That’s what I’d been thinking about when everyone in our group grew quiet—what can I do to get leverage over on Harris? Leverage would be the only thing that was going to work. Something that threatened the empire he coveted more than anything. I sounded like a broken record as I kept going through all my thoughts.
Harris walked in wearing a black pristine suit, carrying two huge bags. There honestly wasn’t a word I could think of that described how truly horrible he was. “Evening, Mr. and Mrs. Chandler. I heard about Amelia and wanted to do what I could to help.”
It was hard not to scoff, knowing he’d been ready to walk away from Amelia earlier without so much as a second thought. Winston looked my way then back to Harris. I greeted Harris, hoping to diffuse the situation. “That was very thoughtful. Thank you.”
Harris came to sit beside me and I fought the urge not to move far away from him. If he touched me, it would take a divine act to not pull away.
Shaking his head like it wasn’t a problem, he gave a heartfelt reply. “Amelia and Steven are like family.”
LIAR! LIAR! LIAR!
Winston looked between us and I kept a pleasant smile on my face, thanks to the training of living with Harris. It had been awhile since I’d had to pretend to be okay and it was harder than I expected. Gael made me feel real and that I could freely express myself at all times. I missed him. I loved him.
Clearing his throat, I could tell Winston thought Harris was up to something. “Well, thank you, Harris. We appreciate it.”
“Well, I need to get back to the office.” Harris turned to me. “It was good seeing you again. You look well. If it’s okay, I’ll bring lunch by for you guys tomorrow. I want to make sure you’re taken care of.”
Fucker. If only, I could replay for everyone the cold menacing man who gambled with Amelia’s life earlier downstairs.
Giving a pleasant non-emotional straight face, I responded, “Good seeing you, Harris. Have a good evening.”
That was all the nicety he was getting. He told the Chandler’s good-bye one last time before leaving.
Of course, Winston asked, “Are you okay with him stopping by?”
I shrugged my shoulders. “As long as he’s nice, I don’t care.”
Satisfied with my response, Winston and Colleen ate. I’d rather eat dog shit than a thing Harris’ money paid for.
Glancing down at the screen, I saw Harris’ latest text.
Harris: Good job. Keep it up.
I didn’t respond.
Napping in a waiting room chair, a hand shook my shoulder lightly. “Ashlin, hunny. Do you want to go back and see Amelia?”
Steven’s words had me jumping up. “Yes, that would be wonderful.”
This morning, I didn’t have the heart not to let Steven, Winston, and Colleen go first even though they’d offered. No one had said anything about the baby yet. Either Steven didn’t know or he wasn’t discussing it until Amelia woke. Last night, Steven had stayed with Amelia until right before visiting hours were over. Colleen and Winston had gone back one-by-one. By the time they came out, I wasn’t able to go back. They’d felt awful, but I was okay with it. I was here for Amelia and that was all that mattered. She needed to be surrounded by her husband and parents. This morning, Steven had been the first, followed by the parents again at my insistence. I knew I’d get my time.
I walked into the room. Wires and tubes came out of my friend. Machines beeped and pumped. Her right arm and leg were both in giant casts. A bandage wrapped her head. Her body was bruised—broken. Silent tears fell down my face and the sacrifice I was enduring seemed small compared to the uphill battle my friend faced.
Sitting in the chair, next to the bed on the left side, I touched my fingertips to Amelia’s. It was the only place that didn’t look bruised or hurt. “Hey, there. We’re rooting for you. You’re so brave, my dear friend. So very, very brave. You’re going to get better. You’re a fighter, Amelia. Unlike anyone I’ve met. Come back to me, my sweet friend. I need your zest to kick Harris’ ass. You’ve been my best friend for as long as I could remember. I’d do anything for you, Amelia. Absolutely anything. All I ask is you come back. We’ll work through everything else—together.”
My throat tightened and I knew I was on the verge of losing it. Amelia needed positivity. Instead, I changed the subject, still wanting to talk to her and pulled out my phone. “Okay, let’s see what Cosmo is saying this week.”
Amelia loved Cosmo.
“Oh, looks like there’s a faster way to get flat abs. Let check this out. Gael’s cooking is not friendly to the waistline.”
Four days had passed and I felt like I was on repeat. I still hadn’t left the hospital. Winston and Colleen had brought me fresh clothes and I’d showered in the bathroom they allowed people to use. It was gross, but I couldn’t leave. Staying at the hospital also limited the time I would have to potentially see Harris. Outside these walls, he could stage run-ins with the paparazzi, lunches, the list was endless.
Gael had made no further contact with me. Now, I knew what Sophia felt when she thought Daniel had died, because I felt the loss of Gael—acutely. To no avail, I still hadn’t figured out how to be free of the bastard, Harris’, tyrannical reign.
Harris texted me. It was only seven in the morning, which was too early to de
al with his shit.