MIDNIGHT Bride The CEO's TEMPTATION

Crystal frowned as she waved for the taxi to leave. "You can go now," she said. "You're no longer needed."

When the driver heard this, he called Crystal a bitch and drove away. Before he'd gone more than two inches, though, Eric kicked the side of his car.

"Who do you think you're talking to?" Eric shouted. "Not only will I not accept your ride, but I will make sure that your career as a driver is ruined."

"Are you out of your mind?" the driver shouted.

"Just keep your mouth shut and move along," Eric warned. "I've already memorized your license plate number."

The driver sighed, shook his head, and drove away. Once he was gone, Crystal glared at him and said, "That was so childish. I was embarrassed. He doesn't have an easy job, and you don't have to make it harder. We were in the wrong to waste his time. You should have apologized to him, but instead, you tried to scare him!"

"But he called you a bitch," Eric argued. "I couldn't let him get away with that!"

Crystal: "You could have, and you should have. Or, better yet, you should have paid him to take you to the hospital; if you are hurt, that is!"

"Don't get your panties in a bunch," Eric sighed. "I wasn't even planning to ruin his career!"

"You had better not!" Crystal shouted. She was getting angry, and her face was beginning to turn red.

"Stop it," Antony said, interrupting their argument. "It's over now, so why don't we forget about it. How about we walk to the hospital?" he turned to Crystal. "If Eric gets too tired to walk, we can help him."

Crystal sighed and nodded her head. "So be it," she said.

***

It took Eric and Antony nearly an hour to get Eric to the hospital, and when they arrived, they were met by a team of doctors with a white-haired man in the lead. The doctor took one look at Eric and said, "Don't worry, we'll take good care of you."

There was still one set of stairs to get up, though. Eric turned to Crystal and said, "Please, help me up the stairs."

Crystal gave Eric a hard look and said, "Go up the stairs yourself. Your neck is broken, not your leg." She stood still and looked at a nurse in a pink uniform. The meaning of her look was obvious: If Eric needed help, a nurse should help him.

The white-haired man looked at Crystal with admiration. Eric was one of four local masters, and the fact that she'd refused his wish was note-worthy.

Before Eric could speak, Crystal said, "Now that we have arrived at the hospital and the doctors and nurses are here to take care of you, I will go back to school."

Eric stopped her. He said, "But these people are not members of my family, nor are they my friends. I need you here with me!"

"But neither am I," Crystal argued. "You don't need me!"

"But I do," Eric said, and the look on his face was so sad and miserable that it nearly broke Crystal's heart.

"Fine," she sighed. "I will stay.

***

Eric's X-ray report showed that he had dislocated his spine, and he was required to stay at the hospital in traction. And when Crystal heard this, she nearly wept. "I am so sorry," she told him. "I thought you were acting. I didn't realize your spine was really out of place."

"What good would it do me to lie to you?" Eric asked. While he spoke, he picked up his cell phone and sent Antony a text message. It said: "Get the bodyguards out of the way, and keep an eye on that jerk, Richard."

While Eric was texting, Crystal looked around the room. It was one of the largest rooms on the VIP Ward, and it was decorated in black and white. The equipment and furniture looked very high-end. All in all, the room was comparable to a five-star presidential suite at a hotel. "Impressive," she said.

"The best money can buy." There was an apple and a knife on the table, and Eric said, "I want you to peel that apple for me."

Crystal shrugged and began to peel the apple, and Eric watched her intently. As she peeled the apple, a strand of her hair fell out from behind her ears. He thought about fixing it for a moment, but he was afraid that she might slash his hand with the knife. If that happened, he was worried that she might not want to visit him again.

After a moment, Crystal looked up and asked, "Why are you staring at me?" Is he going to attack me? - she wondered, and she tightened her grip on the knife - If he does, I will be ready!

Eric frowned and said, "I was watching you! Because I was afraid, you might poison the apple! Anyway, Hurry up. I'm hungry."

Crystal smirked and handed Eric the half-peeled apple. "This is as good as it gets," she said. "I'm sick of your ungrateful attitude. Take it or leave it." 

Crystal stood up and poured him a glass of water. "Have some water. I suggest you get a private nurse. You will find it more convenient than having to wait for someone to do their rounds. And I'm leaving. Oh, and stop staring at your phone. Just lie down and ring the bell if you need something."

"Hey," Eric said, realizing he could not stop her. He thought for a moment, and then he said, "That van that I hit belonged to one of Richard's goons."

Crystal gasped. The van had stopped right in front of her. "Was the driver trying to abduct me?" she asked.

"Could be," Eric replied. "Richard is famously known as one of our city's most vicious villains. He likes to play dirty, especially with people who have offended him. After what you did to him last night, he is going to want revenge."

Crystal: "So?"

The calmness in Crystal's eyes surprised Eric. Holy shit! - he thought - this girl seems way more mature, calm, and composed than any eighteen-year-old girl has the right to be! 

"So?" Eric said. "I have an idea. If you allow me to be your man, no one will dare to lay a finger on you!" He brought the apple to his mouth and took his first bite.

"What?" Crystal snorted with laughter. Then she grabbed the knife and plunged it into the apple.

Eric lowered his eyes to look at the knife. It was only an inch away from his face. "Are you trying to murder me?" he muttered with a mouth full of fruit.

Crystal smiled and said, "If I were trying to murder you, you'd be dead. You understand?" Eric nodded. His face had turned as white as a ghost.

Crystal: "Excellent. Now be a good boy and eat your apple."

Eric: "Will you come and see me tomorrow?"

Crystal: "It depends on the weather. And what kind of mood I'm in."