If It's What You Want A Harry Styles Fanfiction || h. s.

Chapter 51

Ashley pushed at the blanket in frustration. It was close to midnight and she was incredibly restless. She'd been admitted and assigned a room just an hour ago. "What's wrong, sweetheart?"

"I'm too warm again."

"Okay. Let me turn this down off of you."

"Did you speak with my aunt?"

"I did. She'll come in the morning unless she's needed before then."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. Is there anything I can do for you?"

"You've done so much."

"I'm sorry to be such a rat."

"It's okay. I was being ridiculous."

"Can I get something for you?" he asked.

"Yes. Is my lip balm in my purse? This oxygen is making my lips so dry."

Harry brought her purse over. "Could you look? It's probably in that pocket," she said tiredly. She closed her eyes while she waited for Harry.

He unzipped a couple of sections in her purse and methodically searched for the lip balm. Her wallet fell open as he removed it from her purse. His eye caught her driver's license picture causing him to momentarily stop to look at a younger version of the woman lying in bed. She must have been about 21 or so. The name on the license drew his attention. He'd assumed she'd taken her uncle's name after the adoption. Russo was Raymond's last name, but what about . . . Did this hyphenation have to do with Ashley's father? Where had he heard that name? Erickson . . . Erickson . . . aircraft? The billion-dollar corporation? NASDAQ Erickson? Shit! he thought.

He quickly closed the wallet and continued to search her purse. When he finally found the lip balm, she seemed to have fallen asleep.

He sat with his head in his hands thinking about potential implications of what he'd discovered. Had she lied by omission? She said she had a trust fund. This was no simple trust fund, a billion dollars? Jesus! Had she been honest about her childhood, about the extreme circumstances she'd endured as a girl? Could he even ask her right now? Who knew? Should he talk to someone? No . . . maybe no one knew. Her aunt. He'd talk to Margarite.

He stood abruptly causing the chair to scrape the floor.

"Harry?"

"I'm sorry, baby."

"Did I fall asleep?" she asked

"Yes, would you like that lip balm now?"

"Yes, please."

"Ashley?"

"Uh-huh?"

She sounded so weak he couldn't bring himself to pose the question. "What can I do for you, sweetheart?"

"If I could just sleep, I think I'd feel so much better."

"Why don't you speak with the doctor to see if there is something he might give you to help?"

"Is he coming back?"

"Yes, as soon as the lab tests are complete."

She reached for his hand. He sat down on the side of the bed and held one hand in both of his. "Is Aunt Margarite taking care of my flight?"

"Unfortunately, you need to cancel the flight. She didn't know your log-on."

"Could I just give it to you?"

"Sure, sweetheart. I'll take care of everything. No worries."