Chapter 5
The next morning, Helen showed up on the third floor with Emily tagging along and went to my mom's room.
Emily was wearing a light pink cardigan and fuzzy slippers, looking lively and refreshed.
Helen hooked her arm through Emily's, carrying a thermos in her other hand.
They pushed open the door to Room 308.
I was sitting by my mom's bed, checking the progress of the stock transfer on my phone.
"Victoria," Helen said, sounding a little more polite than yesterday. "I brought Emily to see your mom."
My mom glanced at Emily, not knowing who she was, but still nodded politely. "You really didn't have to go to all this trouble."
Emily walked over with a smile and set the thermos on the bedside table. "Hello, Mrs. Summers. I'm Emily, a friend of Michael's. I heard you weren't feeling well, so I made you some soup."
"Oh, you're too kind," my mom said with a smile. "You're such a pretty girl."
Emily's smile got sweeter after the compliment, and she shot me a sideways look.
It was a split-second glance, but I got the message.
It was a flex, as if she were saying, "Your mom already likes me. What are you going to do about it?"
Helen chimed in, "Emily's so thoughtful. She's good at everything. Too bad her body's not cooperating. She's stuck in the hospital, too."
She paused, glanced around at the six beds in the room, and pulled a face, looking totally disgusted. "Isn't your mom's room a bit cramped?
"Six beds crammed into one room? How's anyone supposed to get better like this? But that's the way it goes in a regular ward; nothing you can do."
My mom smiled and said, "It's fine. I've gotten used to it."
She had no idea that the sunny, private VIP room she used to stay in was now taken over by this thoughtful girl standing right in front of her.
Emily sat quietly next to my mom for a while, looking all sweet and innocent.
But right before she left, as she passed by me, she leaned in and whispered something. "Victoria, Michael said you've been really stressed lately. He wanted me to tell you to stop overthinking.
"He said that when you get mad, you tune everything out. Honestly, you should try to understand him a bit more. He's got it tough."
I didn't look at her. "That bed you're in was my mom's."
"No, that's the hospital's bed," she said gently, correcting me. "Dr. Barnes arranged it."
Helen turned around. "Victoria, can you let this go? Your mom already said she's fine, and you're fussing more than she is.
"Michael already said he'll move your mom back in a week. Can't you wait?"
She grabbed Emily and walked her out of the room.
The door to Room 308 clicked shut behind them.
My mom glanced at the thermos and said, "That girl's really nice."
I didn't say anything.
*****
Four days passed after the promised week.
My mom's blood pressure kept dropping.
Oliver pulled me aside for a private talk. "Ms. Chase, your mom's condition is getting worse faster than I expected.
"The domestic meds aren't as effective as the imported ones, like I told you before.
"If we can't get her back on the imported meds and move her to the ICU for monitoring this week, I really don't think we should wait any longer."
"What will happen?" I asked.
He didn't say it outright. "I think you should be prepared for the worst."
Those words hit me like a ton of bricks.
I walked out of the doctor's office and called Michael. "It's been a week."
"What?" he answered, the background noise of a restaurant drowning out his voice.
"You said you'd get my mom's bed back in a week. It's already been four days."
"Victoria, I'm out right now. Let's talk later."
"My mom can't wait for later. Oliver said if we don't get her back on the meds and into the special care ward, things could get really bad."
He was silent for a few seconds, then said, "Well, Emily's still not stable. Wait a few more days."
"A few days? Last time you said a week; now it's a few days?" I shot back.
"Can you stop pushing me?" Michael's tone changed. "You think your mom's the only patient here? Emily's sick too. Have you ever tried to see things from her side?"
I hung up the phone.
Ten minutes later, Michael sent me a message. [Stop fussing. I've already talked to Dr. Barnes. Your mom will definitely be moved back next Monday.]
There were three days left until next Monday.
Oliver said his mother had to move into the ICU ward this week.
Another message popped up. [Victoria, why do you keep making decisions on your own? I'm the one in charge here. I'll take care of your mom, so stop poking around.
[Dr. Barnes said you went up to the fifth floor today? Don't go there again.]
I put my phone down, feeling frustrated.
Just then, Ethan's call came through.
"Ms. Chase, I've got all three minority shareholders on board. Two are signing today. The last one tomorrow morning," Ethan said.
"What about the convertible bonds?" I asked.
"Signing's tomorrow afternoon. Funds will be processed the day after. Once everything's done, you'll have 52% of Healthwell Medical Center," Ethan replied.
52% meant total control.
"How long does the business registration change take after signing?" I asked.
"If we rush it, two days," Ethan replied.
"Tell the lawyers to prep everything tonight. The day after tomorrow, I want the signed acquisition agreement in my hands."
"It's not a full acquisition; it's 52%."
"Not enough. I want Richard's 38% too."
"You think he'll sell?"
"He doesn't know who's buying yet. Use MedCore Group's investment company to approach him. Tell him someone's willing to pay 40% above market for all his shares."
"He won't agree. He's the founder."
"He will," I said. "I've checked his finances. Healthwell Medical Center only has 2.6 million dollars in working capital left, and they still owe suppliers for last month's equipment maintenance. He's more desperate for cash than anyone."
"Understood. I'll get it set up tonight," Ethan said.
"Ethan."
"Yes, I'm here."
"By the day after tomorrow, this hospital needs to be mine."