14- Hospital
1345 Words
Sophia POV:
“She’s sick.”
“Who?” Aleks asks me.
I hesitate before speaking again, swirling the left over coffee in my mug.
“My sister, Liz.” I explain. “We’ve been struggling to pay off the medical bills and expenses with our barkeep paychecks, and they’ve refused us anymore treatment until..”
“Until you start to pay off the balance?”
“Yah..” It’s not surprising that I feel embarrassed, but I just hate that I feel that way at all. “That’s why I haggled my price with you in the beginning. And now that I can afford it, it’s important that we start treatments up again.”
He scoffed softly, but not in a mocking manner, more like he was amused by something.
“You can resume her treatment immediately.”
“That’s great! I’ll call the hospital and arrange-“
“Nyet.” He adds quickly. “You’ll not go back to whatever place you were before. Your sister will see the private doctor in the private hospital that I own.
“Oh. How much extra is that going to be?” I wonder nervously.
“Don’t worry about the bills, the payment..any of it. It’ll be taken care of.”
“But-“
“I created an account for you with my bank. It’s solely in your name, I have no access except to add more funds. We can create one for Liz as well.“
“An account in my name?”
“It contains 1.2 million dollars in-“
“It contains what?!” I interject.
“..we can always add more whenever you like.” Aleks clearly misunderstands my surprise.
“Why would you give me that much money Aleksandr?!”
His lips quirk up into a smirk.
“What on god’s green Earth are you smirking about right now??” I ask bewildered.
“You used my full name.” He all but blushes at me.
“Hey!” I snap my fingers. “Focus, mafia man! Why would you-“
“Because I can, and I want to.” He says matter of factly. “Did you think I was joking or simply flirting when I said you were mine?”
“Well..no..“
“Good. Then it is vital that you have access to money when you need and want it, without feeling that you have to ask. I want you to have whatever you need and want.”
“That’s really sweet of you, but that’s too much.”
“Actually,” He huffs. “It’s not enough. But it’s a start.” He places a hand on my cheek and looks into my eyes with such emotion I almost cry. “Also, you will be moving from this apartment to my estate home to be with me always.”
I give up and decide to just be grateful until I can find a way to return his generosity. “Thank you.” His warm smile is his only reply. A smile I’ve only seen him make for me. “I’ll have the medical records transferred to your new fancy doctor then.”
-
“Woah.” Liz gapes at the hospital building’s interior. “This is way fancier than I expected, especially for being such a small place.”
“Yah, same.” I admit. “He did say it was a private doctor and a privately owned hospital. Apparently injuries acquired during illegal activity are easier to treat, without police intervention, when you own your own hospital.”
“Ah. Right.” Liz understands, and I remind her not to ask too many questions around this crowd.
After transferring medical records and making the appointment, Ivan and Andre drive Liz and I to the private office, which looked more like a large clinic than an actual hospital. Aleks had originally offered to accompany us himself, but something came up with his ‘work’ so I insisted we’d be fine on our own. Well, plus Ivan and Andre of course. There’s no way he’d allow us to go unattended.
We don’t wait long at all before Liz and I are escorted to an exam room and a woman in a white lab coat walks in.
“Hello, ladies. I am Dr. Whitlock. I’ll be your private physician from here on.”
“I’m Sophia, and this is my sister Elizabeth.”
“Liz.” My sister corrects me.
“It’s nice to meet you both.” The doctor smiles warmly at us both before opening a vanilla folder in her hands and scanning the contents. “I have your medical history here..for both of you?” She questions. “I was told I’d be treating one patient.”
Liz looks at me concerned.
“Well, actually we both need treatment..” I inform to her.
She eyes us questioningly, “Mr. Morozov-“
“He doesn’t know.. that I’m also sick.” I finally admit to her.
My sister gasps. “You didn’t tell your boy toy that you’re sick?!”
“No, Liz! I can’t! ..Not yet anyway.” Then I look back to the doctor. “Look, is there a way for us both to get treatment..but without telling Mr. Morozov about mine?”
Dr. Whitlock sighs deeply. “Ms. Collins you are aware of the..clientele that we serve here, correct?”
Yah, the mafia illegal type. I nod at her.
“Then you must know things work a little differently here. We don’t adhere to the typical doctor/patient confidentiality policy. We answer to our employers, in this case being the Morozov family. I cannot treat you in secret..on his dime. I could be seriously..I could get into trouble.”
“What if I pay for it?” I offer. “Then I would be employing you for my treatment.” Before the doctor can decline again I add, “I’m gunna tell him..I just can’t right now. Besides, We haven’t been treated in months, so I don’t know how good or bad our situations truly are. I’d like to know that before ruining whatever happiness Aleks and I have right now.”
I can see pity in Dr. Whitlock’s eyes, and the consideration.
“I’ll treat you..” She finally says. “But! If he asks me about any of it, you, the p*****t, I cannot and will not lie to him.”
“Understood!” I say happily. “Thank you! And when the time comes, I’ll be sure to tell him how much I appreciated your help. For me, but more importantly for my sister.”
“Well, let’s just start with an exam on you both to determine treatment plans, and go from there.”
The doctor was clearly nervous, which made me all the more grateful for her willingness to help me. I wasn’t eager to notify Aleks about my health.. I wasn’t too thrilled about keeping it from him either, but my fear of losing this newly found happiness outweighed my fear of keeping this from him.
I’d like to say I’m not lying, just omitting half of the truth, but even I know that’s búllshit. Liz gives me a look and I know she feels the same way.
“Okay!” I clap my hands together once. “Liz can go first! Exam, treatment plans, and then we can be on our way for now.” Neither one of them buys my sudden change of mood, but regardless, Dr. Whitlock begins her work examining Liz. Physical, mental, x-rays- the works. I use this time to think of exactly when/how/if I really do have to tell Aleks the truth.
How would he react to knowing I’m sick too?
Would he care? Would he decide that I’m too much of a risk? Would he think me incapable of completing my job? Would he throw me, and therefore Liz’s treatments to the wind?
My mind is crazed with questions as the Dr. calls out, “Sophia, I’m ready for you.”
- Writer
