by Sophia Gray
“But I woke up, I feel better now,” I insisted, trying to sit up in the bed. My body was incredibly weak. I winced as I glanced down—even though it had only been a few days since I’d hit the gym, I could tell my muscle tone was starting to fade. “I promise, I feel totally fine.” I grinned at her, trying for an ounce of that old Enzo charm. “I’m totally fine to leave. Just get the doctor, and I’ll clear it with him.”
Nurse Barnes rolled her eyes. “They said you were a workaholic,” she said absentmindedly as she deftly rolled me off the bed and onto a gurney. “And they weren’t lying. Enzo, your business isn’t going to collapse after just one day of not going to work. Tell me that you understand that at least.”
I frowned at her. I knew, deep down, there was another reason why I had to leave the hospital. There was something really important and really dangerous. Why couldn’t I remember? Every time I closed my eyes and tried to concentrate, I felt like something was punching me in the head.
“I have to leave because...” I trailed off, looking down. Nurse Barnes was busy changing the sheets of the hospital bed. The gurney was stiff, and when I realized how high I was off the ground, I felt dizzy. “I have to leave because I have something to do,” I said, trying to make my voice strong and confident. “I have something to do, and I know it’s important.”
“But you can’t even remember what it is?” Nurse Barnes looked at me and clucked her tongue. “Enzo, you’re too sick to leave the hospital,” she repeated firmly.
I sighed. This wasn’t going to work. “I have to talk to a doctor.” I pointed to my arm. There was an IV in the crook of my elbow, and when I moved, it felt like I was being pinched. “My arm hurts,” I said suddenly. “My arm’s going numb.”
“That’s because you’re moving around too much with that damn IV in,” Nurse Barnes said. Her face was red from the effort of moving me from and back to the bed. “You need to stay put. You’re never going to recover if you don’t take care of yourself, Enzo.”
“Come on,” I insisted. “It’s serious! It’s going numb!” I waved my arm wildly in the air. “Come on, nurse, don’t you realize I’m in trouble?”
She glared at me. “The only trouble you’re going to be in is the trouble that happens when I tell the doctor how much you’re misbehaving.” She shook her head and sucked her teeth, indicating disdain. “Now you need to stay put, mister. I’m going to get you your medicine, and then you’ll take it and settle down for another nap. We’ll come check on you later.”
“No!” I shouted. “No, no, that’s not going to work. I need to see a doctor now.” My heart was racing in my chest, and suddenly I was filled with fear that I wouldn’t even be able to break out of the hospital. “It’s urgent,” I said, pointing to my chest. “See, I’m hurting here, too.”
Nurse Barnes rolled her eyes as she stepped away from the bed. “Enzo, no more funny business!” She wagged a finger at me. “I know you’re lying, and I won’t stand for that.” She looked at me, and suddenly I was reminded of every female authority figure I’d ever hated. “Now you should feel lucky because I’m the nice nurse on your shift,” she hissed out, leaning down and staring me in the face. “Enzo, you behave while I get your medicine, okay?”
I sank down on the hot, starchy pillows and nodded, feeling defeated. If I couldn’t even remember why I had to leave the hospital, what the fuck was going to happen? I closed my eyes and tried to remember. I was fine. I was not at work for some reason. Why wasn’t I at work? What was I doing in a car in the middle of the day? Was I going to a meeting? Were any new clients trying to get in touch with me? What was going on?
By the time Nurse Barnes came back with a cup of pills and a clear plastic bottle of water, I was feeling more dismal and panicked than ever. She had a calm expression on her face, and I knew that I had to try one more time.
“Nurse, please,” I said in my most suave, humble voice. “I really don’t need to be here.” I laughed. “I’m fine, and I’m not even in pain. I was just lying because I wanted to see the doctor. But I really need to leave the hospital,” I added hopefully. “I don’t actually have insurance right now, and—”
“Enzo,” Nurse Barnes said sharply. “Stop lying to me, I don’t appreciate that. Your condition is not fit to leave the hospital, and you know that. Why just five minutes ago you were complaining about how weak you felt!”
