Once His Nightmare, Now His Employee

DORIAN's POV I woke up to that same sterile, suffocating scent of antiseptic. The lights were too bright. The sheets were too stiff. The cold wrapped around me like shame. I sat up slowly, my gaze catching the blind slats casting stripes on the wall. I was in the hospital again. My memory returned like a slow bleed. Back at the office, I was racing against time-desperate to finish everything Caspian had loaded on my desk. The deadline was impossible, but I didn't dare complain. As my head pounded and my vision blurred, I continued.  The water cooler was just steps away. Still, I never left my chair. And what I feared the most came. My usual seizures.  I remember fumbling with the pill bottle, my fingers trembling too much to grip it.  The cap refused to twist open. The bottle slipped. The white pills scattered like guilt across the floor and table... Then everything went dark. I wasn't always like this. Once, I was the golden boy. People clung to my every word. My name was the ticket to popularity. In the cafeteria, everyone fought for a seat at my table. In class, I was envied. In life, I was untouchable. Now? I'm a joke. A whisper. A has-been. The boy who was. No one sits next to me now-Not in the office since Caspian gave me a private office. Not even in dreams. Not in waiting rooms. Who would even wait? I had no one.  This bed feels like a coffin. And inside it, I'm mourning myself. My mother's voice echoed in my head-soft and final bit I chose to ignore it that day.  "Be a good boy. I don't mind how long it takes for me to heal. I just want to see you happy." Now I work under him. Caspian Vale. The boy I once bullied until his name bled in silence. He used to shrink when I walked by. Now I shrink in his shadow. And with an illness that might be calling me to the afterlife soon.  The door was pushed open and a nurse walked in with a pretty smile on her face. "Hi. Are you better now?" She asked, dropping the tray in her hands.  I nodded slightly then I asked, "I haven't seen you around here before. Are you new?"  "Yes, I am. I was transferred from another hospital. I will be keeping your medical records from now on." She replied, sitting next to me.  That seemed quite a little unprofessional.  I shifted back a bit with a smile on my face. "Thanks. And, can I go check my bill? I feel better now."  She brought her mouth closer to my ear, muttering, "Mr. Vale is covering the bill. "  The words hit me. The realization sank in. Why is Caspian covering the bill? The cold gaze in his eyes back in the day was perfectly veiled contempt.  "His company has to bear the expenses. You fell unconscious there and you are a staff." The nurse said.  Oh shit. I was damn sure I never said that aloud. I only thought about it. Yeah... I think. I'm just too dazed to remember that at the moment.  "By the way, what is your relationship with Mr. Vale?" She asked all of a sudden.  My stomach dropped. What do I even tell her? "Nothing. Just Boss and staff."  "Really?" She chuckled. "But, it was quite off seeing him panic so much earlier. I bet he doesn't know about your illness."  "Yes, he doesn't. And mind you, take that secret to your grave." I said, my voice sounding like a threat.  "Come off it. I'm a professional." She added, smiling gently. "Moreover, you can leave anytime you want to. Just make sure you never miss your medications." "Yes, I won't. Thanks!" I appreciated her kindness.  Just then, the door was pushed open and Ronan walked in sweaty. His shorts were drenched with mud. Perhaps, he was stained by a splash on his way.  He sat beside me on the bed immediately. His hands flew to my head, neck and chest. "Are you fine?" He asked with a look of concern on his face.  "I'm fine now. Shall we go home?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.  "Stop messing with me." He let out his words. Frustrated.  "It's my illness that messing with you. Not me." I replied, fiddling with his cheeks.  The nurse who has been sitting quietly all along cleared her throat, ruining the moment.  Ronan whispered into my ear, "Who is she?"  "A new nurse." I muttered back.  "And her name?" He pushed further.  Why was he asking for her name? Piece of shit. "I don't know." I said that aloud. "You can ask her yourself."  He stood up and faced her, revealing his face to her for the first time. The air was still. Even my breath caught as they both stared into each other's eyes.  Lustfully? Seductively?  I don't even know.  Then a smile spread on Ronan's lips, "I'm Ronan. Nice to meet you." "Ni... Nikki. Yeah... That's my name," she managed to say. Her voice sounded distant.  Who would have believed she was a blabbermouth a few minutes ago? Women.  I yawned when I saw them both shake hands for as long as I can't remember.  I got out of bed and picked up my phone. I've had enough rest and there's no fucking way I would be staying in this same room where two idiots are staring down at each other.  "Ronan... Can we leave now?" I asked him.  "Hold on a bit. I'm trying to remember something." He said.  I kicked the drawer so hard that my toes hurt so badly. None of them cared about me so I just put on my shoes and made my way towards the door.  As soon as I reached the door, I turned around to check if Ronan was actually forgetting our friendship for a hole.  Luckily for him, I saw his cellphone with Nikki while he stretched his neck, almost into the phone to see what she was typing.  Deep down... I was happy for him. I haven't seen him with women for a long time. Unlike me, I only stick to men.  I don't do female shit. LMAO!  A smile spread across my lips as I pulled the door's handle to excuse them for a moment.  The door opened.  And right there... A familiar face stood in front of the entrance was... was him, his eyes flashing with rage.    The smile on my face vanished as quickly as it had come."Mr. Vale... what are you here for?"