Surviving the CEO

Chapter 29: Survived

White. That's what I see when I open my eyes, white. The harsh lights cause me to squint in pain. My head is pounding and my cheek hurts just as bad. My back hurts from the shelves and my wrists have ugly purple bruises in the shapes of fingers. I reach my hand up to my cheek to feel it and wince as I barely brush my fingers across it. I let out a groan and look around the room to see who's here.

"Are you okay, love?" Mason rushes to my side with a look of worry.

"The lights, they hurt so bad." I wince in pain.

"I-I have sunglasses in my coat. I'll grab them." He rushes over to his coat and pulls out a pair of black sunglasses.

"Here. Put these on." He carefully slides them on.

"How's that?" He backs away with a small smile.

"Much better. Thank you."

"How are you feeling?"

"I feel like I've been hit by a truck, bulldozer and freight train. So I feel like shit, complete and utter shit." I clutch my head as the pounding increases a little.

"Aria, I am so sorry. There are no words that can express my regret and guilt. I would never ever hurt you but I did." His eyes start to tear up, his emotions are upfront and it pulls at my heart.

His cheek is bruised and he has a small cut on his eyebrow and lip. I make my way down to his hands and see his knuckles are cut open and are also bruised.

"Mason, calm down. You didn't hurt me, you didn't touch me. You were trying to help me. I can't be mad at you for fighting for me. I wish you handled the situation differently because he's your family Mason." I take his hands in mine as a way to calm him down.

"Family or not, under any circumstances, you do not force yourself on a woman. You do not lay your hands on them. You do not treat them like objects!" His hands squeeze mine tightly, his anger prominent.

"You're right but you should not fight your brother, your only brother as a matter of fact, because of a woman. A woman is not something you should break family ties over." A small sigh escapes me.

"Aria, may I be honest with you?" Mason rises from his seat and begins pacing in front of the bed.

"Of course." I raise an eyebrow at his odd behavior.

"Xavier, didn't deserve you. He didn't. He did not treat you the way you deserve. He treated you like an object. Why did he think it was okay to break up with that greedy bitch then jump right to you? He treated you like every other bitch he fucked. You are worth more than that."

"He treated me nicely. He liked me." I shrug at him.

"I have liked you since I first met you. I know that we've never really spoken all that much but when we have it's great. You listen to me and don't see me as my brother. I would treat you like you're the only girl in the world. I would treat you the way you deserve. Not as an object but as Aria. So I would like to ask you a question." He stops pacing and turns to face me.

"Okay?" The word comes out as more of a question.

"May I-" He's cut off when a shrill screech comes through the door.

"Aria! Oh my god, what happened?" Amy comes barreling to my bedside with a look of fear.

"Amy, I haven't died. You need to calm down." I roll my eyes are her overreaction.

"How would you react if you got a call saying that your best friend is in the hospital? It's been years since the last-" I give her a stern look, cutting her off from spilling beans about my past with Mason present.