“I was just frustrated.” Panic rose in my throat, and I struggled to stay calm. “I don’t need those pills either.” Nurse Barnes was offering them to me, and I cringed—three giant white pills and two smaller yellow ones were in her palm. If I took them, I was afraid I’d pass out again, and then I’d really be helpless.
“Enzo, I’m warning you, if you can’t take them on your own, I’m going to have to call in one of the other nurses.” Nurse Barnes stood with her hands on her slim hips. For a moment, I wondered about her life outside of work. Did she have friends? Family?
Family. My mind clung to the word, and I shook my head a few times, hoping to jolt myself into remembering whatever I’d forgotten.
“I’ll take them,” I said, grabbing the pills from her palm. Afterwards, she had me open my mouth. The pills were tucked under my tongue, and I had my fingers crossed under the scratchy hospital sheets so that she couldn’t see them.
“Good,” Nurse Barnes said. “I’ll see you in a few hours.” She walked out of the room, working her arms from one side to the other as though she were exercising vigorously.
When she was gone, I spat the pills into my hand and shoved them between the hospital bedframe and the mattress. I sat up quickly and was hit by a massive dizzy spell. I had to lean over and rest my face in my hands before I started to feel more awake. I have to get out of here, I have to get out of here, I have to get out of here.
Swinging my legs over the edge of the bed made me feel dizzy, too, but I kept going. Finally, I managed to stand up. My stomach growled, and suddenly I wished that I’d eaten the broth the nurse had brought me. I couldn’t remember when I’d eaten last, and I felt weak as a newborn kitten.
As casually as I could, I walked outside into the hallway. Outside of my room was a bustle of activity. Nurses rushed back and forth, all in different scrubs but with the same harried facial expression. I stepped back as a crowd of young doctors in green scrubs and white gowns rushed by, all craning their necks to see a clipboard held in one of their hands.
The nurses’ station was right down the hall. I tried to smile my best smarmy Enzo Lennox smile and strolled casually towards it. Inside, my body was aching. I felt like I was going to pass out at any minute, but I knew that I had to appear awake and feeling normal.
“Hi,” the nurse sitting at the desk chirped. “Can I help you? Is everything okay?”
“Everything’s fine,” I replied with a chuckle. Her face relaxed, and I got my first real burst of pride that day. Good, just keep going. Make her laugh. “I was just wondering about something.”
“Sure,” the nurse said in the same perky voice. “What can I help you with?”
“I was in a car accident,” I said, grinning and flashing my white teeth at the nurse. I watched a slight flush rise to her cheeks. “And I was wondering, who were the people working the night I was brought in?”
“What’s your name?”
“Enzo Lennox,” I said, leaning down over the counter. The nurse looked positively flushed and excited by my presence. Yes. You can do this. You’ve conned women hundreds of times before. That’s who you are. You’re Enzo, you got this.
“Alright, Enzo, just give me one moment while I run a search.” The nurse flashed me a smile, and I returned it. The nurse was older than I was and heavily overweight. Based on her reactions alone I could tell that not very many men paid attention to her.
“That’s fine,” I said, glancing behind me. No sign of Nurse Barnes. Good.
“Enzo, it looks like Dr. Mendel and Nurse Connor were taking care of you that night,” the nurse said. It was c
old in the atrium, but her face was red and perspiring. As I watched, she stuck her pink tongue out of her mouth and licked her cracked lips.
“Audrey,” I said. My heart started to slam against my chest. “Audrey!”
“What?” The nurse frowned. “I’m sorry, Enzo, are you talking about someone? Nurse Connor’s first name is Sarah, not Audrey.”
I have to find Audrey. I have to find her. I have to go!
“Never mind,” I said, my voice no longer polite, pushing away from the nurses’ station and flinging myself down the hallway. Suddenly, I remembered everything perfectly. I’d been in a car accident. I’d been in the car with Audrey, and some new asshole chauffeur deliberately got in a crash.
