4

Waking up in the hospital is never fun, Nathan thought as he tried to blink open his eyes. However, the small pressure on his hand was what he was focusing on. Had something happened with his arm, and he didn’t know it. He finally got them open, and he looked around.

On the bed was a crown of blondish brown loose curls on his hand. He thought back to the night before and remembered everything. Though he knew almost instantly with a clear head, he had made the right decision, he was still shocked at what he had done. He knew the story that his parents started off together as something very much like what he had just entered into. The fact was people loved to talk, and when he was old enough, he listened to everything. He was like his father at finding things out. A master of secrets for others as well as himself.

At the first time he had been caught going to the dens, his father almost admitted it as well. To him, they were a shining example that you could start in a different way and find love. He didn’t know why he had really cared about the woman who was lying on his hand at the moment, but he knew he did. She was going to bring some kind of change in his life. One that he was looking forward to seeing.

He looked towards the door and the team of doctors that entered to go over his case. They had his medical file in their hands, and they looked him over. “How is the shoulder?” the oldest doctor asked as he came over to look at it.

“Getting better,” Nathan responded. Though he was raised to respect doctors, he often found them to be intrusive and judgmental.  He had no time for that.

“Good, Good.” The older man said, and then he looked at Kathleen sleeping soundly in the chair with her head on the bed covering Nathans's hand. “And you still manage to find someone while in here?” the laughing comment bit into Nathans's pride as his eyes narrowed and seemingly changed from a light gold to molten orange in seconds. The other doctors saw the change immediately in him. They all pulled back a bit as well.

“My assistant.” Nathan stated, “She is rather dedicated to her job.”

“So that is what we call it now?” the older man said. “Son, I know your father rather well.”

“And?” Nathan asked, knowing that his name was a blessing and curse in many ways.

“I was just stating a fact.” The man said as he heard the small threat in Nathans's question.

“Well, my father a pillar of the business world, and he does more for most in the area who need help.” Nathan said, “And my mother as well.”

“Yes, your mother.” The man said with a smile.

“Is completely devoted to my father as is he to her,” Nathan growled out. He looked at the man and the other doctors as well. “So when will I be able to leave. I have some things to do.”

“Like party and be a waste of space?” the doctor asked, and Nathan almost lost his temper. He was the most like his father in the way he handled things. He was an expert with using words to cut people down to size in the same way his father was often able to. He did also have a good dose of his mother's kindness as well. The two didn’t often go together all that well.

“I have to get back to work. The family business, for the most part, is run by the family, you know, hence why it is called the family business.” Nathan stated, and his tone was complete arrogance. He knew the way he sounded, and he didn’t care for once. He wanted away from this man, and he wanted the man gone before Kathleen woke up. Nathan didn’t want her near him at all. “So I was hopeful that I could get back as soon as possible.”

“When the business doesn’t seem to be lacking in family members.” The old man chuckled. Nathan knew what he was implying about his mother’s ability to have so many children and still look the way she did. His father had often told him she really didn’t change that much from the moment he met her.

“Are you referring to my younger brothers and sisters, sir?” Nathan asked with a laugh. “We are a rather large family, but I don’t see how that pertains to me getting out of here.

Only my brother and I work for the company as it is our birthright to run and inherit it when my father decides to step down.”

“Sure.”  The man said, and the other younger doctors were amazed by the interaction. The older doctor actually thought that he was not wrong for anything he was saying. “I believe we will have to hold you here for a few days.”

“Um, why would we do that?” one of the younger doctors finally spoke up. “His blood test shows the antibiotics are working. He doesn’t need to be here, and clearly, he doesn’t want to be.”

“However, I do believe that he needs the rest as he won’t if he is released.” The older doctor said.

“That isn’t for you to decide, sir.” One of the other doctors said as he walked into the room. “Mr. Akechi does not need to be held here any longer.”

“Who put you in charge?” The older doctor asked.

“Since I am the first doctor to treat him, he is my patient.” The doctor smiled and then looked at Nathan. “We will have your scripts ready in the pharmacy and your discharge paperwork ready for you in a few moments.”

“Thank you,” Nathan said as he put out his hand to shake the doctor's hand. As the people followed the other doctor out of the room, he had a staring contest with the older man who seemed to know a lot about his family. “Whatever you think you know about us, I am sure that you are probably wrong.”

“I don’t believe so.” The older doctor said as he looked at Nathan. “I mean, like your father, you flaunt your whore around. I would be careful, though. She may find something much more to her liking when she becomes a nurse. I do know who she is. A promising little morsel of a student.”

“Not my whore.” Nathan ground out. “She just works for me now.”

“Whatever you want to call it.” The man said as he laughed as he walked out. Nathan saw red. He looked down, and he felt his hand get wet. He knew she was awake then. How much of that had she heard? He nudged her head up.

“Sweetheart, why are you crying?” he asked as he as looked at her face.

“Because I guess that is what I am now,” Kathleen said softly as she looked into his eyes.

“Listen closely. You are not my whore.” Nathan said as he looked at her, “Even if this becomes more than friends, you are not a whore.”

“Then what am I? Kathleen asked.

“As to that, I am not sure,” Nathan said with a deep chuckle that filled the air. “However, we have an apartment to find today. If we can’t find one, I guess we will stay at a hotel.”