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A proposal

Sophia POV

I woke up feeling my body throbbing a little, an uncomfortable pain, but not unbearable. I looked around seeing that I was in one of the break rooms, the light was off, but I could still see something by the light coming through the window curtain and the light under the door.

My purse was there on the side, on top of the bedside table, I opened it and took my cell phone. It was already 5 pm, I had slept for 14 hours, almost a record, but adding the tiredness of the shifts and everything that had happened, maybe I had little sleep. I saw Mirian's notification asking me to go see her when she woke up. I got up and stretched, grabbed my purse, went to the bathroom, washed my face and brushed my teeth, combed my hair, and finally saw my face as I am, tidy and rested. Smile in the corner.

"Everything will be fine…"

I told myself, I took my medicine and deodorant and finally left the room. I know I need to take a shower, but that was enough for now until I got home. I greeted people as I passed and was soon on Mirian's office floor. I didn't pick up a tablet to view my patients' information, I didn't need that right now.

I put my hand over my mouth and yawned as I got out of the elevator and walked towards the office, I waved to some of the doctors who were there and then I found myself standing in front of Miriam's door, I knocked three times.

"In between."

Upon entering, the first thing I noticed was the presence of Hyperion, sitting in front of Miriam's desk, the two looked like they were talking about something serious. I tilted my head to the left side.

“Have a seat and I will explain the situation.”

Miriam pointed to the chair next to Hyperion's, she knew that movement of mine, whenever I wanted to analyze something, understand something, I would do that, tilt my head. I closed the door behind me and took the seat indicated.

"It's good to see you're on the mend now."

Miriam started by wanting to interact with me and see if I could ease the tension within the office, but I didn't respond. That visit was not between two friends but something else.

“Hum… This morning Mr. Perseus Houroux woke up, he is out of danger, in two hours he will be transferred to the family's private hospital.” Miriam and Hyperion exchanged glances.

“I know these last days are being heavy for you Miss Sophia. I am very sorry that this is because of my family, but I would like to ask that you take responsibility for the transfer. I know it's a lot to ask, but I would like you to go with the medical team and take care of everything, both here and at the family hospital.”

Hyperion's voice was deep, perhaps Miriam didn't understand what I understood, but there was an undertone to it, of urgency, of an almost desperate request that I accept the request.

'Why? Because I?'

I asked myself in my mind and put my hand on my waist, a self-protective gesture. I couldn't go back to that world, couldn't get involved with these people. This is the rational part of me telling me to protect myself, to deny it, to run as far as possible, while the irrational part of me is screaming at me to accept it because then I would be closer to Achilles and even Perseus.

"It's just for a few days until my son is fully recovered."

Hyperion completed, probably sensing that I was conflicted.

These words didn't bring me comfort, on the contrary, they showed me more that they wanted me to go with them. Was I being paranoid? It couldn't just be my imagination, they had asked exclusively for me, and they even posted a bodyguard to follow me, and one of them was there when I had my crisis.

Since their arrival had practically engulfed me, my actions and even my thoughts had been focused on them. Imagining pulling away made my stomach churn, a stab of pain shooting through my heart at the center.

“Eu…”

I got up and shook my head slightly, turned my back on them, leaving the office. I heard Miriam calling me, but I need to think, I need space and staying here wouldn't help me at all, I didn't even wait for the elevator and entered the emergency exit that gave access to the stairs. I looked up and remembered my place and started up the stairs.

‘No, no… I can’t go with them… It’s crazy, my friends, my home, my life is here…’

'But I'm being paranoid... They're not him. Nothing will happen...'

‘What if it happens? I won't have anyone to help me...'

'Claire would go with me if I asked... No... No... It would be someone else to use against me.'

‘Why would they hurt me? I don't know! Why did he hurt me?'

'He was no good, he's a psychopath!'

'Not at first... How am I supposed to know it's not the same thing?'

‘It won’t, that’s why Marcos says to take a leap of faith.’

'Faith! Hahahah, of course, I will have faith in people who can hurt me and get away with it.'

'The world is not full of monsters... I know that... I know... but I don't want to, I can't stand it if it happens again.'

‘How will I know if it will happen or not? I don't have a crystal ball... Here I am safe, here I have my friends, I have my home, my life.'

It didn't take long to get where I wanted to be, it was on one of the service floors, three steps from the emergency door there was a metal door that gave access to part of the piping and also to the fans, I started walking towards the corner that was my corner, the noise of the machines didn't bother me, on the contrary, it helped to muffle my thoughts. I know that when I get into a spiral like this it's hard to get out. I stopped only when I reached a metallic grid on the floor and stayed in the center, just waiting, I took several deep breaths until I felt the breath of air coming from below.