The next details were fuzzier. I remembered being brought into the hospital, and I remembered asking about Audrey. So why hadn’t I remembered her when I’d come out of that sleep?
The image of the white pills flashed into my mind. “Fuck!” I howled. Whatever they’d given me to help me sleep must have completely erased my memories of the previous events. God fucking dammit. If I don’t find Audrey soon, I don’t even want to think about what’s going to happen to her. And how much time has it been already? That bitch nurse said that I’d been asleep for almost half a day. So how much time did I waste in that stupid hospital bed?
My heart was pounding, and my head was aching, but I knew that no matter what, I had to find a way out of the hospital. I had to get to Audrey, I had to warn her somehow that she was in grave danger. That we were both in grave danger unless I acted quickly.
“Sir, are you okay?” A nurse stepped forward. “You look like you’re not feeling well. Can I help you back to your room?”
“No!” I shouted. “I’m sorry,” I added quickly. Sweat beaded on my forehead and I stepped back. “I’m fine, thanks.” I turned on my heel and ran down the hallway.
Getting out of the hospital was a nightmare. Every corner brought nurses, doctors, and techs who were all desperate to see me get back to my room. Plus, the place was like a goddamn maze. No matter which way I turned, I still felt like I was lost.
Finally, I found a set of elevators. Just as I pressed the button, Nurse Barnes rounded the corner. When she saw me, her face went white with shock.
“Enzo! What are you doing out of bed?”
“Leaving,” I replied as I hurled myself into the waiting elevator and jammed my thumb against the Doors Close button. Nurse Barnes stepped closer and closer but finally, the elevator doors crunched together, and I felt myself being carried down, away from her, and out of the clutches of the hospital.
Chapter 14
When I got down to the street, everyone was staring at me, and for a moment I was terrified that Nurse Barnes was going to give chase. Then I realized why: I was still clad in a cotton hospital gown, my ass exposed for everyone to see.
Hailing a cab, I launched myself into the back seat. I gave the driver the address of LennoxCo and rested my forehead against the greasy glass window, trying to catch my breath. I still didn’t know what had happened to Audrey, but I had a feeling she was in trouble. It bothered me that I couldn’t stop thinking about her. Just what, exactly, was going on? Was it because I felt responsible? Or guilty?
Deep down, I knew that I didn’t even want to dwell on why I couldn’t get her out of my mind. I knew that it was something aside from guilt, but whatever it was, it wasn’t something that I wanted to focus on. Not right now, not when I had Richard Hodges to go after.
The cab pulled up, and I dashed out, promising to send a girl down with the fare. Everyone stared at me as I raced through the lobby and jumped the identification turnstiles. When I finally made it up to the executive floor, I rushed into my office and grabbed a change of clothes from the desk. Even though I knew deep down that Audrey wouldn’t be sitting out front of office, not seeing her there was like a punch to my gut.
The phone rang, and for a second, I felt a flash of irritation that Audrey hadn’t picked up the call. When I remembered what was going on, I grabbed the receiver and pressed it against my face.
“Hello?” My voice was ragged and hoarse. It sounded like I’d been running a marathon. I coughed. “This is Enzo Lennox,” I said, my tone biting. “Who is this?”
“Enzo.” When I heard Richard’s voice, my free hand balled into a fist at my side. “Enzo, looks like you ran away from the hospital.”
“Fuck off,” I snarled out. “Where is she?”
Even though I couldn’t see him, I knew that Richard had to be smirking at that exact moment. “Where is who?”
“Audrey,” I spat out. “Where is she?”
Richard laughed, a silken sound, like he was enjoying himself. My blood boiled when I realized the truth—he was enjoying himself. He’d always enjoyed tormenting me, far too much.
“She’s safe, don’t worry. Although, if I’m being honest, I have to say that I don’t really get the attraction, Enzo. Just what is it about Audrey that’s so enticing to you?”
