Chapter 6 NO CHOICE

Paula's POV

"Doctor, what happened to my grandmother?" I asked the doctor as soon as I arrived at the hospital where I rushed my grandmother after seeing her lying on the floor of her room this morning.

"Miss Paula, your grandmother had a heart attack."

My eyes automatically widened upon hearing what the doctor has said. "H-Heart Attack? B-But she never mentioned me about having heart disease or anything..."

"Maybe because she didn't want you to worry."

"B-But how is she? Is she okay?"

"She's somewhat okay now. But I'll tell you frankly now, your grandmother needs a valve transplant. She has an aortic valve regurgitation. This occurs when blood flows backward through the aortic valve into the left ventricle each time the ventricle relaxes rather than in the normal, one-way direction from the ventricle to the aorta. Backflow may be caused by a dysfunctional or leaky valve. This may be due to deterioration of the valve, an abnormal valve shape present at birth or by a bacterial infection."

"Please, do everything to save my grandma..." I said while my eyes were filled with tears. "Please, doctor..."

The doctor nodded. "I will do everything that I can, Miss Edwards. But I just want to remind you that it would cost a lot to you. The transplant is somewhat expensive."

"H-How much do I have to pay?"

"$50, 000."

"F-Fifty-thousand dollars?!"

"Yes, Miss Edwards."

I gulped. "I-I understand. I will do everything, just please, do everything to save my grandma... she's the only one that I have now..."

"I understand, Miss Edwards."

I went inside the room and saw my grandmother lying there while staring at the window beside her bed. Just looking at her makes my heart ache so much. I don't want to see her sad...

I wiped the tears in my eyes and forced a smile on my face as I started walking towards her. "Grandma..."

She shifted her attention at me and smiled. "Paula!"

"Grandma!" I said as I ran to her and gave her an embrace. "Oh, my grandma..."

"Paula... why are you here? Aren't you supposed to be at your school?"

I sat on the bed beside her and lay my head on her shoulder. "It's alright, grandma. I can just go there tomorrow. Or maybe I'll excuse myself until you finally recover."

"Did the doctor tell you about what happened to me?"

"Yes."

She nodded. "I see."

"Grandma, do you know about that all this time? Why didn't you tell me?"

"I don't want you to worry about me, Paula. I'm getting older now, and for sure I won't be living any longer anymore. While you, you still have so much time. You can still fulfill your dreams, I want you to study hard and graduate, Paula. That would be enough for me."

"But all would be nothing without you, grandma. I want to be with you, until the day I die. I want you to see me graduate, I want you to be proud of me."

"I'm already proud of you, Paula. You're a strong girl. You are the most precious and beautiful gift that God could ever give to me." she said as she wiped my tears away. "Good girl, see, I'm fine now. Go your class now, and I will wait for your back."

She patted on my hand with a warm smile. I could only nodded and left her ward with reluctance and worries.

"I will do everything for you, Grandma. Just wait for me, you'll live longer, very long. I'll do everything for you."

I was walking my way to our school as I continuously suppress a sigh thinking about any possible ways on how I can get enough money to pay for grandma's valve transplant. I have saved some money but I don't think it would be enough to pay the price.

"Maybe I should just apply for another job," I mumbled to myself.

I was about to walk inside our university when a black limousine suddenly stopped in front of me.

I had no choice but to stop walking too. Four men in a black suits stepped out of the car and looked at me. "Are you Miss Paula Edwards?"

"H-Huh? Y-Yes, w-why?

"

"Miss Edwards, I'm George. I'm the secretary of Mr. Voltaire Farusco, the owner of your university."

"V-Voltaire Farusco?"

"Yes, Miss Edwards. He wants to talk to you for a while, can you come with us?"

Mr. Voltaire Farusco, the owner of my school? Cindy seemed have mentioned this man yesterday.

I could remember when I came to Cindy's working coffee shop yesterday, she showed me a magazine that she was holding. "Look at that man in that cover! Isn't he super hot and handsome?!!"

The cover of the magazine was a young man with thick black eyebrows, a perfect v-shaped face with a sharp jaw, and high cheekbones. He also has red lips that could make all the girls want to kiss him. He was wearing corporate attire with his arms crossed. "He's handsome," I said, then averted my gaze. "By the way, who is he? Is he a celebrity?"

"Dude! He's the owner of our university! And guess what? He's the richest and most successful self-made CEO here in New York! Isn't he so perfect?!!"Cindy's screaming yesterday even made my ears ache right until this moment.

I blinked multiple times before nodding. If the Mr. Voltaire Farusco was actually the one Cindy screamed for, what does the CEO of Gosling want from me?

"O-Okay..."

With that, the men guided me inside the limousine and started moving the car. Did I go with them too fast? I don't know. Maybe because I'm also thinking to borrow some money from the University's CEO.

For sure he'll understand me since he's the owner of our school and I'm definitely a straight all-A student who really need help. I'm so desperate right now, and I don't care if I have to kneel in front of him just so he could give me some money for my grandmother.

The limousine stopped in front of an enormous company building with the word FARUSCO HOLDINGS engraved at the top of it. It was a huge building made of steel and glass. It was so tall that I feel dizzy just by merely looking at it from below upward. "Please, follow me, Miss Edwards."

"Okay..."

I just followed Mr. George while I kept on looking around seeing so many people wearing corporate attire busy doing their jobs. They were all busy and serious. So, this is how it feels like when you're working in a company that's so huge.

"Mr. Farusco, Miss Edwards is already here." said Mr. George when we finally reached the 27th floor of the building. We were standing in front of a huge grey double door with THE CEO'S OFFICE engraved on its center.

Mr. George nodded before looking at me. "You may now go inside, Miss Edwards."