Chapter 15 - The Wife

                                    

                                          

Celeste's POV
"Celeste! Be quick," Joshua called me in a bossy tone. I gritted my teeth in annoyance and accelerated my pace.
 
I was examining the contract when I noticed that Joshua loosened his tie, and he looked pale. He took deep breathes, rubbing his forehead.
 
"Are you okay?" I asked Joshua worriedly as he looked like he was short of breath.
 
His face was white like a sheet while he was trying to take deep breathes. Suddenly, he lost conscious.
 
"Joshua!" I exclaimed in panic as I stood up quickly and caught him without letting him fall from the chair.
 
Two puppies ran out from under the table, scared. My eyes widened in shock as I remembered that Joshua was allergic to dogs.
 
Flashback
 
I was playing with Hazel in the living room when I heard Joshua and his mother talking in the living room.
 
"Mommy, please, I want a puppy," Joshua begged, following his mother as Mila walked into the living room, holding a bouquet of red roses.
 
"No, Joshua.  We have talked about it before," Mila stated firmly and put the roses into the vase.
 
"But I want a puppy. All my friends have puppies," he insisted, giving his mother a pleading look."Celeste has a puppy too," he pouted, gesturing to me. "Mommy, please."
 
"Honey, how about a kitten?" Mila asked hopefully.
 
"No, I don't want a kitten. I want a puppy," Joshua scowled, crossing his arms over his chest, furrowing his eyebrows.
 
Mila bent down in front of him and rested her hands on his arms, giving him a warm smile. "Honey, you and Daddy are allergic to dogs. You two will feel bad if we bring a puppy here," she told him calmly.
 
"I won't feel bad. I promise." Joshua gave her a puppy look.
 
"You know what happened when you played with your schoolmate's puppy a few years ago. Do you want to stay in hospital again?"
 
"No," Joshua pouted.
 
"Then no puppies!" Mila stated firmly and straightened.
 
"Fine," he pouted and walked away sadly.
 
_______
 
"Joshua!" Mr. Green approached us in worry.
 
"He is allergic to dogs," I informed him in panic.
 
"Shit!" He exclaimed and called someone called George, ordering him to call an ambulance.
 
"What happened to him?" Mark asked anxiously as he rushed towards us.
 
"Dogs," I informed him, still leaning Joshua against me, cupping his cheek. His was still unconscious.
 
"Shit!" he exclaimed in fear. "We have to take to the hospital." When Mark and I tried to stand Joshua up, George suggested his help. I pulled away and let him pull him up.
 
I grabbed our things and followed them in a hurry. Once they laid Joshua on the back seat of the car, I got in the car and put his head in my lap. His eyes were still closed.
 
"Joshua, please open your eyes," I said with teary eyes while caressing his hair gently.
 
"Celeste...," Joshua muttered, opening his eyes slightly.
 
"I am here. Don't worry. We are going to the hospital. You will feel better," I said softly, stroking his hair, and rested my hand on top of his hand on his chest. He entwined our hands before closing his eyes again.
 
As soon as Mark parked the car in front of the hospital, he got out of the car and called for help. They got Joshua out of the car and placed him on the stretcher. I got out of the car quickly and held Joshua's hand tightly while they took him to the emergency room.
 
I was pacing back and forth in the hallway while waiting for the doctor to get out of the room. My heart was in my throat. I prayed with my inner voice that nothing happened to Joshua.
 
"Drink it, Ms. Marshall. You look pale," Mark said, concerned as he extended me a bottle of water.
 
"Thank you." I gave him a grateful look as I took the bottle. "And please call me just Celeste." He nodded and leaned against the wall, looking at the emergency door, worried.
 
It seemed to me that Mark and Joshua were close. Mark really cared about Joshua so much; I could feel it from his state.
 
"We haven't informed his parents and Haze," I commented and started to rummage my bag.
 
"It will be better if we wait for Joshua to open his eyes. Probably, he won't want his parents to know about it." Mark objected firmly.
 
