Chapter 57 Confrontation in the Hospital Corridor
David strutted over in his sharp suit, his usual mix of indifference and arrogance plastered on his face. After Zara left, he wedged himself between Theo and me, making the space uncomfortably tight. I shot Theo a look, and he got up and left.
I took a deep breath. "David, you gotta know Zara doesn't really love you. She's just after your money, your status, and the perks you can give her in the entertainment world," I said, locking eyes with him.
David raised an eyebrow, a mocking smile curling his lips. "Diana, that's my business. Why do you care? Maybe you should focus on your own problems."
His words stung, and anger bubbled up inside me. "David, how can you be so blind? It's obvious she's using you. Don't you get it?"
"You're just jealous she has my attention," David said, his eyes full of disdain.
"Jealous? Of her?" I laughed bitterly. "What does she have over me? A stick-thin body? Reciting lines like a robot? Zero social skills? Her emotional intelligence is rock bottom." I was shaking with rage.
"She's more favored than you, and as a woman, isn't that enough? She acts cute, and I give her everything she wants. That's something you can't understand. If you were nicer to me, maybe I'd let Joshua off the hook," David said, leaning back with his legs crossed.
"Joshua's trouble was your doing? I thought it was Edward!" No wonder Edward got so mad whenever I mentioned Joshua. I'd been blaming the wrong guy all along.
"Mr. Howard has been taking the heat for me for a while," David sneered.
"I know you're targeting Joshua because of your grudge against me. One word from you, and he could be reinstated. If you weren't throwing money at Zara, she'd be a washed-up actress by now. You saw how she treated Edward that day. I just don't want to see you get played!" I said, my chest heaving with frustration.
"Even if she's after my money and status, so what? It's none of your business. I don't need you telling me what to do." David, as proud as ever, was now visibly pissed.
I bit my lip, wondering what kind of lies Zara had fed David to make him so obsessed.
Realizing I couldn't change his mind, and maybe he knew Zara's game all along and they were just using each other, I decided to switch gears.
"Fine, I won't say another word. Running into you here was a coincidence. Just please don't tell Edward about this," I said, trying to calm down. David laughed like he'd just heard the funniest joke ever. "Haha, Diana, you were just lecturing me all high and mighty, and now you're begging?"
I tried to keep my cool. "This is really important to me, David. If you promise, I'll do anything you ask."
"Anything?" A nasty glint flashed in his eyes. "Then clean my shoes for me now!"
I hadn't expected him to go that far, and my face turned pale with humiliation. "David, don't push it."
"Diana, you said it yourself. As long as I promise not to tell Mr. Howard, you'll do anything. Are you going back on your word already?" David leaned in, staring me down.
I took a step back, feeling trapped against the wall. "David, this is outrageous."
"Outrageous? You were perfectly happy to try and sabotage my relationship. Isn't it outrageous?" David's voice dripped with sarcasm.
My anger flared up again. "I'm worried about you getting hurt, and now you're just making things harder for me."
David reached out and played with my hair. "Diana, clean my shoes and beg me. Maybe I'll agree and even throw in something extra."
I shoved his hand away and shouted, "Don't be so ridiculous. Someone like you will never understand real feelings. Do you think Zara actually cares about you? You're completely wrong!"
David touched his nose and raised his voice. "Enough! I don't want to hear any more of your crap. If you don't do that, I'll call Mr. Howard right now and tell him you're here with another man." He waved his phone in front of me.
I really didn't want Edward to know I was at the hospital, especially not that the person in the emergency room was Mia, the owner of the company he was about to acquire. If he found out, it would just lead to more unnecessary drama. But cleaning shoes for David was a tough pill to swallow.
"David, we've known each other for over twenty years. Do you really have to be this heartless?" My voice had a hint of pleading.
"This is what you deserve." David was unmoved.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I couldn't let Edward know I was here, and I couldn't let my pride make things worse. Mia was still in critical condition, and I had no other choice.
I slowly stood up and then bent my knees, wiping his shoes with bare hands. Seeing this, David's face lit up with a smug smile. "See, wasn't that easy? Let me help you up." I looked up, my eyes filled with hatred.
"David, you'll pay for this," I said through gritted teeth, clenching my fists.
David just shrugged. "Just remember today's lesson and stay out of my business."
At that moment, the emergency room door swung open, and a doctor came out, breaking the tense standoff.
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