Chapter 17
I looked over at Crystal. “Are you okay with this, Crystal?”
“I am.”
Marcy was just looking at Jace and Anthony. "Okay, this one, I know; you introduced him to us already, but the other one?”
“Umm Anthony This is my boss Marcy Daniels; Marcy is Anthony, THE Anthony.”
Anthony just looked at me and shook his head.
"Well, it's nice to meet you, Anthony. Take good care of our girl.”
“I will.”
"Well, finally, that means your brother knows and is okay with it.”
“Yes ”
After Jace and Anthony left, they just sat around, joking. Mrs. Collins would check in on me every twenty minutes. I assured her I was okay.
“Marcy, don't you have to work?”
“Nope ”
“Crystal spill it; who does Jace and Anthony think did it?”
“Rachel ”
“I think I'll have some fun with her.”
"Wait, who's Rachel, and what's going on?”
I explained everything to Marcy, now Marcy has had the same thing happen to her. She caught her fiance and best friend on her wedding day.
"Hmm, I have a few friends that would be able to get information about her and her family.”
“You would do that for me, Marcy?”
"Oh, course, and besides the way he looks at you, let me believe he truly loves you.”
“He has, since he was 18.”
“Then it's settled, Crystal. I'll give you some time off also; just take care of Callie. You two are two of my best designers, and I can't afford to lose either of you. I'll get back to you as soon as I have the information. Take care of yourself until then, Callie.”
“I will, and thank you, Marcy.”
After Marcy and the others left, I just laid there talking to Crystal.
Anthony
When I left her, I went straight back to my apartment. I found Rachel sitting in my living room with her supposed parents. I didn't acknowledge them or say anything to them. I walked straight into my room and locked the door behind me. I grabbed some of my stuff and threw it into my travel bag. When Jace stopped by later, Ann would give it to him, then head over to the other apartment.
If Rachel wanted to stay here, she could, but I wouldn't let Ann stay here. I walked out and locked the door behind me. When I turned around, Rachel was standing there. “Get the fuck out of my way.”
“You can't do this to me, Anthony; I'm pregnant with your child. You had no right to put your hands on me, all because your precious Callie got hurt somehow. I'm at fault.”
“Get the fuck out of my way and be very happy. I'm not strangling your stupid ass right now.”
I saw the father walking towards us. “Anthony I understand that you have no feelings for Rachel, but do not speak to my daughter like that, and think about how she feels when you speak to her like that.”
“Really her feelings? She barged into a restaurant this morning and proceeded to insult me, ,My parents and my fiance.”
"Rachel, that is not right; you had no right to do that.”
Her mother then jumped in. “Rachel has every right to act that way. He just said his fiance and our daughter got pregnant by him.”
“Yes, and he also said he would take care of the child and Rachel. What more does she want?”
"Look, I don't have time for your little family squabble. I need to go to work.” I left them arguing and went to the kitchen, where I found Ann.
“Mr. Collins, I appreciate that you gave me a job, but I can no longer work for you.”
“May I ask why?”
“I am aware of my duties and know my position here, but I will not allow anyone to talk down to me and treat me like garbage. Your fiance and in-laws are not people I do not wish to work for.”
“I'm sorry you had to deal with that, Ann. I actually came to tell you that I'll be moving to my other apartment with Jace and his sister, and I'd like you to come over there. Rachel and her parents can fend for themselves".
"Okay, Mr. Collins, as long as I don't have to work for these people.”
“Now Jace will be here later in the day to get my bags, and he'll give you the address. I'll let them know you'll be there.”
"Okay, Mr. Collins.”
I left and went back to the office. “Samantha, you had some documents for me?”
"Yes, Mr. Collins, how is your fiancee?”
“She's okay now; thanks for asking.”
It was almost two in the afternoon. I had a few meetings to attend to and some issues with one of the nightclubs to deal with. I called my mother every hour to check on her. She said the doctor would be discharging Callie later in the day. Jace called me at five to let me know he's already at the apartment, and Ann was there. I let him know that Callie would be discharged later and that I would meet him at the hospital.
Callie
Crystal wouldn't leave me alone; she seemed nervous and always looked at the door and her phone. “Crystal, what's wrong?”
“Nothing ”
“We've never kept secrets from each other, so what's it?”
"Umm, well,well the thing is, umm.. Jace and I are together.”
She had an unsure look on her face when she blurted it out. How did I feel about that? I tried to think but came up with no raging emotions or anything.
“Okay ”
She looked at me. "Wait, wait, wait, just okay?”
“If you're sure about this, then okay, but I'm telling you now that if the two of you ever have an argument, I'm not getting involved; I'm neutral; I'm freaking Switzerland.”
She started laughing. "Okay, thank you, Callie. I really do care about Jace and you.
“Matter of fact, don't tell Jace; I know. Let me see how long he hides it.”
“Okay ”
We were laughing when Mr. and Mrs. Collins walked in with the doctor. "Well, it seems like the patient is doing well.”
“I am. When can I leave?”
“You'll be leaving in a few hours; just remember to not put any pressure on your back, and you'll need to get some medical supplies to clean your wounds, or you can stay here for a few days.”
“No thanks, Doctor, I don't really like hospitals.”
“Don't worry, doctor, we'll take good care of her.”
“Very well then. I'll get started on her paperwork.”
After he left, Anthony and Jace walked into the room. “How are you feeling?”
“I'm fine”
I looked at Jace. “Is there something you want to tell me, Jace?”
His eyes shifted to Crystal, but I acted like I didn't see. This was the first time I ever saw my brother be unsure and nervous. This was going to be fun.
“Never mind, I'm hungry.”
“Ann is already at home; you'll be eating as soon as we get home and then going to bed.”
“Yes Sir”
When I looked at him, his eyes darkened. “Um, how much longer do I have to wait?”
"Crystal, why don't we check with the doctor?”
After everyone left, he sat on the bed next to me and stroked my face. “What did I tell you about calling me sir?”
“I know, it just slipped out.”
“Did it or did you do it intentionally?”
I looked at him and smiled. “I know what you're aiming for, baby, but no, I won't do that to you. I won't hurt you.”
“But I'm fine; there's nothing wrong with me—well, at least not that part of me.”
“No Callie”
"Fine, Crystal told me.”
“What did Crystal tell you?”
“She told me that she and Jace are together.”
“And how do you feel about that?”
“I'm okay with it; I already told her I'm neutral, I'm Switzerland, and I won't be getting into any of their arguments or fights.”
"So, why didn't you tell Jace?”
“He was a bit nervous; he seemed unsure and hesitant. I think I'll have some fun with him.”
“That's not nice, baby; that's your brother.”
"Exactly. Let me have this, please.”
"Okay, baby Ann is already at the other apartment. When I got back to my apartment, she was pretty upset; she wanted to quit.”
“Why?”
“I don't know what Rachel and her parents said to her or did, but it had to be bad for her to want to quit on the spot.”
“Did you let her quit?”
“No, I just told her. She's moving over to the other apartment with us.”
“ Anthony?”
“Yes, baby.”
“How many rooms are in the apartment?”
He just looked at me and smiled. “Well, there's four rooms. Jace and Crystal are together, so they have their own rooms; one is ours, one is for my parents, and the other is for Ann.”
“Okay sir”
“Baby, you're tempting me right now.”
“Fine ”
“I love you, Callie. You scared the hell out of me, but I'm glad you're okay.”
“I was scared too. I really was Anthony.”
“It doesn't matter; you're here with me now, and I'm never letting you out of my sight.”.