I have never liked hospitals.
Most people don’t.
It smelled too clean, of sickness and death. But then there was the air of hope and miracles too.
We waited in the ER section, Ajay was the one who had called and was the first to arrive at the hospital. I sat on the chairs rubbing my nails against each other, the patience in me drowning as the nurses moved around with swift steps and stone cols faces.
“What happened?” I asked, quickly standing up as Alex came. “Where’s Ajay?”
“He’s gone to call Athena’s mother.” Alex informed.
I remembered just yesterday Athena was crying about her mother and now this. I gulped as I felt a strong wave of sympathy flow for her. “I doubt she’ll come.” I commented, recollecting her mother’s priorities. “But how did she land up here?”
Alex sat on the chair pressing his fingers to the side of the forehead. “Some car hit her, luckily it wasn’t going at full speed so she’ll live but there’s no confirmed update from the doctors yet. They found her office Id and the last person she called was Ajay.”
I sat beside him, resting my head against the wall looking up at the clean white ceiling. “Do they know what car?”
“No, it sped away.” Alex sighed. “I am checking the cameras nearby. You don’t just hit a person and drive away.”
I nodded in agreement. “Maybe he was drunk or just a horrible person.”
“Either way the driver will be sent to prison.” Alex swore, his eyes closed and expression very grave. He would definitely be sending the driver to jail, no doubt about that.
Ajay joined us, two cups of water in his hands. “Water?” He offered us, sitting next to Alex.
“Thanks.” I mumbled, throwing a small smile his way.
“Her mother didn’t pick up the call. I have left a voicemail.” Ajay informed. “Any news from the doctors?”
“Nothing yet.” Alex replied.
I sighed, playing with the disposable cup, patiently waiting for the doctors to give any news.
“Myra, wake up.”
I blinked my eyes open, still in a little daze of sleep. “What?”
“Athena, she’s awake.” Alex said.
I blinked and looked around, suddenly remembering that we were in the hospital and now my back ached because of the uncomfortable seats. I stood up straight, wincing at the pain in the spine. “She is awake?”
Alex nodded, supporting my back. “Yes, we can meet her now. You okay?”
I took a deep breath, running a hand through my hair, making them even. “Yes. Yes.”
We walked into a room and I smiled as I saw Athena’s face, annoyed as always. She was glaring at Ajay. “Why did you call her?”
“Because she is your mother.”
Athena rolled her eyes. “Well just because she gave birth to me doesn’t make her my mother.”
Ajay didn’t reply but smiled helplessly at us. I shrugged, now knowing her wavering relationship with her mother.
“Are you okay?” Alex asked.
Athena nodded. “Yeah, nothing major. No broken legs, just a few scratches all over the body.” She pointed at the wrapped up forehead. “I hit my head so a bad headache. And one week of bed rest. So all in all I am fine.”
“That’s nice.” Alex nodded. “Do you know who the driver was?”
Athena shook her head. “No.” then she paused, as if contemplating if she should say the next words or not.
“Is there anything else?” Alex prompted, walking closer to her bed.
Athena gulped nervously, biting her bottom lip and her fingers twisting the bedsheets.
“Athena?” Alex lightly tapped on the bed. “It’s fine.”
She sighed. “I got a call from the hacker.” She started. “That is why I didn’t see the car coming at me.”
“Oh my God, I am so sorry.” I gasped out, patting her arm softly.
“It’s fine.”
“What did he say? Do you know him?” Alex questioned, his eyes gleaming with hope.
Athena shook her head. “No, it was a fake robotic voice. I didn’t recognize the voice or the number.” She scratched her neck. “He said that um, I should stop seeing Ray.”
“Ray?” I asked confused as to why would Ray call her and tell her to not see him.
Athena nodded one. “Yes, I am dating Ray Parker. He goes to your classes.”
“Yeah I know that asshole.” I acknowledged.
Athena’s head snapped up. “He’s not nice?”
“Well.” I didn’t know if I should tell her about Ray cheating on her with that girl in the alley. “He’s not exactly a nice person and not loyal.”
“Do you know something?” The warning in Athena’s voice made me freeze. I looked at Alex for desperate help.
“What else was said on the call Athena?” Alex changed the subject. “We need all information if this is the hacker.”
Athena gave a look that promised Ray this topic wasn’t over but answered Alex. “Not much actually. The voice said that he knew about me dating Alex and if I wanted to keep my job, I should break up with him. He also said that this was for my own safety and that this hacking thing would end soon.”
