Months
The fifty designs that Natsu asked was finished. I spent sleepless and restless nights to just finish those that's why I got sick on the day of my presentation.
"Aries, can you feed Beau? I have a flu, I don't want him to catch it too..." I said while eating a porridge.
My head hurts. I was forced to take a nap before I got ready because of my dizziness. I hoped to ease the pain by sleeping but it just got worse when I woke up.
I don't know who to call. Virgo is busy. Sting is at work. Loke is at work.
"Hello, Lev," my phone's on loudspeakers as I fix my attire.
"Lu, oh, you called?"
"Lev, are you free later?"
"Of course. Why? What happened?"
"I still need to go to the companies after my presentation. I might go to the hospital later in the afternoon. Can you please drop by here and visit Beau?"
"Why would you go to the hospital? Of course! I'll bring Cana. What happened?"
"I've been sick for two days now. I need to have myself checked later"
"Oh! Sure! God Lu, you really need to get checked! Bring Sting... You should've just cancelled your presentation, Lu. Gosh!" was Levy's hysterical lintany.
"I'm still fine, Lev. I can still do it. Thank you, Lev. Sorry for the hassle..." I said.
"It's not a hassle, you! Just... take care. Text me if you need something. If you want, I'll go with you later to the hospital and we'll leave Beau with Cana..."
The thought horrified me so I quickly refused, "No..." Who knows what Cana would teach my poor son? "I can do it alone... Thanks, Lev..."
"No problem. Call when you need, okay?"
I dropped the call. The result of my state now is my tardiness on my presentation. I got stuck on traffic since I left my condo later than usual. My pumps almost gave up because of my fast paced walk towards the conference room.
"They've been waiting for you for a while now..." the secretary who greeted me said.
"Sorry, I'm late," I quickly said.
The secretary opened the doors for me and I was shocked that there are many men inside than the previous meeting. There were at least thirteen of them. One is an architect, the two are interior designers, there are even three clients and seven board members.
"Thanks for wasting our time, Lucy," was Natsu's greeting.
"I-I'm sorry, I'm late... Traffic..." it was the only thing I could say.
I feel like my cheeks went cold. Maybe all the blood left my face.
"Here are the sample boards," I quickly said while giving them the clearbooks.
I opened my laptop to start while they opened the clearbook to check my designs.
"I'm fine with the designs. This is amazing, Lucy, you did it despite the limited time," Mr. Yajima praised.
"Thank you, sir," I said, flattered.
I opened my presentation. Dizziness hit me so I sat down for a while. The client of the loft of the last floor of tower one called for my attention.
"I like your designs. I want some tweaks for my unit. Can I hire you as my designer too?" Byro Cracy asked.
Natsu turned to the famous rockstar upon hearing it. Byro's mucles tightened when he crossed his arms.
"Sure! I... actually set up a meeting so we can talk about your unit. It's set with your personal assistant. You can ask him," I smiled and turned my attention back to my presentation.
"Did you contact the companies of the furniture you used in your designs?" Natsu asked.
"Yes... Hmmm. I'm also waiting for your approval before contacting them again to finalise everything."
"Design number sixteen is for teenagers. It's too pink. Didn't we talk about this already?" Natsu raised an eyebrow.
My patience for him is wearing thin. He's been throwing sarcastic remarks since I got here. Why does he need to do this to me?
"Some girls like that. I would personally think about that when I choose the design of my home. It's just one of the seventy designs you want. Two girly and childish designs won't hurt all the units. And when it's launched, we can still add some designs, right? I just did all the fifty for the launching," I said.
My world shook so I closed my eyes tight for a while.
"Our clients are classy and most of the time older than you, Lucy. We need to think about our clients."
I opened my eyes, "I am thinking about your clients. I am thinking about the possibilities of having a girly teenager, daughter of some tycoon, and she will need to deal with the only design I have for her. That's why I made two designs to at least give her some options..."
My hands trembled and became cold. My vision is spinning again. I can't focus my eyes on anything anymore. Damn it! Not here and not now! I have some work to do!
"Fine." Natsu said, "Continue..."
