A Deal With The Billionaire

EPISODE TWENTY SEVEN

THEME: The Perfect Pretense

CONNECTICUT, UNITED STATE OF AMERICA

HARTFORD MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

“Really Ben, do you think it is right for me to go into an hospital as crowded as this one without a disguise?” Christopher questioned as he looked out of the car window. They just arrived at the hospital and he was trying to park his car properly.

“Good Lord man! As anyone ever told you how obsessed you are about yourself? You want to hide your identity? Then put on a goddamn shade. Moreover, this is a hospital so do you think anyone would be in a good mood of taking note of the son of James Crawford and soon to be chief executive officer of Crawford Corporation? Stop playing my friend. This place is full of bunch of people battling with all sorts of ailments so I doubt any reporter would be lurking around for a story about you in here.” Benjamin taunted without missing a beat.

He was at least glad that he could get on his friend’s nerves so much in one day. Well he was also going to make Christopher pay for disrupting his work schedule and ruining his day.

“Perhaps is this revenge, Benjamin Williams?” Christopher demanded as if he had read his friend’s mind. “You have been so savage all morning. Do you want to hear me say sorry?”

Thinking for a moment. Hearing the mighty Christopher Crawford apologizing would be a great deal.

Benjamin cleared his throat. “Well you admitting you are wrong and insensitive to my needs might help me think of a more civil way to deal with you rather than being a savage.” He uttered and waited for his friend to admit to his wrong doings.

Gently Christopher picked up a dark shade from the safe. He pressed the car button and stepped out of the car. “In your dreams my dear friend. In your fucking dreams, Benjamin Williams!”

Looking perplexed, Benjamin got out of the car in a hurry. “You cunning bastard! I should have known you would rather choke to death than plead for your offense.” Benjamin spat but not sounding in the list of being offended.

Christopher cracked a sly smirk glad that he had stabbed his friend’s back for acting so cheesy with him.

Walking side by side, Benjamin and Christopher walked into the hospital. They confirmed the intensive care unit direction from the nurse at the reception desk before making their way to find it.

When they got to the intensive care unit, they saw two nurses and a doctor wheeling a little boy out on a stretcher and out of the ward with someone who looked like the older version of Raven and Raven herself tiptoeing after the medical team.

“Be rest assured that your boy will be fine.” The man in green scrubs who was obviously the doctor in charge assured both women.

“Ensure you keep your promise.” Christopher’s voice boomed through the hallway startling Eva but most especially Raven.

She turned to see him standing close to Benjamin. She wasn’t expecting to see him in the hospital at all.

Seeing they have been distracted, the doctor nodded to the nurses to move the little boy to the operating room.

“And make sure the surgery is a success.” He stated.

The doctor exchanged glances with both women. He acknowledged Christopher’s words with a short nod before walking away.

Raven began to panic on seeing Christopher and Benjamin. She walked towards them in a hurry.

“What in the world are you doing here?” She queried, eyeing both men suspiciously. She wanted to yell at them but her words only came out in a tight whisper.

She faced Benjamin with her eyes questioning him. She knew he was the one who had brought her fake husband to the hospital since Christopher has no idea of the name not to talk of knowing the location. Plus the first thing Benjamin had done this morning was to check up on Raven and asked about Rowan’s condition. She had given out the name of the hospital and even the address since he hoped to visit them whenever he was less busy at work.

Christopher removed his shade. He looked around with unbothered expression on his face. “I came back to check for certain if you are who you claim to be and be sure that you haven’t eloped with my money!” He whispered and his words earned some gasps from different lips.

One came out from Benjamin. He was shocked by the turn of event on how Christopher made it sound like he wasn’t a bit sorry for Raven’s situation. He doesn’t care that her son was hanging between life and death?

Raven let out a gasp at his extreme rudeness and uncouth behavior. What does he take her for? Why would she need to lie about her son’s illness just to get money from a total stranger?!

Raven was annoyed by his insensitivity and she couldn’t stand this man.

“You are such a-”

“Who are these young men, Raven?”

Raven was about to say a curse word when her mother interrupted her. Her heart skipped on hearing her mother’s voice behind her. She never had the intention of introducing her fake fiancé and his friend to her mother on the same day her son was having his surgical removal done.

The drama from the other day was enough to last any sane mind for a whole week to brood on.

Raven glared furiously at both men most especially Christopher Crawford. The man was annoying as hell! And just as she attempted to say something, Christopher pulled up the most charming smile for Eva as he locked gaze with her.

“Hello there… ma’am.” Quickly he pulled Raven to his side for a tight hug. “I am Christopher Crawford, Raven’s fiancé.” He pointed at the other human next to him. “And here with me is my best friend, Benjamin Williams.” This time he let go of Raven while she switched to her mother’s side.

“Oh!” Eva mouthed as she held out her hand to shake him. “Oh my goodness! You are the one who proposed to my daughter.” It sounded dumb and unusual of Eva McKenna because she was surprised.

“Yes ma’am.” Christopher shook hands with her.

“It is so good to see you. Thank you so much for loving my daughter. She told me of how you cleared my grandson’s medical bills. Thank you so much. I am really grateful. Raven and I already agreed that you should come see me so I am glad you made an effort to honor me.” She smiled happily.

“It is nice to meet you ma’am. I have heard a whole lot about you from her. And I must admit that you raised her well.” Christopher grinned widely causing a stern look from Raven who also raised her eyebrows and muttered internally. “Really? As if he ever cared to know about me.”

Eva got a closer look at Benjamin. “You look a bit… familiar.” She pondered, trying to remember where she had seen his face.

“Mom, it has been very long but Benjamin used to be my friend when I worked at-”

“Rock high bar!” Eva completed.

Raven nodded her head in agreement. “Yes.”

“I have seen your face on magazines too but I never got the chance to thank you for caring about my daughter. Good to see you, Benjamin.” Eva extended her hand towards Benjamin and later hugged both men.

“Thanks for your support!” Eva said to Christopher.

Raven scoffed in annoyance. She didn’t want to deal with any sort of drama as it is today.

“And you do not need to worry about anything ma’am.” Christopher replied.

Eva waved him off with a bright smile on her face. “Please call me Eva. Referring to me as ma’am makes me feel really old.” She laughed lightly.

“Alright… Eva.” Christopher corrected himself. He tried to buy her trust with a sweet smile. “Be rest assured that our little boy will be fine. He is strong according to his mother’s description of him. I am certain he would pull through.”

“Thank you so much. It has been so hard and I have to admit it. I didn’t…”

“We should talk.” Not letting her finish her intended words, Christopher held her hand and guided her to a lone bench in the long hallway.

They both settled down and began to talk things out like they have been friends for ages.

Benjamin and Raven exchanged glances for a split second before they both turned to watch Christopher and Eva in awe.

“What’s going on right now? Is this a coup in sight?” Raven asked still looking shocked.

“I can’t seem to comprehend what is unfolding right before my sight. I could have sworn that pretense was something Christopher will fail at but this is beyond me.” Benjamin responded.