I pull the straw away and lower him back against the pillow. “You okay?” I ask softly. He nods, his expression dazed, and I turn to face the others only to find them all staring at me.
I feel a flush on my cheeks. “Everything alright?” I ask tentatively.
The older fat man glares at me. “Who are you?”
I blink. “Eli Jones. I was told to report here. I’m the nurse for this gentleman, I believe.”
“What the fuck?” he breathes and runs an agitated hand through his hair.
I feel uneasiness stir.What the fuck is going on in here? “Is there a problem?”
“Well, Eli,” the big man says in a very hostile tone. “You could say there is a bloody problem, and you’re it.”
One of the other men stirs. Tall and slender with a mane of wavy hair, he reminds me of someone, and then I realise that he looks vaguely similar to the man lying in the bed. It’s in the shape of his mouth and eyes and the long nose. Brother, I’d say.
“There’s no problem,” he says, his halting speech and indrawn breath telling me that he probably had a stammer at one point. He smiles and his whole face lights up. “No problem at all. I’m Milo, Gideon’s brother.” He reaches out to shake my hand, and his long fingers close around mine.
The fat man stirs. “Mind your own business, Milo.”
“Oi.” The tall white-blond man who’s standing close to Milo glares at the fat man. “Watch your fucking mouth, Frankie.”
Ah, Frankie, my employer. I gaze down at the patient as if seeking clarification, only to find him staring back at me. I smile hesitantly and he closes his eyes for a second, exhaustion running over his face.
I turn back to the crowd. “Are you Frankie?” I ask, smiling calmly at him. I offer my hand but he ignores it, so I shrug and return it to my side. When I look down, my patient is glaring. I blink but realise that it’s not at me, but at Frankie, who hasn’t noticed. “You asked me to come here to take charge of my patient.”
“Well, now I’m telling you to fuck off,” he says harshly. “You’re no good to me.”
“Frankie!” Milo exclaims. “What the hell? You have no right.”
“I have every right,” the big man roars. “I employed him. Now, I can fucking sack him.”
Milo opens his mouth, but at that second the man in the bed stirs. “Actually, I employed him,” he says coldly. “Seeing as I amyourboss.” He stares coolly at Frankie, who flushes. His voice is cold but the richness of it, the clear precision of his speech, is instantly recognisable as someone who records many audiobooks. It’s a gorgeous voice, and I’m sure I remember reading that an actress said she’d got wet listening to him reading the telephone book at a party. I’m drawn back to the conversation as he continues talking icily. “I presume I am still your employer, Frankie. You haven’t staged your coup yet, have you? My brain and free will are still my own?” Frankie nods. “Phew,” Gideon says acerbically. “I don’t mind admitting that’s a huge relief. I thought I was in a cult for a second.”
“What colour robes would you wear?” the white-blond man says and Gideon considers.
“I think blue. It makes my eyes pop and accentuates my all-round perfect appearance.”
“Gideon,” Frankie says imploringly. “Gid, I know what’s best for you. Trust Frankie.”
“I can’t trust anyone who has started to refer to themselves in the third person,” my boss says coolly. “It’s far too reminiscent of Donald Trump.” I hide my smile. He stares at Frankie coldly. “As I still have my own free will and control of my bank balance, I’m going to look at this as one of your good decisions, Frankie. You’ve hired me a nurse who appears to be very well qualified. And now I employ both of you because Eli is staying as my nurse. Are we clear?”
“Crystal,” Frankie says sulkily.
Gideon closes his eyes, looking suddenly weary, and I spring into action. “Okay,” I say cheerfully. I’m keeping my voice calm and even because of years of training, although my brain is teeming trying to work out what the dynamics in this room are. However, one thing is clear. The man in the bed is the boss, and I’m now working for him. “Okay,” I repeat and look at Frankie. “My patient is tired,” I say calmly. “Time for you to go.”
“Who the fuck are you talking to?” he blusters. “What gives you the right to tell me what to do in here?”
“My nursing degree,” I say cheerfully. “I didn’t get it by eating Pot Noodle and watchingNeighbours, you know.” I wink at him. “Well, not all of it anyway.” I point to the door. “You can come back when he’s had a sleep. He’ll be much happier then.” I usher him to the door and open it for him. “But knock first,” I say happily and shut the door on him as he mouths expletives.
GIDEON
I watch open-mouthed as my new nurse shuts the door neatly in Frankie’s stunned face.
“Oh my God,” Milo breathes and Niall nods.
“Epic,” he says happily.
Eli turns and looks at us hesitantly. “I hope I didn’t overstep any boundaries.”
