Alina
“HOW DID I not know you were such a hot shot?” I’d been reapplying my lipstick when I stopped and looked at my friend in the mirror. Daria smirked back at me like she’d just found out the juiciest bit of gossip. Which essentially she had, if one was into that sort of thing.
“What are you talking about?” I played dumb, but she saw right through me.
“Uh . . . the fact you know Cambrian Halloway, enough for him to walk up to you and start talking. And let’s not forget Amber Sotter. Hello?” Her brows shot up to her hairline, an annoyed expression distorting some of her features.
“I thought I told you about Cambrian,” I aloofly replied.
“You know damn well you didn’t.” Daria pulled out some gloss and applied a single coat. “And Amber?”
Sudden fury coursed through me and I threw my lipstick into my clutch. “Don’t get me started on her.” The hitch in my voice revealed how much I couldn’t stand her, all without truly knowing her. Then again, I knew all I had to from simply watching her interaction with Max. She thought since she was rich and famous she could snag any man, and I wasn’t going to lie, there was a part of me that believed she could take Max from me.
“She does seem like a bit of a brat if you ask me.”
“That’s an understatement,” I fumed. “Besides, I don’t like the way she blatantly throws herself at Max.”
“Slut!” my friend exclaimed, which made me laugh, releasing some of the tension I’d been carrying since laying eyes on her. “Besides, Max couldn’t care less she was there. The man only has eyes for you. Lucky bitch,” she mumbled, winking at me before she grabbed my hand and pulled me from the ladies’ room.
As we walked out into the hallway, I was surprised when Max was standing nearby. “Our table is ready. I told Hal I’d come get you two since we’re towards the back. Thankfully, it’s a little more private. Quieter, despite the crowd.”
Max interlocked his fingers with mine and began to lead the way. Leaning in close, he whispered, “I was going to tell you about the office space, but I didn’t—”
“I don’t want to talk about it right now.” I tried to pull my hand from his, but he held on tight.
“Fine. We’ll talk about it later, back at my place.”
“I’m spending tonight at home.”
“Okay then. We’ll talk at your place.”
Daria spotted Hal and walked ahead, giving us some privacy.
“You’re not understanding, Max.” I finally snatched my hand from his. “I’m going to my place, and you’re going to yours.”
“Alina. Come on.” He angled his head to study me. “You’re being unreasonable.” Maybe I was, but I needed time alone to sort through some things.
He opened his mouth to say something else, but I cut him off. “Let’s just rejoin Daria and Hal. Besides I’m starving.” I strode toward the table without another word and took the seat across from my friend.
“You okay,” she mouthed.
I nodded. I wasn’t about to dive back into what was stressing me out when in fact, I should be trying to relax and have a good time. In addition, I didn’t want to give Hal the wrong idea about me, that I was some sort of brat, giving his brother a hard time because another woman had riled me, even though that was exactly what had my hackles up.
As the evening wore on, some of the earlier discomfort waned, which I was sure had something to do with the additional two glasses of wine I consumed. Max had a couple drinks as well, watching me out of the corner of his eye every now and then. The conversation flowed between the four of us, and I ended up having a good time.
When we finished, we filed outside, Max pulling his brother off to the side only to rejoin us quickly afterward.
“Why don’t I see you home, Daria,” Hal offered, throwing his arm around her waist, a move she most certainly didn’t mind. She smiled up at him and nodded.
“You don’t mind, right?” she asked me.
“No, of course not. Have fun.” I leaned in to give her a hug. “Be careful. He seems nice, but you don’t really know him.”
She didn’t say anything back, just rolled her eyes before giving me a wide grin.
After they left, another cab pulled alongside the curb. Max reached for the door and opened it, encouraging me to enter with the sweep of his arm. After he’d settled into his seat beside me, he gave the driver only one address. His.
“I told you I wanted to go home.” Even though the evening turned out to be lovely, I still needed time away from him. The conversation about him leasing an office from Miss Diva herself would have to wait until the light of day when I had more emotional strength to handle it properly.
“Still?”
“Yes, still.” Some of my earlier feistiness returned. “I’ve not changed my mind.”
“But we had such a good time. I know you’re probably still upset, but—”
“Of course I’m still upset.”
“Well, if you would’ve let me explain back at the restaurant, you would’ve known I was just as surprised as you that she’s part owner of the building I’m interested in.”
“Have you signed the lease agreement?” The cab driver took a turn a little too roughly, and I slid across the seat, bumping into Max.
“Hey,” Max shouted. “Slow down, man. We’re not in a hurry.” The cabbie didn’t respond.
Once I’d righted myself, I asked, “Well?”
He sighed. “No, I haven’t.”
“Are you still going to?”
His silence gave me my answer. Leaning forward, I gave the driver my address as well.
“Alina. You don’t understand. The space is perfect, exactly what I need. And the price is ideal, especially since I’ll be sinking a lot of money into furnishing and advertisement.”
