Say Hello to the Devil for Me

Say Hello to the Devil for Me
Susan wheeled herself steadily down the expansive hallway after exiting Joseph’s room. The wheels of her chair rolled softly against the polished marble floor, the echo faint but constant as she moved forward. Her shoulders were squared, her chin lifted, but the tension in her face betrayed the storm churning inside her. Her lips were pressed together, her jaw tight, her eyes fixed straight ahead as though she refused to look at anything that might slow her pace.

The grand hallway stretched endlessly before her, adorned with towering statues, gold-accented columns, and framed portraits that silently watched her pass. Normally, she would have noticed the elegance, the wealth screaming from every corner— but not now. Her mind replayed Joseph’s words again and again, each repetition tightening her chest.

As she wheeled closer to her room, her gaze lifted— and she saw Eric.

He stood by her door, tall and composed, his posture straight and professional as always. The moment the faint sound of her wheelchair reached his ears, he turned to face her. His expression softened slightly when he recognized her.

“Morning, ma,” Eric greeted, giving a respectful bow as she reached him.

“Morning, Eric,” Susan replied, a polite smile forming on her lips. It didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Why are you here?”

“I’m here to take you for today’s doctor’s appointment,” Eric responded, his professional smile steady. “I’m surprised you’re not ready. Did you forget? I know you’re a punctual person.”

Susan let out a short breath and shook her head lightly. “Oh, that’s true— you’re the one taking me as usual. I didn’t forget,” she said, rolling her eyes slightly. “I was just coming from Joseph’s room, trying to convince him to come with me.”

Eric tilted his head a fraction. “And how did that go?” he asked gently, though his tone remained professional.

“He refused,” Susan replied instantly. The smile vanished from her face. “Told me I should have informed him earlier. He basically said he was too busy for his kid.” Her voice tightened at the last word, her fingers curling slightly around the armrest of her wheelchair.

Eric took a slow breath, his chest rising and falling before he spoke. “I understand how you must feel,” he said quietly.

Susan let out a humorless scoff. “You couldn’t possibly imagine,” she replied, shaking her head.

Eric met her gaze and nodded once. “Trust me,” he said, his voice calm but firm. “More than you know.”

For a moment, silence stretched between them, heavy but not uncomfortable.

“When would you be ready?” Eric asked next. “Should I come back later?”

“I should be ready in a minute,” Susan replied. “You can go and check back in fifteen minutes.”

“There’s no need for me to go,” Eric said immediately. “I’ll wait here till you’re done. Then we can go.”

Susan considered that, then nodded slightly. “Why don’t you get the cars ready as I prepare?”

“The cars are already ready,” Eric responded smoothly. “You just have to be ready, and we’re on our way.”

Susan let out a small smile. “Always professional as usual. I should have known the cars would be ready.” She paused, then added, “Alright then, let me go get ready.”

“Yes, ma,” Eric said, stepping aside and pulling her room door open for her.

Susan wheeled herself inside, her gaze briefly meeting his before she disappeared into the room. Eric watched her enter, then returned to his position by the door, his hands clasped neatly in front of him.

Barely a minute passed before the sound of approaching heels echoed down the hallway.

Eric looked up.

Maggie was walking toward him.

She moved with practiced elegance, her posture straight, her chin high. Her expression was neutral, but her eyes were sharp— calculating. As she approached, Eric straightened further and gave a respectful bow.

“Good morning, Mrs. Anderson,” he greeted.

“Morning,” Maggie replied coolly. Her gaze swept over him, then flicked briefly toward Susan’s door. “What are you doing here?”

“Are you assigned to be her personal guard?” she added, disdain creeping into her tone.

Eric maintained his smile. “No, ma’am.”

Maggie’s brows knit slightly. “Then why are you here?” she cut in sharply.

“I’m here because I’m taking her to the hospital for a check-up,” Eric answered, his voice steady, his expression unchanged.

Maggie paused.

A faint smile touched her lips, subtle but unmistakable. “Is that so?” she muttered softly, more to herself than to him.

“Yes, ma’am,” Eric replied.

“Okay,” Maggie said simply, then walked past him.

She didn’t turn around immediately to head back to her room. Instead, she took a longer route down the hallway, her heels tapping rhythmically against the floor as her mind worked rapidly. The faint smile remained on her face, growing sharper with every step.

When she finally entered her room, she shut the door behind her and moved straight to the bed. Her phone lay where she had left it earlier. She grabbed it quickly, her fingers moving with purpose as she dialed a number.

The call connected after a few rings.

“Hello,” a masculine voice answered from the other end.

“Hello,” Maggie replied, a wicked grin spreading across her face. “Our job has just been made easy. And it can happen today.”

There was a brief pause. “You want us to kill her today?” the man asked.

“Yes,” Maggie answered immediately.

“That— how would that be possible?” the man responded. “She’s not just a random person we can walk up to and gun down. We’ll have to wait until she’s out of the house, when she has little to no security with her. When she least expects it.”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying,” Maggie replied calmly, her voice barely above a whisper. “She’s headed to the hospital now for a check-up. And I’m certain that her dumb ass would only be taking a security guard with her.”

She paused, her smile deepening. “We have a clear opportunity today. I don’t want to waste it. Can you do your job, or should I find someone else? Because I want that witch that calls herself Susan dead today.”

“You don’t have to worry about a thing, ma’am,” the man replied. “We’ll get it done.”

“Alright,” Maggie said softly. “I’m counting on you.”

“I won’t disappoint you,” he assured her.

“Okay,” Maggie replied.

The call disconnected.

Maggie lowered the phone slowly, then threw a victorious jab into the air, her lips curling into a cruel smile. “You thought you could come in between me and my son?” she said aloud. “You’ve chosen the wrong opponent to go against, Susan.”

Her eyes gleamed with satisfaction as she continued, her voice dripping with venom. “And today, I send you and the bastard child you’re carrying to the pit of hell from whence you came. Say hello to the devil for me.”

TO BE CONTINUED IN BOOK TWO...

YOU CAN ALSO CHECK OUT MY OTHER BOOKS, SUCH AS "SISTERS," "SISTERS II: THE EMILY SAGA," AND "ONE NIGHT STAND WITH CEDRIC HALL."

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