Chapter Twenty-Two
"I'm here, Carmella. We'll get you to the hospital, soon. Just hold on," said Gilbert with concern etched on his face.
"M-my baby Gilbert, I-I lost it," she spoke with tears in her eyes. Gilbert looked down at the blood dripping into a pool down her legs, onto the bedsheet. He knew that she had a miscarriage after that fall but he didn't have the heart to tell her that.
"Let's hope for the best Carmel, yes? Close your eyes and breathe deeply, in and out, see like this," he said, showing her how to calm herself. Carmella did as she was told. They reached the hospital and Carmella was wheeled away to the OT while Gilbert completed the formalities.
He rushed over to the lobby in front of the OT, patiently waiting for someone to update him. His phone vibrated with an incoming call from Jaxon. Gilbert muttered curses at him in his mind and went out of the lobby towards the staircases at the back. He accepted the call.
"Took you long enough to receive my call. Where are you? Are you at her apartment, maybe f*cking her behind my back? Amazing friendship, " Jaxon taunted.
"I looked after her only because you requested me to Jaxon. I treat her like a little sister if you must know. You don't f*ck your sister but how would you know that?" Gilbert said calmly. "And I'm at the hospital but that's none of your business. I'm amazed at the trust you have in me, Jaxon. I can't continue with you under the circumstances. After the investigation is over, I shall resign from this company, " added Gilbert solemnly, disconnecting the call. With a heavy heart, Gilbert went back to the lobby and waited for a doctor or nurse to emerge.
He sighed heavily at Jaxon's behavior and sat down with his head in his hands in despair. The door opened and a nurse came out. Gilbert got up and rushed over to her.
"What happened to her? Please tell me," he said, joining his hands and begging her to tell him.
"Are you her husband?" She asked him.
"No, I'm her brother, " said Gilbert.
"She has had a miscarriage and we're washing the fetus out of her uterus. She also has sprained her lumbar region apart from the deep gash on her head," she informed, hurrying away as Gilbert stood still like a statue. How would he break the news to Carmella? She would be devastated. She was so young and she was all alone in New York.
Carmella was moved to the ICU so that the doctors could monitor if she suffered any internal brain injury. Gilbert didn't leave the hospital even for a second. Phil had called him and he summoned him over to the hospital. An anxious Phil came in and Gilbert told him everything.
"It's really very tragic that she has to face this for no fault of hers. Sir's returned back to London after that show," Phil sighed.
"Oh, he doesn't deserve such true love," said Gilbert, sadly shaking his head.
"I know. You won't believe what I found sir," said Phil, his eyes suddenly lighting up.
"What did you find?" Asked Gilbert disinterestedly.
"Long strands of red hair all around the floor. Some redhead was here in our absence. I don't think anyone in the office has that shade of red hair," informed Phil and Gilbert stared at him with shock.
"Excellent work, Phil. Maybe this is our culprit. Call Brian and inform him immediately. Hope the cleaners haven't been to the floor?" Asked Gilbert.
"No, sir. Okay, I'll leave to call Brian. Do you need anything, sir?" Asked Phil.
"Yes, can you get me a bottle of water please?" asked Gilbert.
"I'm here, sir. Why don't you go to the cafeteria and eat something and freshen up too? You can look after her better that way," offered Phil.
"Okay. Don't go anywhere then," Gilbert said and Phil nodded. He walked to the far end of the lobby and called Brian and informed him about his find. Brian promised to visit him the next day. Disconnecting the call, Phil returned to the seat and sat down. He sent the photographs of the hair strands to Brian through his phone.
After five minutes, his phone vibrated with an incoming call from Jaxon. He again went to the far end of the lobby and accepted the call.
"Yes, sir," he asked softly.
"Why are you whispering?" Asked an irritated Jaxon.
"I'm at the hospital. Did you need anything, sir?" Asked Phil.
"Yes, I saw the hair strands that you sent Brian. Tell me are there any redheads at our office?" he asked Phil.
"No, sir," Phil answered confidently.
"Brian would be there tomorrow. See the footage from the hidden camera at the Reception desk. Jacqueline knows about it. It's under the desk and focused on the main entrance. Check all the footage of the front reception to see who came in and who went out of the building," Jaxon ordered.
"Yes, sir," Phil said.
"Remember Dana Rockwell who had come to meet me? Does she have the same shade of hair as your photograph? Think and tell me. Last, when I met her seven months back, I think she had," said Jaxon absentmindedly, thinking hard.
"Yes, sir. Now I know where I saw that shade of hair. That hair belongs to Dana Rockwell, sir," said Phil.
"Good. But I want you to check the footage of that day. See if she has anyone inside this office to help her out, " said Jaxon.
"Yes, sir. I will do my best to find out the culprit," swore Phil.
"Thank you, Phil. So who's admitted at the hospital?" Asked Jaxon, dreading the worst.
"It's not my position to tell you, sir. Please ask Gilbert, sir. Have a good day. I'll get back to you with the results you've asked from me, " he said, disconnecting the call.
Jaxon was worried by now. After meeting Carmella and seeing her reaction to his accusations, he couldn't face himself. He felt guilty that he didn't wait for the investigation to be over, to talk to her. Her parting shot made him rethink what he had done. Did he do the correct thing? He escaped to London to rethink what he'd done and to drown into work.
It was only when Brian called and forwarded the pictures of red strands of hair that he realized who the real culprit was. Dana Rockwell. How could he forget her?
Guilt ate him up at the harsh words he said to Carmella. She was innocent in all this and maybe she really wasn't well. Maybe she was the one admitted to the hospital. He had to find out. He called Gilbert but he didn't pick up the phone.
Gilbert knew Jaxon was calling him but he was too upset to talk to him. He waited the whole night in the lobby for Carmella to gain consciousness. He knew she would need someone beside her when she realized that she'd lost her baby. Carmella gained consciousness in the wee hours of the morning and the nurse immediately called him. He rushed inside her room.
She was lying down still with her eyes open and staring at the ceiling. "How are you feeling now Carmella?" He asked her.
"Why am I alive Gilbert?" she asked, looking at the same spot on the ceiling
"It's God's will, Carmella. We don't have any say in it," he explained.
"Then why did God kill my baby?" She asked, looking at him with tears in her eyes.
"Maybe your baby saw that you're not in a mental state to give birth to it. Your baby will come back later when you're ready for it. It's all God's will," explained Gilbert.
"You think so? You think it went back to God because I'm not prepared for it?" Asked Carmella as the tears fell from her eyes.
"Yes, dear. I'm sure," said Gilbert. "Now try to get some sleep. You will be released today."
"Is the investigation over Gilbert? I want to go home to my family," said Carmella.
"Yes, you will Carmella. But not now. You have a sprain in your lumbar region. You need to heal first," said Gilbert.
"My dad has a private jet. Please call my dad, Ethan Parker. His number's on my mobile. He'll come and get me," she said.
"Okay, sleep now. I will call your dad, and you can go if that's what you want," promised Gilbert. She closed her eyes and dozed off under the effect of the painkillers.
Gilbert knew that the investigation wasn't over and he couldn't send Carmella away. He had to explain it to her when she was better. He waited outside for the doctors to discharge her so that he could take her home.
After five hours, they discharged Carmella. Gilbert called his housekeeper to wait outside Carmella's building and he drove there with her. Phil also had come over and they carried Carmella to her apartment. After settling her in, Gilbert and Phil took leave to go to the office while his housekeeper Margaret looked after Carmella.
