Every other person eyes widened, and they took a step back, as if trying to physically escape the chairman's wrath.
"I-I don't know what you're talking about, sir," Ivan repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. The chairman's face turned red with rage, and he slammed his fist on the armrest of his wheelchair.
"Don't lie to me!" he thundered, his voice echoing off the walls.
"I have ears everywhere. I know what's being said behind my back."
The room fell silent, the only sound the heavy breathing of the culprits and the ticking of the clock on the wall. The air was thick with tension, and the atmosphere was electric with suspense. Suddenly, the chairman's assistant burst into the room, a look of urgency on his face.
"Sir, I'm sorry to interrupt, but there's something you need to see," he said, holding out a tablet. The chairman's eyes narrowed, and he snatched the tablet from the assistant's hand. As he scrolled through the contents, his expression turned from anger to shock, and then to a calculating gaze. "What is it, sir?" Patrick asked, moving close to him. The chairman's eyes locked onto his, and a slow, menacing smile spread across his face.
"It seems we have a problem," he said, his voice dripping with malice.
"A problem that requires immediate attention." He smiled again, his gaze sweeping across the room to encompass everyone standing there, including Patrick. This time, his eyes locked onto Patrick's, and he strode purposefully towards him.
With a surge of adrenaline, the chairman managed to stand up from his wheelchair, his face twisted in anger. He took a few unsteady steps forward, his eyes blazing with fury, before delivering a resounding slap to Patrick's cheek. The sound echoed through the room, leaving Patrick's skin stinging and everyone's mouth forced open with surprise.
"How dare you cheat on my daughter?" he thundered, his voice trembling with rage. Patrick's eyes widened in shock as he stumbled backward, his hand instinctively rising to his stinging cheek.
"I...I can explain," he stammered, trying to defend himself. The father's face turned redder with rage.
"Explain?" he spat. "You've been cheating on my daughter, and you think you can just explain it away? You're despicable! I made you what you're today! "
"Dad, stop," Elisha whispered, her voice trembling while trying hard to sit up. "Please, just listen to him." The father's gaze turned to Elisha, his anger seemed to fuel up. He looked at his daughter, then back at Patrick. "I warned this idiot then not to marry you of course! Now explain" With a deep breath, Patrick began to speak, his words spilling out in a nervous rush.
"It was a mistake. Elisha,I love her, but it meant nothing. I swear it was just a one-time thing..." The father's expression turned skeptical.
"Save it for someone who believes you," he snarled. "You think you can fool me? You good for nothing animal! The scandal is all over the media! And you think you're going to be alright?"
"Dad..."Elisha whispered weakly with her hand as if telling the chairman to stop. Suddenly her face became paled. She swayed slightly, her hand grasping for the bed's railing for support.
"Dad...please," she whispered again weakly, her voice trembling. But her father's words cut deep, and Elisha's body reacted. Her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed onto her bed, her body going limp. The machines surrounding her bed beeped erratically, and the heart monitor flatlined. The chairman looked with little or no concern and sat back on his wheelchair beckoning for one of his aides to wheel him out. The other family members also left.
"Code blue!" a nurse shouted, rushing to Elisha's side.
"We need help, stat!" The room erupted into chaos as medical staff rushed in to assist Elisha. Patrick stood frozen, unsure of what to do or say. The tension in the room was palpable, and the outcome uncertain
The others cast mocking glances at him before strolling out of the room, leaving him to face his troubles alone. Ivan, the last to leave, turned back to Patrick and said with a sly smile
, "You should know Father won't let this go just like that." Her laughter echoed through the room as she slammed the door behind her, the sound reverberating through the space.
A few minutes later, the doctor left having successfully subdued the emergency. She was now sleeping ,her chest rising and falling with each gentle breath. However, Patrick's relief was short-lived, as one of the chairman's guards stepped forward, his imposing figure blocking Patrick's path.
"Sir, the chairman has instructed us not to allow you into her ward. Please, for now, could you step outside?" the guard said firmly, his voice devoid of any warmth.
Patrick's eyes narrowed, his face darkening with anger. "I'm her husband," he retorted, his voice low and menacing.
The guard stood his ground, unwavering. "It's the chairman's order, sir. I'm just following instructions." His tone was polite but firm.
With his relationship with the chairman soured, Patrick felt like he had no other choice. He stormed out of the ward, his anger and frustration shown in every step he takes. As he walked to a quiet corner of the hospital, he pulled out his phone and checked the internet. A blurry image of him and Nancy, his secretary, stared back at him. He didn't believe it at first but it's all over the media. Some even went as far as saying he deserves to die.
Going through all the mean comments,Patrick's eyes narrowed, his teeth clenched in anger, and his fist tightened around the phone. With a sudden burst of rage, he hurled the phone against the wall, the screen shattering into a thousand pieces. His breath inconsistent as he continued hitting the innocent wall.
He knew the photo was likely taken by someone who wants his downfall, but the fact that it was Nancy who was involved made his anger boil over. They had been carrying on an affair behind Elisha's back for two years, and he wondered if his wife had any inkling about it. Perhaps she had chosen to turn a blind eye for the sake of peace. He had wanted nothing from Nancy but just wanted to use her and dumped her.
Patrick's anger still simmering, he stormed out of the hospital and got into his car. The drive to his office was short, but his mind was racing with thoughts of Nancy and the potential fallout from the photo. He knew he would be in huge mess if it affects the chairman's business in any way.As he entered his office, he was greeted by Nancy herself, sitting romantically on the edge of his desk, wearing a revealing shirt and short skirt. She gazed up at him with a mixture of concern and seduction in her eyes.
"Are you scared?" she asked, her voice husky. "Or are you angry?"
Patrick's response was curt. "We have to stop this for now, please. Let's lay low."