My phone rang, the volume startling me before I dismissed the call.
“What I do understand is that she’ll be there all the time.”
“Why would she? We have no business together.”
“Don’t be so naïve, Max. That woman wants you.”
He slapped the seat. “Oh, and Halloway doesn’t want you? Oh wait, he does,” he said sarcastically. “What’s to stop him from stopping by your office whenever he wants?”
I supposed he had me there.
“I’ve turned him down, and that was before I met you.”
“And I’ve dismissed her advances as well.” So, she has stepped over the line before. We both took a deep breath to try and gather ourselves. Finally, he parted his lips, but my cell rang again. I glanced down at the screen but didn’t recognize the number. Who would be calling me at one in the morning?
“Look,” he finally said, “we’re upset about the same thing. At least we have that in common.” He shrugged and followed the gesture with a half smile.
“I guess you’re right.” I knew we had more to discuss, but I was willing to put it on pause for the time being.
“So you’ll come back to my place then?”
My teeth played with the corner of my lip as I looked at him, stalling for effect because I already knew the answer. Finally, I replied, “I guess so.”
“Good. I knew you’d see it my way,” he teased, leaning across the seat to give me a kiss.
“Watch it, buddy, or I’ll change my mind.” Before he could jest in response, my cell rang once more. “What the hell?” I mumbled, looking down at the screen. Same number as before.
“Maybe you should just answer it,” he suggested.
With an annoyed swipe of the screen, I held the device to my ear.
“Hello?” I practically shouted.
“Is this Alina Winthrop?”
“Yes, it is.”
“I’m calling from Mount Sinai hospital. You’re listed as Randall Winthrop’s emergency contact.” There was no pregnant pause before I started rambling, my thoughts flying off in every direction possible.
“Oh my God. Is he all right? What happened? How long has he been there?” I fired question after question at the poor woman, barely giving her a moment to respond.
“He’s stable now. But I’m going to need you to come as soon as you can. You can discuss everything with his doctor.” She ended the call before I could ask her anything else.
Max reached for my hand, the warmth of his touch doing nothing to dispel the panic in my heart. My relationship with my father was complicated at best, but I loved him, and I wasn’t ready for anything to happen to him.
Twenty minutes later, I rushed through the emergency room, practically tripping over myself to find someone who could help. Max was directly on my heels, being supportive the entire time with encouraging words. His actions showed his true character, especially considering the way my father had treated him, casting him aside without a second thought, or benefit of the doubt.
When we’d finally arrived on the fifth floor and stepped from the elevator, my steps slowed the further we walked down the hallway. My entire life my father had been an unyielding and stubborn man. Someone who dominated every situation and commanded respect with his mere presence. Even when I’d disagreed with him, which happened quite often, I still respected him. And now it seemed as if I was on the precipice of losing him. The past few times I’d seen him he looked a little off, but nothing that would’ve indicated what had happened, whatever that was because I still didn’t know how he’d ended up in the hospital. All sorts of scenarios filtered through my head, but I’d drive myself insane with all the possibilities until I spoke to his doctor.
Stopping outside room five twenty-two, I took in a ragged breath before placing my hand on the door.
“He’s going to be fine. Trust me. That man isn’t checking out yet.” Max gently squeezed my shoulder before placing a kiss on my temple. “Do you want me to wait out here?” I nodded, still facing the door. “Okay, sweetheart. If you need me, I’ll be right over there.” I assumed he pointed toward the waiting room, but I never turned around to see.
Counting to ten, twice, I finally pushed his door open and stepped inside, never expecting to see my father lying there. Delusional, I knew, but I half expected to walk in and find a stranger, but my crazy hopes were dashed when I saw Randall Winthrop in bed with tubes up his nose and wires sticking out of everywhere.
Without warning, a sob tore from my throat, the sound slicing through the room and almost getting lost under the continuous sound of the monitors.
I witnessed a small twitch of his left lid, then the right. My father eventually opened his eyes, focusing on the ceiling before noticing I was standing in the corner of the room.
“Alina? Is that you?” The corners of his mouth turned down. “I told them not to call you. No one ever listens,” he grumped.
Shuffling forward, I reached his bedside and took his hand in mine. “You know that’s not true. Everyone listens to you.” My tone was lighthearted, even though I felt anything but.
“You don’t.” After everything, he still tried to stir up shit, but some things would never change.
Choosing to pull as much information from him as I could, I dove right in. “What happened? Was it serious?” Of course it’s serious. Why else would he be here?
“They’re causing a fuss for no reason,” he complained, trying to sit up but failing. His coloring paled, and he struggled to breathe.
“Maybe you shouldn’t move, Dad.”
“I’m fine.”
His denial fueled my suppressed panic, turning my fear into anger.
