Chapter 23: Secrets

Odetta pulled up a wine glass to her lips and she glanced at Edward toying with his dinner.

He hardly said a word after the theft incident and she was getting concerned.

"You have a nice house," She said and gasped at him making a phone call.

Her phone beeped and she sat up biting her lip at Jake's text,

_Love you.

She giggled sending back a kiss.

Edward came back and gave a wry look at Odetta. "We're in the middle of an important lunch and you're texting?"

She sat up "It's not what it looks like," She waved her hands while he approached her like an angry lion and she winced when he took her phone.

Edward set it down "Listen, I'll have you know that you will not disrespect me this way, got it?"

She nodded. "I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, Mister Cummings," She said and grimaced at his eyes and his firm hold on her wrist. She needed some space to breathe and her hand curled uncomfortably in his.

"If you excuse me for a second_I,"

Edward gazed at her and she looked down, her pulse was racing.

He pulled her closer and his nose lingered on her shoulder. "What perfume do you use?" A spot in her shoulder tingled and she shivered at his closeness.

"Duft,"

She could sense the heat flowing through him and she had a deep urge to rest in his arms,

Edward's chest heaved as he watched her lips part and he snorted "Typical," He murmured in her face. "Nice shirt,"

She pulled it back up "Thanks,"

'In your face Danica,' She jubilated internally and she was aware when he left.

"All this walking isn't good for you, you should rest,"

Edward looked solemn, at her voice, he wouldn't trust anyone to run Luxe Textiles while he was gone, his hand clenched on his cane and 'one day later there was already a theft' .

He scoffed and suddenly he was spent.

"You don't look well, Mister Cummings," She stepped forward.

"I just feel dizzy," He slumped and she gripped his side. "You should go,"

"I'm so sorry but you're not fine, you need to lay off work,"

"Who are you to tell me how to run my business?" He asked and Odetta's throat bobbed looking up at him.

"Mister Cummings, I care for your safety, so you do," She nudged his shoulder and he glared at her and then felt nauseous.

His eyes were sunken "They poisoned me,"

"Ed,"

His hand flew across the table and he gripped the table cloth causing everything to pivot to the ground.

"Stop!" She glanced at the servants and pulled him aside.

"You're gonna pay, you're all gonna pay," He went into a series of coughs and Odetta saddened.

***

Edward shivered and she put a hand on his arm, he was perspiring and he sneezed.

The doctor stepped inside, his face wasn't completely revealed from the door as he spoke to someone outside.

Odetta's eyes rose in recognition and he stepped inside and softened.

"Dad?" "Odie," They said at the same time and she was reluctant to hug him.

"I got transferred, so...this is my workplace,"

She shook her head. "I don't believe it,"

He fidgeted "I'm sorry, this is a civil work environment. For now I am Dr. Lawrence, please step aside,"

He had brown hair with streaks of grey, deep seated brown eyes, a narrow nose and set lips, his face was angular yet he possessed fine cheekbones that she inherited. He was clean shaven and he was wearing a white coat, a yellow minimalist flower print shirt and chinos.

"He's sick,"

"I can see that,"

"I reckon he's malnourished and it's starting to take it's effect on him, he experiences dizziness and he hardly trusts anyone to feed him so he compromises his diet,"

Derek Lawrence tapped his clipboard "You would've made a better nurse,"

She swallowed and stepped back.

Edward groaned and his head tossed at the exploding headache. He met Derek's scowl while he checked his heart.

"So, how do you know my daughter?" He asked to break the ice.

Was that what she thought he was doing?

"She's an employee of mine," He murmured and his eyes drooped while he blinked and he looked away.

"What does she do exactly?"

"I thought you would know that?" He said.

"We're out of touch,"

Odetta keyed in and Edward looked up.

"She's my assistant, helps me around the studio,"

She grimaced at his answer and clutched her hair. She adjusted her glasses looking back when Derek looked at her.

"A cleaner, that I am," She said and Edward looked sly at her face, her face started to turn pink.

"Well I'm glad you secured a job," He mumbled and wrote the tests and prescriptions.

"Mister Cummings you'll be signing up for a rehabilitation and you require, carbs, rest, iron and calcium supplements," He pinned his pen down.

"I'll figure it out," He ruffled the hair at his nape.

"Mister Cummings, there's absolutely nothing to figure out and there's nothing a good diet can't solve,"

Edward's hand clenched on the bedsheet.

"Good to see you, Odie," Derek said in her earshot. "We have a lot to talk about,"

She smiled nervously when he pecked her on the cheek and left.

"That's your father?" Edward asked hoarsely with a dry look.

She nodded "Yeah, you see there's a family resemblance,"

He chuckled and she sat down. Edward found her repugnant, he was having mixed feelings, he found himself drawn to Lawrence. "Yeah,"

"Alright, dinner time,"

He stiffened "Uh no, I don't want any hospital food,"

"It's a private hospital, you don't expect all the packages to be poisoned_"

He looked alarmed at that.

"No, no, Mister Cummings_"

"I'm not taking anything that comes through that door unless_" His eyes lowered like a child

"You'd really risk someone's life to be safe won't you?," She said when he glared at her.

"It's not worth the risk if you're hurting yourself more," She shrugged.

"I got it," He said.

"There must be a reason why,"

"What would it prove?" His voice was hoarse.

"Is it so hard to believe? Maybe you have food allergies or_"

He scoffed. "You don't know a damn thing, don't be presumptuous,"

"I wouldn't know if it doesn't come from the source,"

Odetta looked delighted, he was starting to act like a real baby. "Then tell me,"