Chapter 25 The Aftermath

Beeping sounds can be heard in a silent hallway of the hospital. James, Tom, and Liz are now inside the private room where Betty is admitted. Tubes are connected through her nose, some are on her wrists, and a machine pumping on her side that she is still breathing.

The three are silent staring at nowhere like they’ve been questioning life for being such a piss on their friend. Betty still looks beaten up, that the doctors had to insert a tube in her nose for her to breathe. James and Liz offered to buy something to eat because none of them would want to leave Betty’s side.

“Do you think she’ll be okay?” Liz asked James busy scribbling on his phone with a confused look on his face.

“Yeah, but the doctors said it would take time for her to heal. So let us hope for a faster recovery.”

“I shouldn’t have let her go alone last night.”

“It’s not your fault, Liz. It’s nobody’s fault. Stop stressing yourself out.”

James is responding to the conversation but his attention is still on his phone. Something is bothering him. A gut feeling that is hard to shake.

“Are you okay?” Liz finally asked corresponding to James’ weird action.

“Uh…yeah, I’m okay.”

They got to the nearest coffee shop and got a few items before heading back to the hospital. When they arrived there, Tom is now sleeping on the couch with his three bodyguards standing beside the door.

Tom may be sleeping peacefully but you can still see that he is not. He is in trouble for what had happened. He doesn’t usually express his emotions but you can tell how he acts and lose his cool sometimes.

Liz handed the three bodyguards some coffee and slices of cake to get by from staying all night guarding them. Whilst James stood by the window zoning out and thinking for something.

“James, come on let’s eat. I will go home later, but I will come back after lunch. I have to at least change some clothes.”

“I gotta go, Liz. I will come back later. I have something to sort out.”

Liz stared at his retreating back with confusion on her face.

“What’s wrong with him?” she mumbled then proceeds to eat silently afraid for Tom and Betty to wake up. Not long after, Tom woke up and offered to stay for a while so Liz can take some rest at home too.

“Are you sure it’s okay with you, sir?” she asked one more time but Tom just nods his head not in the mood to talk or any interaction with other people.

By Liz opened the door and a man in a blue-gray suit appeared with a worried look on his face.

Patrick Sullivan.

“Mr. Dawson…”

Tom stared at the man probably thinking why his problems keep on adding up. Here comes another problem, he thinks.

“I heard everything from the news. There are a lot of reporters outside. May I come in?” Patrick asked for permission since they are now in one of the private rooms.

“Yeah, sure.”

Tom isn’t bad as he seems. Today is the day when he needs support from other people. He is also hurting from what happened and he needs someone to talk to. Someone who would only listen and not judge him.

“I’m sorry for what happened. How is she?”

The once arrogant and self-centered Patrick looks vulnerable for the first time. Part of him still cares about Betty. Despite having the not-so-good memories with her, the fact that they once had a relationship he can’t deny how much he truly cares and worry for the only girl that put up with him for a year.

“She’s okay. Recovering but still unconscious.”

“Betty is one of the bravest women I know. I was a jerk towards her I admit, but you can never see her sulk or get mad at something because of me. Or if she is, she’s good at hiding it.”

Tom smiled sarcastically making Patrick's eyebrows shoot up to the sky.

“I guess you still don’t know her, Pat. Sorry to say this but I think, you’ve been so blind in your relationship with her.”

Patrick couldn’t agree more for he is also aware he had been a jerk to her all this time.

“I guess you’re right. I was too busy building myself that time that I forgot she was by my side. And I regret that, until now.”

Silence envelopes the two just staring at Betty’s lying on her bed.

“I can understand why you don’t seem to like to accept my proposal. You like her, don’t you?”

Tom’s head snapped in Patrick’s direction who is now casually lounging on the sofa beside him.

“What are you talking about?”

Patrick is smiling at him can’t believe he is denying he likes Betty.

“Stop the bullshit, Tom. I know you.”

Tom and Patrick have known each other since Patrick or Ricky’s family started investing in Tom’s company. They usually meet during business meetings, dinner meetings, and activities. They weren’t that close but enough for them to know each other’s lives.

“Let me be honest with you Patrick. I don’t like you being in my group. Of course, I had no problems with your family because it was your father who runs it, but now I don’t think I can work with you.”

Patrick's mouth fell can’t believe with he just heard. How can be this man so dense with personal and work-related issues?

“Well, too bad. I am now running the company. You’ll be seeing me here and there. Even if you don’t accept my proposal, you’ll still be seeing my face you know. You see, we’re still one of your shareholders.”

Tom forgot about that. Shareholders are still part of the company per se. So even if he would want to wipe out Patrick’s face from the entire world, Patrick will still be there under his nose.

After a couple of hours, Liz arrived in the hospital bringing home-cooked food to the men on duty. As much as Tom wanted to stay, but he needed to so he decided to go home for a while to get proper sleep and Patrick had to stay for a while.

“You’re Betty’s ex-boyfriend right?”

Liz asked blatantly to the man in suit casually sitting on the sofa. He is looking at Liz like she is some kind of an insect and her presence purely annoys him.

“Yeah, what is it about you?”

“Nothing. I’m just asking. What are you doing here? Betty wouldn’t want you here.”

Here goes Liz’s ass attitude. Standing her ground firmly and doesn’t want to lose in an argument.

“Wait, who are you by the way?”

“It doesn’t matter who I am. I just don’t feel like you should be here, you know.”

“I can be with wherever I want. Will you just please shut up?”

“Oh, am I seeing the real Mr. Patrick Sullivan who cheated on my best friend?!”

“Bestfriend? Betty doesn’t do best friends. Stop kidding yourself.”

“We’re best friends!” Liz began to feel sad dropping her voice just like how the atmosphere outside dropped for a few centigrade.

“She is now opening herself up. She has been so uptight from the first time I saw her. Now I can tell it’s because of you. She got no chance to reveal her true self. So, please… if your intention is just to make her feel sad again, don’t. Just don’t. She is fine now.”

Patrick realized how he truly was a jerk to Betty. His eyes traveled to the woman lying unconscious in front of them. He hoped he could make up those days how he neglected her, took advantage, and abused her mentally. Yes, he regrets all those nasty things he did but he thinks it’s too late to bring back what had already lost.

Patrick loved Betty. Heck, he loved her so much that he reached the point he doesn’t know what to do about it. He began to look for another type of love, from another type of girl. And that ended up his true love story. Since then, he is having a hard time looking for love like he found a few years back.

Would he be selfish if he will try to win her again now that she has already moved on? Or could it be too late for him to realize her worth?

Patrick left the hospital after leaving a bouquet for Betty. He also bought snacks for Liz before bidding his bitter goodbye though he doesn’t like the girl’s attitude.

“Tom!” he called out the man who is about to enter the hospital carrying a duffel bag and some groceries with three bulky men trailing behind him.

“I have to go. I have a business meeting later. So, about the proposal…”

Tom stared at him through his dark eyeglasses for good two minutes. Thinking whether it’s a good idea to take him under his company or not.

“I know it’s not the right time to talk about business. But I would like to know your side about it, just in case what your decision I can find other ways to recover it.”

Until he handed out his right hand for a handshake which Patrick gladly took sealing the deal.

“Looking forward to being working with you, Mr. Dawson.”

“I have one more condition, Patrick.”

“Yeah? What is it?

“Just stay out of my way. And with Betty.”

Patrick just smiled shaking his head in disbelief.

“Yeah, I can do that.”

“Okay. Let’s talk about business next time.”

The two departed after sealing the deal in just two minutes. Is this the end of the jealousy dilemma of the two?