CEO JAXON WANTS ME BACK

I walked through the long corridor of the hospital, my steps tired, my shoulders were drooped in exhaustion and my face held worry unconcealed. I hated hospitals but I had to be here, for her sake. She was family. My family and a little girl. She did not deserve to be alone.

I had just returned from work and had come down here as soon as I had finished for the day. I opened the door to the room she was put in, I watched her small frame lying on the bed, ridden by tubes and IVs.

Oh, Hailey. Tears blurred my vision.

I walked quietly and took my position by her side, holding her still hands. "Hello, Hailey."

The steady beeping of her heart was the only response I got. The evidence that she was still alive. Barely.

My eyes trailed the lines of transparent wires infused into her skin, the liquid treatment trickling from the bag that held the drug into her veins. "Please find a way to fight this, Hailey. Please come back to us alive. Come back to me alive."

I paused to comport myself, I did not want her to hear the tears. The doctor had said she could hear us but she was unable to respond. I wiped my eyes. "I miss you, Hailey." I whispered, gently caressing her hair, careful not to upset the position she'd been put in. "You're strong, Hailey. You can fight through this. Please, fight through, okay?"

I leaned in to place a kiss on her right brow, a shaky, watery smile leaving my lips as I remembered how sweet she used to be. Oh God, let her survive this. She was too young to be going through this pain.

The door opened' I cast my eyes to see who had come in. It was the doctor. Sitting up straight and fully giving him my attention, I waited with bated breath for him to give me any kind of update concerning her health status.

"Good evening, doctor." I mustered a confident smile to outweigh the fear that was choking my insides.

"Good day, Ayla." He responded with a professional smile of his.

"Uhm.." I glanced at Hailey, and stared back at him. "H-how is she?"

"Still the same."

I could not continue the smile, it turned pallid instantly. Still the same. No improvement, and I could guess why. "Is it because of the surgery, doctor?"

"Yes, Ayla. She needs the surgery as soon as possible. Also, her bills are increasing. We will need some deposit to continue to keep her here, Ayla."

Some deposit. My heart dropped from its natural position to my stomach. I was fraught with nerves and fear. I did not have the money.

"Okay doctor. I'll try to get some."

He nodded, checked Hailey's vitals and left the room. After he was gone, I sighed and slumped on the chair. I took her small hands. "I'll make sure nothing happens to you, okay? Just please, try to fight. Don't let it win." I stood up after gently placing her hand back on the bed beside her. "I'll be back." I gave her a small kiss on her cheek and left the room in tears.

By the time I got home, I was dead tired. I walked into the living room to see my aunt and uncle, they were my foster parents too and Hailey's biological parents, coming down the stairs laughing and being all merry, anger and disbelief trembled my exhausted frame. The irresponsibility of these people!

"Good evening." I greeted them.

"Evening Ayla." My aunt greeted.

"Anything the matter?" My uncle who had noticed my sour feature asked.

"Where are you going all dressed?" I asked.

"And who fed you doses of audacity?" My aunt eyed me in annoyance.

"This is not about the issue of being audacious. Your daughter is in the hospital, does that not mean anything to you?" I was trying to control my anger. Even though they were not the nicest persons on earth, they had taken me in, they deserved some respect.

"And so? She's in the best medical hands, we're not doctors, Ayla." My uncle responded nonchalantly.

"Exactly." His wife supported.

My jaw dropped. Were these people for real?

"What are you both saying? Hailey is your daughter and she's just fourteen. Fourteen!" I emphasized, in case they had forgotten.

"Your point is?" My aunt inquired, looking quite irritated.

"That girl needs you. She needs her parents." I could not believe they were saying this.

"But you always go to visit her." The tone in my uncle's voice was angry.

"Yes, I do. But the doctor said she needs to be spoken to, I can speak to her but she needs her parents." I insisted. I was getting aggravated by their I-don't-care attitude.

"We have somewhere to be, Ayla. Make sure to do the dishes and prepare dinner before we return."

I sighed. "The doctor said the bills are increasing, and the surgery needs to be done." It was futile trying to talk to both of them. If they would not see her, the least they could do was contribute financially to her medical bills.

"And where do you want us to get the money from, Ayla?" That question came from my aunt.

I could only stare at both of them in disbelief.

"So she should remain in that critical situation?" My voice broke, the image of Hailey lying on that bed looking so vulnerable flashed in my mind.

They exchanged stares. Then they looked at me, mischievous smiles playing on both their lips, I frowned, instantly suspicious.

"If you really love Hailey, you can help her." My aunt said.

"I don't understand. How do you mean?" Something told me I was not going to like what was coming.

