Chapter Fifteen: Surprise Packed 

Thane’s POV

“What's wrong, Dr. Cain?”

My anxiety hits the rooftop when I watch the gloomy expression on his face intensifies.

Is something wrong with my child?

After the episode of last night, Avery is now in the hospital with me, before I will leave for the office, and Rufus can drive her back.

“Can you at least say something?”

I demand, already losing my cool. Dr. Cain removes his stethoscope from his ears and hangs it around his neck.

“We can talk in your office if you want.” I urge him, thinking he's maybe scared of saying it before Avery who's wide-eyed and scared.

What is she expecting when she throws caution to the wind because of her emotions? If I hadn't caught her on time, just maybe we'd be planning a funeral.

“I want to hear it.” She sits up, her pretty eyes wet with tears. “Please, doctor, I promise that I can handle it.” She pleads.

Only now did Dr. Cain smile. Is he playing a prank with us, could he just cut to the chase?

“Well, I don't have all day, doctor.” I flip my watch to look at the time and make a rough calculation of my activities.

“It's not something serious… not so serious.” he corrects himself, seeing that I'm not all cut out for it.

“Okay?” I urge him to keep going.

“I'm just wondering what could have led to the bruises,” He asks, curious.

I look from him to Avery, waiting for her to speak up. I won't have anyone think of me as a weakling to stoop so low and raise my hands on a woman, worst still, the one carrying my child.

"She may not be lucky next time to not go down with complications.” He finishes.

“Doctor, it's a mistake, one that will never happen again.” My voice is cold, and I bet she understands the message.

“If that is all, we need to start going back, I'm late,” I speak up. “Write a prescription and send me the bills.”

“About that,” he looks at Avery. “She needs bed rest, even if it's for a couple of hours.”

“I can't afford that.” I sigh softly.

“You have to try.” He persuades me further. “For the sake of the baby, she needs to relax more.”

“Not like she's saddled with house chores, anyway.” Again, I sigh, this time, a bit louder. “I'll be on my way, please, keep an eye on her, and let me know when she's ready to be discharged.”

I subtly dish out instructions before leaving her ward and then the hospital.

Rufus is standing by the car, waiting for directives as usual. When he sees me, he stands upright and opens the door to the back seat. He gets in after me and resumes driving me to work.

“Sir, how about ma'am Avery?” He asks innocently.

The initial plan was for him to take her home after driving me to work. Now that she isn't anywhere beside me, it's a minor source of concern.

“You'll get her later,” I say, running through my tabs. “Doctor Caij will inform me, and I will let you know.”

“Alright, sir.”

He nods and keeps driving.

Instead of sending Rufus earlier than expected, I figured that he could help me run errands while we wait on Dr. Cain. I've got a few places to be at today, and business proposals to pitch. I need Rufus to help chauffeur me around town.

Shaking my mind off how to insert Avery into my busy schedule, presume working on my tablet, going through a series of emails, and responding to them.

Not so long, we arrive at my company, standing tall and elegant amid other buildings. The ambiance is top-notch, just as the services we provide. Carter’s company is more about extracting raw materials for big company's start-up production.

Walking through the lobby, the receptionist is attending to a few clients, she barely mumbles a greeting, so does a few of the clients, and she resumes her work.

“Good morning sir,” Williams, my personal assistant says, holding a folder in his hands. He takes my briefcase from my hand and doubles his pace to keep up with my fast ones.

“You have a conference meeting in exactly fifteen minutes, a site investigation…”

He hurriedly gives a swift breakdown of my schedule and I just pay attention.

“Get me my coffee.”

It usually, kick-starts my day and literally fuels me, so I don't go a day without it. Call it an addiction, it's not a bother.

He opens my office door and waits for me to walk through before he comes from behind and sets my bag on the desk, next to my picture with Aunty Lena and me. It was on my eighteenth birthday, and I had newly lost my parents. She stepped in, taking the role of my parents and best friend. Owing her my gratitude, I had to fulfill her only wish, give her a godson.

“Here, sir.” Williams distracts me from my current state. He sets my coffee mug on the saucer and then pushes it across the large mahogany desk to me.

I sip from it, getting into character. “Take my gadgets to the conference room and set up the place.”

“Alright, sir.”

Following my instructions, he leaves me alone and I go over my presentation for the day. It's nothing special, just a keeping-up meeting with our long-term investors.

Half through with the coffee, I walk to the meeting to get through with it. When the board members see me entering, they cease the side talks and greet me before we proceed.

The meeting takes about an hour of us sharing our ideas and suggestions. As expected, it turns out fine, and they leave the room after exchanging pleasantries. I pick up my phone to check my email again, expecting a message from a potential client.

“Sir, Mr. Smith is here to see you, he's in the lobby,” Williams informs me. “He said there was no prior appointment, but it's urgent.”

Mr. Smith?

Oh! Lily’s father. Why didn't he make it virtual? That would have been more convenient for him.

“Tell him I'll be with him shortly.” I dismiss Williams.

“Okay, sir.” he gathers my gadgets, except my phone, and leaves with my directive.

Standing up to leave, my phone buzzes on the table.

It's Dr. Cain.

I suppose Avery is ready to go home, earlier than expected. After this, I'll have Rufus go over to pick her up.

Picking my phone up, I tap on the sensor on my ear pod and answer it, walking out of the room to attend to Mr. Smith.

“Doctor?”

“Mr. Thane, we have a problem.”