Chapter 105
I stared at the phone after Linda's call ended.
Ryan left at noon. Phone's off.
I tried his number. Straight to voicemail.
What the hell was he doing?
I dialed Mrs. Sterling's number.
"Maya, dear. How are you?"
"I'm okay, Mrs. Sterling." I kept my voice steady. "Did you pick up Amy from daycare?"
"Of course! She's right here with me. We're having the most wonderful time."
I heard Amy's laughter in the background.
"Mrs. Sterling, would it be too much trouble if Amy stayed with you for a few days? My mother just had surgery, and I need to..." I paused. "I need to handle some things at the hospital."
"Maya." Her voice softened. "You don't need to be so formal with me. Amy is my great-granddaughter. Taking care of her is a joy, not a burden."
My throat tightened.
"Is everything alright with your mother?" Mrs. Sterling asked. "If you need anything—money, connections, a better hospital—just say the word. Or talk to Adam. He'll take care of it."
"Thank you. Really." I swallowed hard.
---
I didn't rush to the hospital. Stayed at my desk until six. Finished everything Julian needed.
Work. Normal. Controllable.
Then I drove to St. Mary's.
My mother was awake. Propped up against pillows.
Her eyes landed on me.
"Who told you to come?" Her voice was weak. But the venom was still there. "Get out."
I didn't move. Just stood in the doorway.
"You think I want to be here?" I kept my tone flat. "You just had surgery. Don't talk. Don't get worked up."
She turned her head left and right. Searching.
"Where's Ryan?" she demanded. Her gaze shifted to Linda. "Where is my son?"
Linda looked uncomfortable. "He left around noon, Mrs. Bennett. I haven't seen him since."
"That's impossible." My mother's voice rose. "He wouldn't leave me."
"I'm telling you the truth," Linda said quietly. "Mr. Bennett left at lunchtime. His phone has been off all afternoon."
My mother's face flushed. "Then call the police! Something happened to him. He must be in danger. Call them now!"
Linda looked at me.
I crossed my arms. "He's a grown man. Not rich. Not even that good-looking. Who'd kidnap him?" I met my mother's glare. "Probably got sick of you and took off."
"You're lying!" She tried to sit up. Winced. "Ryan loves me. He's devoted. Not like you—ungrateful brat."
I raised an eyebrow. "Sure. I'm the ungrateful one. Ryan's the saint. Feel better now?" I walked to the window. Looked out at the parking lot. "You want to rest or keep yelling? Because if you keep this up, you're going to disturb the other patients. Close your mouth. Close your eyes."
"You—"
I turned to Linda. "Watch her. I'll grab food."
---
The hospital cafeteria was depressing. Fluorescent lights. Sad salads under plastic wrap. I got a turkey sandwich and a bottle of water.
Checked my phone. No missed calls. No messages from Ryan.
I bought another sandwich for Linda on my way back. She looked grateful when I handed it to her.
My mother glared at me from the bed. Like I was an enemy. Not her daughter.
I didn't say anything. Just walked back out into the hallway.
Sat down on one of those hard plastic chairs. Pulled out my phone. Scrolled through nothing.
Ten minutes later, footsteps stopped in front of me.
I looked up.
Two legs. Long. Expensive suit pants. The kind that fit perfectly.
Adam sat down next to me.
"Did you eat?" he asked.
I locked my phone. "Yeah."
"Hospital cafeteria?"
"Yep."
"That stuff's barely edible."
"It's better than your cooking." I glanced at him. "Please tell me you didn't try to make dinner again today."
"Adam." I turned to face him fully. "Listen. Some things require talent. Natural ability. You can't force it." I softened my voice. "If you keep cooking, Mrs. Johnson might quit."
He didn't answer.
He just stared at me.
With those wounded eyes.
"Don't look at me like that." I bit back a smile. "I'm trying to help. At this point, nobody's willing to be your guinea pig anymore."
He huffed. Turned his head away.
I glanced past him. Saw a middle-aged woman standing near the nurse's station. Watching us.
"Who's that?" I asked.
"Another nurse," Adam said. "I hired her."
I frowned. "Why'd you hire another one? I can't afford two."
"Who said you're paying?" He leaned back in the chair. "Ryan's covering half. Since he bailed."
I opened my mouth to argue. Then stopped.
He had a point.
"You're working all day," Adam continued. "You can't pull an all-nighter at the hospital and function. Two nurses means you can actually go home and sleep."
"Fine," I said.
---
I gave both nurses detailed instructions and then left.
In the parking garage, I expected Adam to follow me to my car.
But he just walked to his Aston Martin. Got in. Drove off.
Huh.
That's new.
I got into my Toyota. Started the engine.
Twenty minutes later, I pulled into my apartment complex.
And there he was.
Standing outside my door. One hand in his pocket. Casual.
"Maya." He smiled. "What a coincidence."
I pressed my lips together.
Walked past him. Pulled out my keys.
He stood right next to me. Close enough that I could smell his cologne.
I shifted to the side.
He followed.
I unlocked the door.
He stepped closer.
"Adam—"
He grabbed me. Pulled me against his chest.
"Let go." I pushed at his shoulders. "I'm serious. I'll get mad."
He released me. Slowly.
Then looked at me with those eyes.
"Maya." His voice dropped. "I've been in a drought for five years."
I blinked.
"Then drink more water tomorrow." I kept my face straight. "I'll buy you a case of bottled water. Problem solved."
I shoved past him. Walked into my apartment.
---
The next morning, I got to the office at 8:45.
Sat down at my desk. Opened my laptop.
My phone buzzed.
Ryan.
Finally.
I answered. "Did you get kidnapped? Where are they holding you? Myanmar?"
Silence.
"Mom's threatening to call the cops," I said. "So if you're actually tied up in some basement, now's the time to tell me."
"Don't be a bitch," he muttered. "I had an emergency. That's why I left."
"Oh, an emergency." I leaned back in my chair. "Must've been pretty serious. You know, since you turned off your phone and everything."
"Maya—"
"I don't care what your emergency was," I cut him off. "And I don't care if you ditched Mom on purpose. But I hired two nurses. We're splitting the cost fifty-fifty."
"You hired another nurse?"
"Yeah. Because I have a job."
"Can't you just... I don't know. Take care of her yourself? Save some money?"
"Save money for you? I'd have to take time off. They'd dock my pay."
"You don't need to take time off," he said. "Just work during the day. Go to the hospital at night. Help out a little."
"Sorry. I'm not a machine." I stood up. Grabbed my coffee mug. "I can't do it."