48

48

Michael. 

Beep! Beep! Beep!
I listened intently to the monitor's steady sound, hoping my father would move his fingers; any small sign that his body hadn’t given up yet. 

I wished I’d been kinder to him when he was still well. Maybe I would‘ve been more involved in his health. Maybe I would encourage him to take his health seriously, but these past few days, I’ve been careless and the only person I seemed to care about was Betty.
But then maybe this was a fateful way of bringing us closer. I’ve been here with him for two days now, just watching him lie motionless on the electric hospital bed that hummed occasionally each time the home nurse adjusted it so he wouldn't feel trapped in one position.

His eyes were wide open like he was staring at the chandelier on the roof but there was no life behind them. 

The family doctor had called it end-stage diabetic complications. Those words replayed in my ears like a song stuck on repeat.

It sounded like a death sentence and in that moment I realized I valued him.
All of a sudden the door screeched open and the home health nurse, a petite woman with oversized glasses resting at the bridge of her nose, walked in, a warm smile forming on her round face. “Good morning Mr Michael, “ she greeted softly. “You should get some rest, I’ll watch over him.”

I got up on my feet, stretching. “Thanks Miss Martha, I’ve to get to school, my final exams.” 
Her eyes slanted in excitement. “ Don't worry, you’ll nail it, I’ll keep an eye on your old man, if there is any change, I’ll call you right away.”
I stared at my father one last time before turning to face her, winking. “Thanks, again, Martha.”
She blushed, I used to think I was into older women but as I walked out the door, I realized I was just attracted to Betty only. Her aura was unmatched and her maturity? It drove me crazy.
As soon as I stepped out, the morning sun grilled me but I got inside my car and drove towards the campus, I was speeding but I didn’t care. All I wanted was to meet up for my exams as I was aware that I was already late, but then Claire came to mind. I reached into my pocket and dialed her number. 

It was unreachable. Going straight to voicemail.

“What could she be up to?” I thought to myself as I gripped the steering wheel like my life depended on it. 

Her last words before I heard of my father's bad news were, “ I did this for us!” It was suspicious because what did she mean by she did it for us? 
And how is it a coincidence that I was about to show him the CCTV something that might ruin her life when he went into a coma. Did she have something to do with this? Or was I just overreacting?

I was tempted to dial the police but then I stilled, I wouldn’t do anything until I met her physically and confronted her.
Finally, I parked in the campus garage, leaning back in my seat letting out a heavy sigh before staring out the window.

“I just need to be done with this exam, then I’ll find her,” I mutter under my breath.
I arrived at the exam hall, and they had barely begun, which was good news to my ears, but all through the exam I couldn’t focus. All I could think of was my father.

Was he okay? 
I’m sure Betty noticed my discomfort because I could feel her grey eyes piercing mine. She looked concerned, which was weird because she sent me away when I came to her for help.
She tried to speak to me after the test but I dismissed her most nicely. I wasn’t in the mood to satisfy her guilty conscience.
But the truth was, it wasn’t her fault. Maybe she didn’t want to get involved in family matters, but still, it shows how much she cared.

Finally, I’m done with the exams. I kept dialing Claire’s line as I walked to my orange sports car but it proved abortive.
By the time I got home, my heart skipped a beat when I saw the figurine of two people sitting in the living room. 

It was Heather. She sat at the edge of the couch, her legs crossed like a queen, her bright red lipstick. I couldn't tell which was sadder, the dark suit gown that made her look like a mourning widow or the black which hid her true expression.

Across her sat a bald man in a grey suit, he was short, almost dwarf-like and on his left hand he held a brown leather briefcase.
As soon as they saw me they both stood, the man stepped forward, a dry smile plastered on his face. “Good morning, Mr Michael, I’m Kent. Mrs Heather Bolton’s attorney.”
I pouted, uninterested. “What happened? She killed someone?”

Heather smirked like the joke was really funny. “ He is here because your father wants me to handle things until he wakes up. You know how much he trusts me to take care of the Bolton enterprise.”
“Really?”I crossed my arms suddenly interested.

She rolled her eyes walking to the wet bar pouring herself a sparkling wine in a glass. “Come on! Admit it, Bolton enterprises need a leader, one who can hold the company together, the boards are getting nervous and you’re… Still… well…” she let her eyes travel up and down like she was assessing a child, “unfit and inexperienced.”
“That's a lie,” I said with a clenched jaw.
“When was the last time you visited the company?” she asked, arching her brows. “That's what I thought.”
“I won’t let you take over!” I protested.

A little laugh rolled off her lips, that stupid sound made my skin crawl. “ I’m not taking over… yet… I’m just stepping in as the acting CEO, to keep things stable till my husband recovers.” 
I didn’t respond, I was too speechless too, I knew she was right, my father wasn’t in a good place but the company must go on.
She winked at her lawyer who immediately opened his brigade pulling out a few sheets of paper. “ We need you to sign these documents as proof that you accept her offer.”
“What is this?”I asked, confused.

“It’s a simple power of attorney. It gives Mrs Heather Bolton here temporary control over the Bolton enterprise, the bank accounts and shares, this is just to ensure everything runs smoothly.
I accepted it then skimmed through it. The words ‘transfer of authority’stood out to me.

Does she think she can get me to give up my inheritance to her? She was a smarter ass but I was always one step ahead.
“So this is your plan all along, to get me to hand over my inheritance while my father is lying in a coma? Are you really that heartless?”

She rolled her eyes again. “Stop being emotional, Michael, it’s temporary, someone needs to step in, you know that!”

I grinned in anger as I looked down at the paper again, and feelings of anger spread inside of me. Did she really think she could feel me so easily?

“Don’t make this harder than it already is, just sign it!”Heather pestered.

“Fine, I will!” I said as I tore the document clean down the middle.
Then I threw the paper balls at them.
Heather gasped immediately as her face turned red with rage but I didn’t care, “What have you done Michael?”
The lawyer stared at me bewildered, surely he had never seen anything like this in all his years of practice“Mrs Bolton,” he began. “ Perhaps we should give you some time to think…”
“Get lost, both of you!” I barked at both of them.

Heather's mouth fell open in a mix of confusion and anger. “Are you just going to let your selfishness destroy your father's company? Huh?”
“Yes, you think I’m going to sign his life's work to you? To someone who has been his wife for a week?Get lost, Heather!”
 “I’m still his wife. I have every right to take over the company temporarily.”
“You have to wait until he wakes up, then until then nothing for you.”
She nods, maintaining her composure. “You are going to regret this Michael, I swear you will, and when you do, it’s going to be too late.” She threatened.
I let out a cold scoff looking into her eyes. “I’ll rather burn in hell than sign any goddamn document staged by you.”

Heather parted her lips again as if to respond but the lawyer held her arm lightly. “Mrs Bolton, let's give him time,” he whispered.
She jerked her arm away, her eyes flashing as she clapped her hands. “Congratulations! You’ve won this round, Michael, but keep it in mind that this is far from over!”