Chapter 71 Jones is in the spotlight

Chapter Seventy-one
Jones
When I woke up yesterday night, I saw mom sleeping beside me. I didn't even remember to call her the other time.
All that was in my head was for Dave to wake up.
Dave woke up an hour later. He was so happy to see me. I have never seen him so happy.
And then, Nancy walks in with food.
How can she be so caring? Anyways, I, Dave, mom, and Nancy are the food.
Mom and Nancy had to leave the two of us to talk.
And that was how I got to know what had really happened.
It was right Dave had a cardiac arrest because he thought I was dead. He saw her saw the doctor come out exactly like he had years back when his mom was pronounced dead.
I knew how scared he was because I was also scared too when I heard he wasn't going to open his eyes soon.
The fear I had couldn't be compared to others.
It's morning now. I've been staying in with Dave. Dave was awake two hours ago. We had breakfast and he was given a sleeping pill.
The doctor said he needed to rest very well. And if he really continues to respond to treatment, then he would be discharged in a week's time.
What an irony of life. He brought me to the hospital but he ended up spending more time than I. Well, I was supposed to be discharged this morning but I told the doctor I wasn't ready to get discharged.
The doctor thought I was kidding. He handed over the report sheet to me that indicates I feel very healthy.
Well, I just had to fake another illness. It doesn't matter the hospital bill, Dave will pay for it.
So, in one word, I'm back in the hospital as a patient. Though, I'm allowed to move freely unlike other patients.
I'm sure the doctor is fed up with me.
Even the nurses laugh at my joke. And the fact that I'm Dave's girlfriend.
I'm going out to get some ice cream and cakes. I suddenly feel so hungry. Maybe it's as a result of the appetizer drugs I've been taking.
I see an ice cream shop and walk inside. Everyone looks over at me. I stop to look behind me, perhaps there's someone behind me that they are looking at. Then, I realize it's me.
And I wonder why.
Itve has been a while already. I don't think people still remember I was the one that slapped Dave.
What am I even saying? There's nothing as such in the magazine or the news anymore. It's old news already.
But that doesn't mean people wouldn't recognize me if they see me.
"Hi," I say to the attendant.
She smiles at me, "What do you want ma?"
"I want strawberry ice cream," I tell her and she nods briefly with respect. I can't help notice that. Something is going on, something I don't know about.
I collect my ice cream from her and give her the money on me. I wait for the change but quickly decide to leave it for her.
"Thank you so much, Miss Jones!" She screams behind me that everyone had to turn towards me again.
What is really happening?
The shop that sells cakes isn't open and I don't want to leave the vicinity of the hospital. So, taking my ice cream with me, I walk back to the hospital.
I was almost by Dave's door when the door opens and Nancy walks out. There was this bright smile on her face. I've never seen her look so happy.
"Jones! Jones, my sweet friend," she teases and takes the bag from me. I made to collect it back from her but she hides it behind her back and shakes her head briefly, "I'm taking it," she says and walks inside ahead of me, inside the room.
I roll my eyes. Needn't I say it again that Nancy is always dramatic.
"Jones, I need you to check this out!" She says and stretches forth a magazine towards me. I wonder what the news is about this time.
"Nancy, I'm hungry. I can't even find cakes around here."
Nancy held a surprising look, "Why are you hungry? I thought you ate breakfast two hours ago? Are you sure you are not pregnant?" She whispers, " With Dave's child?" She winks at me.
I blush slightly and feign annoyance, "Stop it, Nancy! It's not funny!"
She laughs softly, careful not to wake Dave, "I'm not joking. At least, you will soon be pregnant with his child. It's a blessing, not a curse. Now, sit and see this before you take your ice cream," she said finally and place the magazine on my lap.
I sigh, frustrated. I look at the magazine now and my eyes went wider and dark with shock.
Wait for a moment, am I dreaming?
I take the magazine and move it so close to my eyes. I look at the picture of a lady that looks like me. Now, she doesn't look like me because this is me.
I look back at Nancy, "Who did this?"
Nancy shrugs slightly, "I don't know but I know someone saw him bring you in because there are also pictures trending around. Pictures of you in his arms."
I close my eyes and inhale deeply. Gosh, how can this happen? It's so embarrassing.
Nancy laughs, "If you switch on the TV, you will hear the news. It's all over the place. The radio, the newspaper, the TV, and the magazine," she blushes slightly. She looks so happy about the news.
What! I almost yell out loud. So, that was why everyone was looking at me so weirdly the other time.
Even the attendant was so kind to me. She even respected me.
I look back at the pictures again. Closely beside me is Dave is tuxedos. He looks so beautiful in it.
And the headline reads, " Jones Macbeth, a beautiful lady that had once gone into slander with Dave Margray is now his girlfriend."