The world stopped for a few seconds as I felt the air pass through me, without hurting me, but strong enough to lift my hair, and part of my lab coat and the feeling that I could fly at any moment and part of that weight that I felt just a short time ago. back disappeared. I left the center of the railing and leaned against the wall, running my hands through my hair, and grooming myself.

‘Is it worth not living for what happened several years ago? Is it worth letting him affect me for so long? Weigh my actions for fear of the possibility of meeting him?'

‘What if it happens? What will change? Will they not be able to protect me?'

‘I know they ended up here because of an attack, but nobody died, at least not theirs. But I am not part of their family, but I will be hired by them.'

'But why? Why do they want me? Without that answer, I will not accept.'

Now I know what to do, I can visualize my options and the ramifications of the responses that might come. I took out my cell phone and texted Miriam.

[Hey, so I need to talk to Hyperion, I need some answers before I decide.] I

I waited for the answer which was taking longer than I thought.

[He's in his office, he told you to go there he'll be waiting.] Mi

[No, inform him that I'll wait for him in my office, I'll be there in 10 minutes.] I

[Alright, you don't make things easy either huh.] Mi

[I love you too, Mi] I

[Are you, are you…] Mi

The good thing about the floor I was on was that it was only one floor below mine, where my office was. It didn't take long and I was already in front of my office door and maybe it was the last time I would be there. Something told me that if I accepted the service I wouldn't be going back to the Gillians Hospital so soon, but contrary to what many would do which would be to stay behind the glass table, I just sat on the sofa in the left corner, took the cell phone and stayed looking at Instagram posts.

"You may come in."

I spoke when I felt Hyperion's presence in front of the door, I put the cell phone away and pointed to the other sofa. He wasted no time closing the door and taking the seat indicated.

"Why? Don't tell me it's because I'm good, or anything like that... I know there's more water under that bridge.” I asked bluntly.

“Yes, yes, at first it was because you are the head of nursing at the number one hospital in the United States, being only 26 years old. So, no matter how much other people cringe at being around us, you just seem immune.”

Hyperion then got up, not to intimidate me, but as if sitting still wasn't enough to help him get what he wanted to say, I saw him pace back and forth a few times.

“Look, I've met a lot of people, I've seen a lot and I can perceive certain things that for many are imperceptible.”

I arched my left eyebrow as he walked over and knelt, taking my hand, I could feel a surge of power flowing through his hands into my body, it was strange but not intimidating, just different.

“For someone to have their resolve, to have that barrier around them, to be able to look into other people's eyes and see the other's soul, among other things… I've only seen that in very few beings, some were born naturally and some were created.”

I took a deep breath and tried to pull my hand from his, but he held on tighter.

“No, there's no need to be afraid… I'm old, Miss Turner, much older than I look, so I've seen a lot and been through a lot. I don't know the specifics and it's up to you just whether you want to tell or not, but I know what you've been through, but this is what has brought you here, your will to move forward and live, but don't let the past blind you to what the future may bring.”

Hyperion then let go of my hand.

“This is one of the reasons I want you to accept my proposal, there are others, I won't deny it, but they are things I can't talk about here, but I ask, trust me. Perseus is the head of the family, now that he's awake, you'll find that people will ask his permission for just about everything.” I tilted my head slightly to the left and saw him smile. “I can explain all this better later… But what I want to say is this, I still have influence and a lot of it, I don't usually use my power to overpower my son's, but I promise you that the moment you want to come back, you will be free. I cannot promise eternal safety, but I promise that I will protect you as if you were my daughter.”

“Why can’t you say all the reasons here?” I know he's not lying, and I know the word isn't something to be thrown away, even more so when it came to a promise like that, but I still needed to reassure myself of a few things.

“Um… I could, but they would be words you wouldn't believe, so they would be useless words.” Hyperion got up and I saw him walk away towards the door. “You have to see it to believe it, I know it's not ideal, from the little I know of you I know that my words alone won't be enough, so I ask you, come with us.”

I got up before he left the office.

“I believe in you, in everything you've told me now…” I took a deep breath, before continuing, I turned my face slightly to look out the window, watching the landscape for a few seconds. “Can you guarantee that I can leave? If at some point I want to go back, I can.”

“Yes, that I promise you. You won't be forced to stay or do anything you don't want to. At least not on what depends on me.”

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