Chapter Seven

Elizabeth's Point of View:

After Richard left, I was given a room in the VIP section of the hospital to wait for my sister. It was the same room she would stay in after her procedure. To say it was luxurious would be an understatement. The place was magnificent—a private suite with an enormous closet and a bathroom that looked like something out of a high-end spa. It was bigger than our entire apartment.

As I sat there waiting, a nurse handed me a menu, asking me to choose whatever I wanted to eat. The menu was filled with meals I’d normally love to explore, but I had no appetite. How could I even think of food when Jessica was still in surgery?

I glanced at the clock, praying everything would go well. Occasionally, my mind drifted to Richard and his strange deal. What exactly did he mean by "anything" he asked? My stomach twisted at the thought, imagining all the ridiculous things he could demand from me.

The sound of the door creaking open jolted me out of my thoughts. My heart jumped as I watched the doctors wheel Jessica into the room. After more than six hours of surgery, they were finally done.

“How was it, Doctor?” I asked, my voice shaking, tears threatening to fall again.

The doctor didn’t answer right away. Instead, he focused on getting Jessica properly settled, adjusting the bed, checking the machines. I watched helplessly as they plugged her into various monitors, the room filling with the steady beeping and hissing of hospital equipment.

“The surgery went well,” the doctor finally said, offering a reassuring smile.

I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. “Really?” I asked, still needing confirmation.

“And just in time, too. Her brain was starting to lose oxygen.”

My heart sank. I couldn’t even begin to imagine what would have happened if they had truly pulled out her only oxygen supply.

“But you don’t need to worry. She’s going to be fine,” the doctor quickly added.

I nodded, taking a deep breath. “When will she wake up?” I asked, staring at her peaceful yet lifeless face.

“It’ll take a while. Her vitals are stable, and if there are no complications, she should wake up within the next seventy-two hours,” he explained.

I smiled weakly and pulled a chair beside her bed, taking her hand in mine. I spent the night there, refusing to move to the more comfortable visitor’s bed across the room. I wanted to be right next to her when she woke up.

********

The Next Day.

A loud, jarring sound startled me awake. I shot up, blinking in confusion. 'Was that a bell?' I hadn’t even known the room had one.

As soon as I raised my head, a sharp pain shot through my neck. “Ouch,” I winced. I had spent the night half-asleep with my head resting awkwardly against Jessica’s bed, and now my neck was sore.

A knock followed the noise, and I groaned. “Who is that? Come in!” I yelled, hoping they’d hear me.

The door swung open, and a tall blonde woman walked in, her heels clicking against the floor as she made her way toward me.

“Elizabeth?” she called out, flashing me a warm smile.

I nodded, studying her.

“I’m Vivian. I’m your sister’s care nurse,” she said.

I frowned, giving her a slow once-over. "A nurse?" She didn’t look like one. She was too well-dressed, her makeup flawless, her nails long and painted, and there wasn’t a single trace of exhaustion on her face—none of the eye bags or drained expressions nurses usually had from working endless shifts. Most importantly, no scrubs.

“Nurse?” I echoed, still eyeing her suspiciously.

She smiled. “A private care nurse. Mr. Richard William sent me.”

My heart clenched at the mention of that name.

“And you’re here to…?” I asked, still sizing her up.

“Stay with your sister while you freshen up and attend to other things,” she said.

My stomach twisted at "other things." What the hell did she mean by that? What did Richard tell her?

Before I could ask, my phone rang. I pulled it out, raising it to eye level. An unknown number.

Could it be Richard?

My heart pounded as I picked up the call. A female voice came through the line.

“Good morning, am I speaking with Elizabeth James?”

I nodded before realizing how stupid that was. “Yes,” I said quickly.

“My name is Beatrice. I work for Scarlet Tech. I wanted to confirm if you received our email yesterday and if you’ll be coming in for your documentation.”

I froze. "Scarlet Tech." I had completely forgotten about the offer.

I hesitated, glancing at Jessica. Could I really leave her alone?

But this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I couldn’t just let it pass.

I needed the money. We were long overdue on rent, and I had been avoiding our landlady. I barely had anything left. And once Jessica was fine, she’d still need money for tuition, clothes, food—everything.

“Yes, I’ll be there,” I said without a second thought.

“Good. Your documentation starts at 9 a.m. Anything after that, and Scarlet Tech will assume you are no longer interested in working with us,” Beatrice said, her polite tone shifting into something more strict and professional. Before I could respond, she hung up.

I snapped my head toward the clock on the wall. "7:00 a.m.""

The train from Kingsbridge to Midtown Manhattan was at least forty minutes. And I was still wearing the same clothes from yesterday—I reeked of sweat and tears.

I got to my feet quickly, rummaging through my bag for a piece of paper. Scribbling my number onto it, I shoved it into Vivian’s hands.

“Please call me if she wakes up. I have to go,” I said hurriedly, not even waiting for a response before grabbing my things and rushing out of the hospital.

As I made my way home, I prayed Mrs. Sandra, our landlady, wouldn’t be around. She had been searching for me to hand me the eviction notice, but I’d managed to avoid her every time.

Clearly, I hadn’t prayed hard enough.

As soon as I reached the building, there she was—standing in front of my door, banging on it.

My breath hitched.

I slowed my steps, my mind racing. If she saw me, there would be no escaping it. She’d force me to move out on the spot. No pleading, no extensions. Just a locked door and my things thrown out on the curb.

I glanced at my phone. "7:08 a.m.""

If I didn’t get inside, change, and leave immediately, I’d never make it in time.

But how the hell was I supposed to get past her?