ben stood near the door, arms crossed in front of his chest, his face maintaining the vigilance he always carried. However, his gaze occasionally darted toward Antonio, particularly when the man kept rejecting incoming calls on his phone.

Antonio glanced at his phone’s vibrating screen again. The name of an important colleague appeared, but without hesitation, he swiped to decline the call. Ben raised an eyebrow, visibly bothered. After several repetitions of the same behavior, Ben finally mustered the courage to speak.

“Sir,” Ben cleared his throat softly, drawing Antonio’s attention. “I think you should answer one of those calls. They’re probably waiting on an important decision from you.”

Antonio lifted his gaze from the phone, his eyes coldly locking onto Ben. “Ben,” he said slowly, his tone low but loaded with pressure, “don’t ever try to dictate what I should do.”

Ben swallowed hard, feeling slightly intimidated. “I was just thinking—”

“Thinking?” Antonio cut him off, his voice growing firmer. “I pay you to follow orders, not to offer opinions. What do you think is more important right now? Discussing a project with colleagues or ensuring Cassandra wakes up?”

Ben lowered his head, avoiding Antonio’s piercing stare. “Apologies, sir. I was just trying to help.”

Antonio exhaled deeply, trying to control his irritation. “If you want to help, cancel all my appointments for today. Make sure nothing disturbs me until Cassandra regains consciousness.”

“All appointments, sir?” Ben asked hesitantly, though he already knew the answer.

“All,” Antonio repeated, his tone unyielding. “Tell them I’m unavailable, and don’t you dare disregard this order.”

Ben nodded slowly. Although he felt annoyed that Cassandra seemed to be Antonio’s top priority, he had no choice but to comply. Antonio was a man who never compromised once he made a decision.

As time passed, the atmosphere in the waiting room grew increasingly suffocating. Antonio remained seated in his chair, but the way his hand gripped his phone revealed his unease. Ben, now standing by the wall, observed how Antonio stared at the treatment room door with the intensity of someone waiting for a battle to commence.

“Sir,” Ben finally said, attempting to ease the tension, “the doctor mentioned they’ve stabilized her. Perhaps it’s only a matter of time before they return with good news.”

Antonio looked up, meeting Ben’s gaze briefly before replying sharply, “Time is a luxury we cannot afford to waste. I want to know what caused this, and I want a solution now.” He shifted in his seat, his eyes returning to the treatment room door. “Cassandra is part of my plan. I won’t let anyone or anything stand in my way.”

Ben could only nod, though deep down, he felt Antonio was being too stubborn. But that was his boss—ambitious, resolute, and always in control.

Antonio’s phone vibrated again. This time, the name of a director from a key business partner appeared on the screen. Ben nearly let out an audible sigh when Antonio once again declined the call without hesitation.

“You’re really not going to—” Ben began, but Antonio’s icy glare immediately silenced him.

“Do I need to repeat myself, Ben?” Antonio asked, his voice so low yet so menacing. “I won’t take any calls today. If anyone tries to force the issue, you’ll be the one I hold responsible. Understand?”

“Yes, sir,” Ben replied quickly, falling completely silent this time.

A few minutes later, a nurse emerged from the treatment room, holding a document in her hands. Antonio stood immediately, his steps brisk as he approached her.

“How is she?” he asked directly, wasting no time.

“Apologies, sir,” the nurse replied politely. “The doctor is still reviewing her lab results. We will update you as soon as there’s any development.”

Antonio nodded, though his impatience was clear. “Make sure I’m the first to know. I don’t want to wait longer than necessary.”

The nurse nodded quickly before returning to the treatment room. Antonio went back to his seat, this time leaning forward, his elbows resting on his knees. Ben could see Antonio’s jaw tightening—a sign that his mind was consumed with countless worst-case scenarios.

“Sir,” Ben said softly, attempting to speak more cautiously this time. “If I may ask, why is Cassandra so important to you?”

Antonio looked at him, his eyes seemingly evaluating whether the question stemmed from genuine curiosity or inappropriate prying. Finally, he answered, “She’s part of my strategy, Ben. Something I cannot allow to fail.”

Ben gave a small nod, though the answer still left him puzzled. However, he knew better than to press further.

Time continued to tick by, each second feeling like an additional weight on Antonio. He despised feeling powerless, and sitting idly like this was not something he excelled at. However, for Cassandra, he was willing to endure his frustration—at least for now.

Moments later, the treatment room door opened again. This time, the doctor who had spoken to Antonio earlier stepped out, his expression calm. Antonio stood quickly, intercepting the doctor before he could speak.

“The results?” Antonio asked immediately.

The doctor nodded slowly. “We’ve received the lab results. Cassandra is suffering from severe dehydration and a significant drop in blood pressure. This is most likely caused by exhaustion and a lack of proper nutrition. We’ve administered IV fluids and are ensuring she gets adequate rest.”

“When will she regain consciousness?” Antonio pressed.

“It’s hard to say,” the doctor replied. “However, her condition is stable now, and we believe she’ll wake up within the next few hours.”

Antonio exhaled slowly, much of the tension in his face beginning to dissipate. “Good. Make sure she gets the best care. If there’s anything additional she needs, inform me immediately.”

The doctor nodded before returning to the treatment room. Antonio sat back down, his expression slightly calmer. However, Ben could tell that his thoughts were still occupied with the next steps.

“Sir,” Ben spoke softly, cautiously offering a suggestion, “perhaps now would be a good time for you to consider resting for a moment.”

Antonio looked at him sharply, though this time without anger. “Rest? Ben, I’ll rest when everything is resolved. Cassandra wakes up, her condition improves, and I know what caused this. Until then, I won’t stop.”

Ben could only nod again. He knew that trying to change Antonio’s mind was an impossible task. And although he felt frustrated by Antonio’s excessive concern for Cassandra, he couldn’t deny that it was this very determination that made Antonio a man both respected and feared.