" Goodness baby girl. Now, you've done viral again. It will only take a while before you get popular," Nancy jokes and smiles wildly.
While I only stare into the air dreamily.
Nancy, it's not funny!"
I tell her over again on the phone.
Nancy left thirty minutes later and came back with my cake. She's suddenly acting so caring, unlike her. I'm sure she is just teasing me.
Anyways, I've taken my ice cream and cakes. But Dave is yet to wake up.
It's an hour now and I feel so bored. I don't want to switch on the television because I don't want to disturb him.
I bring my phone and start playing games on it.
I'm in the middle of it when the door opens slightly.
I'm sure it's Nancy so I didn't bother to look up or stop playing the game I'm playing on my phone.
When the person walks inside the room, an unfamiliar cologne fills the air around me.
Nancy doesn't smell like this.
I pause the game and look up at Mr. Richard Margray.
My heart did a flip as I watched him. How did he get here? What's he doing here?
I couldn't stop the questions from ringing in my head. I suddenly feel the sweat on my palm.
He's looking at Dave and there was no slight of emotions visible on his face. He's one hard man.
"How is he?"
At first, I couldn't find my voice. I don't know why I feel so scared and so shaking.
"Fine!" I say instead so he wouldn't notice the change in my voice.
"Good then because I need to speak with you," he looks at me now," the stares he's giving me is telling me there are troubles ahead of me.
Nevertheless, I stand up immediately, "Should we talk here?"
He shakes his head negatively, " Let's see outside this room," he says authoritatively before turning and walking out of the room.
I sigh and look over at Dave. I wonder what Mr. Richard wants to tell me. I help Dave with the blanket before walking out of the room.
Mr. Richard is waiting for me already. His back is facing me but he knows the moment I stepped out.
"My son is on the sickbed because of you, are you aware of that?" He says and turns to look at me.
I raise confused brows as I don't know where he's coming from or where he's going.
What does he mean by that?
"I don't know what is between you and him but you are only going to cause more troubles than joy for me."
Now, I couldn't hold it in anymore.
" Point of correction sir," I say as politely as I can, " It was Dave's choice to ask me out. I didn't ask him out and I believe he's old enough to make decisions for himself."
His face squeezes slightly, " He's my son. So, I have the right to choose him because I'm in the better position to make him the right choice."
Like seriously? Right choice my foot!
I can never believe that, seriously.
I put my hand in akimbo as I watch this dangerous man before me, "So, what are you implying sir?"
"I want you to stop dating my son," he says with no emotion. I don't even think he knows what falling in love means. He can never know because he has never experienced it.
How can he tell me to break up with Dave?
"I'm sorry sir but I can't do that," I say to him defiantly and I mean it.
He studied me for a while, " Is there anything you can offer my son?"
"I love him with all my heart!" I defend myself quickly.
" Maybe but I don't believe that," his mouth took on a wry line, his features dark and unsettling, " Can love give him the joy he wants?"
I had to control myself, to stop myself from screaming at him. I'm feeling so angry at his choice of words. I feel him mocking me silently.
"I don't sincerely know what you are arriving at. But if Dave isn't happy, he would let me know. Also, you are in no position to dictate what gives him joy or not," I tell him and bow slightly. I'm not ready to continue this weird conversation. I'm signing out immediately.
I turn back to walk in but his words stop me. I turned back to him again so he would repeat it.
"I told Cynthia to do what she did," he repeated and my eyes went narrow with shock. Shock kept me motionless and speechless for some minutes.
When I eventually found my voice, I still couldn't believe my ears.
"What did you just say? Do you mean you had Cynthia kidnapped me? Even when you know I'm your son's girlfriend?"
Michael told me Mr. Richard is someone I should run away from but I'm not ready to do that. I won't do it. I won't listen to him at the expense of my happiness. Dave is my happiness and I'm not leaving him.
"Cynthia is the person I chose and she's the right one for Dave. She has things that you don't," he walks to me now, " You work for Dave. So, that means you always wait for his salary. So, what if Dave doesn't pay you. How will you survive? Also, whose dad is yours in this country? You don't have a surname."
" Never!" I raise my voice slightly, the anger eches my voice, " I will never take it lightly with you if you speak of my father that way. I'm the one you are having this conversation with and not my dad. So, I will have you leave him out of it."
He smiles now, for the first time. The smirks made him look like Dave, " Fine!"
"What do you think Dave will do to you if he finds out you instigated Cynthia?"
He shrugs slightly, " Nothing. Everything he has and depends on is at stake. If you let that out, you will not only put him in danger, you will also put yourself in danger."
What does he mean by that? He's not even making sense.
I can as well just go inside now, wake Dave up and tell him everything that his father has just told me.
What should I do?