"Apparently the poison you took in had to have been taken into your system at least two or three months ago for it to show any symptom" Robert said.

"So it couldn't have been her" Anton said while looking at Mia.

"Well that's what the doctor said, so I guess so"

Robert didn't trust her for all he knew. His instincts kept telling him that she wasn't trustworthy.
On the other hand, Anton was really happy that it wasn't Mia, she didn't poison him; she didn't. But the smile on his face died down when he looked at it from the other angle.

So far, he had only had two chefs: Chef Bono and Chef Natasha and Ralph. Mia and Ralph had been employed for almost two months, so if the poison was in his system for more than two months, it only meant one thing but he didn't want to believe it.

"So the only person they comes to mind is..."

"Don't say it" Anton interrupted Robert whilst getting up.

"You don't have any proof so don't point fingers" he was anxious and troubled right now than anything else, because he knew what Robert was getting at.

******      *******       *******

Mr Jones stood by the window in his room, right hand in his pocket and left hand with a cigarette. He was in thought of what to do next.

His mind flashed back to the news Tony had given him two days ago. He was with the most injury from the drill with Mia, and was in the hospital for two days.

"Sir" he bowed "I have news on Mr Hugh"

"Speak"

"In my stay at the hospital, I figured out that Mr Hugh was also in the hospital"

"What? Why?" Jones asked excitedly.

"Though it was top secret, I managed to take a look at his medical documents..."

"And...?" He interrupted impatiently, already thrown his cigarette butt in the ashtray. He was now sitting up, face propped forward in anticipation.

"It stated that he was poisoned. I think it has to do with the task you gave Mr Bono"

He rested his back on the chair in contentment, an ugly evil smirk was rested on his lips as he spoke;

"My darling Bono did it"

"I don't think so sir. Mr Hugh was discharged today which means he's still alive"

On hearing that, his smirk faded and his facial expression could be read as anxiousness and anger. He had put in a lot for this plan but it still fell through.

'If only Bono hadn't gotten into an accident. If only he wasn't hospitalized. If only he had continued the plan, the news would have been different. It would have been good news.' he thought, as he drew in a smoke.

He knew Anton might catch up to him if Bono stayed alive, so he decided to do the only thing he could, to protect himself; Elimination.

He picked up his phone from the bed and tapped on a contact.

"Hello"

******       *******       *******        ******      *******

Light footsteps approach the bed, then a doctor comes to view. He delves into his coat pocket and reveals a syringe with suspicious looking substance in it. He injects it into the drip.

On turning around, he flinches in surprise when he sees the patient looking at him.
Mr Bono shows him the disconnected drip which was supposed to be connected to his hand and sits up slowly.

A week ago Bono had woken up, but had pleaded with his nurse, who was there at the time he woke up, not to let anyone else know about it.
The nurse agreed and also let him in on the visits he had while he was unconscious, which was only Anton who came with Robert at times. He (the nurse) told Bono that Anton visited every week and Bono bursted into tears but never revealed why he cried.

"Jones?" He asked calmly, and was replied with a nod.

"I want to talk to him"

He contemplated a little before placing a call to Mr Jones.

"Why are you trying to kill the only person who can kill Hugh Anton?" Bono asked immediately the call connected.

"Who is this? Bono? Mr Bono?"

"Yes"

"You're awake? How?"

"After everything, you still tried to kill me? After all I've done for you. I sold my conscience to the devil because of you and this is what I get in return? I'm not do surprised anyway"

"You weren't waking up and I had to save myself. The poison worked, but he survived because it wasn't enough to kill. I was just trying to cover the trail. If you can cover the trail, I'll let you off and them too."

A tear drop fell on Bono's cheek but he held in his sob.

"I'll leave everything to you then" After saying that, Jones disconnected the call and the goon left.

More teardrops fell down his face as he held his head in his hand. His distraught was visible in the way his shoulder rose and fell as he broke into quiet sobs.

*******      *******      *******      *******      *******

After four hours of locking himself in his room and despite Mia's attempts to get him out; to eat and take his medications, he stepped out of the room, all dressed up.

He saw Mia, head down on the dining table and when he got closer he realized that she was sleeping. He sat beside her and took a closer look at her facial features.

He stretched his hand to touch her black hair; he had always wanted to do that. And just as it looked, her hair was soft and silky.

Stroking her hair lightly, he took a good look at her face; she was sweating though it was cold inside. Maybe she was having a bad dream?

Mia stopped having the bad dream as soon as she felt someone's hand on her hair. Instinctively, still with her eyes closed, she grabbed the hand and was about breaking the fingers until she opened her eyes and saw the terrified look on Anton's tired face. She let him go immediately.

"I'm sorry" Anton apologized, realizing that he startled her or something close to that.

"No. Instincts. I'm sorry."

Seconds of silence followed before Anton spoke up.

"I'm going to the hospital"

"Why? Are you feeling sick?" She asked looking at him carefully, and that's when she noticed that he was fully dressed in a black suit.

"No. I'm going to meet someone" he stood up, adjusting and straightening his suit jacket.

"I'm coming with you" she said and stood up.

"You should get some rest, I'll be fine on my own"

"I insist on coming sir, you're not fully recovered yet"

The care that emitted from her voice, made him feel comfort and he knew that he wanted to have her by his side, to do want he wanted to.

"Let's go then"

After hours of thinking, he knew he had to do some confrontation but the person he could confront was unconscious at the moment. Still, he wanted to let his heart out and didn't mind talking to an unconscious person even if it made him seem crazy.

As he walked into the hospital, he prepared his mind to face the worst.

Looking at Mia walking besides him, gave him more confidence, he didn't understand why, but he liked that she made him feel that way.

A lot of heads bowed to him in recognition as he made his way to Ward 201. As he opened the door, he saw those pair of familiar black eyes staring at him.

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Another not so lengthy update but still hope it's worth your wait.

Guys what d'you think about about the new cover design? I want to know your thoughts.
Love Grace ♥️