The Devil's Sweetheart

By continuously sitting in the same place, Merl eventually got bored. She took a break and went outside to chat with either Mandy or Naomi until Nick returned to the office with her favorite blueberry muffins. ''How do you feel, Mandy? Are you in pain?''

''I am going to kill that Witch one day.'' Mandy grimaced, massaging her arms to ease the soreness. She hates exercising, and that Witch knows to hit the right spot. As if is she has no work in the office, she picks on me constantly.

''Kill the Witch? Everybody knows you are a scared rabbit in front of Leena.'' Stated Naomi. Her sarcastic tone earned a deathly stare from Mandy. The three of their talks shifted to the recent gossips, while Merl's gaze shifted to her wristwatch now and then.

''You guys carry on,'' Merl got up to leave, but Mandy held her hand.

''Stay.'' Mandy insisted like a spoiled child. Nobody here cares about her except for Merl. So, she wanted to spend time with her and also bitch on that Witch for some time.

''I have to fetch a review document from Leena to prepare for the next class..'' Merl gave a legitimate excuse. ''We will continue at lunch.''

''Okay.'' Mandy unwillingly agreed. 

Merl knocked on Leena's office door and waited. With no response from the other end, she pushed open the door and walked in. ''Leena?''

''Leena, where are...'' Her hands flew to her chest, witnessing the scene in front of her. 

''Leena!'' She screamed, enough to wake the dead before making a run towards her. Fear dreaded on her, seeing Leena lying on the ground unconscious. 

''What on the earth happened to you? You were fine in the morning.'' Merl patted Leena's cheeks, but she lay unresponsive. Hearing the screams, the employees came running to the office room one by one. Cutie, who was playing with Carrot, also jogged into the room. ''Eena!'' She cried, tapping Leena's arms. Carrot was whimpering, running around Leena in circles. Both were not ready to part from them, although the employees pulled them.

''OMG! Leena! What happened to her?'' Naomi cried, approaching Leena hastily, but Merl stopped her.

''Everybody..Would you mind moving aside? You are suffocating her. Please cooperate.'' Merl checked pulse. It has dropped, and she knew Leena has to be taken to the hospital. ''We need to shift her to the hospital soon.''

''Nick and Reese are not in the office.'' One of the employees shouted. ''I will call the ambulance.''

''NO!'' Merl's thundering voice startled the employee. Knowing that her tone scared everyone, she immediately smiled, her tone soft as she spoke. ''Leena is a celebrity. Let's not make an issue by exposing her to the public. I will take her to the hospital in my car.''

Everybody nodded in agreement. Mer's statement made sense to them.

''I need a person to assist me.'' Merl quickly glanced at Mandy. ''Can you help me, Mandy?''

''Of course,'' Mandy ensured. Sadness gloomed over Mandy's face, for she was unable to take Leena's pale appearance. She is better a bully, Mandy thought.

''I will also join you,'' Naomi suggested. She can't leave Leena alone.

''No! Stay here, Naomi,'' Merl stated sternly. ''Take care of Savny. She is alone. When Nick and Reese come back, please inform them.'' Merl said. Bright light blinked under the table. Merl faintly looked at Leena's mobile, which has fallen onto the ground. It was Reese's number. She completely ignored and turned to the faint Leena. 

Naomi pulled the crying Cutie into her arms. She held Carrot's leash and dragged her out of the room, although it was shooting and growling at her for separating her from Leena.

''Let's go,'' Merl told Mandy. The others stepped forward to help, but Merl lifted Leena and carried her out of the room, mandy following behind. Mandy was surprised at how the fragile girl was able to carry Leena without making any effort.

Merl gently laid Leena on the back seat. With Mandy looking after Leena, she started the car. 

''There is a hospital nearby,'' Mandy said, switching on the Google maps. ''Let's take....hey! you are going in the wrong direction.''

''I know what I am doing.'' Without heeding Mandy's words, Merl started the car in the opposite direction. Half n hour later, the car pulled into the entrance of a Cross hospital. 

A nurse quickly checked Leena's pulse and looked at Merl. She briefly nodded her head. ''Please stay here.'' She then pushed the patient inside the hospital room.

''I am scared,'' Mandy said with concern-filled eyes. 

''Don't worry. She will be fine.'' Merl assured her friend. ''Wait here. I will inform Nick and Reese.''

Mandy waited in the corridor for an hour, but neither the doctors came out of the room to inform Leena's condition nor Merl. She would have called her if she had mobile, but she forgot to carry it in her frenzy state.

While pacing in the corridor, Mandy noticed Reese and Nick at a faint distance. ''How is she!'' Reese confronted Mandy. When she and Nick returned to the office, Naomi informed that Leena fainted, and Merl has taken her to the hospital. They called Merl several times to ask for the hospital name, but she didnot pick the call. But both were glad that Merl was with Leena. When Nick was close to track Merl's mobile location, they received the call.

''We don't know yet. The Doctors haven't come out to explain the situation,'' Mandy explained, sadly glancing at the door.

''Don't worry, Nick.'' Merl finally appeared. ''Leena will be fine.''

''Since an hour, the doctors haven't reported anything?'' Reese muttered and turned to Nick. ''It must be something serious. Inform Devin, right now.'' 

Nick swallowed hard, for his doom has approached. It was his duty to protect Leena, but he failed in the mission. The call got connected. Nick felt like he was transported to the bone-chilling continent as he slowly informed about Leena's condition. ''I am dead meat today.'' He murmured.

Within ten minutes, the hospital's top floor thundered with rough footsteps. The deep hazel eyes turned into dark, mysterious ocellus. Knowing very well about Devin's temper, Nick knew he is enraged.

''Where were you when she fainted?'' Devin's voice sounded like a raged volcano.

Nick tightly gripped the mobile in his hands. If he tells the truth that he went to a cake shop to bring muffins to his girlfriend, Devin would not think a second to throw him out of the building. ''Devin..I.."

''It's not his mistake.'' Merl came forward to Nick's rescue. ''He was not in the office when Leena..''

''WHO ARE YOU!'' He demanded, and complete silence ensued in the corridor with the authority of his voice. Merl shuddered, holding Nick's hand. Nick wanted to support Merl, but given the current situation, it would anger Devin further. As if a rescue squad appeared to support the life, the hospital room opened, and the doctor came out. Devin's attention rapidly shifted to them.

''Nothing to worry about. She will awake soon. It's a food poison. She will recover in one or two days. You can go and see the patient.'' The doctor informed. Before walking down the corridor, he exchanged looks with Merl.

Devin slowly approached Leena. He sat by the bed, the fierce eyes replaced. Tenderly he kissed her closed eyes. ''You scared me again, Sweetheart.'' Moments later, he heard a faint murmur.

''W_ater.'' 

''Wait a second.'' He poured water from the glass jug into a glass. He got up to help Leena drink through the straw. But the novel looks in her eyes confused him as if he was a stranger. ''What's wrong?'' He softly asked, caressing her cheeks which Leena swatted away. ''Don't touch me. Who are you?''

Giving her one deathly stare, he helped her to lean on the headboard. ''Your performance doesn't even deserve an academy award.'' Memory loss for food poisoning? Devin smirked shaking his head.

Leena weakly whimpered. She wanted to play with him. How did he find I was acting? Was I obvious?

.....

From the shadows, a woman emerged out. She looked at the top building of the hospital and smirked. [Boss: Target successful] She sent a text.

[Good Job, A]

''What are you doing here?'' She quickly hid the mobile and turned around to see Nick smiling at her.

''Informing Naomi about Leena's condition..'' Merl smiled at him, hiding her scorn.