Chapter 7 As Pretty As Anita

• Arthur got to Doctor Alex’s office very early the next morning. He was bent on knowing what went wrong.
• “Mr. Arthur. You’re here early.” Alex uttered, as he walked into his office and met Arthur sitting on one of the chairs.
• “The appointment was set for 8 am, it’s 8:16 am according to my wristwatch.” Arthur answered, before Alex took a quick glance at his wristwatch.
• “Oh yes… I’m sorry. I had some minor issues this morning. How can I help you, Mr. Arthur?” Alex asked as he settled down behind his desk.
• “Mr. Rivers. Aurora’s father. What happened to him? You reported that the transplant was successful. What the hell happened afterwards?” Arthur asked with a straight face, while Alex creased his brows in confusion.
• “Sorry… but why does this matter to you?”
• “Does that matter? Tell me why you couldn’t save his life even after the transplant. She trusted you to help her father. What the hell happened?” Arthur further pressed.
• “I’m sorry, Mr. Arthur. But this is doctor-patient information. I’m not supposed to share that with you.” He answered.
• “Really? I can as well withdraw all my donations from this hospital if that’s what you want. What happened?” Arthur muttered within gritted teeth.
• “We discovered some bleeding and infections after the transplant. These are complications attached to getting a kidney transplant. This was what killed him, Mr. Arthur.” Alex explained, pulling out some papers and stretching it to him.
• “Here is proof. The test we carried out.” He further spoke.
• “I don’t care. How didn’t you see this blessing and infections coming? You’re a doctor! You would have ideas about these things. You called her to give her assurance that her father would live, and now you come up with some bleeding and infections? This shows you don’t know what you’re doing, and I could sue you for this.” Arthur uttered in rage, registering fear in Alex.
• “Mr. Arthur, these complications are pretty common.”
• “If they are pretty common and they lead to death, how is the kidney-transplant survival rate 95% a year? Tell me you let that man die because you were scared of telling his daughter she’ll have to pay another $200,000 for a new transplant, because you failed as a doctor!”
• “Mr. Arthur… I…”
• “That is what happened, isn’t it? You knew she wouldn’t be able to afford any more bills, so you left him to die instead of you to do what you’re supposed to do.”
• “Even if we did, she’d still have to spend so much more money to take care of him here in the hospital, and even back home.”
• “And so you decided to just let him die?” Arthur asked, but couldn’t get any answers from Alex. He was short of words because he knew Arthur figured out what happened already.
• Arthur stood to his feet and adjusted his suit, looking at Alex.
• “We’ll meet in court.” He uttered, picking up his briefcase as he turned to leave.
• “Please, Mr. Arthur. He would have died a few years later anyways.” Alex defended, hastily rushing to the door to stop Arthur from going out.
• “That wasn’t your call to make, Alex. I fund this hospital millions so that you’ll help those that are less privileged, but you still ended up killing an innocent man because you wanted extra cash. There’s nothing left to say. I’m suing you.” Arthur answered, pushing Alex out of the way so he could walk out of his office.
• “We had a deal, Mr. Arthur! And if you report me, it would implicate you also.” Alex threatened, causing Arthur to take a halt.
• “Are you threatening me, Alex? We had a deal to bring her back to me. Hee father dying wasn’t a part! Your job was to keep him alive!” Arthur smacked, heading out of the office.
• Walking to his car, he pulled out his phone and put a call across to Carter, who answered almost immediately.
• “Mr. Arthur.”
• “Carter, how is Aurora?” He asked, settling in his car and placing his briefcase on his front seat.
• “She cried herself to sleep this morning too. She’s very heartbroken. Did you find anything at the hospital?”
• “Yes, I did. And I’ll take care of that. When she’s up, don’t leave her side. Give her anything she wants. If what she wants isn’t at home, then send me a list, I’ll get them on my way back. Make sure she doesn’t do anything stupid, okay?”
• “Yes, Mr. Arthur. I’ll do just that.”
• “One more thing, make sure she doesn’t receive any calls from the hospital until further notice.”
• “Okay, sir.”
• “Good.” He uttered as he hung up.
• *
• Getting back to the office, Arthur found his friend and business partner, Derick waiting for him in his office.
• A smile curved up his lips and his countenance lit up a little as their eyes met.
• “Happy new year, brother.” Derick uttered with a wide grin, walking close to Arthur.
• “And Merry Christmas.” Arthur answered jokingly, as their hands wrapped around each other in a tight hug.
