Chapter 73

*Olga*

I woke up early at six but both Frankie and Jayden had gone to work. I hadn't heard them leave. I rolled to the other side and covered myself not wanting to feel the cold air.

After receiving Mark's confirmation to participate in the plan I had slept peacefully. I got up hours later to hear the gardener whistling outside merrily. I quickly freshened up and went to the living room and made myself a quick breakfast.

It was almost noon and there was a chef who was busy doing the weekly prep for Jayden's fridge. I sweet talked him to also make me something for lunch to which he agreed.

Nala had already left for the training so Brian was up in his room. I rubbed my stomach out of habit and sighed. I went outside to the back and looked at the tree. It hadn't shown any signs of growth but as it wasn't dead that was reassuring. George was taking good care of it and with time Jayden and I will be standing under it. Of course he will never know why it was planted in the first place. That would be my secret that I will carry to my grave.

I headed back indoors and made myself a milkshake before heading to the living room. I heard a cough and I looked up.

At the doorway stood Lorraine. She stepped in and closed the door behind her.

"Hello Olga," she greeted me. My heart started beating faster but I managed to reply.

"The clock is ticking," she said, looking at me with a smirk on her face. I was cursing internally because she would catch me red-handed. My only consolation was that Mark had agreed to my desperate plan. If it works I will just have Jayden impregnate me and then force him to get Lorraine off my back. I could even claim I lost the baby because of her stressing me, but until then I have to play cool.

"Don't worry Lorraine, I am going to see your doctor soon," I said meekly. She nodded and then looked around.

"Where is Brian?"

I pointed up to his room and she called out to him. He came down with a grin on his face. I went to my suite, leaving the two alone.

There was a knock on my door thirty minutes later. It was the chef and he told me lunch was ready. I was surprised to still see Lorraine around. The chef served us the food and we ate. I was silent, avoiding engaging with them.

After lunch Lorraine finally left and the chef followed suit an hour later. By then I was lounging on the sofa. I remembered that there was an article of clothing that I hadn't seen and I assumed it was left in the laundry area.

I headed to the basement and switched on the lights before going down the stairs. I walked to the large machines and opened them but the drums were empty. Looked at the chute that the dirty laundry were dropped in from the upper floors and I saw it. I sighed and put it in a laundry basket near one of the washing machines.

I walked up the stairs and turned to switch off the lights.

"What are you doing?" Brian's voice asked. I almost screamed in fright. He passed me and stood on the first step looking down at the basement, he had a tablet in his hand.

"I was looking for a piece of clothing that I never received yesterday," I told him.

"I usually lose my socks and boxers too, the chute monster sometimes steals them," he said. I rolled my eyes and started to walk away.

"Olga, you told me that Devil's Breath is medicine," Brian said. My heart stopped beating and I turned to look at him.

"Did you drug us on Monday night?"

"Why would you have such a ridiculous idea?" I snapped at him.

He held up the tablet in his hand and showed me a web search result.

"Devil's breath is the street name of scopolamine, a drug that can be used for motion sickness. However in the context of the street it is used as a drug to do some type of mind control," he said. "I have never seen Frankie looking that way."

I tried to laugh his explanation away, "I think you need to stop watching all those movies."

"I am not stupid Olga, I know you drugged Frankie and dad so that you can be with my Dad. You can never replace Sierra, she holds a special place in both our hearts."

"What did you say?" I said angrily, grabbing his arm and pulling him to me.

"Never mention that name to me."

"I knew it! Wait until I tell dad that you drugged him," Brian said and I found myself shaking with rage.

In the blink of an eye I pushed him hard away from me. He teetered over the edge of the first step before he threw his hands trying to grasp at air as he slipped and tumbled down the stairs to the basement.

He let out a loud scream and started to wail. I just stood there in shock, my feet not moving. I hadn't meant to push him down the stairs, or maybe I had. He called out my name between sobs. Well whatever the case I will use this to my advantage.

I walked down the steps slowly until I got to the figure at the bottom that was immobile.

"Brian," I called out, bending down to him. I placed my fingers on his neck to feel his pulse. "Where are you hurt?"

"My leg is paining like crazy and my head too," he cried. The tablet was a few feet away from him.

"I will help you but I want you to remember this, if you tell anyone what happened here today, next time I will push you much harder down the stairs. Also I will kill your Dad and you will never see him again. If you tell him what you think you know, do you understand what I am saying."

