Friends with Benefits with Mr. CEO

Chapter 16

I woke up in a hospital bed; a sharp pain in my head. Someone was holding my hand. I looked to my left and there was Chelsea. Her eyes were red and puffy and her strawberry shortcake blonde hair was messy. She looked awful and stressed. She gasped when she realized I was awake.

"Oh my God!" she squealed, crying even more and squeezing my palm.

"Hey what's going on?" I muttered, still feeling weak.

"You've been unconscious for hours," she replied, wiping her tears.

"Oh. Where's Syl?" I asked.

Chelsea froze. She looked as if she wasn't sure what to say.

"Chelsea.. Where is Syl?" I said slowly, on the verge of crying.

She sighed, "I was told the doctors are trying to stop the internal bleeding from the gunshot wound."

I sobbed uncontrollably. Chelsea got up and hugged me.

"I'm sure he'll be alright, Aria," she said.

Suddenly, the door creaked open. It was Syl's parents, Carol and Pierce. Carol ran to my side and kissed my forehead gently, tears in her eyes and streaked her face.

"How are you darling?" she said, trying to give me a pleasant smile but she still looked sad.

"I'm fine. I'm just worried about Syl," I cried.

"There's no need to be. I just got word that the operation was successful," Pierce said checking his iPhone.

There was a huge sigh of relief from everyone in the room. My heart started beating regularly again and I couldn't wait to see him. I was so relieved. I thought I lost him again.. for good. Just then, the door opened again and two police officers walked in. One was tall and had a large scar on his left cheek while the other was short and walked shyly behind his colleague.

"Good evening. I'm Detective Randall and this is Detective Smith. We have some questions for Ms. Rivers," the tall one said.

"Should we leave?" Carol asked.

"There's no need to," Detective Smith replied, taking his notepad and pen out.

"Ms. Rivers, what time did you arrive at Mr. McMaster's home," Detective Randall asked.

I looked at my hands, thinking about last night's events and I felt like crying again. I closed my eyes and wiped the memory from my head then replied,

"Around eight-ish I believe."

"And there were no signs of a strange vehicle or anything?"

"Not at all. I woke up after two in the morning and I heard the bedroom door close so I woke Sylvester up. I searched for our phones which were missing as well as my car keys while he went for his gun. We got downstairs and we saw someone.."

I paused. I felt sick to my stomach remembering Misty's ill-shaped silhouette. I knew it was her! She had something to do with it.

"Ms. Rivers, what happened after that?" Detective Randall asked.

"We saw someone who looked very familiar to me. She had a camera in her hand. Syl pointed his gun at her and I took the camera then that's when Syl was shot," I said with tears streaming down my face.

"The person looked familiar? Name please," he said sternly.

"Misty.. Misty Peters. She's a coworker of mine."

Randall exchanged looks with Smith.

"Why do you think it was her?"

"I know that figure anywhere, Detective Randall. Plus I know she would kill to have racy photos of Syl and I."

"Why?"

"Isn't it obvious? Aria is dating the CEO dammit!" Chelsea interjected, annoyed as hell.

Randall and Smith exchanged looks again.

"Okay. So was it Ms. Peters who shot Mr. McMaster?"

I thought about it carefully.

"No. When I turned around, there was a slim figure standing over him with a gun."

"Man? Woman? Not sure?"

"It was definitely a woman."

"Do you know anyone else who was interested in harming Mr. McMaster or you or the relationship both of you shared?"

I leaned back against the pillow and closed my eyes. Honestly, all I wanted to do was forget about last night and go see Syl. Although I've been through a lot and I've even taken a hard hit to the head, it was worth it. I loved Syl but it broke my heart to see people go so far to try to destroy us.

"Ms. Rivers?" I heard Detective Randall say.

"Give her time, please? I doubt she recovered fully," Pierce said.

I closed my eyes, imagining last night. Reliving that awful moment.

Seeing Misty with the camera.

Taking it from her.

The gunshot.

Syl on the floor.

"... a tall, slim figure over him with a gun in hand."

I gasped, putting my hand to my mouth. I could not believe it. This was just too much. How could she? Why would she? Unbelievable.

"Ms. Rivers, please give us a name," Detective Smith urged.

"Victoria."