Page 9 of Flawless

“...talk to her,” I hear Jade saying. “They’ve recommended that she step down from the show for a little while. They’ll be showing repeats, and if she doesn’t get it together, then they’ll find a new host.”

“Can they do that? It’s her name on the show,” I hear my brother, Onyx, say.

“It’ll be the same show for the rest of the season with special guest hosts. After the season ends, there will be a new show with a new host. They’re already writing it in case she doesn’t get the help that she needs.”

“Okay...I’ll talk to her.”

I roll my eyes, pissed that Jade feels the need to speak with Onyx about my situation. My first inclination is to fire her as soon as I get a chance.

The doctor and nurse walk into the room, and I close my eyes, pretending to be asleep.

“Ms. Maxwell,” Dr. Connors says. “Wake up,” the doctor says, gently patting my hand.

I peel my eyes open slowly.

“How are you feeling?” he asks.

“Tired. I just want to rest,” I mutter.

Dr. Connors checks my vitals before he proceeds to explain the tests they took.

“Your heart rate dropped, as did your blood pressure. We’re going to be monitoring that for the next twenty-four hours along with getting you hydrated and detoxed,” he says, wrapping up his explanation.

We already had this conversation when I woke up the first time. The last thing I need is this damn doctor in my face telling me the same things that I’ve heard from my agent a million times or more.

“Sure,” I mumble, turning away as the nurse finishes taking my vitals.

I hear the doctor walking away, and then his footsteps stop in the doorway.

“Hi, Dr. Connors.”

“Mr. Maxwell, it’s been a while. I wish it were under better circumstances,” Dr. Connors says.

“How is she?” Onyx asks.

Dr. Connors is one of my mother’s colleagues. My mother is a neurosurgeon here at the hospital, and I can only pray that the doctor-patient confidentiality code is practiced in spite of her status.

If I had been awake when I was taken to the hospital, this would have been the last one I would have chosen, simply because my mother has a major presence here.

“Your sister was extremely dehydrated. She’s going to be fine. You may go in and visit with her now. I think being in your presence might do her some good,” the doctor says.

Rolling my eyes, I’m grateful that he didn’t say more. My family is aware of the laxatives and diet pills that I take to keep the weight off which contribute to my dehydration. They also know that I have a bad habit of working out excessively.

It’s a lifestyle that I became addicted to during my modeling years, and one which I still maintain.

“Dr. Connors, my sister’s lifestyle, her drinking, and what I suspect may be an addiction to something else, I’m unsure what has to be addressed,” Onyx says.

“Mr. Maxwell, you know that I’m not at liberty to discuss her health with you.”

“I’m aware...I just...is there anything that we can do?”

“Just be here to support her however she needs you and whenever she needs you. You have a strong family, Mr. Maxwell. She’s going to need all of you.”

I hear the doctor shuffle out into the hallway as my brother steps further into the room.

“Hey, you,” I greet my big brother from my bed, fiddling around with the nasal cannula and shifting to get more comfortable in the bed.

“Hey, you,” he repeats.

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