He continued crying pitifully.

"I am not going to do anything until you say yes you will keep quiet."

"I won't tell anyone," he said between wails. "Please don't hurt dad."

"Good, as long as this whole incident remains our secret, nothing will happen."

I picked up the tablet and dialed the emergency number. It was picked up immediately.

"911 what's your emergency?"

"Hello, I need an ambulance urgently. My stepson, Brian, has fallen down the stairs and he's not moving. He's bleeding from his head and he's now unconscious. I don't know how it happened. I was in the living room and I heard a scream. I ran to see what it was and I found him lying on the floor. Please hurry, he needs help."

"Okay, calm down, what is your name and address?"

"My name is Olga Therrins, and I live at The Grey's Residence on Park Boulevard."

"Alright, Olga, I'm sending an ambulance to your location right now. How many stairs did he fall down?"

I rolled my eyes and wanted to sigh, "His name is Brian. He fell down the whole staircase, maybe 20 steps. He was on his tablet; he may have slipped and tumbled down."

"I see. Is he bleeding? Is he breathing?"

"Yes, he is bleeding from his head and his legs. They look broken. I don't know if he's breathing, I can't hear anything. He's not moving at all." I had to turn up my voice a pitch higher and pretend like I did not know.

"Okay, Olga, listen to me carefully. Do not move him or touch his head or legs. He may have a spinal injury or a brain injury or a fracture. Just stay with him and talk to him until the paramedics arrive."

"Okay, okay, I won't move him. But what if he dies? What if he stops breathing?" I should get an Oscar for this performance I though.

"He's not going to die, Olga. He is going to be okay. The paramedics are very skilled and they will help him. Can you check his pulse? Do you know how to do that?"

Of course I did but in order to get in character I said: "No, I don't know how to do that. I'm scared."

"It is okay, Olga. You're very brave. I'm going to tell you how to do it. You need to find his wrist and feel for a beat under his thumb. Can you do that for me?"

"I found his wrist. I'm feeling for a beat." I put my hand on his thin wrist but I couldn't locate his pulse so I switched to his neck.

"Good job. Do you feel anything?" I was getting tired of her voice that made me feel like a child.

"Yes, I feel something. It's very fast and weak." I removed my fingers from his neck after I felt the pulse. Brian lay there slipping in and out of consciousness.

"Alright, Olga, that means he's still alive and his heart is working. Just keep talking to him and try to keep him calm. Tell him you love him and that help is coming."

"Brian, can you hear me? It is Olga, I love you so much. You're going to be okay. The ambulance is coming. Just hang in there."

"You're doing great, Olga. You're very brave. I am here with you until the paramedics get there."

"Thank you, thank you so much."

"You are welcome, Olga. Just stay on the line with me until they arrive."

I put the tablet away on the floor still on speaker. I had sounded convincing over the phone with the just correct amount of panic and distress. I was also feeling a bit nervous and guilty. I started hoping that the ambulance would arrive quickly.

I heard the sirens wailing down at the gate. The ambulance rushed up the driveway and I told the operator the paramedics had arrived. Before I hang up.

The ambulance arrives at the house with its sirens blaring and its lights flashing. Two paramedics rush out of the vehicle and knock on the door.

I open the door and lead them to the basement, where Brian is lying on the floor, unconscious and bleeding from his forehead. The paramedics quickly assess his condition and put a neck brace on him. They then lift him onto a stretcher and carry him to the ambulance. I follow them, clutching his hand.

Inside the ambulance, one of the paramedics attaches an IV line to Brian's arm and monitors his vital signs. He also applies a bandage to his wound and gives him oxygen through a mask. The other paramedic radios the hospital and informs them of Brian's situation. He tells them that Brian has a mild concussion, a sprained ankle, and a laceration on his forehead. He also says that Brian is stable but needs further evaluation.

The ambulance speeds through the traffic, avoiding any delays or accidents. The paramedics try to keep Brian comfortable and calm. They talk to him softly and reassure him that everything will be alright.

They also ask him some questions to check his mental status, such as his name, age, and what happened to him. Brian responds with some difficulty, but he is coherent and alert and he constantly keeps looking at me.

The ambulance arrives at the hospital and parks near the emergency entrance. The paramedics unload Brian from the stretcher and wheel him into the building. They are greeted by a team of doctors and nurses who take over Brian's care. They transfer him to a gurney and push him into a trauma room.