“Does that mean another hack?” Ajay seemed in distress. He didn’t wait for the reply. “I should check up our systems, make sure no one can get this. All hands on deck.” He started to walk off briskly before turning around. He smiled at Athena. “You stay here, take care okay. We’ll look into this.” He then pointed at me. “At the office in 3 hours.”
I nodded. “I’ll be there.”
“I am counting on you Ajay.” Alex said and Ajay only nodded before stepping out of the room and walking away.
Athena looked at me. “Now about Ray?”
Alex luckily interrupted. “Myra, a word?”
I smiled apologetically at Athena, before sprinting out. “Thanks for that.” I smiled at Alex, pointing at the closed door of Athena’s room.
Alex stared at me with an expressionless face. “Do you think she is lying?”
My mouth opened and closed twice, my eyebrows furrowing in confusion. “What?”
“This hacker thing, what if she is in with Ray?”
“No.” I scoffed, trying to not think of that possibility. “No.” I repeated. “She wouldn’t get herself in an accident for that.”
Alex raised his eyebrows. “The data that is hacked has to be around ten million bucks. Getting a small head injury is not a big deal.”
I twisted my fingers, my face scrunching up in doubt now. “I am sure the data will not be leaked.”
“How do you know that?” Alex’s eyebrows furrowed.
I breathed out sheepishly. “Well just, it’s a feeling.”
“And if it does?”
I pressed my lips together, afraid that I might say things I’ll regret later. “But it’s Athena.”
“And she is Ray’s girlfriend.”
I pressed my forehead, walking towards the chairs. “You think so?”
“I don’t know but we have to consider that possibility.” Alex reasoned, pressing his palms on my shoulder, gently massaging them.
“Oh that feels good.” I moaned, leaning my head on his broad shoulders.
I felt Alex’s chest move firm as he breathed. “This feels good.” I sighed, feeling the first real smile coming on my face since my entry into the hospital.
“It does.” Alex agreed, his arms encircling my shoulders. “You look good in my clothes.”
I fought the blush that was creeping up my cheeks, looking down at the navy blue tee I had tied into a knot around the waist and his shorts that reached to my knees. “They are comfortable.”
“Keep them.” Alex breathed out, lightly kissing my earlobe. “You look better in it.”
I cleared my throat, hoping that would also clear the dirty thoughts in my mind. “We should go in. and I am telling Athena about Ray cheating on her. She deserves to know that.”
“Fine but if she kills you in anger after that, I won’t help you.” Alex said, shrugging his shoulder following me back into the room.
Athena blinked pretending to be innocent. Her bedsheet was a little messy and she was wincing with pain.
“You were listening through the door, weren’t you?” I asked, smirking at her.
Athena feigned innocence, shrugging her shoulders. “What? No! That’s crazy.”
I pointed at the pillow on the ground, raising one eyebrow. “You need help with that?”
Athena bit her smile. “Yes please? It fell-”
“When you jumped out of bed and leaned your ear against the door to listen to us. We know.” Alex ended.
Athena puffed out the air. “Fine. Whatever.”
I gently settled the pillow against her back, ignoring her wincing and complaining about the pillow was too hard. It was the softest pillow, my fingers literally disappeared in it. Finally she leaned back, looking pointedly at me. “So? Ray?”
I looked at Alex for support but he did a ‘you are on your own’ wink and continued looking in his phone.
I scratched my neck, wondering how to start. “He’s not a good guy.”
Athena raised her eyebrows. “Alex is about to be married. You don’t see me judging him.”
“Hey!” Alex protested, his expression offended.
“Look, what I mean is.” I paused trying to think of the right words.
“Oh my God! Spit it out Myra.” Athena huffed, annoyance spread vast on her face.
“Fine, Ray cheated on you. He’s is an asshole. He uses girls and then drops them like a sack of rotten tomatoes. There. Good enough for you?” I spat out.
Athena visibly flinched, blinking at me before she nodded, looking around the small room. I could see was trying to register the news and come to terms with the facts.
“I am sorry.” I sighed, patting Athena’s arm gently.
“When?” Athena pressed her lips hard. “When did you see him?”
“Two days back.” I answered, smiling dejectedly at her.
“Do you know her?”
I shook my head. “No, I don’t.”
“Did you get her name?”
I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. “Why?”
