The Disastrous Union

11

I wake up at the bottom of the stairs with the sun shining on me.

I try to get up but I can't but I can't call for anyone.

Would Rio even help me?

I turn my body around and start to crawl up the stairs, my body aching.

I manage to get up to my room where I collapse on the floor, kicking the door shut with my leg.

I finally pull myself up onto my bed and see that the spider is not there anymore and lie down and I fall into an incredibly deep sleep.

***

I wake up with Suze standing over me, checking my temperature with an ice pack on my head.

"Oh you poor thing. Are you okay?" I try to respond but I can't. I nod. "Don't try to speak, only if you really had to. You took a nasty fall."

"You saw?" She shakes her head at my question.

"On the cameras and I came to you immediately." I nod.

"I'm okay. You can go about your day." I say and she pulls a face.

"Are you sure? Your fall looked really quite bad." She says and I nod again.

She smiles and leaves, handing me the ice pack which I hold to my sore head.

I'm about to fall asleep when Rio bursts into my room.

He shows me a newspaper and my vision takes a while to stop fogging but I sit up immediately when it does.

Him and I are on the front page of the cover and we're nominated as one of the cutest couples of the season.

He showed me and email and it said they were going to follow us for three days to see how we functioned as a couple.

It surprises me that the tabloids don't know who I am, or how they haven't found out about Rio's... side pieces.

I know that they were rich as well and had no proof that they were bedding him but still.

I need to go back to work to escape this.

I call Dr. Crawford and tell her that I'm coming back and she rejoices.

"It's been quite difficult without you." She says and I smile a brief smile. "I'm so excited that you're coming when the camera crew is coming as well."

Oh fuck.

They were coming to work.

Of course they were, Rio worked there too.

"When does this start?" I ask Rio.

"Tomorrow but chop chop and get ready for work." He says and I groan internally. My head kills. "I'll get Suze to put some of your stuff in my room to make it look like we live together."

I get the ice pack and put it back on my head as I get ready, not caring that Rio's still in my room because I need help.

In all honestly, Im just glad I showered.

"Can you help me put my dress on, my whole body is sore." I say and he nods.

I wear a simple black dress and get on my stilettos and make my way downstairs.

I drink water and force myself to eat an apple and get into my car. Rio gets in as well and I just drive.

We get there and there are already people taking pictures of us.

He instinctively holds my hand and this time I can't let go.

I put my sunglasses down and walk in and get my pass out, separating my hand from his.

When we get in, we're very professional, not acting like a couple at all but as we're in the workplace, that's a normal thing to do.

He does place his hand on the small of my back as we enter the elevator but drops it when the doors close.

We stand there in awkward silence and can't wait to get out and when we walk in, Dr. Shilling attacks me with a hug.

"I missed you!" She says and we walk and talk.

I can't even get a minute before the camera crew are here and taking photos of me and Dr. Crawford just lets them through as they are publicity.

I'm immediately pulled into the autopsy room and I get started.

All of these are natural causes or suicide and nearing the end of the day, Rio and I haven't even seen each other a single bit.

We go home and I hear Rio leave again.

I'm about to get ready for bed when I get a call.

"We've got a body and this is no suicide." Rio says and I sigh and stop taking off my dress or at least attempting to and leave the house.

I drive to the address he's sent me and the photographers follow in hot pursuit.

I get there and the stench is foul but I'm used to it.

I'm not surprised when I see the pale face of my father staring back at me, his body rotting away.

"He looks awfully familiar." Rio says and I nod.

"Indrajit Mistry. My uncle." I say and everyone within hearing distance looks at me.

Everyone seems extremely confused. I didn't need to explain myself to anyone.

On a hunch, I check his rib cage and see those little cuts down his torso, the same ones on my own body.

I knows whose signature this is.

The problem is that they're dead.