I growled. “Where is she?”
“Enzo, I’ll tell you where she is. All you have to do is one little thing for me, okay?”
I didn’t say anything. My blood was pounding in my ears, and suddenly I felt like I was going to pass out again. I knew that I needed to eat something, fast, but now that I had Richard on the phone, I didn’t want to let him go.
“Enzo, just give me the company. I want LennoxCo. Or rather, HodgesCo,” Richard said in a nasty tone. “Just hand over the company, and you get Audrey back. Isn’t that a fair trade?” He snickered. “And don’t worry, I won’t want anything to do with her. I have my eye on a little girl who looks like Christie Brinkley to be my secretary.”
I slammed my fist on the desk and almost howled as pain shot through my body. “Forget it.” I sneered into the phone. “You’re not getting my company, Richard. You’re not even getting a dime of my money.”
“Well, then suit yourself,” Richard said airily. “I know what you’ve been doing, Enzo. I know you’ve been looking for ways to incriminate me. And you’re a fool if you think that’s going to work. I’m smarter than you and tougher than you, and a hell of a lot scarier than you. You’re not going to bully me into doing anything.”
Inwardly, I groaned. “Richard,” I said through gritted teeth. “Get this through your thick fucking skull. I’m not selling my company to you. I’m not giving my company to you. LennoxCo is none of your fucking business, and you’re going to leave me alone and let Audrey go. You understand that?”
Richard snickered. “That’s not the way things are going to end,” he said with disdain. “Enzo, I would have thought you were smarter than this. After all, you’re a self-made man, aren’t you? You didn’t have to learn the business from anyone, not like me. You self-made assholes are supposed to be better businessmen!”
“I’m keeping my business and running it the way I want to,” I hissed out into the phone. “And that’s the final word on that!” Feeling triumphant, I slammed the phone down into the cradle.
Again, I almost called Audrey’s name until I looked out of my open door and saw that her desk was empty. My heart sank. I ran out into the hallway.
Karen was standing there with a group of women, chattering and laughing. When I dashed up, she glanced at me with surprise.
“Enzo, you’re looking tired,” she said, eyeing me from head to toe.
“Karen, you need to call Sebastian,” I told her. “Tell him to come to my office, immediately. This is important!”
Karen squinted at me and narrowed her eyes before crossing her thin arms over her chest. She was still one of the hottest women I’d ever seen, but I felt as little desire for her as for a corpse. “Where’s Audrey?” She gave me a big, mocking smile. “Late again?”
“She couldn’t come in today,” I snapped. “So hurry up! Go! Now!”
Karen skittered off, her heels clacking on the marble floor. Her friends looked up at me with a mixture of envy and disgust on their faces. D
ashing back to my office, I pulled my phone off the hook. It rang again before I could even punch in the number I was thinking of.
“This is Enzo Lennox.”
“Enzo, I forgot one little thing.” I cringed as Hodges’ slimy voice filled my ear. “One little thing about your company, and about Audrey.”
“I’m still not giving it to you,” I snapped. “And I have my ways to take you down, Richard. So don’t even think that I won’t try.”
“You may try all you want, but you’re certainly not going to succeed,” Hodges replied in a silky tone. “After all, I’m the smarter one here. You know that, Enzo.”
I swallowed hard. “So, what is it? What do you want?”
“Oh, it’s nothing else that I want. Enzo, it’s a little past eleven in the morning right now. You have twenty-four hours to change your mind about giving me your company. Or else, Audrey won’t live to see another day.”
“Bullshit.” I scoffed. “I bet you don’t even have her.”
“Oh, Enzo, you can be such a fool,” Richard said. There was a pause, and then I heard him yell Audrey’s name. There was a blood-curdling, high-pitched female scream in response.
My blood ran cold. “Hodges, you fuck,” I said into the phone. But the only thing in response was a dial tone. He’d hung up.
The story continues in Book 3 of the Rich & Reckless Romance series, HIS BOUND PLAYTHING. Check it out now!
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