Heartbeat

T H R E E

《Mon. June. 20, 2016》

My arms quickly wrapped around her body. She was as light as a flower, but pale like a dying one. I called the hospital in haste as I checked her breathing and her pulse. It all seemed fine to me.

An hour later, she was lying on the hospital bed; tubes and vitals attached to her. Though she was sleeping she looked tired. Fatigue stood out the most in her features next to her green eyes that were now closed. I took in her countenance once more. She's very beautiful, she looked like a rare piece of art, extravagant and enthralling. As I looked closer I let myself look at her lips, her plum pink lips. They were enticing. Her thick hair was in curls all around her, and I moved some strands of it away from her face. Then my gaze went to her arms that were unmoving on her sides. I was suddenly overcame by this weird force to hold her hand, and so I did.

Her hand was small and soft compared to my large and rough one. Also, her fingers were bony and short, but it all fit perfectly in my hand. It was everything. Soon the warmth of my hand diffused into her cold one.

Are they always this cold?

I casted another glance at her face she seemed now much more at comfort rather than pain. Suddenly she stirred, then her eyes opened; they widened when they settled on me, and in the awkwardness of the moment I let go of her hand.

"Hey," I said in a futile attempt to make conversation.

"I passed out?" she asked rhetorically.

"Yes. Are you feeling better?" She was looking around her in the room; inspecting it. "Oh yes, I feel much better, but which hospital is this?" When I told her the name of the hospital she perceptively relaxed and she thanked me for bringing her.

After another awkward silence I asked, "What happened with you miss? Why did you pass out?"

She looked away and while I was calm she was nervous and hesitant in answering me, "I'm not sure, I don't know I'll wait for the doctor and he'll tell me."

I had a feeling that she knew what happened, but nodded my head nonetheless. I looked at the beeping machine for a second and I noticed something. Her heartbeats weren't regular. "Your heartbeats," I stated in a voice low enough for her to hear. She quickly glanced at the machine. I noted how flustered she became; she wringed her fingers and for the second time this day I felt like holding them.

"It's just-," afore continuing she was cut off by the door opening. A man came inside, from his white rob I could tell that he was the doctor. His auburn hair contrasted well with his white skin. He was tall and well-built, but not more than me.

The doctor came inside and gave Isabella  a soft smile which she returned with a happy relieved one, while I was sitting there observing this weird interaction between a doctor and his patient.

"Hello doctor," she greeted him and he greeted her back then his attention diverted towards me. "Excuse me, who are you?"

"I brought Isabella here when she passed out. I'm her boss."

"Okay, so can you in this case go out I need to talk to my patient."

I nodded my head and reluctantly went outside, but I left the door slightly ajar and peeked in. I saw the doctor dip his head down and he kissed Bella, I mean Isabella, on the lips. I didn't know them very much, but one thing for sure is I didn't like what I just saw. Didn't settle well with me.

"How are you feeling Belle?" he asked her, but Belle? Seriously?

"I'm better James, don't worry, but what happened with me? Was it... a heart attack?" I could sense the fear in her words.

A heart attack?

"No don't worry," he held both her hands in his, "but first tell me what went wrong with you."

She sighed, "Well I got into an argument with my boss-," the doctor drew in a sharp breath, "the guy outside?" He said, voice dripping with hate.

From the semi view I got I managed to glare at his head.

"Yea, the CEO of the company, the powerful Mr. Valdez." I felt like she said that sarcastically.

"What did you argue about?" The doctor asked.

"I'll tell you later when we go home."

They go together home, as in they live together? As in they're serious?

"By the way, when can I leave?"

"Tonight," he said smiling at her.

"Anyways, when I stood up to leave, dizziness overcame me, then I felt an immense pain in my chest. It was like my heart was getting squeezed." My jaw ticked, as guilt washed over me. The pain was reeling off of her words, which vexed.

"Did you take your medicine this morning?" The doctor interrupted my thoughts.

"Yes," she replied.

"Well your blood pressure dropped severely when you stood up, a case of orthostatic hypotension expected with your condition, and on rare extreme occasions fainting occurs." He said in his clipped doctor-like tone.

"What about the chest pain?"

A sudden tap on my shoulder interrupted my listening. An old stout looking nurse was glaring at me suspiciously. "Sir, what are you doing?" She began her investigation.

"I was..." I trailed off not sure how to continue.

"Eavesdropping?" She supplied, and I remained silent under her gaze.

Damn this old lady, I thought.

She nodded her head, "Now please leave Sir."

Dejectedly, I had agreed and turned around to leave, the rude voice of Bella's- I mean Isabella's doctor/lover stooped me. "What are you still doing here?" I took this as my chance, "I want to talk to my employee." I put my hand on the door to push it, but he stopped me. "She needs to rest, so you can leave. What do you want to talk to her about anyways?" He asked cryptically.

That's right, what do I want to talk to her about?

"I want to continue my argument with her," I said what directly came into my head. The doctor charged towards me, but I was quicker to back away from him, "Relax I'm just kidding, I'll keep that for tomorrow." I just liked aggravating.

"Don't you dare-," I cut him midsentence, "Let her be at my office tomorrow morning, there are some things I'd like to discuss with. Oh, and tell her to get me the budget checked and fixed." I turned around and walked away blocking out his voice as my mind kept reeling to the all endless possibilities.

She's so simple yet I find in her a paradox that I yearn to disengage.

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