ROHAN paced back and forth in the infirmary. He had brought Yvonne there, but the doctor was out.
“Rohan… could you please stop pacing? You’re making me dizzy.”
He stopped and turned in the direction of the bed and saw Yvonne sitting up. He immediately rushed to her and helped her to sit.
“I’m just worried about you. You should be checked by the doctor immediately, but he’s nowhere to be found. Damn it…” He gritted his teeth.
“Sir Rohan, Doc Kyler’s back,” the nurse informed him.
“At last!” He left Yvonne and met the doctor halfway. “Where the hell have you been? We have a patient here who has a heart problem!” The tone of his voice raised.
“I had my first decent meal for the day. Come on… I just came from the hospital.” Kyler sauntered to the patient’s bed.
“I told you to just stay here at the infirmary—”
“Dad called me to substitute for him since he needs to attend a conference, so please stop nagging me, Uncle.” Kyler sneered and put on his stethoscope.
Rohan just stood beside him as he watched him check on Yvonne.
“How’s she?” he asked afterward.
“Her heartbeat seems fine.” Kyler turned to him. “You said she has some sort of a heart problem? Well, I suggest that she must—”
“I already told him that it’s just a panic attack,” Yvonne chimed in. “There’s nothing serious to worry about here, doctor. I’m sorry for the inconvenience this may have caused you—”
“Yvonne…” Rohan cut her off. “You don’t have to be sorry.”
She saw something cross his eyes, something she didn’t dare give a name.
“Uncle’s right and it’s my duty as a doctor to check on you.” The doctor beamed at him.
“Well, thank you…” she said as she got off the bed.
Rohan immediately caught her by the arm when she suddenly lost her balance.
“Are you sure you’re okay now? You can stay here until you get better. We won’t mind.”
She turned to Rohan and beamed.
“I’m fine. I can’t stay here for long when I have something important to attend to.”
Yvonne suddenly realized that she had no footwear to wear back to her suite because Rohan had carried her to the infirmary. That thought made her cheeks burn, and she was worried that he’d notice them blushing, so she immediately cupped her face hoping she could hide it that way. And as though she and Rohan had telepathy, he got her something to wear.
“These are Kyler’s,” Rohan said as he put the slippers on her feet. “Don’t worry… he won’t mind.”
“I’ll make sure to return these before I check out.”
Yvonne looked at them back and forth before heading out of the infirmary.
She let out a long sigh upon getting out, and that was when she realized she had been holding her breath while standing beside Rohan.
Oh, how she wished now that they were nothing but strangers. Perhaps it would make the situation a little less embarrassing. But heaven wouldn’t hear her plea. It couldn’t be because they’d known each other very well since long ago.
“Good Lord…” she muttered.
Yvonne was about to push the elevator button when a finger pushed it first. When she turned in the owner’s direction, she found Rohan standing beside her, so close that their arms almost touched. What was he doing there? She thought he wouldn’t follow her.
“I’ll walk you to your suite,” he said so casually without looking at her.
“I can manage—”
“Why did you do that, Yvonne?” He turned to her, finally.
“Do what?” Her brows furrowed.
“Why did you let it slide just like that?” She caught his jaw clenched. “Do you love him that much to protect him?”
She didn’t like the tone of his voice. Was he mad at her for her choice?
Rohan must’ve misinterpreted her action. But why did he have to react?
Yvonne was about to defend herself when the elevator doors opened. They stepped in, and the moment they got inside, she realized that she didn’t need to explain her side. Rohan might know her, and they might be friends back then, but she couldn’t see any reason she should explain. A deafening silence ensued between them, and no one dared to speak until the elevator doors opened again to her suite’s floor. Rohan just walked her to the door and left without a word of goodbye.
She just shrugged it off and got inside her suite to prepare. Yvonne must compose herself and face her readers as though nothing wrong happened that day.
SHE flinched upon seeing Rohan outside her suite when she came out. After their quiet interaction earlier, Yvonne didn’t expect to see him again. Well, she knew he owned the hotel, but she thought he’d be busy with some work.
“W-what are you doing here?” She swallowed hard. For some reason, her strength seemed to leave her at that moment.
Rohan pocketed his hands and looked at her intently.
“I’m worried about you, Yvonne.” His worry was evident in his tone. “I’m worried that punk would be back and… come after you.”
“Why are you so worried when your hotel has security—”
“You can stay at my penthouse while you have errands around the city.”
Her eyes widened. “A-are you asking me to stay with you?”
Was he really that concerned about her now that he resorted to asking her that they stay together?
“I… uhm… I’m not staying there at the moment.”
“O-oh…” Yvonne wished the ground to open and swallow her. She shouldn’t have asked. “I see.”
“I thought it would be safer for you to stay there. That bastard Anthony didn’t know my place, so—”
“Thanks, Rohan. But I decline your offer,” she said straightforwardly.
His forehead creased.
“What? But why?”
“I’m fine staying here. And besides… I’m going home tomorrow. I already told my editor and publisher that I’ll just attend the press conference and book signing today.” Yvonne tried to smile to show him that she was fine. “There’s no need to worry, and you shouldn’t concern yourself too much about me.”
When Rohan didn’t say anything, she just nodded and walked ahead of him. She almost ran just to get to the elevator as soon as possible. Having him around was somewhat bad… for her heart. He didn’t follow her, and she wasn’t sure if she should be glad about it.
And then… her phone rang. Yvonne fished it out from her purse and saw her mom’s name on the screen. Her mother always checked on her from time to time whenever she was away from home, even though she was already a grown-up. She didn’t mind that because she knew her mother was just worried about her.
“Mom,” she said upon answering the call.
“Yvonne, are you okay?” Her mother sounded worried.
“Yes, I’m fine.” She lied, of course. Yvonne still hadn’t recovered from what happened when Anthony almost raped her. It’s just that she had to look good because she still had something to do for her readers.
“Yvonne… You’re lying to me.” It was a statement that made her swallow hard.
She didn’t know how her mother knew that something had happened to her when she hadn’t mentioned a thing to anyone yet. The only ones who knew were her, Anthony, and Rohan. It would be impossible that Anthony would throw himself under the bus.
“M-mom, h-how did you know…?” Her voice trailed off.
“I got a call from someone. He said he’s your friend.”
“D-did he mention his name?”
“No. But he did tell me everything that happened to you back there. Please, dear… tell me you’re safe now and that you’ll be home soon.”
“I’m safe, Mom… and I’m coming home tomorrow, so you can rest your worries now.”
She heard her mother heaving a deep sigh.
“Good. I’m about to send your cousin there to pick you up—”
“Oh, no. Don’t bother. I still have something to finish here, Mom, and you know that.”
“Take care of yourself, dear.”
“Hm…”
The call ended.
Yvonne let out a long sigh. She didn’t know if she should hate Rohan or not at that rate. She kept the incident a secret from his parents because she didn’t want them to worry too much. They were old, and she wanted them to avoid getting stressed as much as possible.
Yes, she was certain it was Rohan who told them. But then… How did he reach her mom? Were they in touch all those times, and she didn’t know about it?