"You can get married to CEO of XM company, I hear he's open to marriage."

"What?!" I knew of the CEO of XM company. Everyone knew the man, and the power and wealth his family wielded.

"Yes, Ayla. If you truly love Hailey and want to save her, please marry him." My aunt's face morphed into a placating one.

"No, I won't." I out rightly rejected. "I can not believe you two. I'd rather work to pay her medical bills." I spat and angrily stormed out of their sight.

I'll need you both to deliver coffee and a box of doughnuts to the staff at XM company." Our manager at the café where I was working ordered Kimberly and I.

Kim was my friend at work and she was more experienced than I was because she'd been working here before me.

"Okay sir." We made to leave when the manager called back Kim, I waited for her at the entrance of the door. "I'll need you to personally get this cup of coffee to the CEO himself. Understood?" I heard him tell Kim.

"No problem sir." She replied and we both went to get on with our delivery.

It was my first time taking a delivery to the XM company. The biggest company in the country. We had gotten there and began our delivery. Kim had her hands filled with delivery, I tried to help out.

"Ayla." She called.

"Hm." I looked up from the cups of coffee I was about to go deliver to some of the staff in the company. The building was a massive one and I needed the tip.

I had to find a way to pay Hailey's hospital bills. Her parents were nothing to write home about, all they did was party and come home to sleep. Then they stay idle in the house, waiting for me to return and make dinner.

Their ludicrous request for me to marry some CEO was not going to happen. I would not let it happen. I was not going to sell myself just to pay Hailey's medical bills, marriage was a pretty big deal, getting into it for the wrong reasons was not a good idea.

"I'll need you to help me deliver this cup specifically to the boss of the company." She pleaded.

"Why? You know I don't know anyone here, this is my first time here." And it was the truth. How would I be able to face the CEO? I knew of him but I was not sure I could stand before him.

"It's nothing, Ayla, please help me do this. I have so many deliveries the manager put me in charge of. Since we're here, you could just help me get it to him while I stay here and try to round up the deliveries here. The CEO hates to be kept waiting so please help me." She continued pleading.

I was confused, I had no idea what to do and I didn't have the heart to refuse her. "Okay, give me his order." I took his order and walked towards the elevator.

Remembering Kim had not told me where his office was situated, I ran back to her. "Hey Kim, you forgot to tell me where his office is."

"Top floor."

"Okay." I took the elevator, looking a bit disoriented by this particular delivery.

The elevator dinged open and no sooner had I stepped out when I bumped into someone, the cup of coffee in my hand toppled and poured on this person. I lost my footing and landed with a thud on my butt. I winced slightly in pain.

I raised my face to see who I had bumped into. "I'm sorry." He was quite a sight to behold. I gasped in shock when I realized I had stained his suit. I stood and quickly brought out my handkerchief and tried to wipe the coffee stain off, he glared at me, I gulped. "I-I'm s-s-sorry."

"Don't touch me." His tone was low but chilled.

My hand froze mid-air, and I hastily withdrew it back to my side.

"Are you okay, Miss?" The young guy close to him asked. Concern blanketed his expression.

I managed a small grateful smile. "Yes, thank you."

"Your heels, hope they didn't hurt you?" He asked again.

I looked down at the heels I wore, they were a necessity for work. "Yes. I can manage." I turned to the man whose feature was as handsome as they were stoic. "Can I offer to take your suit to the laundromat?"

Without a second glance my way or a reply from him, he walked away. He was handsome but rude. Such a pity my emotions were stirred despite his cold demeanor.

"Tell Miss Huttinson to get me new set of suit." I heard him tell the younger guy.

I sighed, I was so stupid and clumsy, I berated myself. What would I do now? The CEO's coffee was ruined. My phone chose that moment to ring, I plucked it out of the pocket of my work shirt. The name on the caller ID made my heart skip.

With a trembling hand, I swiped the green button and put the phone in my ear. "Hello, doctor."

"Good day, Ayla." His voice sounded grave, spiking my heart beat. "I called to inform you that your sister's condition is getting worse. She might not last this week. I was th..."

The doctor was still talking but I was no longer listening, the phone slipped from my hand and fell to the floor. The two men had turned to my direction but I did not pay them any mind. I ran past them, towards the elevator I'd come in from, I opened to see it was full.

I made a beeline for the second elevator, I did not look at the sign written up to see it was a VIP lift. I pressed the button and when it opened, it was the same men. The younger one tried to stop me when I wanted to enter.

"Please, you will not understand. I need to be out of here." I pleaded. I could not understand why he would not let me in but this was not my company, I had no idea how things were run.

"Let her enter." The man whose suit I'd stained with coffee ordered.