Athena shrugged. “Well I need her name so I can kill her.”
“Okay.” I droned out the kay part as I patted her shoulders. “Let’s think before we act.”
Athena glared at me. “What’s there to think? She seduced my boyfriend.”
“Or maybe he seduced her.” I offered a more plausible reason.
“He loves me.” Athena stated, not one ounce of doubt in her tone.
Wow, I thought to myself, he really did a number on poor Athena. I pressed my forefinger to the center of my forehead. “Look, let’s talk about this later. You need rest now. Just don’t do anything rash Athena.”
I knew my words fell on deaf ears, Athena’s face was already serious and I could see the wheels in her devious mind churning. She would do something she would regret later and we would all have to clear that mess.
“Take care Athena.” I patted her shoulder one last time and glanced at Alex, tilting my head towards the door.
He got up, “Stay here Athena.” He warned and walked out. He found a nurse nearby, “That woman in there.” He pointed at Athena’s door. “Make sure she doesn’t leave her bed.”
The nurse smiled brightly. “Oh don’t worry. She’s too weak to go anywhere.”
Alex gave her a straight smile. “You don’t know her as we do. She is strong enough to do whatever she pleases. So if she disappears anywhere for the next two days, I will sue this hospital for lack of security.”
The nurse’s smile dropped real fast. She nodded, looking a little scared of Alex’s towering figure.
I gently pulled back Alex by his arm. I sent a quick smile to the terrified nurse. “Please make sure she doesn’t go anywhere. It’s really important.” I politely told the nurse and without waiting for her reply I pulled Alex with me towards the life.
“Let’s go. I have to go back to the office as well.” I said, pressing the lift button.
Alex kept quiet, tapping his feet.
We entered the lift and Alex didn’t say a word. I waited for him to press the ground floor since he was on the side of the buttons. But he stood still, continuing to tap his feet.
I sighed deep, leaning and pressing the ground floor.
We were almost near the car when I finally turned to him in exasperation. “What’s wrong? You haven’t said a word and that feet tapping is a real nuisance.”
Alex froze, blinking and looking at me with a blank face. “I – uh – was thinking.”
“Well?” I raised my eyebrows. “Care to share?”
“No, not really.”
“Huh.” I scoffed out, folding my arms. His reply truly stunned me. “Why?”
Alex opened the car door, avoiding my question. “I’ll drop you at the office. Call me when done, I’ll pick you up.”
I sat in the car forcefully, slamming the door shut to make a point. “No thanks, I’ll sleep at mine tonight.”
Alex tried to hide a smirk, real futile. “I just said I’ll pick you up I didn’t say I would take you to my place.”
I closed my eyes, feeling the humiliation creep up my face. “I just-” I fumbled a while before sighing and leaning back. “Whatever. Just drive.”
Alex let out a low chuckle, staring at the car. “But if you want, we can always spend the night. This time on the bed.”
His suggestive words weren’t lost on me, I fought back a blush. “You wish.”
Alex’s tone dropped low, husky a little. “Oh I do. I dream about it too.”
I pressed my thighs together. “Oh really?” I breathed out.
I could feel Alex’s scorching gaze on me but I kept my eyes straight, knowing that one look towards him and I would be all over him in this car.
“Really.” Alex said, his tone getting lower. “Want to know what?”
“I should change these clothes.” I quickly said, diverting my mind and changing the topic.
“It looks good and you said it’s comfortable. You’ll probably just be stuck to your seat with your laptop so why change?” Alex did make a very good point which is why I agreed with him, not because the clothes still had his scent and I liked that.
“Call me once done.” Alex reminded me as I got out of the car in front of the office building.
“Yes.” I promised, walking inside.
As I stepped into my office room, there were papers flying everywhere, literally and Ajay was screaming, a bright smile on his face.
“What is even happening?” I asked, swatting a paper off my face.
Ajay looked at me, grinning. “We found the location of the hacker.”
My jaw dropped open, my eyes almost popped out with shock and I felt my heartbeat increase. “What?”
He nodded. “Yes. Isn’t that exciting?”
I nodded, no words coming out of my mouth. I gulped thrice and took deep breaths, patting my chest to pacify myself. “So where is it? The location?”
“The Hackers Class, your hacking class.” Ajay said, shoving a piece of paper into my face. “Can you believe it?”
The words of the paper blurred in my eyes. “I can.” I whispered to myself.
Ray Parker was the hacker. And here was the proof.