Panic Attack - H.S. AU

Chapter Twenty

-Zayn-

After helping me sit up in bed, my mother stood across from me and silently stared at me.

"Go on. Say what you so desperately want to get off your chest," I reluctantly told her.

"I don't even know why you even bothered with that girl," she muttered underneath her breath.

I rolled my eyes at her. "Here we go."

"I mean really Zayn, what does the poor girl even having going for her other than a pretty face. She's never shown any real potential," she continued.

"That's enough, mother."

"Oh I've had enough of Valerie alright that's for sure. She's nothing but a low class, poorly educated wh—"

"I said enough!" I raised my voice at her, nearly hurting myself in the process.

My mother's lips parted in shock. I'd never yelled at her before so I avoided eye contact as soon as I saw the look on her face.

"Please go," I said quietly. "I'll call you tomorrow when I'm checked out."

After a brief pause, she cleared her throat and said, "I've got some packing to do with my flight being tomorrow and all. Take care of yourself."

With that, she finally left the room and I released a deep breath of relief.

"Knock, knock!" a familiar voice said outside my room.

I slowly sat myself up in bed before saying, "Come in."

Liam entered my room all suited up, looking dapper as usual and as expected, he didn't hesitate to grimace the second he saw me.

I tried to crack a smile. "I look that bad huh?" 

"Well I wouldn't say—no, I would definitely say it. You look like hell"

"Thanks," I sarcastically replied.

"You're welcome," he said with a smile. "Anyway, we need to talk business."

I groaned. "Alright, hit me with the worst."

"Nothing too crazy. As your vice-president I've been handling things perfectly in your absence if I do say so myself."

"Good to hear," I told him.

"However," he said and I instantly thought of the worst. "Profits have plummeted just a tad which of course is normal, but everyone is looking to me for answers and honestly I don't have them."

"Are you kidding me? I am literally lying in a hospital bed with a black eye, busted lip, and stitches on the side of my head all while enduring the worst headache I've ever had and you really thought complaining to me was the best thing to do. For fucks sake, Liam you've been in the company longer than me and you still need someone to hold your hand." I looked at him with disgust. "I know we're friends and all, but I'm your boss first and as your boss the only advice I'm giving you is to fucking figure it out."

Liam nodded his head slowly. "Enough said, Boss."

He then left the room without saying another word.

I instantly regretted lashing out on him. It was just frustrating that my supposed vice-president couldn't handle so much as one day without me. 

I lied back down in my be and tried to relax. Next thing I knew I was beginning to reminisce about another terrible mistake I made in the past, the first time I cheated on Valerie.