"Yes sir." The young man went out of my path and I entered.

"Thank you so much sir." I had heard the young man refer to him as 'sir', he probably was a senior worker in the company.

The journey down was quiet but my head was anything but. I tried to control the panic that overwhelmed me. As soon as we had arrived, I was the first to dash out of the elevator without a glance to either men.

I stepped into the house that was supposed to be my new home. The driver that had come to get me and my belongings from my house was helping me unload my things from the car and into the house that I was going to be staying in for possibly the rest of my life.

After I had gone to see the doctor, he had been bluntly honest and explained how critical Hailey's situation was and if something was not done to alleviate her sickness, she would most likely die. Hailey was diagnosed with leukemia, and she was at that stage where it was eating deep into her system and killing her slowly.

She needed urgent surgery to bring her out of the pain she was experiencing, and this was the only way. I had no idea who I was married to. I knew of the CEO of XM company but I had never met with him before. They had only brought papers for me to sign, a legal binding agreement to be his wife. I could not forget the nerves that wrecked my system as I put down my signature on that paper, practically selling my future to a man I had little knowledge of.

I walked into the house to see a young man seating in a very expansive parlor, poring through some files. He raised his head immediately he noticed my presence. I was shocked to realize it was the man I had spilled coffee on. "You."

"Yes, me." He gave me a disdainful once-over. "Was this your plan?"

I frowned in confusion. "I don't understand."

"Spilling coffee on me as a way of getting me to pay your bills for the rest of your life." Though his voice was low, I could detect the mockery and spitefulness underlying it.

"What?!" I gasped in shock. What was he talking about? How could he think so low of me? He agreed to this too, didn't he? If he did not want it, why then did he agree? He was truly handsome but he had an awful personality. What did I get myself into?

He stood and advanced towards me in an unfriendly manner, I took wary steps backwards. "Exactly what you heard me say, Ayla. You intentionally spilled coffee on me just to get me to notice you. You left the normal elevator and came to the VIP elevator because you knew I'd be there."

"What?! I don't understand what you're talking about?" What kind of a brute was he? Was this how he was? The Almighty CEO Jaxon of XM company. The youngest billionaire in the country. Was he naturally like this or money was making him arrogant?

"Gold diggers, very meticulous, manipulative pretenders ready to do anything just to secure the life they can not work for themselves. I must commend you, Ayla. Well played." Anger was visible in his eyes.

"W-what?!" I could not say anything else. What was he talking about? What sort of accusation was he labeling against me? I had no idea what he was talking about. I did not even know who he was until this day.

"Another thing a gold digger is well versed with, acting. They can act so perfectly that you'll be forced to wonder why Hollywood is yet to pick them up. You are one good actress, Ayla." The venom in his words was unmistakable.

The glare he was shooting me with caused shivers down my spine. "B-but you agreed to this, did you not?" I asked when I finally found my voice.

"Unfortunately yes."

My mouth was left in an 'O' shape. I was totally dumbfounded, I had no idea what this guy was all about. This was the guy I had a crush on, why was he acting this way? "Unfortunately?"

"My grandfather is in dire need of grandchildren, and yes, a man of my status and wealth needs an heir to continue my legacy, to uphold the family's name. And though your ways are cunny, which is not surprising as it is expected of women like you, you look like you can actually give me what I want." He moved back some steps to scrutinize me.

I felt small and insignificant. How would I cope with this? He scared me to pieces. How would I be able to live with him? "You think I am a gold digger?" That accusation stung badly, bringing tears to my eyes. In my life, I had never chased after any man for this money. I was not the kind of girl that dated a man for what he could offer.

If only my foster parents had agreed to send me to further my education in college, I would not be here, married to a man who thinks I was nothing more than a gold digger. If my real parents had not abandoned me, I would not be here. I believed my future would have been secured but here I am, insulted by this guy and he didn't even know me.

"I don't think you are. I know who you are." He deadpanned.

"You don't even know me." I cried in frustration.

"I know your type, Ayla. I know your type. And for the time being, you have gotten what you wanted."

Sniffling and struggling with tears, I asked. "What do you think I want?"

"You married me for my money. Tell me I'm lying." He said confidently.

I swallowed, not sure how to answer. I was not a gold digger but I had married him for his money. It was a situation I could not help. If I had my way, I would not have agreed to this marriage.

With a cynical smirk, he came closer. "Even you know the truth. But I promise you Ayla, you will not go beyond two years in this union. Once I get the children I need for myself and my grandfather, I'm pushing you out of my life and home."

With that, he left me standing speechless and extremely sad in the middle of the parlor, tears welled up in my eyes as I wondered for the thousandth time what I had gotten myself into.