“You’re not fine. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be in a hospital bed hooked up to God knows what. So just stop moving and let me go get someone to find out what’s going on.” He was a proud man, among other things, and he wasn’t going to admit defeat of any kind, even when it was staring him right in the face.
As I turned, the door opened and in walked a young man, reading something on a tablet as he approached.
“Ah, Mr. Winthrop. You’re awake.” His eyes flickered from my father to me before returning to his patient. “How are you feeling?”
“Like a million bucks,” he quipped, trying to remove the tubes from his nose.
“No, no,” the doctor said, reaching forward to adjust the wires. “You need the oxygen, so don’t touch it.” He gave my father a stern look, and for a moment, it appeared as if his patient would give him a hard time, but he didn’t. Instead, his arm dropped to his side, and he closed his eyes, only to sigh.
To see my father not in control was certainly odd, and definitely not the norm. It was then I realized how serious this was, although I still had no idea what had happened, which was why I finally opened my mouth.
“Doctor, can you please tell me what happened?” My eyes were pinned to the man in the white lab coat, and it wasn’t lost on me when he looked to my father to see if he could answer. After a silent exchange occurred between them, he turned to face me.
“Your father has suffered two minor heart attacks.” I gasped. I knew something serious happened, and the possibility of a heart attack had crossed my mind, but not two of them. “Which makes the last one number four in total.”
My mind had become a muddled mess, I cried out, “Number four? When did you have the other ones?” My inquisition was interrupted when the doctor approached to check my father’s vitals before taking his leave.
“I’ll leave you two in private.” He looked from me to my father. “I’ll be back later to check on you. Leave your oxygen alone,” he warned, disappearing from the room before my father could argue.
Tapping my foot, I stared at the man who’d intimidated everyone around him my entire life, myself included. “Well? When was your first heart attack?”
“Last year.”
“And you didn’t think to tell me?”
“Quite honestly . . . no.” He fiddled with the tube connected to his arm, avoiding my eyes as much as possible.
“And why is that?”
“Because I . . . I just. . . .”
It was odd to hear my father stutter.
“What?” I yelled. “You just what?” Being scared for my father wasn’t an emotion I was used to, so instead of dealing with the rawness of the sentiment, I chose to be angry.
“I didn’t want to acknowledge it happened in the first place,” he blurted, managing to sit up, the small effort stealing his breath. “If I didn’t tell anyone, then it wasn’t real.” His face reddened, and the monitor beeped a few times in succession. I remained quiet, realizing I needed to give him time to say his piece. “No man wants to admit they’re getting older, much less frail.”
“You’re not frail.” I couldn’t help it. I had to interject. For him to see himself in such a way didn’t sit well with me. If my father wasn’t the stubborn, determined, intimidating force to be reckoned with, then my world suddenly didn’t make sense.
“If I had told you, it would’ve been a sign of weakness, and we both know I’m not good with anything less than being stellar.” The left corner of his mouth kicked up before his expression fell.
“Dad,” I said, inching closer so I could grasp on to his hand. “You’re not weak, or old, or frail or any other word you want to use. You’ve suffered four heart attacks, and the fact you’re still breathing, let alone arguing with me,” I half laughed, “tells me you’re as strong as ever.”
He liked my take on his health scare, his face softening as he gradually mirrored my grin. It was a side of my father I rarely saw, so I soaked it up for as long as it would last.
When I made the suggestion he come and stay with me, however, he balked, telling me hell would freeze over before he allowed his daughter to take care of him. Yup, stubborn as usual. When he agreed to hire a visiting nurse, I dropped the subject.
We spent the next half hour talking about work, a subject he was more than comfortable with. After he yawned a few times, I took my cue to let him rest, and surprisingly, he didn’t put up too much of a fight. But I’d promised to return in a few hours.
“Can you do me a favor?” He coughed, taking a moment to catch his breath. The only time my father asked me to do him a favor was when he was asking me to bend to his will, so that was what I prepared myself for, never quite knowing what would come out of his mouth, what crazy scheme he’d concocted. “Can you stop by my house and grab my laptop? Bring it with you when you come back?” The quick beep of the monitor momentarily drew my attention.
“Don’t you think you should rest and not worry about work?”
“What makes you think I want it for work? Maybe I want to pass the time in this godawful place engrossed in YouTube.” There was that slight smile of his again.
“What do you know about YouTube?”
“I know more than you think I do.” I sensed his statement had multiple meanings. Our eyes locked and for the first time in a long time, I saw my father. My dad.
A man who loved his daughter.
A man who’d lost himself in my mother.
A man I only saw cry once, which was the night of her burial.
“I won’t work too much,” he said, interrupting our rare moment.
“Okay.” I leaned forward and gave him a kiss on his cheek, the subtle smell of his cologne comforting me. He squeezed my hand before I stepped back.
I was halfway out the door when I heard him yell, “Don’t forget the charger in the top drawer of my desk.”
I shook my head and smiled.