The sterile scent of the hospital waiting room did very little to soothe Bella’s frayed nerves. She had been in a eting when she received the call, Ken had collapsed on the street.
The details were sketchy, but the urgency in the voice on the other end had sent a jolt of fear through her. She had imdiately excused herself, her mind racing with worst-case scenarios and she had taken a two hour trip. Now, she paced the waiting room, her heels clicking against the linoleum floor, a knot of anxiety tightening in her chest.
Ken Stuart was not just her most lucrative and important client; he was also her very good friend, a confidante, soone she had known for years. They had both started their respective careers at the sa, Bella who had been an assistant to a record label boss had been inspired to take a chance on Ken who had been an aspiring singer without a penny to his na.
While the label executives had not been very excited about Ken, Bella however had seen sothing that they had failed to see in him. The hunger to succeed and a talent unlike what everyone else had been peddling at the ti. Bella had known that if he was given a chance, he was going to blow everyone’s mind, he just needed soone to believe in his vision. And she decided that that person was she.
She imdiately quit her job and convinced him to let her take him on as a client, she had very little experience but she was earnest and she did not want to disappoint him. So she set about, finding a platform for him to grow.
Like a colt learning to walk, their start had been very shaky and marked by a ton of rejections but they had been relentless and plowed on, now they were both at the top of their prospective careers, she was an agent to the best, sought after by people who aspired to beco stars, and Ken was one of the biggest ones in the sky.
Their professional relationship had blossod into a genuine friendship, one that they both cherished deeply. So, the thought of him lying in a hospital bed, unwell, was unbearable to her.
As she rounded a corner, she slowed down when she saw her. It was Felicity Aves, one of the most beautiful actresses in the industry. She was sitting near a window, her posture stiff, her beautiful profile etched with worry. Bella rolled her eyes and wished that she would not have to deal with the uppity actress who thought that she was better than everyone and despised Bella for no good reason.
Bella had t Felicity a few tis, at industry events and gatherings, then the next thing she knew, she and Ken were an item. She had been bothered by the relationship, but she was not one to ddle in Ken’s personal affairs so she steered away.
Despite her efforts to keep away, Bella always sensed a subtle undercurrent of hostility from Felicity, a veiled jealousy that Bella had always attributed to insecurity owing to the fact that Ken and she were very good friends.
She approached Felicity cautiously, her footsteps echoing slightly in the quiet room. "Felicity," she said gently, her voice laced with concern. "How is he?"
Felicity’s head snapped up, her eyes narrowing as she t Bella’s gaze. The worry that had been etched on her face was quickly replaced by a cold, hard expression. She was not doubt not pleased by her presence.
"He is getting better," she said curtly, her voice flat. "It took you long enough to get here."
"I am so relieved to hear that," Bella replied, forcing a smile and ignoring Felicity’s snide remark. "I was so worried when I heard about his hospitalization, and I boarded the first flight so that I could get here as soon as possible."
Bella figured that Felicity was already at the hospital because she had been with Ken at the ti that he had fallen sick. She wondered what Ken was looking for in this city, to her knowledge he did not have any performances billed to happen here.
Felicity’s lips curled into a sneer. "You know that you did not have to bother taking the trip, don’t you have business to take care of? You are not family after all, I am here for him and that is all he needs."
Bella’s smile faltered. Imdiately she had seen her, she had anticipated so tension, but Felicity’s outright hostility took her aback.
"Ken is a very dear friend," Bella said, her voice firm. "I have every right to be concerned about him."
"Friend?" Felicity scoffed, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "You are just his agent. That is all you have ever been and all you will ever be, get that through your head."
Bella took a deep breath, trying to keep her composure. She was not going to engage in a petty argunt, not when Ken was lying sick in the hospital.
"That is not true," Bella said calmly. "Ken and I have a very close relationship. We have been friends for years. I don’t want any trouble, I just want to be there for him and be sure that he is okay."
Felicity’s voice took on a venomous tone as her eyes flashed dangerously. "When I beco his wife, I will get him to fire you."
"Well, let us wait until then." Bella said with a shrug.
Felicity stood up, her eyes blazing with anger. "You have always been in the way," she hissed, her voice low and venomous. "You have always been there, hovering around him, pretending to be his friend. But i know that you are just waiting for the right mont to snatch him up. You have been using him for your own gain."
Bella’s patience finally snapped. She’d had enough of Felicity’s accusations.
"That is ridiculous," Bella retorted, her voice rising. "I care about Ken deeply. Our friendship is genuine and if I wanted to be with him, you would be with him right now."
"Get out," Felicity spat, pointing a finger towards the exit. "You are not needed here. Go back to your office, back to your etings and other clients. Ken doesn’t need you."
Bella stood her ground, refusing to be intimidated. "I’m sorry Felicity but I am not going anywhere unless Ken says so," she said firmly. "I am here for him, and I’m going to stay here until I know he’s okay."
Right at that mont, a nurse ca and stared at the two won in irritation. "I am sure you are aware that there are sick people recuperate here, if you want to get into a screaming match then I suggest you go to the parking lot." The nurse scolded sternly.
Bella bowed her head in sha and whispered. "I am sorry." While Felicity just simred.
Satisfied that her ssage had gotten across to the won, the nurse turned and left them there.
Felicity’s face flushed with anger. She opened her mouth to retort, but no words ca out. She simply glared at Bella for a mont, her eyes filled with pure hatred. Then, with a frustrated huff, she turned on her heel and stord away, her footsteps noisily echoing down the hallway.
Bella watched her go, her heart pounding in her chest. She hadn’t wanted a confrontation, but she was not going to let Felicity bully her, especially not when Ken needed support. She took another deep breath, trying to calm her nerves.
She just wanted to see her friend, to make sure that he was alright. She found a seat and settled in to wait, her mind filled with worry for her friend, and a lingering unease about the encounter with Felicity. She knew that this wasn’t the end of it. Felicity’s jealousy was a force to be reckoned with, and Bella knew she would have to navigate this difficult situation carefully, for Ken’s sake.
"Are you here to see the patient?" A different nurse suddenly appeared before Bella and she hastily jumped to her feet and nodded.
"The patient has woken up and is doing much better." The kindly looking nurse smiled and Bella let out the breath she did not know she had been holding, "You can co with ." She said.
When they got to the door of the room he had been moved to from the ICU, the nurse let her go in then she shut the door behind her. Bella took a reluctant step forward and faltered at the sight of her friend’s usually vibrant face looking pale and weak on the pillow.
She braced herself and continued to walk forward. As she ca closer and sat by his bedside, his eyelashes fluttered and she felt her breath catch in her throat as his eyes opened and focused on her.
"You had us scared for a mont, Ken." Bella said softly as she reached out and held his hands in hers.
"Where is she?" Ken demanded, his voice gravely from misuse.
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