Chapter 200 A Hot Daddy (ELION)

Chapter 200 A Hot Daddy (ELION)
Fuck! I barely made it out. My head was pounding like hell, and my stomach felt just as bad. I managed to stride out of my daughter’s treatment room just in time—before collapsing right in front of Calia. She must have been pissed, thinking I was ignoring her and running off like a coward.
I leaned against the wall, gasping for air. I pulled my phone from my pocket and called Jack.
“Boss, where are you?”
“Sixth floor. Get here, fast.”
“I’m in the elevator. Be there in a second.”
Everything around me was spinning. Even the floor beneath my feet felt like it was about to swallow me whole. I never imagined being a sick man would be this agonizing. My body swayed, my legs turned to jelly, unable to hold my weight.
"Boss."
Jack arrived just in time to catch me before I hit the floor.
"You look like a damn corpse, Boss. You’re pale as a sheet."
"Take me home."
He helped me into the elevator. I leaned back against the wall, panting heavily.
"What happened? Why did Calia show up at the meeting looking so distraught?"
"My daughter was hit by a car. She needed two bags of my blood because the hospital had run out of stock her type."
"God. You didn't tell Calia you were sick? You could die, Boss."
"My daughter needed blood. I couldn't just ignore that. Besides, she's too young to die. I've lived long enough, and I'm a sinner."
Jack clicked his tongue. He was probably sick of hearing my bullshit. I didn't even know I was capable of saying such sentimental things. Since when did the arrogant Elion Starling become willing to sacrifice his life for someone else? Yeah, she wasn't just someone else—she was my daughter. Lea was the one who would carry on my bloodline if I died.
"And how is your daughter doing now?"
"Stable. She’ll be fine because she’s my daughter. She’s a strong girl."
"And you need to be okay, too. Come on, Boss."
Frans was already waiting in the lobby. He opened the door the moment Jack and I approached.
"Are you sure you don't want to be hospitalized?"
"No. Just have Dr. Aldric come to the house. We have fully equipped facilities there."
The pain didn't let up on the ride home. I was so weak I couldn't even walk out of the car. Jack and Frans helped me onto a gurney. Dr. Aldric was ready and waiting with his assistant, Nurse Hayley. They shot me with judgmental looks.
"You shouldn't have donated that much blood. Your condition didn't allow for it."
"Fuck. I don't need your commentary. It was my choice. Just treat the headache and the stomach pain. They're fucking awful."
"You're anemic. Your blood pressure is low. You need strict bed rest for three full days. You aren't to get out of bed at all. I'll add extra iron and magnesium to your IV drip."
"Do whatever is necessary. I just want this damn pain gone as soon as possible."
I couldn't die before making some memories with my daughter. Our first meeting in Amsterdam hadn't been proper at all. I wanted to meet her when I was in decent shape.
"Hayley will monitor your health every day."
I wasn't really listening to Dr. Aldric's explanation. My eyelids were fluttering shut. I felt incredibly drowsy after Dr. Aldric injected medication into my vein. A deep sense of calm washed over me. In my long slumber, I saw Calia waving at me. She was wearing a white dress, standing in the middle of a field of white and pink peonies. The wind was blowing through her brown hair. She looked like a goddess.
"Is this a dream?"
"I think so. How are you feeling?"
"Better."
She cupped my face; our eyes met.
"Elion, I won't leave you again. I'll be by your side forever."
"You promise?"
"I promise."
I held her close, feeling a profound sense of peace for the first time after four years that had felt like hell.
"I want to stay like this forever, Calia."
"Me too."
\-00-
Jack whistled from the doorway, teasing me. He scanned me from head to toe, much like the bitches I used to meet at the club.
"Look who's back in shape. Going out, Boss?"
I looked at Jack in the mirror as I put on my watch.
"I'm going to the hospital to see my daughter."
"You look like a hot daddy. How are you holding up?"
"How do I look?"
Jack gave a slight shrug.
"I wouldn't trust your outward appearance because you're so good at hiding your pain. Five days ago you looked fine, and then you collapsed. So, I'm asking you now, are you really okay?"
"I'm fine. See? I can stand tall without feeling dizzy or nauseous. For the past four days, I felt like shit."
"Yeah, I bet."
I hadn't been able to get out of bed. All I wanted to do was sleep. Edward came to my room three times a day to bring food, but I barely touched it because I was so nauseous. I was starting to lose weight because of that damn illness. Luckily, my suit jacket did a good job of hiding my gaunt frame.
"Don't overexert yourself, Boss. I don't want to see you lying weak in bed like yesterday. You looked pathetic."
"Thanks for the compliment, asshole."
"You're welcome, Boss," he smirked.
"Get to the office. I expect your report this afternoon."
"You've got to be kidding me," Jack exclaimed in annoyance.
"No, I'm serious. I want that report this afternoon, or I'm cutting your pay by twenty percent."
I smirked and climbed into the car. It was punishment for the way he’d insulted me while I was sick.
Before heading to the hospital, I stopped at a few shops to buy Lea some gifts. I didn't know what kind of toys she liked, so I bought everything on display in the shop windows.
"I want them all delivered to the Chicago hospital right now."
"Yes, sir."
I didn't care how Calia would react to the gifts. I just wanted to shower my daughter with love before I could no longer do so.