Page 59 of His Beloved Princess
He placed a tray with food on the table in the corner. I straightened to my full height, watching him intently. He looked like he was preparing himself to announce some horrible news. But after a few seconds, he gave me a fake smile and quickly left the room.
One look at the sandwich on the plate, and my stomach twisted with nausea. I hugged my torso tightly, gulping down the bitter taste in my mouth. For a second, I was sure I would throw up.
Slowly, I turned to Bastian, focusing on his handsome face. It always brought me comfort to see him, and now it wasn't any different. Inhaling and exhaling in an even rhythm helped me ease the tension in my body, and the chain squeezing my chest let go of its stronghold. I gently kissed his bandaged forehead and touched his cheek before I left for the bathroom.
The spacious grey and white place with two sleek sinks, a shower, and a toilet gave me goose bumps. Everything was squeaky clean and shiny. Two fluffy towels were thrown over the radiator, a pair of white slippers were next to the glass door into the shower, and the green plants illuminated the entire space. It felt more like being in a hotel than in the hospital.
Taking heavy steps, I dragged myself to the sink. The deadly pale face stared back at me from the mirror, making me sigh. Andreas was right; I needed to pull myself together. If Bastian woke up now, he would have been frightened to look at me.
I poured cold water into my hands and splashed it on my face. It gave me chills, helping me feel better and bringing some color to my cheeks. I was still looking like a zombie, but at least my eyes showed that there was some life in this depressed body.
When I returned to the room, Andreas was already waiting for me, scowling at the plate of untouched food. Grimacing, I walked past him, sitting on my spot next to Bastian and taking his hand. A jolt of electricity traveled from our connected fingers, and a small smile appeared on my lips. He was still here with me. I just had to be patient until he returned to me.
"Electra." Andreas’ voice stirred me from staring at the most beautiful face in the world, and I turned my attention to him. "Come with me, please. I need to talk to you."
I frowned, squeezing Bastian's hand. I didn't want to leave him; his brother knew it as well.
"I wouldn't have asked you for this if it wasn't serious," he uttered, coming closer. "He'll wait here for you."
Andreas’ gentle tone was heartbreaking, and the sadness written on his face was even worse. I tried hard to persuade myself that Bastian would be okay, but his brother's pained look didn't help me fight my own demons, which were persistently repeating that he might die at any second.
"What is going on?" I asked, standing. He didn't provide any explanation; he just nodded in the direction of the door. With a lump in my throat, I pecked Bastian's cheek and reluctantly followed Andreas out.
We walked through the long corridor, back into the hall with its spectacular view, but Andreas didn't pass the door to the other rooms. He turned to the left, and we entered something that could be called a conference room.
The glass table was in the middle, surrounded by ten chairs, some of which were occupied by Fredy, Rose, Peter, and a man I knew only from the newspaper. It was Derek Simmons, Bastian's close friend and business partner.
The sun's light shone through oversized windows, showing us a beautiful day, but it did not affect me. I was drowning in the darkness. No amount of light could lift my spirit. The only thing I craved in my miserable existence was to see the smile on Bastian's face.
"Will Elliot come?" Fredy asked, catching my attention. Elliot was the youngest of the Thorn brothers. The last time I heard about him was when Bastian canceled his flight, and Andreas went to get him alone. He was under house arrest for some drug problem.
"No one else will come," Andreas rumbled from behind me, placing a hand on the small of my back. "Take a seat, Electra. We all need to talk."
Nodding, I sat opposite Rose and Frederick. Peter was on my left side, and Andreas took my right. Derek was sitting two chairs away from us, watching my every move with his light brown eyes.
A gruesome scar was stretched across his right cheek. His beard covered where it ended, but my best guess would be his neck. His longer, messy dark hair fell onto his forehead, and his thick black eyebrows were furrowed in a permanent scowl. The guy was giving me chills when he stared at me like I was a rabbit and he was a wolf.
"Electra, thisis Derek Simons," Andreas interrupted my slightly rude ogling.
"Hello," I greeted politely, but my voice sounded distant and emotionless. Derek didn't say anything. He only nodded a little as an act of acknowledgment. I’d heard many things about him, but I was more curious as to why I was in the room with members of the Thorn family, Bastian's former girlfriend, and his business partner.
As if Andreas could read my thoughts, he opened his expensive leather briefcase, taking out some files. He placed them on the table and looked at each of us, his face etched with worry.
"We are all here because we need to discuss the strategy for the next few weeks," he started, tapping the tips of his fingers against the table's glass surface. "We must be prepared for the worst."
My heart clenched, and my mouth went dry. I wasn't capable of any reaction other than staring at him in absolute shock, yet Rose and her temperament couldn't be contained.
"What the fuck are you saying?" she yelled, and I flinched. Fredy took her hand, but she jerked it away, abruptly standing. "You're giving up already!"
"No one is giving up, Rose," Derek spoke soothingly before Andreas could even take a breath, significantly contrasting with his frightening demeanor. "But we are talking about billions in the stock markets. People need their paychecks, and we don't know how long Bastian will be out. We need to do his job until he can return."
I was extremely grateful for this man and his words. In the back of my mind, I knew the day Bastian would die could come, but Derek, exactly like Andreas, didn't talk about that possibility. He needed to take care of the things he had under control and didn't want to waste time on those he couldn't affect.
"No one except you is able to do it," Rose pointed out, much calmer as she crossed her arms over her chest. "The rest of us are dependent on Bastian's decisions."
"Derek knowswhat he must do," Frederick stated, drifting his gaze over to Mr. Simons, who nodded. "Which brings us to the real reason why we are here, Andreas."
He looked at his older brother, expecting an explanation. Actually, we all turned to him.
