Chapter 6 0006
COLLIN’S POV
The hospital smelled like cheap cleaning stuff when I walked through the automatic doors. I hated hospitals because there were too many people asking questions and sticking their noses where they didn’t belong, but I had to be here since my new wife just fainted at our wedding, and that looked really bad on me.
I loosened my tie as I walked down the hallway. The business mess got handled well enough; one of my associates thought he could steal money, and I had to remind him why that was a terrible idea. Those broken fingers he got would make sure he remembered next time.
I smiled at a nurse as I passed her, and she blushed and then looked away. Good, I liked that. People saw what I wanted them to see, which was a successful lawyer with money and charm. They never saw what was underneath and that was exactly how I liked it.
Caitlyn’s room was on the third floor. I looked at my watch and noticed I’d been gone for almost five hours. That was longer than I planned, but some things couldn’t be rushed because I needed to make sure my message was clear, and that took time.
I opened the door to her room and put on my concerned husband face. It was easy, all things considered, after years of practice. I just softened my eyes a little and let worry show on my forehead, and added a slight frown so everyone would believe I cared.
“Caitlyn,” I said as I walked over to her bed. She was awake and staring at the ceiling like it held all the answers to the universe. “How are you feeling?”
She turned to look at me and I noticed something different in her eyes, fear maybe, or guilt, or something else I couldn’t quite name.
“I’m fine,” she said but her voice shook just a little. “The doctor said it was just stress and dehydration.”
I sat down in the chair next to her bed and took her hand. Her fingers were cold and she flinched when I touched her, which was another interesting reaction. My new wife was hiding something from me and I needed to find out what.
“You scared everyone,” I said and squeezed her hand gently, not too hard because I didn’t want to leave marks but enough to remind her I was in control. “Your father was very worried.”
“I know,” she whispered and looked away from me. “I’m sorry I ruined the wedding.”
“You didn’t ruin anything,” I lied smoothly, even though she really did, because now people would talk and wonder and ask questions, but I could fix that, I could fix anything. “These things happen. The important thing is that you’re okay.”
The doctor knocked on the door and came in with a clipboard. He was young and looked nervous, which probably meant he was new, perfect, because new doctors were easier to manipulate; they still cared about following the rules.
“Mr. Hayes,” he said and nodded at me. “I was just coming to check on your wife.”
“Of course,” I said and stood up. “I’ll step outside and give you some privacy.”
“No,” Caitlyn said quickly and grabbed my arm. “You can stay.”
I looked at her and saw panic in her eyes. She definitely was hiding something, and now I was very curious what it could be. I sat back down and watched as the doctor checked her vital signs and asked boring questions about how she felt.
“Everything looks good,” the doctor said finally. “You can go home tomorrow morning if you continue to improve.”
“Thank you, doctor,” I said before Caitlyn could speak. “We appreciate you taking such good care of my wife.”
He nodded and left the room. I waited until the door closed before I turned back to Caitlyn. She was staring at her hands and biting her lip which was something she did when she was nervous. I’d noticed that during our engagement.
“Is there something you want to tell me?” I asked, keeping my voice soft and caring. It was important to make her think I actually cared about whatever was bothering her.
“No,” she said too quickly. “I’m just tired.”
I didn’t believe her, but I let it go for now, pushing too hard too fast would make her defensive, and I needed her to trust me, or at least think she could.
“I have to go back to the office for a few hours,” I said and stood up. “But I’ll be back tonight to check on you.”
“You’re leaving again?” She looked hurt which was funny because she should know by now that my work came first, always.
“I have a very important meeting I can’t reschedule,” I explained patiently like I was talking to a kid. “But I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”
I leaned down and kissed her forehead. She smelled like hospital soap and fear. I wondered what she was so afraid of. Maybe she was having second thoughts about marrying me, and that would be bad because divorce wasn’t something I planned for, especially since I needed her for specific reasons, and those hadn’t changed.
“Get some rest,” I told her and walked to the door.
“Collin,” she called and I stopped.
“Do you love me?” she asked quietly.
I turned and gave her my best smile, the one that made women think I was sincere, honest, and all the things I definitely wasn’t.
“Of course I love you,” I said. “Why would you ask that?”
“No reason,” she said quietly. “I just wanted to hear you say it.”
I left the room and my smile disappeared the second the door closed behind me. Love? What a ridiculous idea, I didn’t love Caitlyn. I didn’t love anyone; love was a weakness that got people hurt or worse. I learned that lesson long ago.
But I needed her to think I loved her because I needed her to be the perfect wife who stood by my side and made me look good. Her father was an important part of my organization, and marrying his daughter gave me power. Power was the only thing that mattered.
I walked down the hallway and pulled out my phone. I had three missed calls from Dimitri and one from my secretary. I ignored Dimitri because he could wait and called my secretary instead.
“I need you to find out everything the doctor told my wife today,” I said when she answered. “And I mean everything. I don’t care how you get the information, just get it.”
“Yes sir,” she said without asking questions. That’s why I paid her well, he reminded me when to keep silent.
I hung up and got into the elevator. Something was wrong with Caitlyn, and I was going to find out. Maybe she was sick, pregnant, or planning to leave me. Whatever it was, I would handle it because that’s what I did. I handled problems before they got too big.
The elevator doors opened and I walked through the lobby. People moved out of my way without me having to say anything because they sensed d
Anger even if they didn’t know why. I liked that, I liked making people nervous.