Bedmates Soulmates

T

She Can't Watch Him Dienovelbin

"You'll never know dear, how much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away..."

She let the ringtone carry on, dithering.

Ever since she knew his true identity, Kira wasn't so sure if she should keep having contact with the man.

He was the president of Revency, a client company.

And he seemed to be involved in something...nefarious

Kira hadn't forgotten the group of rough-looking men searching for him the other night.

They sure didn't look like harmless, law-abiding citizens.

Kira cast a furtive look around.

The office was empty, but it was an open floor plan.

Her voice would carry.

Kira dragged herself to the pantry and closed the door.

Bob Dylan had moved on to the second chorus. Hello, Mr Cane."

Mr Cane?

Liam arched an eyebrow. "What's with the formality?"

Just trying to be polite.' Kira went straight to the point What can I do for you, Mr Cane?

'I'm cashing in that rain check you offered. How about dinner tonight? I'll pick you up."

Kira shifted her weight from one foot to the other,

She groped for an answer.

"Uh, I'm terribly sorry, but I don't think that's such a good idea..."

Why was the woman's guard still up?

Liam's eyes went cold.

Including that unplanned encounter in the karaoke lounge, they'd met each other three times.

He saved her from a mugger.

Held his nose and allowed the contract with M Group to go ahead because of her.

But she turned down his invitation for dinner, twice.

Every time he took one step forward, she would take two steps back, keeping him at arm's length.

Was she doing this because she had sensed something, or was she playing hard to get?

I'll pick you up tonight," he said, steamrolling over her objection. 'What time do you get off work?"

1, ah, I already have plans tonight,' she fibbed.

'Cancel them."

Kira rolled her eyes.

Were all presidents so full of themselves?

Just as she was about to speak, her phone beeped.

It sent a smile to her face.

'Sorry, Mr Cane, I've got another call incoming. I'll have to call you back. Bye.

She hung up.

Liam listened to the busy tone and flashed a mirthless smile.

Did she think she could dodge him with silly antics like this?

Kira did have another call.

Hello."

'Hello, Miss Hewitt, it's Dr Morrison."

Kira paused mid-stride.

She felt a flutter in the pit of her stomach.

Dr Morrison was her father's attending physician.

The neurologist was extremely busy and Kira seldom saw him.

Why was he calling now?

Her father...

'Dr Morrison, did something happen to my dad?"

A pause, then the doctor said, 'Yes, it's about your father. Miss Hewitt, I would like you to come down to the hospital, right now if you can."

Kira felt as if she'd just been gut-punched.

She gripped her phone. 'Wh..what happened?"

"Please just come as soon as possible, the unflappable doctor said. "We'll talk about it when you arrive."

I'm on my way."

Kira was already running.

She bumped into someone on her way out of the office

'Sorry!" she pushed past the person and sprinted into the open elevator.

Paul turned around, stunned.

He thought he'd caught a glimpse of the girl's eyes.

They were red.

""What's wrong w

her? he asked Lexi who was standing next to him.

'Don't know.' She shrugged.

They'd both just returned from the cafeteria.

'She was fine before I left for lunch."

Kira willed the taxi to go faster

"Jump the red light! she wanted to shout. I'll pay the ticket."

But the driver was just doing his job.

Kira couldn't keep her hands still.

It had been a day just like this one-sunny, sluggish, with a breeze that made pedestrians heavy-eyed.

She was in the classroom, fighting off a food coma when she got the call.

She dashed out of the classroom to the scene.

Her father was lying in a pool of blood.

The crowd.

The wailing of the ambulance.

The ride to the ER.

The feeling of being underwater as she stood rigid outside the operating room, eyes glued to the lit sign. Sixteen endless hours later, the doctors came out. One of them shook his head.

Sorry, we tried

Kira guessed that was what he said, from the way his lips moved, but she couldn't hear a sound.

Her father never woke up since that day.

Dr Morrison briefed her on what patients in a persistent vegetative state were like.

Recovery was...unlikely.

There was no real treatment, only supportive care.

A feeding tube.

Physical therapy to prevent contractures and blood clots.

Suction, if needed.

Management of bladder and bowel functions.

Oral and dental hygiene care.

Not to mention the risk of complications like infections or respiratory failure.

After a sleepless night spent crying, Kira wiped her eyes, cleaned out her bank account, and started knocking on the doors of every friend, relative and acquaintance she could think of. Eventually, friends disappeared.

Relatives cut ties.

Calls went unanswered.

Kira couldn't really blame them.

Every family had their own troubles.

Many of them pitched in as much as they could, but caring for a vegetative patient was a long-term battle with no end in sight.

More than one relative had pulled her aside and quietly suggested that she 'take her father home, a

euphemism for letting him die.

Kira refused.

When her pockets were turned inside out, she searched for her mother as a last resort.

Helen Raynor abandoned her daughter and walked out on her husband.

Kira knew she shouldn't hold out much hope.

But her biological mother's cold-bloodedness still came as a shock.

Kira was literally on her knees, begging for money to save her father.

Helen, deeming it beneath her to talk to the girl, ordered the maid to throw Kira out.

Kira had never hated someone so wholeheartedly in her life.

She didn't just loathe that woman.

She despised her.

Watching a man-her ex-husband, the man she shared a bed with and had a daughter with-die without batting an eye was just beyond the pale.

Kira beseeched the hospital for another extension,

She was searching online for ways to sell her blood when Austyn came through the door.

Him LfAll Peuple