Rachel's POV

Another few weeks passed by without me seeing or talking to Alexander. We were back to strangers and I spent most of my time with my friends. We went out quite often and Julia made it routine to assist me every day after school with my lecture readings. I didn't really need the help but we were both too lonely for our own good. We mostly ended up watching movies and eating food with the others occasionally joining us.

Coming home today I was surprised to see that Alexander was home before me. He usually stayed out quite late and then went back into his study. It was Friday and I had made plans with Amir to help him pick out his suit for his sister's engagement party next week.

I stepped into the house and saw that Alexander was pacing around everywhere while yelling into his phone barbarically. Various documents where carelessly left on the dining room table and I tried to read it as fast as I could but failed since I was a very slow reader who took a bit longer than the average person.

Alexander quickly grabbed it out of my vision and went upstairs to his study but not before sending me a dirty glare at prying. However I never fail to see the first few paragraphs and highlighted sections.

Following him upstairs, I barged into the room not caring that he was on the phone. He saw me enter and gave me a fierce look but I went to his desk and grabbed the documents again reading it properly. I looked up at him in disbelief as I had held the sheet of paper in my hand.

He finished his call and threw his phone on the table sighing. I opened my mouth to speak but he cut me off before I could even begin.

"Save the damn speech, Rachel," he said nonchalantly and grabbed the sheet of paper from my hands.

"Why would you go through with such a thing?" I asked disappointed. The documents had a list of shareholders and investors that were convinced to pull out from their association with Ashford and Co. ultimately bankrupting the corporation. It was all on Alexanders account and he had already managed to dispel 60% of investors and benefactors.

"God Rachel, leave me alone. This doesn't concern you at all. Get out."

I stood my ground at his ignorance. "You're destroying your grandmothers' legacy and letting thousands of people go without jobs just because you feel like it?" I was always told that it was Cathleen Ashford who took it upon herself to start the company. She took her inheritance from her father and helped her husband to create the Ashford legacy that was very prominent today.

Alexander turned around and blatantly ignored me.

"You're really going to destroy your family name? Let all your grandmother's hard work go down the drain and thousands of families suffer because of retrenchment?" I grabbed the sheet of paper back from him and tore it into shreds. He didn't need to go through with this. I know what those families would have to go through if they lost their income and I didn't want that for them.

Ashford and Co. was a huge corporation with thousands of employees. The corporation dabbled in ethical and social responsibility as well. Even if it was for publicity, the factions of charities helped many people around the world and here Alexander was taking it upon himself to destroy it.

"Alexander, answer me."

He growled out loud in annoyance and strode towards me angrily. Roughly he held my arms with his nails digging into my skin.

"Drop it, Rachel. I said this doesn't concern you so leave it alone!" His eyes were blazing with fury and I winced in pain.

"You're hurting me, let go," I said and tried to get out of his grip. "Alexander, let go of me!" I screamed at him.

Finally he released me and turned his back towards me. My arms were stinging.

"I can't believe you. Those families are going to go through what I went through and the people who receive help from the charities will also suffer on your account. How could you? I feel like I don't even know you anymore," I whispered the last part and looked down at the floor.

I was so disappointed that this was his ploy to get back at William. He'd be destroying what William's biggest dream was, yet it was at the cost of thousands of people.

Alexander still didn't answer me. I went closer to him, "Are you going to say something?" I asked with malice thick in my voice.

"Fuck off, Rachel!" he yelled and turned around abruptly unexpectedly pushing me away. Shocked at his outburst, I stumbled back unable to catch my footing. Before I could comprehend what was happening, I felt myself hit the bookshelf and a sharp, horrid pain made it way to my head.

My hand immediately went to the back of my head feeling the trickle of blood pour out and then I saw black.

"... assure you she'll be fine, Mr. Viotto."

I blinked slowly trying to adjust to the harsh stream of sunlight pouring in. The disinfectant smell was quite nauseating for me and my head hurt so badly. Looking down I saw that I was in a hospital gown.

Oh god my head

I let out a little groan as I gained consciousness. Everything was a blur and I needed something to help my head. It hurt so bad.

"Mrs. Viotto?" an unknown voice called out to me. I took a few moments to gain some clarity within my vision and realised that I was in a hospital suite.

The doctor called out to me once again and I looked over at him.

"Mrs. Viotto, is the pain bearable? Would you like to tell me how you are feeling?" he asked and inspected the IV that was attached to my hand.

I whimpered out in protest because it was absolutely excruciating. "It's terrible, my head hurts and my neck is numb from the pain," I let out as I struggled to get comfortable.

I squirmed for a bit trying to place all my weight on the side of my body as I laid down. I couldn't lie on my back because then I would place pressure on the back of my head.

The doctor called for the nurse as he checked the rest of my vitals. "Switch the morphine to a medium dosage of fentanyl and check in after 4 hours," he instructed the petite blonde nurse who gave me a warm smile.

The doctor was satisfied with my vitals and scribbled something into the file that was in his hand. "You'll be fine Mrs. Viotto. With plenty of rest and restricting your activities, your concussion will be healed soon. It was a minor concussion, thankfully. Nothing to be worried about. I'll prescribe some medication for you upon your discharge later, but for now the fentanyl will help you."

I thanked him and he left the room after telling me to press the green button on the nightstand if I required assistance with anything.

The nurse came back into the room and replaced the IV bag. Before she could leave I called out to her, "How long have I been out for?"

"Just for the night. It's currently 10am. You were also a bit dehydrated. Overworking yourself I presume hence you've been unconscious for that long."

"When can I go home?"

"When Doctor Lance sees fit. He'll check in on you later. I'll bring you some soup since you must be hungry."

I thanked her and she smiled at me and nodded her head to someone behind me. The hospital suite was huge and I was lying on my left side unable to fully look around.

I assumed that Alexander was behind me but he was as quiet as a mouse. I didn't want to speak to him or even look at him. I was furious with him.

I was still so tired but I was even more thirsty. I reached over to the glass pitcher to pour myself some water but the medication made me extremely drowsy. I could barely lift it up let alone pour it into the glass.

Alexander then decided to help me out. Hesitantly he looked at me with wary eyes as he poured some water into the glass and held it out for me.

His appearance was completely haggard. He was still in same clothes from yesterday with a little bit of dried blood on his shirt.

I drank the water in one big gulp feeling so much better and refreshed. The nurse was back with a tray in her hands which she set down next to me.

"Would you like to assist her, Mr. Viotto?" she asked Alexander who seemed to be somewhere else in his mind. He snapped out of his daze and turned to the nurse.

He nodded and took her place as she left.

Although he was gentle and attentive when feeding me, he didn't say one word to me and neither did he apologize. It only added to the fury I had for him.

I couldn't stand him at that point. I had so much anger bubbling within me. I'm appreciative for all that he has done for me, but how could I still have admiration for someone who would cause thousands of people to lose their jobs.

I finished eating and the medication kicked in hard that I fell asleep.