I sat the entire time I'm giving a run through about the fifty new designs I made. I also mentioned the manufacturer of the furnitures, where to get the materials, and why I chose each design for the units.
All my energy got used when I finished explaining everything for three hours. Natsu made it his hobby to question me and give remarks to annoy me. It was a shock that I managed to answer him despite my spinning vision.
I stood up when they clapped their hands. Natsu just closed the clearbook, he didn't even look at me.
I shook hands with the satisfied clients and the businessmen present. Since this is the last meeting, the other designers and the architect would present too. They stood up to replace me in front.
My body's cold sweating and I feel my temperature raised. I fixed my things and was about to sit at the back when my sight blackened and I felt my body fall.
I slowly opened my eyes to a familiar place. The ceiling is white and the smell is too familiar to my nose. I stayed in a hospital for weeks because I got shot. I stayed in a hospital for a week when I gave birth to Beau. I don't need to roam my eyes to know that I'm in a hospital again.
"Don't move too much..." Natsu's baritone voice filled my system.
Shit! The last thing I remember was me feeling dizzy. Was he the one who brought me here?
I looked for him and saw that he's standing beside my feet. His white long sleeves is folded 'till his elbows. The black suit he was wearing when we were in the conference room is nowhere to be found.
I sat up despite the pain in my head.
"I said, don't move. You're really hard headed..." he said.
I clenched my jaw at what he said, "How many hours have I been here? I have to go to some companies to confirm the furniture." I rested my head on my palm.
Natsu took a step towards me. I panicked at his sudden movement. My pulse is racing with every beat like my traitor heart wants to burst. I didn't look at him.
"Can't you do that tomorrow?" he asked in a quiet but irritated voice.
"I have limited time. I have four days 'till your launching. I still have thirty companies to visit. I can't waste my time... right?" I raised an eyebrow at him.
He smirked, "Give me the list of the companies you have to visit. I will call them," he said with authority.
"That's my work. I will do it."
"Give me the damn list, Lucy..." he said in a hushed voice but laced with finality.
That just irritated me more. I have many questions for him and I don't understand why he's forcing me when it comes to this.
"Why? What for? I don't want to owe you something! I don't need you for anything! Why were you the one who brought me here? Why didn't you just order someone to do it? I know you don't like me... you don't like me in this project that's why you're giving me a hard time, Natsu. But what for and why are you doing all these? Can't we be cool and move on?" I harshly shouted at him.
I saw how he got shocked with my sudden outburst. He slowly calmed down without replying. I don't know what he's thinking. Maybe he's cool. Maybe I'm imagining things. Maybe I'm the one who cant move on.
He didn't give me a hard time, it's part of his work. He needs to examine thoroughly every detail of my design so their billions of dimes spent on their project wouldn't go to waste. He brought me here because I fainted. I don't need to add colours to that fact.
I stood up but the pain and dizziness quickly took effect so I need to sit down again. He went to the intercom to call for a nurse. He looked at me with his clenched jaw.
"Who should I call? Your brother or you husband?" He asked in a cold voice. He really believes that Sting is my husband.
"I'll call Sting myself..." I said.
Someone knocked on the door. Natsu nodded at me before turning his back. I don't know where he's headed but he made his way out when the female nurse went inside the room.
"Sir, what happened?" the nurse asked him before he stepped his foot outside my room.
"She's awake and still a little light headed. Check on her. Call your doctor. Her family will be here within an hour."
"Oh! Okay, Sir..." the nurse said while looking at me.
Natsu successfully left and I didn't know where he's going. I don't know if I should be relieved or not.
"Ma'am, please relax, okay? I'll just get your blood pressure..." the nurse said in a soothing voice. I nodded and calmed myself. I let her attach the apparatus on my arm.
"Ma'am, isn't that Natsu Dragneel?" the nurse asked me.
I was looking for my phone but paused because of her question.
"Yup." That man is really famous. Of course, when you're a blayboy billionaire, everyone will know you.
"So his Restraining Order against you isn't effective anymore?" she asked while fixing the apparatus.
I nodded again and relaxed myself for her accurate results. The nurse went to the intercom to call for a doctor after finishing what she's doing. She took a swab and a needle. I think she'll get a blood sample.
