A Naive Bride for the Sophisticated CEO

Chapter 26: On the sick bed.

James became so busy in his office with paperworks. He for the first time regretted firing Amelia.

He would have pushed the whole work to her, and she wouldn’t have complained.

He reached for his tea cup and gulped some of his warm tea. He stood up and adjusted his pants before stretching.

He was about to sit and resume working when he heard a knock on his door.

“It’s not locked,” He responded without bothering to look at who it was.

The door opened, and he heard the click-clack of Ava’s high-heels approach him. He lifted his head and when he saw it was her, he raised his eyebrows in surprise.

“Ava? What are you doing here?” He asked, and she let out a bright smile.

“Do you have to ask me that? I came to see you of course.” She drew the chair backward and sat before he asked her to sit.

“You could have done it some other time. I’m so busy right now.”

He shifted his attention from her, back to the paperwork on his desk.

“Can I help you then? I can assist you now that I’m here.”

James scoffed and looked at her.

“You? Help with paperwork? I don’t think you can handle stuff like this. This isn’t modeling or a fashion show.”

“What do you mean, James? I can do better than Amelia,” She said, feeling offended.

“No, I don’t think so. Amelia may not be fashionable, but she is intelligent and smart. You are nothing compared to her.”

“If that is it. Why did you fire her? She is smart and intelligent, why can’t you marry her?”

“What I decide to do is none of your business, Ava. Please leave, I need to get back to work.”

“I know you don’t like her. There is nothing likeable about her. You prefer her to me. Why don’t you choose me instead? Show your parents you don’t want her and…”

“Hey, stop there. How do you know about this in the first place?”

“James, I’m still in my father’s house,” She chuckled.

“Exactly! More reasons why you should get something profitable doing, so that you can have a house of your own. Stop poking your nose into other people’s businesses.”

“James, why do you hate me so much? Can’t you see I love you?”

“I can’t see, Ava. I’m beginning to regret that I spent that night with you in the first place. I told you clearly that I don’t make love. I f**k, and you agreed not to disturb me after that night. So why do you keep pressuring me?”

“I thought I could stay away from you, but I can’t James. I’m in love with you! I’m obsessed. I can’t let Amelia snatch you away from me.”

“No, you are mistaken. I was never with you, and no one is snatching me from anyone. Stop insinuating rubbish, okay? The earlier you know I don’t feel the slightest thing for you, the better.” Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

“So you feel something for Amelia, hun?”

James clenched his jaws when she mentioned Amelia’s name again. He wanted her to stop talking, and he came up with the perfect idea for it.

“Yes! I feel something for Amelia. She is better than you with everything. She doesn’t make me feel sick like you do, okay?!”

“James…” She mumbled.

“That’s enough, Ava. Get out!” He beat the table, making her flinch. He sprang to his feet, and she gulped hard as she stared at him.

“Get out!” He smacked, and she hurriedly jumped to her feet. Tears streamed out of her eyes as she slowly walked to the door.

“I promise you, James. I’m not going to let you go easily. If I can’t have you, then no one can!”

She slammed the door behind her, and James rolled his eyes and sat on his chair again.

“Slut.” He mumbled.

He took another sip from his tea and placed it carefully on the table. His phone began to ring, and he saw it was Helen calling.

He exhaled softly and answered the phone.

“Hi, Mom.”

“James…” Helen responded with a low, hoarse voice.

“Mom, are you okay? Why do you sound weird?”

“I’m not feeling well, Son.”

“What?…” James sprang to his feet. “What’s wrong with you? When did you start feeling this way?”

“It started at night. I wanted to call you, but I didn’t want you to come all the way from your house down here.”

“Mom, seriously? You should have told me. Where is Dad? Isn’t he supposed to be with you?”

He pinned his phone to his ear with his left shoulder and began to pack up his paperwork.

“I’m here, James. I’ve been begging her to use the drugs the doctor prescribed, but she refused. She said you have to come to the house,” Charles answered.

“Mom, please use your medication, okay? I’m on my way already.”

James picked only his car keys and ran to his door. He locked the door and headed to the elevator.

“I’ll use it when you are here. Since you left the house and returned to yours, you have refused to talk to me. I know you are mad at me.”

“I’m not mad anymore, Mom. Use your medications. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

James hung up the call and hurriedly got out of the company.

***

“Are you sure this is going to work?” Charles asked.

“Trust me. It is going to work. I just need him to believe I’m really sick. He will do whatever I ask him,” Helen replied with a smirk.

“I hope so.”

They stared at each other for some minutes, and Charles looked away first.

The door to the room where Helen laid opened, and James rushed in.

“Mom.” He called, totally ignoring his Dad. He sat next to her on the bed she laid and placed the back of his hand on her forehead.

“Mom! You are burning up!” James uttered, almost yelling.

“She still hasn't used the drugs. She wanted to see you first,” Charles said.

“I’m here now. Use it now.” He stretched out his hand, and Charles passed the drugs in his hand to him.

James was so scared for his mom that he didn’t bother to check what the drugs were used for.

“Mom, sit up.” He said.

He wanted to pick up the glass of water on the lampstand next to the bed when Helen held his hand.

“I don’t want to use the drugs,” She mumbled.

“Mom… C’mon. I’m here now. I promise I won’t go back to my house until you’re better.”

Helen shook her head and withdrew her hand from his.

“That alone won’t make me take it.”

James sighed and nodded. “Okay. Okay, what do you want then?”

“You are not going to give me, James. Just let me die. I would love to be buried in…”

“Stop!” Charles and James chorused.

“You are not dying, okay? Stop talking like this. I won’t let you die,” James said fearfully.

“Then do you promise to give me what I want?” She mumbled, and James bounced his head.

“I cross my heart.” He crossed his hands over his chest, and Helen nodded slowly.

“I want…” She let out a dry cough, and James hurriedly passed the glass of water to her.

“Drink water.”

Helen slowly dragged herself up and rested her back on the bed’s backrest. She sipped from the water and closed her eyes weakly.

“I want you to marry Amelia.”

“What?” James sprang to his feet in disbelief. He looked at Charles, and saw he had a surprised look too.

“Helen, what is wrong with you? You know James would never do that! Do you want to die?”

“Then he should let me die! Leave me alone. I won’t use those drugs until he promises me he is going to marry Amelia.”

She laid on bed again and pulled the duvet over her body.

“James.” Charles called with worry and looked at him.

James looked away and let out a heavy sigh. He looked at Helen and noticed she was shivering under the bedsheets.

“Fine! I’ll marry her. Will you please use the drugs now?” James asked, and Helen felt butterflies in her belly. She had never been happier her whole life.

“I can’t believe you so easily. You can change your mind,” She muttered.

“What else do you want me to do? I’ve promised you.”

“Call Freddie and tell him you accept his daughter. Then I’ll believe you, and I’ll use my medications. All of it.”

James grabbed his hair in frustration and slowly bounced his head. He looked at Charles, and Charles pulled out his phone to call Freddie.

After Freddie answered the phone, he stretched it to James, who collected it.

“Hi, Mr. Freddie. I just want to let you know that I want to marry Amelia now,” He said coldly and stretched the phone to Charles again.

“Here, use them already.” He stretched the drugs to her, and she smiled and bobbed.

“I’ll use them now.” She grinned, and James rolled his eyes and looked away.