***
Just over an hour later, we were sitting at my reserved table looking at menus. “I can’t believe you have a permanently reserved table. That’s pretty amazing.”
“It’s only because of my money. One of the perks of being stupid rich.” I knew I sounded bitter, and it wasn’t that I didn’t enjoy the perks of being wealthy, but I didn’t really like to brag about them. Things were what they were, and I couldn’t help them. “Some of the perks are good, like this one, but others just make me feel like a jerk.”
“You’re a thoughtful man.”
“Don’t say that too loud; it will ruin my reputation as an asshole.” She let loose a soft giggle and shook her head.
“I think I’m going to get the grilled chicken salad. The picture looks amazing, and I’m not allergic to anything in that one.”
“Get anything you want.”
The waiter came over and took our orders and brought with him a complementary bottle of wine which he used to fill our glasses. “From our best stock, Mr. Thomas.” The young man gave us a nod and scampered away.
Minutes of silence went by, but the waiter came back with Maya’s salad and my appetizer.
“I’m sorry about today, Maya. I wish I knew how to act to make things perfect.”
“There’s no magic formula. This isn’t your lab, James, you can’t find the perfect mixture. But I accept, and I’m sorry too.” She was beautiful, and her eyes sparkled like diamonds in the dim light of the room.
She stabbed her fork into her salad and took a bite.
“You don’t ever have to be sorry with me. I just want to move forward.”
I waited for her to speak, but instead, I looked up to find her gulping down the glass of wine with her eyes wide with what could only be a look of panic.
“Maya?” I leaned forward to assess if she were choking as she held her throat.
“There was something in my salad,” she croaked. Her voice was strained and raspy as she tried to explain. “I’m having a reaction.” She gasped for air, and her lips swelled up so fast, I couldn’t believe it.
“The tabs?” She shook her head. “Not in this purse.”
“I have some in the car. I’ll be right back.” I left her at the table and told the wait staff to sit with her as I ran outside and tried to find my car where I’d left a box of the samples. I pushed through the crowd of people waiting and grabbed the valet.
“Whoa, guy, what the fuck’s your problem?”
“I need my car. This is a medical emergency. I have to get the medication from the car.” The guy hurried and brought me to my car, and once I got the medicine, I left it with him, keys and all and rushed back into the restaurant to find Maya covered in welts and her lips and tongue swelling. I pushed the tablet into her mouth and held her in my arms as she tried to catch her breath and the restaurant called nine-one-one.
Before the paramedics arrived, she was feeling better, and we’d examined the salad to see it contained sliced strawberries. Turned out, it was the wrong salad. “I feel better, James. I don’t want to go in the ambulance.” She curled against my side, and I spoke with the paramedics, promising I’d take her myself.
“I want you to go for me, but I’ll drive you. I want you to be checked out.”
“If you hadn’t had that medicine, Sir, she wouldn’t have made it. I can’t tell you how many people don’t even have the proper treatment for a reaction, and I’m so sick of seeing people die before we can make it to them. When the restaurant called, I won’t lie. I didn’t think we’d make it in time. I’ll let you sign this release, and then you can take her yourself. She’ll need a few things to get her back one hundred percent, and she might not even realize it at the moment.”
“Yeah, I’ll be sure I do.” She met my eyes, and I gave her a look, daring her to challenge me. As the paramedic left, we went out to the car, and I buckled her into her seat and kissed her splotchy, swollen lips.
“I’m hideous, aren’t I?” She put her hands over her face. “Oh, I’m so embarrassed.”
“You’re beautiful no matter what. Your swelling is already going down, but I want to get you checked out to be sure the medicine is working okay. It’s been tested a million times, but nothing’s going to make me feel better until a doctor looks at you.”
“You’re a doctor, aren’t you?”
“Yes, but I don’t practice like that, and I’m mostly a biomedical scientist whose gotten lucky a few times.” I was feeling really lucky at that moment.
“You’re a hero.” Hearing her say that made me feel warm inside, but I also felt humbled. “I’m nobody special.”
“To me you are.” She shrugged and laid her head over against the window. “If you value my opinion, then that means something.”
“Well, I do, so thank you.”
I raced as fast as I could to the nearest hospital, and after checking her over, and giving my product more praise, they released her.
We arrived at The Avalon just after eleven, and as we approached, George opened the door. “Is she all right, Mr. Thomas?” Maya was laying against me with her eyes closed, so I scooped her up into my arms.
“She had an allergic reaction, but she’s been to the hospital. She’s sleepy from the meds.” The formula did make you drowsy, and poor Maya had just about lost her fight with the Sandman.
“I’m so sorry, Sir. Would you like a chair to take her up?” He winced and made ready to fetch the chair if needed.
“No, I’ve got her.” The elevator opened, and Darek Dillon walked out, eying Maya.
“What happened?”
Maya’s eyes fluttered. “Hi, Darek. I’m all better now.” She closed her eyes and Darek held the door.
“Do you need any help, man? I can get your door if needed.”
“No thanks, we’ll manage.” His eyes were wide, and he hesitated, keeping the door from shutting.
“She had a reaction at dinner; she’s fine. I’m a doctor, for fuck’s sake.” I cleared my throat, and he stepped out of the way and let the door shut.
Maya was a little thing, but she got heavier before we could get to the sixty-first floor. I should have accepted the chair.
I managed to carry her to her bed, where I slipped off her shoes. Before I could step away, she whispered to me, “James.” The soft tone of her voice had my heart pumping.
“Yes?”
“Stay?”
I kicked off my shoes and slipped between the covers with her.