"Miss, I think it's just a flu," I said.
"Mr. Dragneel wants you checked thoroughly. I will also need your stool sample and urine, ma'am."
I bit my lip. I don't know what to feel with what Natsu is doing.
"I really think that Mr. Dragneel still has RO against you. My sister is one of the head nurse who took care of you when you got shot. She told me Mr. Dragneel got shot too, your injury is just worse than his. While in the hospital, he got arrested because you or your family filed multiple frustrated murder, right? I'm sorry for being so nosy, Miss, I'm just really shocked."
I didn't know what to say. I don't like that there are many people who know about my life but that can't be avoided. I know a case was filed for Natsu but I didn't know the details.
"How did you know?" I asked with confused expression.
"It's all over the news that week. My sister also told me. He got jailed, right? I really thought that he wouldn't be able to get out of jail because of the strong evidence against him. His men were the one who fired after all. And he also joined the shooting..."
My jaw dropped? He got convicted? Memories of what happened three years ago quickly flooded my insides. I've never thought of that!
"That's impossible! He would've bailed himself out if he got arrested!" I insisted.
The nurse with Aguria written on her nameplate got shocked with my reaction. Maybe she didn't expect that I'm clueless with the whole story.
"I'm not sure but I heard the evidence was really strong. The men were using the name of their company... I don't know the other details," the nurse said.
"For how many days did he got jailed?" I asked.
She shook her head again. I feel like she's really guilty for telling me about those, "Sorry, Miss, I really don't know."
She fixed her things. Tears formed in my eyes while I'm staring at the nurse. I bit my lip.
"Miss, please tell me, For how many days did was he jailed?" my voice cracked.
She quickly shook her head again, "I don't really know, Miss. The doctor is on her way to check you. Excuse me, Miss..." she said before turning her back.
I was absentminded and couldn't breathe properly when I was left alone. I thought about everything that has happened along with my newly found information about what happened with Natsu.
While I'm recovering, he's there inside the jail while badly injured too. Did he try to find me? He probably did? I don't know anymore. Drakes was a wreck that time, how would he find me? He couldn't bail his way out because the evidences were strong or what? I don't know anymore!
I couldn't speak while the doctor was checking me. I was given a temporary medicine. The doctor said that the nurse would come here every now and then to check on me
I wanted to stand up and go home but my body refused. I still can't believe everything that the nurse said earlier. I noted to ask Sting, Levy and Cana, daddy, Loke and even Virgo. I slept with many things in my mind.
I woke up to hushed voices inside my room.
"If she'll stay here tonight, I will check on Beau..." I heard Virgo's voice.
"You stay with your sister, I will check on Beau," Sting told Virgo.
I opened my eyes and saw the two who are arguing about that.
"I'll stay in the condo with Aries. You'll stay here, I know you're a frequent visitor of this hospital anyway," I cannot understand what Virgo means by that. She stopped when she noticed me awake. Her amused eyes quickly became relieved as she walked to me.
"Are you okay, Lucy?" She quickly asked, "You fainted?"
"Natsu called me to check on you. Is he the one who brought you here?" Sting butted in while also walking closer to me. I was really tired while looking at them both. I wanted to go home. I wanted to hug my son. I wanted to kiss Beau.
"How many days was Natsu jailed three years ago?" I suddenly asked.
I saw his eyes widened at my question. The corner of my eyes heated again. Everytime I think about those times, I think he deserved that. I would understand dad, Virgo, Loke, or Sting for doing that... for the case... for blaming him. Because I myself also blamed him during that time.
I just really want to know. I just really want to know this part.
"He got out when the... court allowed him to bail."
"So... he wasn't allowed to bail?" My voice trembled, "How many days?"
"I don't know," Sting said, "I can't remember..."
I turned my eyes to Virgo. She shook her head, "I don't remember, Lucy. But... those weren't just days. Those are months..."
My jaw dropped upon hearing that. My tears fell. I feel like my lips would bleed because of my bites to suppress my feeling and emotion. The pain I'm feeling for him right now is a lot worse than the pain I felt when I got shot.