" Mr. Alistair!" Lacey's eyes widened when she saw Alistair approaching. Who invited him here? She wondered.
Alistair shot her a careless grin relishing the shocked look on her face. It wasn't everytime that he managed to get her to be in this state.
" What are you doing here?" Mark piped up as he shot a glare at Alistair. What was he trying to prove?
" I came here to sort out her medical bills, which we know that you can't afford." Alistair shot him a grim smile not minding that her parents were present in the room.
Mr. Richard coughed, interrupting the staring match between both men. He would have told Alistair off but he knew that his daughter loved her job and would never forgive him if he caused her to lose it. " Young man, I don't think you noticed our presence." He said.
Alistair raked his eyes up and down Lacey's father and gave a small nod
" I'm sorry about my manners. It's a pleasure to meet you."
" Are you kidding me right now?!" Mark threw his hands in the air. They were going to stand and watch him speak to them condescendingly? Mark wondered.
" Thank you for coming to see me sir." Lacey responded begrudgingly. She would have preferred he didn't. Why was he even here anyways? It was still too early and she hadnt even called in sick, although she was planning to because she didn't think she would function better in that situation.
" Good to see that you are recovering nicely."
Lacey shot her mom a meaningful look, Mom, is this the kind of suitor you want for me? She thought. She hoped that this action didn't fly over her mother's head so that she would stop suggesting that she followed this obnoxious man.
She saw her father tapping his foot in anger and she feared that he would speak up, " Dad, Mom, I think Mr. Alistair wants to have a private conversation with me. It's strictly professional." She added the last sentence.
Her parents nodded and walked out of the room. Mark stood stubbornly in the center of the room and Alistair raised a questioning brow, " Aren't you leaving too?"
" Pretend as if I'm not here, you say I'm insignificant."
" Finally we agree on something. If you had done this earlier, I wouldn't have had a problem with you." Alistair replied, hoping for a reaction only to be met with a gentle shrug.
" Go on." Mark took the seat that was close to the door. Hell would freeze over before leaving this room today.
He placed his leg on the center table which was in the ward. It must be expensive to have such features. It was probably a private room which cost an arm or a leg but he was less concerned. All he wanted was to make sure that she was not left alone with this evil man during her vulnerable state. If she didn't see it for what it was, then it was probably fine.
Lacey's eyes darted nervously to Mark who was sitting and looking like he didn't have a care about the world. He didn't look like he was moving out anytime soon and deep down she appreciated it. She wouldn't want to be left with Alistair alone, not that she thought he would harm her but she felt safer and more in control with Mark in the same space.
" Thanks for coming to check up on me, sir."
" Call me Alistair." He ordered.
" I... I can't call you that, you are a boss..."
" And I can go by whatever name I want. If I want you to address me by name, then that's what you'd do. It's as simple as that."
Mark balled his fists, oh how he would love to pummel his fists in this bastard's face. He couldn't wait for him to have his just desserts and he knew that it was going to happen sooner than expected.
" Tell this scallywag to go get you something to eat or drink, even if it's an energy drink. This is so common sense. Alas it's not that common." Alistair smirked in Mark's direction and chuckled quietly.
Mark pretended not to hear what was said about him,
" Are you sure that his poverty has not clogged his brain because he didn't move an inch?" Alistair asked and Lacey rolled her eyes inwardly. What was wrong with this man?
State your case and get out of this place.she would prefer to sleep or be in Mark's company than his.
Whoa! Where did that thought come from? Well, it wasn't bad, it was for protective purposes of course. " Mr. Alistair, let's ignore him," she tried to distract him from Mark.
Mark was impressed by the flit of annoyance he heard in her voice. She was surely pissed and he smiled. She had no ounce of admiration for this man before them.
"He's like a fly perching on good food and I don't want to see him around anymore." Alistair replied not minding that he just insulted Mark.
Lacey sighed and didn't know when she blurted, " Mr. Alistair I don't think you should keep talking about my husband. Let's cut to the chase, my head is still aching."
Alistair looked taken aback for a split second and Lacey sighed deeply again.
" I mean, my ex-husband is not relevant to us so..."
" Wow, I wouldn't have imagined you saying that in his presence." Alistair pretended to be shocked.
Mark shut his eyes to block out the unreasonable comments from Alistair. It was either he was pretending to be oblivious to the fact that Lacey was tired of talking to him or he was having a hard time being rejected.
"He's not even listening to us," Lacey buttressed.
"That's good to know, let's see what can be done. I've spoken to your boss about this and we've come to an agreement that you'd be resuming in my office in two days' time since you are a bit under the weather."
Lacey's mouth dropped open.