I then remembered that I should alert Jayden as to the accident but I had left my phone at home as well as the tablet.

"Hi, do you mind calling Mr. Grey and informing him of the matter," I told the receptionist. She nodded and looked for his contact on his file and called him. She handed me the phone and I heard it ring.

"Hello," I heard his cautious voice.

"Jayden, there has been an accident and Brian is in hospital," I told him. "You should come as soon as possible."

"I am on my way," he said and hung up.

I went and sat on the seats at the waiting room and waited bored.

"Where is he? What happened?" I heard Jayden's voice at the reception. She calmed him down first and asked him to fill out some forms. He does so quickly and then waits anxiously as the receptionist gets in touch with the doctor attending to Brian.

He saw me and came over with a worried expression on his face. He took a seat beside me. "What happened?"

"He had a tumble down the stairs leading to the basement, he was on his tablet," I said sadly. "I don't think he is badly injured but the doctor hasn't been out yet."

Before he could ask me any more questions a male doctor walked up to us. We both stood up and waited for him to speak.

"Hello, Mr. Grey. I'm Doctor Jones, the orthopaedist who treated your son Brian." He introduced himself.

"Hi, doctor. How is he doing? Is he going to be okay?" Jayden asked with real concern in his voice.

"He is doing fine, considering what he went through. Brian is very lucky that he didn't break any bones or damage any vital organs." He said.

"Thank God for that. What kind of injuries did he sustain then?" Jayden let out a sigh that was full of relief.

"Well, he has a mild concussion, some bruises and abrasions on his face and body, and a sprained ankle. He also has a small cut on his forehead that required a few stitches. "

"How long will he have to stay in the hospital?" I asked.

"He'll have to stay three nights maximum for observation, just to make sure there are no complications from the concussion. He'll also need to rest his ankle and keep it elevated for a few days. He should be able to walk normally in a week or so."

"Thank you for taking good care of him, doctor. Can we see him now?" Jayden asked.

"Of course, please follow me," he said and we walked behind him as he led us to the room where Brian was. "He is in here. He might be a bit groggy from the painkillers and mild sedatives, but he'll be happy to see you. He was still asleep a while back."

"Thank you again, I appreciate your help." Jayden said, looking through the glass window at Brian sleeping.

"You are very welcome, Mr. Grey. I know Brian will recover very quickly and fast."

We both entered the room and walked to the edge where Jayden stretched out his hand and touched his sleeping face. I just watched them for a few seconds and looked aside before commenting, "Well at least he is out of the woods and not in danger."

Brian stirred slowly and opened his eyes and groaned slightly, "Dad?"

"Yes, kiddo I am here, how are you feeling?" Jayden asked, kneeling beside the bed.

"Like a truck hit me. Not that I know how that feels," Brian joked. Jayden laughed and stroked his cheek.

"Olga here told me what happened, you could have just told me you want a rollercoaster installed at home," Jayden said. Brian smiled a little and then faced me. I shook my head slightly and he looked away.

"I will be back, let me call Frankie and tell her," Jayden said standing up. "She was worried and wanted to come but I told her to wait. Lorraine too will come and see you."

Jayden left the room and I sat down on the chair and leaned over to Brian's ear. "I hope you remember if you tell anyone what happened, you will be responsible for the consequences. You remember?"

Brian managed to whisper a yes and he closed his eyes. With that done I waited for a few minutes and got outside to see Jayden talking with the doctor.

"Are you sure he doesn't need blood?" Jayden asked. "I am ready to donate my blood for him."

"I assure you he doesn't need blood but I will not refuse you from donating if you want to," the doctor assured him and started leading him to a different room "I will get a nurse to come over."

I looked back at Brian who was sleeping and I went to the waiting room. I saw a nurse enter the room Jayden was in and she came out ten minutes later. Jayden followed her and went to Brian's room.

A short while Doctor Jones entered the room and came out with Jayden.

"Mr, Grey, have you traveled recently?" I heard the doctor ask as he walked away with him.

"Yes, I have," I heard Jayden reply as they walked down the hall and turned right. I wondered what they were talking about. I stood up and went to the ward and looked at Brian through the window and saw him resting peacefully.

I felt a twinge of guilt at seeing him like this but I had to drive home the message. I will not let him destroy my plans.