My CEO, My Temptation

Jessica

Visiting Kayleigh was making me nervous, I had it planned in my head. I thought it’ll be easy, but I didn’t expect the pounding in my chest as we reached the lobby of the psychiatric hospital.

His driver opened the door for me, and Tyler hold out his hand and helped me out of the car.

“Your hands are cold, you’re feeling nervous?” his voice soft as he took my hand to the crook of his arm.

“A bit,” I laced my fingers with his, trying to take in the warmth, the comfort of his love then I decided to take off my ring and give it to him right there and then.

“Just in case I forget.”

Tyler nodded and kissed my temple softly, whispering that it’ll all be okay and that he’ll be there for me.

It didn’t take long before the man I recognized as Kayleigh’s doctor walk towards us then greeted us, saying that Kayleigh has been expecting me.Nôvel(D)rama.Org's content.

“You told her?”

“She’s being herself right now, we just got her back,” the doctor explained to me about her situation while leading us to the entrance where Tyler signed our name at the registration area for our visit.

Tyler stay by my side while the doctor took us deeper inside the psychiatric hospital. Once inside, the gloomy feel hits me like a force making me think about my best friend who’s being detained until when I still don’t know.

And that was the exact question I throw at the doctor, “how long do you think she will be in this condition?”

The doctor knows exactly what I meant by her condition, Kayleigh’s DID if it’s possible to cure, “well, it differs from each patient, it could take months, years even to lifetime. I don’t give out false hopes and promises, but I will provide you access for visits, and progress reports, any kind of reports…”

I like her doctor, he was being blunt and honest.

“And who will care for her? I mean the expense?”

“Jess, you don’t have to worry about that,” Tyler put his hand on my back while the doctor nodded. I know Tyler is wealthy, but I did not expect him to go behind my back and take care of Kayleigh’s well-being for me.

“Mr. Richardson here had already taken care of the financial side of her treatment, Kayleigh is truly surrounded by her loved ones.”

I looked at my handsome fiancé and took his hand in mine, he rubbed his thumb to my knuckles silently telling me that he’s there for me, he’s there for my best friend.

“Anything, baby, I love you,” he whispered in my ear, once we reached the waiting area where the doctor told us to wait as he informed Kayleigh of my arrival.

“Thank you, you better stay here, I don’t know how long I’ll be inside,” I kissed his cheek softly once a male nurse came for me, and told me to follow him. Tyler took my hand and kissed my knuckles before he let me go and sit down in the waiting area.

The sight next was making my chest sigh heavily. She looked well, better than the last time I saw her.

“Jessica!” Kayleigh greeted me with her warmest hug, it was like we never parted, as if she has never done me any harm.

I was trying to keep up with her conversation, her doctor had warned me earlier. I was still trying to adjust to her timeline as we talk about Tyler as if his company hadn’t acquired mine.

Kayleigh kept on talking as if she was living in the past. So, I mostly listened, trying not to blurt out that Tyler and I have been engaged while she’s been treated in a psychiatric hospital for over a month now.

Her doctor had explained to me about her situation, she might recognize me yet the timeline might differ, he accompanied us for several minutes before he decided to retreat and told me that he’s giving us privacy to talk. His eyes darted to my side silently reminding me that the male nurse will stay to watch me.

“Kayleigh, I’m going to give you and your friend some privacy. I will be meters away,” his hand was to her shoulder giving her assurance that she would be just fine, she nodded and looked at him with gratefulness in her eyes.

“I think that doctor has a crush on you,” I smiled softly at her while she giggled and told me that I’m seeing things, that he’s probably married with a beautiful family waiting for him.

“… though you might want to check out that sexy CEO, Tyler Richardson. I think if you lower your guard down a bit, you’ll see that he’s a good match for you.”

She was suddenly blurry in my eyes and I didn’t realize I shed my tear when she was to my front and gently wiped my wet cheek and told me that I shouldn’t be sad.

“I know why I’m here, Jessica, I don’t want you to worry. It’s just a little setback, I love my mom dearly, but I’ll be back by your side sooner than you’d expect,” she smiled again, and I tried not to get all teary in front of her.

Her mom…

She didn’t know she killed her mom.

We talked for another half an hour before her doctor comes back and told me that it was time for her rest.

“You’re welcome to come back anytime,” he said as Kayleigh hugged me goodbye. “I’m going to miss you,” she looked tired but I nodded and encouraged her to stay strong, telling her to battle her depression and that I’ll wait for her to get back and we will have fun just like we used to.

The doctor took her hand to the crook of his arm and they went the other way while the male nurse ushered me back to the waiting area where Tyler had been waiting for me. He hugged me the moment I was to his front, he took in my weight and hold my back as I snuggled in deeper in his embrace.

The meeting with Kayleigh drained my energy and he kept on holding me until we arrived back home.

“Her doctor was right, she was in her own world, she had made her own reality where she said that she’s there because her mom died and she was depressed, and hoping that she will get better soon to help me with the merge with your company…” I snuggled in deeper after Tyler poured me more tea.

“Can I have something stronger?” I asked feeling my eyes were warm from too much crying, while Tyler has been nothing but supportive of my decision to visit Kayleigh.

He nodded and was back with a glass of wine and a glass of whiskey for himself. “I’m sorry about postponing dinner with your parents.” I drank the wine and took more sips as the warmth was comforting me better than the hot tea.

The man was looking at the dark golden liquid in his glass before he took a slow sip and take moment to savor its taste before replying to my words. “They will understand, you needed this.” He looked at me with so much adoration in his eyes that warms my heart and made me fall deeper for him if it was even possible.

“Kayleigh, she mentioned that I should let my guard down for you. Telling me that she thought you’re a good match for me…”

“Hey, come here…” he put my glass down and pulled me onto his lap.

Tyler knows that Kayleigh would refer back to the past, that her mind was really messed up. And he was holding me knowing that I’d lost her for good. Though I wished a miracle would cure her and get her bubbly self back, but I know… deep down I know, I’ve lost the real Kayleigh.

“I’m so sorry, baby…” his soft whisper lulled me, his love embrace me, his warmth secure me and I know I’ll be fine as long as I have him.