Page 15 of Unwrapping the Billionaire

But my nose sure as hell feels it.

* * *

I stagger sideways,and end up colliding with a wall—with a head full of stars and yellow Tweety birds with their wings pulled off.

The smell hits me first. It’s the sharp, sickly tang of terminal illness—odor a la mortuus.It takes me right back to a Christmas Eve many years ago, featuring a green-eyed nurse and a clipboard, and a consent form in a starring role.

The decision to end my mother’s life was mine. My father had his nose so far up his dealer’s ass by then he couldn’t even remember her name. Either that, or he was digging for gold in his seventh’s wife’ pussy. My brother was the same. Neither bothered picking up the phone to me that night.

I signed the form on my own in that hospital room, and her life support was switched off an hour later.

Job done.

Happy Christmas to me.

“You’ll never guess what, Mom… I found that magazine with your favorite actress on the front!”

My head jerks up in surprise as my soon-to-be-fired blonde secretary bundles past me, and disappears into a nearby room.

Curious, I follow her inside, and watch her throw herself into a chair next to the shrunken figure in the bed. My stomach lurches as I take in all the wires and syringe drives arranged in a flashing, beeping halo.

Ava waves her prize in front of the figure, and a soft croak sounds from the white bedsheets. “The article lists every single one of her movies.” I watch her eagerly thumb through the pages to the interview part. “We can tick them off as we go… What shall we start with?Australia?Practical Magic? You can choose, just so long as we end up with a Tom Cruise one. Oh My Gosh, what was the Irish one again? I love that movie so much!”

“Far and Away,” I murmur.

There’s another croak from the bedsheets, and Ava laughs. It’s not a natural sound, though. Not like Grace’s that first night we met. This one is strained and forced, and full of pain. It wants to be joyful, but reality is pricking holes in the surface and letting all the fun out.

“How are we doing today, Mrs Johnson?”

A nurse in her late fifties steps into the room behind me. She beams at the bed where croak number threeis joined by a weak thumbs-up. “Glad to hear it. My name’s Sara, and I’m here to take your vitals. First, I’d like to steal a moment or two with your beautiful daughter. Is that okay?”

“Of course.” Ava rises from her chair and gently places the magazine on her mother’s chest. “Don’t go stealing any wheelchairs and making a break for it while I’m gone…deal?”

I find my lips twisting into a smile.Ava’s kinda sweet and funny underneath all that useless... Maybe I’ll let her keep her job, after all.

When they exit the room, I inch backward to listen in on their conversation. Meanwhile, Present is leaning against the wall, and studying her nails.

“She’s as comfortable as we can make her, Miss Johnson,” murmurs the nurse, touching her arm briefly.

Ava nods. “How long do you think she can last without the…” she tails off and glances in my direction. I can see the tears glistening in her eyes.

“Two, three days, max. I’m so sorry. We’re doing everything we can.”

Ava nods again. “I’m planning to stay here as long as I can. I have the next two days off, but then I’m needed back at work. I can’t afford to lose my job.”

Ah, shit.

I can feel Present staring at me. Two dark, fireballs of disapproval are drilling into my face.

“What the hell are you looking at?” I snarl at her. “My secretary can have the extra time off, okay? She can file the paperwork the day after.”

But there’s no let up from that glare.

“Fine! She can have a couple days off for bereavement, but then I want her back on the job. Shit happens in this life, but we all have to make sacrifices at the alter of commerce.”

Present rolls her eyes at me, and I’m left feeling confused.Oh Jesus…does she want my compassion, too?I don't bestow that shit on anyone, let alone a woman I don’t know.

Sara is pulling Ava in for a hug now. I can feel my secretary’s devastation from here. It’s like a violent shockwave,beforethe earthquake actually hits.

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