• “It’s been how many years?” Derick asked as they disengaged.
• “Two years?” Arthur answered, and Derick nodded.
• “We are both always so busy with work.”
• “Why didn’t you tell me you were flying back from Manchester today?” Arthur asked, as they both settled on his couch.
• “I would have if you were always available to talk over the phone. Also, I wanted to surprise you. I’ve been here since 7 am, why did you show you late? 7 am is your resume time, isn’t it?” Derick asked, placing one of his legs over the other as he looked at Arthur.
• “Oh… I had to take care of something.” Arthur answered, raising his head to look at him. He stretched out his hand with a tobacco in it to Derick.
• “Do you…”
• “Of course!” Arthur answered almost immediately, collecting the tobaccos from him and helping himself out with the lighter.
• “So… Arthur. How have you been?! I bet I have so many things to catch up with you.” Derick uttered, causing Arthur to scoff.
• “Nah, I don’t think so. There’s nothing special going on, okay? It’s always been the normal routine.” Arthur answered in a bored voice.
• “What? So you’re telling me you’re still dead single and you can’t stop thinking about Anita?”
• On hearing the name “Anita”, Arthur’s contenance changed to a cold and angry one. He pressed the bottom of his tobacco against the ashtray forcefully, almost breaking it into two.
• “I’ve always warned you never to mention her, Derick.” He muttered, clenching his jaws.
• “Oh God… I’m so sorry. I thought it wouldn’t have any effect on you since it’s been years. My bad.” Derick answered with a concerned face.
• He couldn’t help but wonder when Arthur was going to finally step out of his emotionless change he locked himself in since Anita.
• An awkward silence filled the air for a few minutes, making Derick pretty uncomfortable.
• “Fine. I’ll never mention her name, okay?”
• “You better not.” Arthur answered grumpily.
• “So, you are not going to tell me about the surrogate you hired?” He asked, and Arthur furrowed his brows.
• “How did you know?” He asked in awe, and Derick broke into laughter.
• “You’ve always known me, brother. I may not be in town, but I have eyes and ears everywhere.” He answered boastfully.
• “Well. If you know about it already, you don’t have to ask anymore.” Arthur mumbled, opening some files on his desk.
• “I’m so happy you finally have a woman living under your roof. That is progress, don’t you think?” Derick teased.
• “Don’t even think about it. It’s never going to happen. It’s been put in the contract. She’s only here because she’s a breeder.”
• “But that doesn’t mean nothing can happen between you two. She hasn’t even spent up to a month.” Derick further encouraged.
• “Stop whatever you’re trying to do, okay? We hate each other, and it’s going to be this way until she’s off the deal.”
• “Well, I’d love to meet her. I’m following you home tonight. I bet she’s very beautiful. You shouldn’t choose any kind of woman to carry your baby, would you?”
• “Of course, not! She has to be the best.”
• “So you admit she’s pretty and the best?” Derick teased in a low tone.
• “Can you just shut up?!” Arthur answered with a chuckle.
• ***
• Getting home, Arthur and Derick walked into the house together, and they were first welcomed by Carter.
• “Oh my… Arthur! You didn’t tell me Carter still works here!” Derick whispered loudly in Arthur’s ear.
• “What? You still have your little crush on him?”
• “Shhh! Your voice is loud, okay? He’ll hear you.” Derick answered shyly, lowering his head.
• “So you still do have a crush on him. Carter is 37, have you forgotten?” Arthur raised his eyebrows as he spoke.
• “And I’m Thirty, okay?? There is not much of a difference!” Derick answered in a low tone, as they both sat on the couch.
• “Mr. Derick, welcome back.” Carter greeted, giving him a slight bow. Raising his head, his eyes met with Derick’s and a smile formed on both of their faces.
• “Thank you, Carter. You look good.” Derick answered nervously.
• And just when Carter was about to answer, they heard Aurora call out his name from the stairs.
• “Is that her?” Derick asked with his eyes wide open.
• “Who else would it be?” Arthur asked, looking away from her direction.
• “Oh my… now I know why you chose her! She’s your exact type of girl! She’s so pretty!” Derick whispered in Arthur’s ear again.
• “Shut up, Derick! Compose your f**king else.” Arthur grunted, keeping a straight face and pretending not to acknowledge Aurora’s presence.
• ‘She has the same stature and pretty face as Anita!’ Derick yelled in his head as Aurora drew closer to where they were.