"If... if he couldn't open his eyes...," I mumbled without managing to finish my sentence as my eyes welled up.
 
"He will. He isn't a man who gives up easily," Mark commented tenderly, resting his hand on my arm, giving me a reassuring smile.
 
My tears ran down my cheeks uncontrollably and my sobs didn't let me breath properly. My whole body was shaking.
 
"I am fine... I am fine," I mumbled between my sobs, trying to hold myself from crying in vain as I turned around. I didn't want Mark to see me crying.
 
"Celeste, he will be fine," Mark tried to reassure me and caressed my back gently. 
 
A few seconds later, the door opened and the doctor walked out of the room.
 
"How is Joshua?" Mark asked the doctor in worry.
 
"Are you an immediate family member?" the doctor asked Mark calmly.
 
"No, he is my boss."
 
"His state is stable right now. I am sorry, but I can only give more information to an immediate family member," the doctor informed Mark, giving him an apologetic look.
 
"I am his wife," I told the doctor anxiously. I ignored the shocked expression on Mark's face.
 
"His allergy triggered an anaphylactic reaction. His state is stable now, but we will monitor him. He will stay here tonight," the doctor informed me politely.
 
"May I see him?" I asked hopefully.
 
"Not right now. The nurse will inform you." He gave me a compassionate look and left.
 
I heaved a loud in relief, ruffling my hair. I gulped nervously as I just realized what I told the doctor in front of Mark.
 
Damn it!
 
"Umm... I... I lied. If I didn't tell him like that, he wouldn't inform us about Joshua's state," I said nervously.
 
"Yes, you are right, but if paparazzi find out about it... I don't think Mr. Sullivan will like it," Mark commented, concerned.
 
"I know," I muttered sadly.
 
Of course, I know. He hides me like a dirty laundry.
 
Like you, Celeste. Like you.
 
I breathed deeply and noticed that Mark was looking at me strangely.
 
"I will explain to Joshua why I introduced myself as his wife. And if paparazzi find out about it, I will give statement, denying it," I assured Mark while hoping paparazzi didn't find about it because they could find that Joshua and I were really married.
 
A few minutes later, the nurse informed me that I could see Joshua. Despite the fact Mark preferred to see Joshua instead of me, he didn't have any choice, but let me see Joshua.
 
"Celeste?" Joshua mumbled in surprise as I walked into the room, closing the door behind me.
 
"How do you feel? You scared me," I said worriedly as I approached the bed and rested my hand on his arm.
 
"I am fine. Don't worry," he replied, giving me a warm smile and rested his hand on top of mine on his arm.
 
"Mark is outside. He is worried about you too, but they didn't let him in, saying only an immediate family member can enter," I informed him. He nodded. I bit my lower lip nervously and informed him anxiously. "Umm... By the way, I... I had to tell the doctor I am your wife because he didn't want to give us more information about your state. I was so worried about you. So I just blurted it out without thinking properly. Don't worry as soon as the doctor left, I told Mark that I lied to get information. However, Mark told me that if paparazzi find out about it, we will be in trouble, but... I know you must be angry at me, but I ..."
 
"Celeste," he said, cutting me off.
 
"I am sorry," I muttered while being ready to listen to his lecture.
 
He gave me a charming smile, surprising me, and squeezed my hand. "It is fine. Thank you for your concern."
 
"I am glad you are fine," I confessed honestly.
 
"Really? I thought you hated me," he said mischievously.
 
"But I love fighting with you." I winked playfully. He clucked in amusement.
 
"Don't worry. We will have a lot of fights in the future, wifey," he commented cockily.
 
I rolled my eyes while pursing my lips together, trying to hold my smile.
 
"Umm...  I wanted to inform your parents and Haze about you, but Mark didn't let me, saying we..."
 
"He did the right thing. I don't want to worry them. I am fine," he said, relieved.
 
"But..."
 
"I am fine, Celeste. Please don't tell anyone about today."