Ex-convict to Executive

Chapter 3

Tension filled the room as Mr Uriel continued coughing while he slowly crouch down to the ground holding his chest.

They all rushed towards him as the old man was now kneeling, with his face facing the floor while he coughed uncontrollably and struggled to breath normally at the same time.

“Get water” Jaden shouted to the butler as he patted Mr Uriel back slowly in a bid to stop the cough  “Give him space, space! He needs air!” He shouted as the family members spread out, far from Mr Uriel and Jaden, Jaden was a medical doctor so they thought he should know better.

The butler returned with a glass of water and Jaden was about giving the water to Mr Uriel when he was suddenly interrupted by Dante’s voice

“Don’t give him water, it would worsen the cough” 

“What do you know?” Mrs Xanros panicked “Jaden is a medical doctor!” she shouted at Dante

“Water is not what should be-“

“Shut up, a cleaner now tells a medical doctor what to do?” Natty cut Dante off before he could get the chance to explain 

As soon as Mr Uriel finished drinking the water in the cup with eyes fixed on him, he stopped coughing, he was assisted to seat on his chair and rest his back, this time he was no longer gasping for breath nor coughing 

“What were you saying Janitor Dante?” Jaden responded with a prideful expression 

“It worked!” Samantha cheered with a clap and it only stroke Jaden’s ego the more

“You want my father to die!” Ellie shouted at Dante 

“I am a medical doctor and I have handled cases like this-”

Jaden was interrupted by Mr Uriel mild cough

“-during my years of medical practice” Jaden completed

“Well done Jaden, we are happy to have you as a son-in-law in this family” Mrs Xanros smiled at Jaden who prideful smiled back.

Mr Uriel coughed once and then twice and he didn't stop there, this time the cough became more serious, making his face to turn red and his eyes to close as he leaned his head at the back rest of the chair he was seating on.

“Jaden? Do something” Mrs Xanros panicked 

"Jaden!" Ellie shouted "Father's eyes are closing!" 

“Stop shouting okay!” Jaden shouted back trying not to show that he was panicking, from medical practice he knew that he had to apply pressure to Mr Uriel chest with a tool, but he didn’t know what to improvise to do the procedure “Call the ambulance!” Jaden shouted 

“What? You can’t do a first aid before they arrive?” Neon asked in surprise as he took out his phone from his pocket 

“I can but apparently the med…ical equi…pment is...” Jaden stuttered as he beat around the bush instead of admitting he couldn’t do anything to stop Mr Uriel from coughing “Get more water!” he ordered the butler again 

Jaden was the only one holding Mr Uriel by his arm, as he patted his back rhythmical, the coughing continued and even Mr Uriel started coughing out thick blood that stained the floor

“Neon hurry with the call” Audrey shouted to her brother, all these while Audrey and her husband watched.

“Don’t let your father take the water again or else he would die” Dante whispered to Audrey 

Audrey turned her gaze to Dante, already the first time he said it, Jaden the medical and professional debunked his request

“Trust me Audrey, water would only do more harm than good-his airways are already block”

Audrey was a little surprised that Dante knew about what to do in a situation like that. The butler hurried with another glass of water to give to Jaden

“Stop him before it gets worst, he is already coughing blood”

Audrey was skeptical about what Dante was saying, what if it got worst when her father don’t take the second glass of water, she thought. Dante was sure within him that he was saying the right thing.

“Stop!” Audrey shouted at Jaden, making each and everyone of them to direct their eyes to their direction except Mr Uriel because he was still struggling “Don’t give him the water it would only worsen his condition and make him to die”

They gasped at what Audrey just said, what gave her the audacity to say such in the first place 

“Then what should we do? Watch him die?” Ellie asked in a rude manner 

It was then Audrey recalled that Dante hadn’t told her what should be done 

“Get Milk” Dante spoke up but the butler didn’t move an inch because Dante was not a kind of person he takes instruction from 

“You heard him!” Audrey barked and it sent the man running like a child

“Milk?” Jaden replied unbelievably 

 “Neon are the ambulance any closer?” Mrs Xanros asked “I would not allow my husband to take any prescription from a janitor”

“They are not close, it’s raining heavily-“

The butler returned with the glass of milk and he was confused on who to give it to. Dante walked to him and took the glass and moved to Mr Uriel, by this time he was bleeding from his nose as well.

“Don’t you dare touch my husband!” Mrs Xanros shouted “Jaden give him the water again”

Jaden too nervous on what next to do, smiled “I…I think Dante is right” he scratched the back of his head 

They didn’t hide there surprise, since when was Dante knowledgeable enough than a medical doctor himself?

“Milk is Lactose and it would-“

“Give it to him already!” Mrs Xanros shouted not ready to hear Jaden’s explanations

Mr Uriel heaved a heavy breath and he cough for the last time. The milk worked yet no one commended or thanked Dante for his suggestion.

“Do you people want to kill me?” Mr Uriel shouted louder that they were scared he would have another attack again so they dared not respond but allowed him to scold them “Ellie and Audrey stay back I would teach you both a lesson, the rest of you leave my house this instant!”

Even if Jaden wasn’t told to stay, he stayed back so he could take care of the old man, but within him, he was acting to be a caring son-in-law so the old man would like him even more, who wouldn’t want to be in the will of a dying wealthy man?

****

Outside the mansion, the rain was pouring heavily, Samantha needed to get to her workplace, she worked as an intern at a law firm not far from the art gallery Dante worked in.

“Sister Natty please can you drive me back to work?” Samantha asked 

“Yes sure, join me" Natty responded 

“Please can I join too?” Dante asked and it made Natty to look at him, as if it was a crime for him to ask her such question in the first place “Sam’s office is few block away from my work place” 

“So? Get a taxi” Natty replied 

“Okay please drive me outside the compound where I can hail a taxi” Dante pleaded.

The Xanros family mansion was in the middle of hectares of land, before Dante could walk to the front gate he would be beaten by the rain

“Then trek to the front gate” Natty responded as she took the Bentley remote control keys from the Christain Dior clutch bag, then she entered the car.

Natty started the car, and the engine roared, she pulled out of the parking lot, speeding off with the screeching tyres pouring dirty ground water right on Dante’s face and cloth, he closed his eyes and his mouth out of impulse but it didn’t help, some of the water entered his mouth.

 

Dante looked down at his wrist watch, he had no choice but to walk under the rain to hail a taxi to take him to work, he had few minutes left for his break to be over and he if he goes late, he would be jobless.