Till Death Do Us Part

Jackson Meets Johnson

Author's Note:

 Thank you for the support! You, my friend, is my inspiration in this story. :) Enjoy reading! 

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Chapter 16 - Jackson Meets Johnson

It was not easy to be brave. But at that moment, while he lied there in the hospital Paul thought of nothing else but the meeting with Sophia Johnson. Even when he closed his eyes, he could still see her face, her loneliness as she told him how empty her life had been. In spite of the beautiful face, in spite of the money he provided for her. He was finding it hard to breathe. All the apparatus attached to his body and a machine monitoring his heart. The door opened as Sally entered with Percy behind her.

"Paul, what happened?" she asked. "What happened to you and the artist? Was something wrong? Did she made you upset?" He shook his head. "No," he said almost in a whisper. Then he looked at Percy and Percy moved closer to his side.

"Percy. I want you to go to the girl. Please meet her and talk her out in getting the job. Go to her by all means. You will do it for me?" His eyes were pleading.

"Paul, this is absurd. You are here in the hospital running for your life and here you are telling me to go to this artist and offer her the job. This is ridiculous. Is it that important? You ought to rest and recover. We still have a lot to do. You will still live for the opening of the medical center." Paul Blofis smiled at Percy.

"Thank you Percy. And…and… forgive me. Tell Annabeth to forgive me too…" The words were so soft Percy could hardly hear them.

"Forgive you for what?" Percy looked confused. What is this? What is he talking about? Paul seemed to be in hallucination. Maybe it was because of the drug that the nurses shot him to ease the pain. Why does he ask for forgiveness to him and to Annabeth? It just doesn't make sense. And with that he closed his eyes. Sally pressed the buzzer and a nurse came in followed by the doctor.

It was already late evening when Percy arrived at Jackson Hotel. It had been a hectic day what with Sally not around to preside over the meeting. After meeting his clients he had a quick dinner and went out of the city for some fresh air. It was almost ten in the evening when he came home and remembered to call his mother and ask about Paul's condition.

"He is at the Intensive Care Unit right now Percy," Sally said. "His condition is critical. Have you seen the artist? You promised Paul…"

"Oh no…Not yet. Okay, I'll call her now."

He really can't understand why Paul wanted him to meet the girl personally when he could ask Annabelle to do that. He was too busy to give that artist a personal call. But with the opening of the medical center scheduled in a month time, he really needed to talk to the artist tonight. He fumbled on the number Annabelle gave him and started to dial Sophia's number.

Annabeth was already sleeping when the phone rang. She went to bed early that night for she got an early meeting with some reporters at the gallery tomorrow morning. She was very sleepy as she groped for her ringing cell phone.

"Hello," she answered in a half asleep voice.

"Hello, Miss Johnson. This is Percy Jackson."

Percy! She suddenly propped up from bed and gasped. Percy?

"Hello, Miss Johnson?"

"Yes." She tried to control her voice as she sat up in bed and hugged her pillow. It was nice to hear his voice again. It had been two years since he heard that voice. Her hands almost trembled.