10 ALICIA

I released a strong laughter, so much that I had to hold onto my stomach from how hard I was laughing at what he said. While Elijah looked at me with a displeased expression, there was no worse offense to a man than laughing at his virility, and it was clear that Elijah was no exception, but to me, it's something really relevant.

"What's so funny?" he asks as he went to his minibar and poured himself whiskey.

"What you told me a few weeks ago," I reply, wiping away the tears streaming down my cheeks from laughing so much. "You said you would never beg again, and here you are, jealous because I kissed your friend, and jealous because I went out with another man and also kissed him."

Elijah slowly lowered the glass that was headed towards his lips and looked at me angrily. With determined steps, he approached me, swallowing hard, knowing he messed up by confessing that I had kissed the guy from the restaurant, but I needed to forget him, his touch, his kisses, his constant insinuations.

"Did you kiss him?"

"Um..." Not a single word comes out of my mouth.

"I won't ask again, Alicia. Did you kiss him or not?"

"Yes, I kissed him," I said boldly. "And that shouldn't matter to you..."

I didn't finish speaking when I felt Elijah's lips on mine, the taste of whiskey, his woody scent, and the urgency of his tongue made my whole body react in his favor. I quickly allowed my tongue to play with his, his free hands heading for my rear, where he squeezed it and then gave it a spank. I moaned with pleasure and a thousand completely different sensations.

But as all our encounters never end, my cellphone started ringing.

"Let me answer it," he whispered against Elijah's lips.

"If it's important, they'll call back."

He retreated with me in his arms until we fell onto the couch in his office. Elijah positioned my legs around him and attacked my lips again, and I let the call go. Unconsciously, I moved my hips against Elijah's groin, and he accepted it because his erection was as hard as a rock and ready to come into play soon.

But once again, my phone started ringing. Elijah groaned against my lips, and I separated from him to grab my phone from the apron tied around my hips.

"Hello?"

"Good evening. Am I speaking with Miss Star?"

"Yes, this is her. Who am I talking to?"

"Miss Star, we're calling from St. Jude Central Hospital. Your father has been admitted to the emergency room, and you are his emergency contact."

"What!" I got up from atop Elijah, and tears quickly filled my eyes.

"What's going on, Alicia?" Elijah looks at me with concern as he sees me crying.

"What happened?" I ask the woman, completely ignoring Elijah.

"Mr. Chuck Star had a relapse, and we need your consent to start a different type of treatment."

"Yes, yes, I'll be there in 20 minutes."

I hung up the call and collapsed completely. Elijah took me into his arms and caressed my hair as he rocked me in his arms.

"I need to go to St. Jude Hospital. My father has been admitted. I... I can't even think coherently right now. God, this is my fault, for leaving him alone."

"Don't blame yourself for doing something for him, Alicia," Elijah takes hold of my face. "Let's not waste any more time. I'll take you to your father."

"No, it's not necessary. You have your friends here. This is my problem."

"No way, I'll accompany you, and I'll wait as long as necessary."

Elijah took my hand, and we left the office.

"Elijah, you shouldn't be taking on responsibilities that aren't yours," I spoke, trying to control my emotions.

"Don't tell me what to do. If I want to do this, I will, and that's it."

I really don't want to keep arguing with him, so I just stay quiet and put all my energy into my father. Since my mother died, he's been the only person I have left. I don't know my maternal family because they never supported the relationship my father had, and my paternal grandparents died three years ago. My father is an only child, so I don't have any cousins or uncles to share with. I looked at Elijah, who was typing on his phone with one hand, as the other was intertwined with mine.

I didn't understand what Elijah truly saw in me. I'm not really pretty, in fact, the girl who was on his lap is much more beautiful than me with her voluptuous curves and long, straight black hair. Elijah can truly have any woman in his life, and yet he's choosing me on a whim.

We went downstairs to the ground floor, sneaking through all the people, until we reached outside, where Harold was waiting for us with the car door open, ready to head to the hospital seconds later. And my tears kept streaming down my cheeks.

"Take it easy, love." Elijah drapes his arm over my shoulders to pull me against his body.

"Don't ask me to calm down when my father is teetering between life and death."

"I'm sure everything will be fine."

"The results are unpredictable when you have cancer."

"But still, I don't like seeing you like this, Alicia."

"Likewise, don't expect me to have a smile when my father is hospitalized. That's very heartless of you."

Elijah didn't say anything more about it, but he still didn't let go of my side, and I also didn't intend to. With him, I felt protected and comforted, but his words shattered everything.

"Our security team has arrived at the hospital, sir," Harold spoke.

"What did they say?"

"The area is clear."

" What are you two talking about? " I ask confused.

" Nothing that concerns you." Elijah responds sharply.

" Hey!" I nudge him. " You wanted to come first, you need to tell me what's going on."

" I don't want you to be scared of me and my work, Alicia."

" You're the owner of a music therapy business and other ventures. What danger is there in that?"

" We'll talk about it later. " Elijah cuts off the topic as we arrive at the hospital.

And without waiting for anyone to open my door, I rush to the hospital reception to get information about my father's condition.

" Hello, I'm the daughter of Mr. Chuck Star. They told me he's in this hospital."

" Nice to meet you, Miss Star. Your father is in the oncology area. Please follow me."

I was ready to follow the nurse, but Elijah's call stops me.

" What are you doing here?" I ask Elijah, confused. "I thought you would leave right away."

" I'm not leaving you alone, how many times do I have to tell you?"

" Elijah, this isn't a game, and my father needs me. I'm not here to deal with your possessiveness issues."

"You can resist all you want, but I won't move from here."

" Miss?" The nurse calls.

I roll my eyes and nod.

" I don't want you to say a word." I warn Elijah.

" Okay, as you wish."