Surviving the CEO

Chapter 25: Side Effects

Hello readers! I can't believe it but I have updated earlier than any of us have expected. If you have read my previous authors note then you know that I said that I wouldn't be updating for a few months due to having trouble writing. Miraculously, after I published the note I had a sudden spark as to what the next chapter would be.

So here is the long awaited chapter that many of you have been anticipating!

Don't forget to Vote, Comment and Share!

💜CeCe_Allen

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*Xavier's POV*

I wake up the next morning alone and a dull ache in my head. I roll onto my back and stare at the ceiling for a few minutes. I glance at the side table for my phone and I see the black case plugged into the charger. I grab it so I can call Aria to see where she went. As I bring it up to my face a pain shoots through my head. I squeeze my eyes shut in an attempt to dull the throb.

Setting my phone back on the table, I pull myself up and press the call nurse button for some assistance. A petite blonde comes walking in the door with a clipboard as well as a stethoscope around her neck.

"Good morning, I'm Nurse Laura. How are you feeling?" Her smile is so big it makes me internally cringe.

"My head is throbbing." I respond.

"That is normal but I can give you some painkillers if you wish." She scribbles a few things on her clipboard before taking a step toward me.

"Please."

"Alright, let me just check on your vitals and everything to make sure that you are healing properly." She then proceeds to check my pulse, lungs, eyes and my temples.

All I can do is sit there and follow her instructions.

"Your vitals are good and nothing seems out of the ordinary so I will be right back with your painkillers." She leaves the room and quietly closes the door behind her.

A few minutes later she returns with two small paper cups; one containing two pills and the other containing water.

"These should last for a few hours and should succeed in getting rid of the pain for the time being." Laura leaves me once again.

I lay back waiting for the pain to dull, my eyes closing in their own accord. I listen to the sounds of the room, the sounds strangely calming. As I start to fall back asleep, the door opens and closes. The person walks over to the bedside chair, quietly sitting in it.

"Hey baby. Where have you been?" I don't bother opening my eyes.

Their hand grasps mine softly but something feels off about it. It feels cold, it seems to fit mine differently; the fingers reach farther down my hand than usual and are softer than what Aria's have been in the past.

I've come to love the slight roughness that Aria has on her hands. It lets me know that she works a hard and isn't afraid to get her hands dirty. Her hand is smaller than mine and I love wrapping my long fingers around her palm. I love how small she is compared to me.

When a moment of silence goes by the uneasy feeling in my stomach is unavoidable. I slowly open my eyes and make look at the hand that grasps mine. The nails are painted a deep purple, the long fingers curled around mine like snakes around its prey.

Aria has never painted her fingernails since I've known her.

I make my way up the arm, which is clothed in a designer long-sleeve shirt, and the eyes I come into contact with are the ones I've come to hate.