Rosie White

Chapter 49

Rosie cuts the call off just as I'm about to tell her not to come here. I dial her number back, but it goes straight to voicemail.

Dammit baby, what the hell is she playing at?

"Alexander, are you listening to me?" My father speaks firmly.

I throw my phone to the desk, "I told you, for the millionth time, NO." I reply strongly.

"Jesus Christ child, will you listen to yourself. That whore of yours has you mind in the clouds. You need to get your priorities straight and come back down to earth boy."

I stand abruptly, my mind foggy from rage. "GET OUT!"

He stands as well, using the walking stick to help him up. It's clear his health is quickly in decline, but that doesn't stop the fact I don't want to take over his company.

"How dare you speak to me that way!" He shouts back.

"How dare you call Rosie a whore, get the fuck out and don't ever think about speaking to me again!" I seethe.

"She is a gold-digging bitch Alexander, and you are blind not to see it! Don't you see the family she came from; she is a bad image for the family name."

"OUT!"

"You roped Christopher into defending her, costing me thousands!" He adds, his deep voice strained.

"You didn't fucking pay him father! I did!"

"Exactly! She is using you for your money and you are blind to it! You are better off with someone I chose for you Alexander, just as I chose you to take over my company. I know what's best for you son." His words have calmed but I can tell he's still trying to be forceful.

"Just like you chose Char, and how did that end up father?" I can feel my nails digging into my palms as my fists clench at my sides.

"Rosie White is a whore, just like her mother and a slimy snake like her father," He grits out.

I open my mouth to reply but am cut off.

"...Alex?"

We both turn to look at the doorway, what with the shouting, neither of us heard Rosie enter the office.

"Rosie," I breath, she didn't need to hear any of that.

"Mr Carlson, it's nice to see you again," Rosie speaks softly, raining in her visible discomfort.

My father turns to her, his face red from anger, "Don't try to play nice now you little bitch."

Rosie takes a step back, her eyes filling with tears.

"You think you can be with my son, that you're good enough to be with my son-"

"ENOUGH!" I shout, Rosie flinches again but my father is relentless.

"YOU WILL NEVER BE GOOD ENOUGH-"

I watch as he grasps his chest, his words cut off, nothing but grunts and groans coming from him as his skin pales.

Rosie steps forward, "Mr Carlson?"

His knees give in, his body sagging to the floor.

"Alex!" Rosie screams.

"Father!" I shout.

I run around the desk, kneeling beside him. "I think he's having a heart attack," Rosie speaks from my side.

I pull out my phone and dial 999. My father lays clutching his chest as I speak with the caller as she guides me through what to do before the paramedics arrive. Rosie leaves my side, I hear her voice in the corridor, obviously informing the security of the situation.

A couple of the men come into the office, helping me get my father as comfortable as possible as we wait.

The ambulance arrives less than five minutes later, and I watch my father being escorted into the ambulance.

Rosie is stood by my side, tears streaming down her cheeks, her arms hugging herself. I drop my arm around her and pull her to my chest, placing a kiss into her hair.

"I should go to the hospital, wait for my mother and to hear what's happening, I can ask someone to drive you home?"

Rosie shakes her head against my chest, I can barely hear her over the sirens as she replies. "No, I'll come with you."

She grasps my hand and wipes the tears on her cheeks away.

I place one last kiss onto her cheek before making my way towards my driver's car.

***

Sitting in the private waiting room of the hospital, I pull Rosie closer to my side. When they saw who I was and clearly recognised Rosie, the nurse showed us to a private room away from the public waiting room. I was very grateful, last thing I need is prying eyes.

What I really need is to speak with Rosie about what was said in that room. I need to make sure she's alright. But I don't want to do that here.

"Alexander!" I hear a sharp, almost disappointed voice enter the room and groan.

Rosie tenses in my arms and I give her a, hopefully, comforting squeeze.

I stand, turning towards an angry and upset looking mother.

"Mother."

"Alexander, well I didn't want to believe you when you said we were here. Do you know what your father is going to say when he realises you didn't send him to his private medical centre?"

I refrain from rolling my eyes, "He didn't really have a choice mother, he was half dead."

She gasps at my bluntness and turns to scowl at Rosie, I pull her closer to my side and speak before any other of my family member can speak another bad word towards Rosie.

"Why don't you go and see how he is, I'm tired and I'm going to take Rosie home. You can phone me if there are anymore developments, as far I know, he's going to be absolutely fine. Unfortunately."

I whispered the word unfortunately so quietly and slyly only Rosie could hear it; I can tell she's trying to hold in a chuckle as she turns her face into my chest.

"Very well," My mother replies, saying no more and turning to leave.

I give Rosie another kiss on the forehead, "Come on."

"You sure you don't want to stay?" She asks.

"No, I'll come by tomorrow. If he's still here that is, and hasn't been escorted in private helicopter to his private medical centre."

Rosie stifles another laugh and slaps my chest lightly, "Alex don't be rude."

After what he said to Rosie, I'll wish even worse on that man.

"So much drama lately, I need a holiday," Rosie laughs lightly as we make our way out of the hospital.

I mumble an agreement, thinking to myself.

A holiday, that does sound good.