Married to a secret billionaire

Sickness

Chapter 8

There was a brief pounding on the door and Steve went to quickly check who it was. He wondered if Madison was already back from work. But he doubted, as the time said it was two pm at the very dot.

"I came with what you asked for, Sir." Was the very word Steve was greeted with as he opened the door.

A tall figure all dressed in black came inside with his head bowed and right hand firmly holding onto a briefcase. And Steve needed no sorcery to know that what his secretary- Philip Coast.

"You shouldn't be here." Steve frowned, closing the door and furthering his steps into the living room. "Madison could be home. "

"I sincerely apologize, Sir. It was urgent and your line wasn't going since yesterday. " Philip briefly explained, proceeding to open the briefcase in his hand.

Going through the printed document in his hand, Philip began. "There's urgent need of qualified IT professionals specializing in cyber security for more layered defenses as regards the company's IP data, financial documents and even our customer informations. "

Steve always had his cyber security as his top priority for his company for many months now but had procrastinated enough.

"I would love to..."

"The cyberattacks aren't new but they're more important now than ever. Those hackers out there aren't resting. And it's rumored that Gleen Tech Company is a victim of these attacks. Though, they haven't made an official statement as regards the issue. "

Heaving a deep sigh, Steve nodded. "Add it to the company's annual budget. And see to it as soon as possible. "

"When will you be back to seat, Sir?"

"Time will tell, " Steve said, his hands on his well trimmed beard.

"Next," Philip cleared this throat. "There's uuh... a supply chain disruption. The 250 micro PCs we ordered since last month is yet arrive. And it's affecting a lot of things. "

It wasn't easy as the CEO of Magna Technology cause he always had problems to solve and company issues to think of. Though nobody except few of his top employees knew he was the brain behind Magna tech, he always had the rumors of him living ostentatiously and being an incorrigible flirt.

He shook his head.

If only those people knew that he had no time for flirting nor living ostentatiously. He had always been with his sick mother who had been diagnosed with Osteoclastoma. He would always stay by her side, holding her wrinkled hands. And regretting, why he had overlooked the problem when it had earlier began.

His mother had started with a limp and always waved off his concerns with lies of how she fell and would soon get well. But he soon knew otherwise when he came back from his summer vacation and two days later, got informed that his mother had been rushed to the hospital.

That was when he came to light about the situation on ground. He had been deceived by his mother .

No matter whatever thought that crossed his mind, he couldn't find a palpable excuse of why his mother had hidden her illness from him. He could have had her treated when the disease was still in its early stage.

For days, he didn't visit her in her sick bed. He was hurt. But then, he eventually did. And he was thankful that he hadn't done otherwise.

"Mr Armani," Philip called softly, wondering if his boss was even listening to him.

A distant sigh escaped his lips and that was when Philip was sure that Steve was probably still here but was definitely absent minded.

"Mr Armani!" His voice rose an octave higher.

Steve shook his head, coming out of his reviere.

"You're were talking on mobility, right?"

"Uh, Supply disruptions, actually. " Philip corrected, wondering what was bothering his boss.

"Right. My point is that we should be flexible and utilize whatever equipment we can get our hands on." Steve said.

"Noted, Sir. "Philip retorted, putting the printed paper back into his briefcase.

"Next time come with a decent meal. " Steve sighed.

"Huh?" Philip was briefly disconcerted. Steve had just warned him of the actual possibility that his wife might be home or...

"Get lost. "

Philip forced a smile as he nodded, exiting the small old house.

Was his boss suddenly losing some nuts up there?

●●●●●●●●●●●

The depressing hallway had nurses dressed in their scrubs going to and fro. A different smell of antiseptic had hit Madison's nostrils as she passed the general female ward.

From her peripheral vision she could see sight pairs of pale, withered legs. And she slightly titled her head, she could some nurses checking some patients vital signs, changing the IV bags and having small talks with them.

Madison could remember how Ms Hannah had been in the general ward till the Roberts had her moved to a private room.

And as she walked into the room, Madison was glad of the choice she had made. For the room was so peaceful and soul lifting.

There were flowers, beautiful paintings on the wall, leather chairs beside the bed and a soothing music playing.

Looking up to the plasma situated on the wall, Madison could see that the now playing music was R&B.

She scoffed.

What nurse would play a love song for a patient inbetween life and death?

Speaking of the devil, the room door opened and a petite, pretty nurse on blue scrubs entered inside, a huge smile on her face.

"Hey," Madison greeted.

"I don't think I like the choice of song she's listening to right now." She quickly added, eying the plasma.

The petite nurse chuckled as she proceeded to check Ms Hannah's vital signs. Before going on to give her, her afternoon meds.

"You should have paid attention to the moans, Ms Hannah had been emanating since you entered the room. She's getting better and no longer has severe, acute pains. But you didn't. " The nurse said, a small smile still on her face.

"Her surgery has already been scheduled and your parents have already found a kidney donor. And yes, it was Ms Hannah that specifically requested for the song to be added to her playlist. She has been blissful since this morning. " The nurse concluded, nodding towards the kind caregiver.

"W-Wait," Madison grabbed the left arm of the nurse who was just about leaving. "Did you just say she had talked?" Her eyes gleamed with unshed tears.

""Let me listen to Breathe Again by Love Potion. It's my chicken soup for the soul."" The nurse quoted. "Her exact words were those, not mine."

Madison sniffed back the tears that threatened to run down her cheeks as she took her grip off the nurse's arm and ran towards Ms Hannah's bedside.

"Ms Hannah," She softly called, holding the woman's hand in hers while stroking it tenderly.

But they were no more as soft and fleshy as they had been during those days, the woman had tended to her in the orphanage.

Vividly, Madison could remember when during the days she stay in the orphanage, maybe twelve years ago, she wasn't sure of the exact year.

But she could never forget how Ms Hannah had tended to her when her seniors had bullied her and even, inflicted injuries on her. The kind caregiver made sure that they received their just rewards which included scolding them and making sure the matron had laboured them till their bones ached.

"And I'll die if you decide you won't see me again..." Ms Hannah had sang in a whisper, with lips stretched in a smile. Her frail eyes closed in what seemed like meditation.