Chapter 12: just a stomach ache

I arrive at home at 7pm and as usual Scar is still overseas. I place the paper bag on our table and change my clothes to sweats and tshirt.

After changing my clothes I open the paper bag and there is a lock and lock with spaghetti and meatballs that is almost as big as my fist . It has some leaves on top. I Don't know if it is edible. It is still warm. On the other tupperware there is a fried chicken and a garlic bread and on the last container there is a salad.

I don't know what to say. I have a mixed feeling. I am happy at the same time scared. I don't want to give meaning on his actions but I can't help it.

I bring the food on to the coffee table and sit on the couch. It so much better to eat in front of the TV if you ask me. I tried first the pasta. In one bite I know that this is the taste that I've been looking for. Not to sweet and not to sour. Just right. This food is made by a 5 star restaurant chef I bet.

All the food are consumed in 30min. I know that amount of food can feed 2 to 3 people but damn it is delicious. I can't even share.

I am so immersed in eating all the food that I didn't even know what am I watching. Nevermind. I packed up and wash all the dishes and went to my bedroom to sleep.

I am the type wherein if my stomach is full I feel sleepy and that what I am doing. I am going to sleep.

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I woke up at 6am and prepare myself to go to work. I wear my Glee Tshirt today with Rachel and Fin printed on the front(#FinChelForLife).

I am feeling under the weather today. Maybe because I overfeed last night and I went to sleep right after.

At 7am the subway is full but I squeeze myself in between these people so that I can ride the train. I feel a little bit dizzy but that's because the train is full.

I arrive at the office at 7:30am. I waved to all the guards as usual and made my way to the 15th floor. I started to sort all the documents that I left yesterday. When suddenly I have an abdominal pain. I doubled over to my knees becuse the pain is unexpected. I take a deep breath and counted to 10 to distract myself from the pain. After 5 min the pain dulls and I stand up. I open my bag and take a pain reliever and buscopan. I prayed that this medicines will relieve the pain for a while.

At lunch I went to the cafeteria and eat a clubhouse sandwich and drink a bottled water. Mark asked me why am I quiet and I look a little pale and I just told him that I am not feeling well.

The food is not helping. It makes me more nauseous.

Eric suggested that I should go home if I am not really feeling well and I told him I can finish my work until 3pm then I'll go home.

At 3pm I finish the things that I can finish and went home. I take a cab because I can not endure on walking and standing for a long time. I thank the cab driver and went up to our floor. I lie on my bed and not even bothering to change my clothes with ID and all. I take another buscopan , maybe this a pre menstrual symptoms but this is the first time I am experiencing this. This medicine makes me drowsy so I sleep off the pain.

Suddenly I felt An excruciating and stabbing pain on my stomach radiating on my side. It is really painful and I can feel that I have a fever already because I am sweating but at the same time I feel like it is winter because I am shivering. The pain is not diminishing at all. I don't think that this is a just a normal stomachache. I grab my bedside phone and dial the most familiar number that I am using since I am a child.

"911. What's your emergency?"

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I look at the clock and it is already 5pm. No sign of Ella. I know that she has a due document to deliver I made sure of it.

Maybe she is avoiding me again like the last time. I need another strategy if she keeps evading my moves. I did not know that liking someone took a lot of work and effort. I am not the one who is chasing usually other girls are flocking around me but in this case I am the predator and Ella is my prey.

I accept that she is not coming today and just continue my pending work.

At 7pm my cellphone rings and it is an unknown number. I answered it because only important people know my personal number.

"Hello is this a relative of Miss Ella Hernandez?"

I freeze for a moment. Why are they asking about Ella? My heart is pounding right now.

"Yes. I am. What happened to her? And who's this"

"This is from Mount Sinai Hospital. Ms. Hernandez was rushed here from her home 5min ago due to severe abdominal pain. Can you please come here?"

I can not think straight anymore

As I am listening to the caller I am grabbing my coat and ride the elevator to the garage. All I understand that it is an emergency and Ella is in the hospital.

Thank God my driver already turned on the car and speed through the traffic of New York to reach the hospital in 10 minutes.

I rush through the throng of people that is littered inside the hospital and approach the reception desk.

"I am looking for Miss Ella Hernandez that is rushed here 15min ago due to abdominal pain."

"Are you a relative?"the receptionist asked.

"Yes. I am her Fiance." well not now but soon.

"Please go to room number 25 on the 1st floor"

"Thank you."

I found room 25 at the end of the hallway. As I knock, the door opened and a nurse and a doctor went out of the room.

"Are you a relative of Ms. Hernandez?"

The doctor asked me.

"Yes I am her fiance."

The doctor reached out to shake my hand

"I am Dr. Smith and I am in charge of your fiance Mr?"

"Nice to meet you doctor I am James Rosen-Hower her fiance."

"I think I heard that name before but I don't know where"

I bet you did. I mutter

" What happened to Ella?" There is no time for chit chat I want him to discuss the condition of Ella.

He guides me inside the room and I am not prepared on what I am gonna see.

Ella is in a single bed. She is hooked on an IV and she looks pale and small. She is sleeping right now and I can see that she is sweating profusely. I walk beside her bed and caress her face. She is in distress. I can tell even if she is sleeping. For the first time my heart breaks from seeing her like this.

"Ms. Ella was rushed here 20 minutes ago with a complain of severe abdominal pain. I suspect that she is in pain for a while now and just enduring it because when I assess her she has a board-like abdomen which is a sign that a patient needs a surgery. Her ultrasound is done and her result just like I expected is appendicitis. And there is a bigger chance that her appendix is perforated already. We give her nalbuphine to ease the pain but it will wear off any moment. You are just in time. I need your permission rather consent for her surgery since you are the closest relative."

As the doctor explained what happened to her I am still caressing her face. I look at Ella once more and look at the doctor.

"Perform the surgery and if there is anything you need tell me."

The nurse gave me the consent paper and I signed it.

They transfer Ella immediately to the Operating room.

I sit in front of the OR theater and rewind all the doctor has said to me. As I recall he told me that she is in pain for most of the day and she just endures it. I know that she is in the office today and maybe that time she is already in pain. No one notice that she is sick?

My poor Ella that's why she did not go to my office this afternoon. Where is her roommate? I know that she is living with someone. If her roommate is present maybe this will be prevented.

Ella is in surgery for 10min now. I can not just sit here and do nothing. I took out my business phone and call the director of this hospital.

"McBride. This is Rosen-Hower. I am here at sinai my fiance is admitted. I want you to transfer her to the VIP room after her surgery. I want you and your whole staff to treat her with the outmost care you can provide. If I hear any complain from my fiance you'll find yourself looking for another investor. Am I clear? Good"

Next I need to clear my schedule. I call my secretary that Ella thinks does not exist.

"Scott. Clear my schedule for the next 2 to 4 weeks. I need to take care of my fiance. Yes I have a fiance. No. I don't care if I have a meeting in Australia next week. Reschedule. If they do not agree cancel the meeting. My fiance is much more important than the hundred million dollar deal in Australia. update me if anything happens in the company."

Schedule clear. I need the things that Ella might need after her surgery. I call Ben my driver and ask him to get some clothes for Ella and take his wife with him so she can buy the underwear for Ella.

Now, all the things are arrange I can finally focus on taking care of Ella.

She will have the time of her life. I'll make sure of it.