She's awake
(Author’ POV)
Sterling didn’t know how long he had been in the hospital for and judging from the change in the weather, he could only figure that it was late at night and he wasn’t ready to leave her just yet. A quick decision and he decided to stay in the hospital until she woke up from her comatose state, that way, he’d be there when she woke up.
The ladies had gone and so had Sterling’s father and it was left with just Sterling, Denzel and Phoenix mother. It had been like an hour or so when Denzel announced to Sterling that some men brought a lady to him and for composure sake, Sterling took a lot of time to regain it after having an emotional breakdown.
Sterling released a sigh and stood up from the couch he had been sitting on for hours and walked to the private lounge and it seemed as though he had just walked into a staring contest and he had to break it. Immediately Denzel noticed Sterling come into the lounge and closed the door he broke the staring contest himself without being told to do so.
Sterling looked at the woman and first of all noticed her eyes which was the same as Phoenix; the same eyes that drew him in when he first saw Phoenix and at that point, without a shadow of a doubt that that was Phoenix mother at the opposite end of the room.
“What is your name, lady?” Sterling asked, walking over to where she was and intimidating her with his height.
“Ciara….Ciara Morgan,” she stuttered, surely she was intimidated by this young man that was old enough to be her son.
A fake smile appeared on his face before he asked, “Okay, Miss Ciara, did my guys rough you up on your way here?” he then dragged a chair to where she sat and sat directly in front of her then looked at her with intensity burning in his eyes like a raging inferno.
Ciara shook her head in a negative response, “Uhh, no sir, they just told me to obey them or else they’ll kill me,” then looked at Denzel who was still watching everything like a hawk.
Adjusting in his chair as it made scraping sounds, Sterling leaned forward and said, “Okay then, Miss Ciara but now I have to ask you, do you know why you are here?” watching every facial expression and body movements.
Again, she shook her head in a negative manner and it caused Sterling to sigh inwardly, “No sir, I don’t,” she answered with confusing looks.
“Since you don’t know, I will fill you in on what’s going on. Earlier today, you stalked a young woman to the ladies inconvenience at the mall, is that correct?” Sterling knew that Denzel was curious to know what was going on.
“Yes, I did,” Ciara answered, straightening the imaginary lines on her skirt.
“Care to tell me why because from what I know, that is a crime and the fact that you are so brazen about it and not even batting an eye lid makes me curious,” playing dumb was Sterling’s specialty and it thrilled him to no end.
Ciara looked at Sterling as though he had developed horns, “She is my daughter, sir,”
“Your daughter?”
“Yes, sir,”
“But from the security footage, she seemed terrified of you, like you spooked her or something; care to explain why your own daughter will be afraid of you?”
“I haven’t seen her since when she was little and I feared that she wouldn’t recognize me but I still had to try,”
“I see, so, you just come out of nowhere and expect her to welcome you back with open arms, I don’t think that that’s how it works but I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt,” Sterling said, dragging his chair closer “I already know who you are, I ran a background check on you after I saw the security footage and there are so many gap spaces or years that are unaccounted for but that’s not a story I’d like to hear because you don’t owe me anything,” Sterling reclined on his chair and ruffled his hair lightly before looking at her.
“If I may, I’d like to ask a question sir,” she said, with fear in her eyes.
“Go ahead,”
“Since you saw the security footage and from everything you have just said, it seems as if you know who my daughter is, do you know her?”
“Yes, I do,”
“Okay, do you know where she is right now?”
Sterling’s mood changed slightly before going back to his poker face expression, “Yes I do and I must say that I can’t let you see her just yet. Like I said, you gave her quite a scare and that’s what got us here,”
“I am sorry but what do you mean?”
“You see that little stunt you pulled, it got Phoenix shaken up and I wasn’t there when it happened but she was brought in here severely wounded, in fact, she was clinging onto God for dear life and guess what?”
“What?”
“She still is clinging unto God for life because she is in a comatose state and we don’t know if she will make it and you know who caused all this right? That’s right, you but as much as I’d love to blame you, I can’t because I am just as guilty as you are,”
“No, no, no, this can’t be happening, it can’t be,”
“Oh, well, it already did,”
“Can I see her?”
“Can you see her? No, I don’t think so but do well to stay in town and I really hope for your sake that you do. Now, if you will excuse us, I’d like you to leave and don’t breathe a word about this to anyone,”
**********************
Two weeks later
Two weeks after the accident, two weeks of Sterling sleeping in the hospital, two weeks of psychologically tormenting Brianna, two weeks of running both STERLING INC. and PHOENIX CORP. with the help of Liyah and Denzel, two weeks of running Cooking Fest, two weeks of keeping the media out of the whole situation, two weeks of looking at his baby through a glass wall, two weeks of hoping and praying that she survives, two weeks of keeping the faith alive and finally, she woke up, fluttering her eye lashes like a butterfly and wincing in pain after trying to get up.
Phoenix had a rethink about standing up because of the severe headache she felt when she tried to do so the first time and the other option she had was hope that somebody was with here.
She finally opened her eyes and looked at her surrounding and wondering how she got there. A figure sleeping awkwardly in a chair close to her caught her attention and she was surprised to see Sterling with her. Excited to see a familiar face, she stretched her weak hands as far as she could to touch him and after several failed attempts, she touched him and he jerked at the sudden touch.
Perplex, Sterling looked around for who touched him only to see wide bright emerald eyes with gold rings around them staring at him in amusement and his mouth opened unconsciously. Reality set in and then he whisper-yelled “You’re awake,” repeatedly.
“Yes, I am and you better shut your mouth or else the flies will get in,” Phoenix giggled lightly before wincing as a result of the action.
“Stay there, I am going to call the doctor immediately,” Sterling said, rushing out of the run and returning with some doctors and nurses in record before going back to Phoenix side.
“Dr. Hailey, what is going on and what am I doing here?” Phoenix asked as she watched the whole medical team in her room check for different vitals in her.
Doctor Hailey check the dilation of her pupils and then her heartbeat before responding “Miss Mills, you gave all of us quite a scare but we are glad that you are okay. Tell me, how do you feel right now?”
“I feel like I was hit by a truck because my whole body aches right now and my head hurts so badly but I will be okay, right?” Phoenix replied honestly and the doctor took down notes.
“Yes, you will be, now tell me, what do you remember?” Dr. Hailey asked another question.
“I don’t remember anything. I was hoping you would tell me. How did I come to get all these things attached to me?” Phoenix asked more questions as her faced was covered in confusion.
“Wait, you don’t remember anything about what happened?” Dr. Hailey asked just to be sure that it really was what she was thinking it was.
“No, I don’t; when I try to remember, my head hurts and I just stop trying, what is it doctor?” Phoenix looked at Sterling and then at the doctor.
“Doc, what is going on, why can’t she remember?” Sterling asked the doctor in confusion.
“Mr. Tyrell, I may have an answer to that but I will have to run some test on her to confirm my speculation,” Dr. Hailey said, while ordering the nurses to get ready to leave and prepare for the test but then was interrupted by Phoenix worried voice.
“Doc, why is my stomach flat? Where is my baby?”
“Oh, about that, your life was in danger so we had to deliver her pre-term to save both and the baby but don’t worry, she’s just perfect and you’ll get to see her soon, probably when you’re comfortable enough to walk,” Dr. Hailey said, smiling before taking her leave and upon the completion of the doctor’s statement, Phoenix sighed in relieve.
Her baby was safe and it was a girl.
