Chapter 4
Hansel had drunk heavily the night before. Midway through the night, Calvin had insisted they continue drinking at a second bar. By the time Hansel's driver, Dan Rover, returned him to the mansion, the sun was rising.
Hansel collapsed onto his bed. Just as he was drifting off, he forced himself up to take a quick shower. "Maybe Mimi won't be mad at me," he thought groggily.
He next awoke to intense pain. He hissed, pressing his stomach, and crawled from the bed. "My stomach hurts! Mi—" He stopped short of calling out to Miranda.
He frowned. Miranda seemed to be playing this game exceptionally well; she was holding out far longer than before. Fine. He would see how long she could resist.
Where were his pills?
Hansel searched the living room, ransacking drawers and cabinets where his first-aid kit might be hidden, but to no avail. He called Martha.
"Your gastric pills? They're in the first-aid kit."
Hansel felt his temples throb. He inhaled deeply. "Where is the first-aid kit?"
"In the drawer of your walk-in closet. There are several bottles of your pills there. Ms. Sutton said you often get gastric pain after drinking, so she moved them closer to your bed."
[Removed "+15 BONUS" as it's unclear what this refers to.]
"Hello? Mr. Johnson? Are you still there? Why did you hang up?"
Hansel found the first-aid kit, exactly as Martha described. All five bottles of his pills were neatly arranged.
After taking his pills and the pain subsided, Hansel relaxed. He pushed the drawer closed, then froze.
Nothing was missing from Miranda's jewelry or handbag collection. However, all her documents—ID, driver's license, diplomas—were gone. He checked the corner where he kept his travel suitcases; one was missing.
Rage boiled within him.
"Brilliantbrilliantjust fucking brilliant" He nodded, repeating the phrase. Women should never be indulged; otherwise, they'd cause chaos and walk all over him.
He heard the front door open and dashed downstairs.
"Wait, why are you here?"
Tina was putting on slippers. "What? Were you expecting someone else?"
Hansel slumped onto the couch. "What are you doing here? What do you want?"
"Martha said your stomach was bothering you again. Mom sent me to check on you." She went into the kitchen. "I haven't had lunch and I'm starving. I thought I'd join you."
One reason Tina liked Miranda was her cooking. Miranda's home-cooked meals were exceptional.
Less than a minute later, Tina shrieked, "Hans! There's no food! Where's Miranda? She's not home? But that's not"
Miranda usually prepared Hansel's lunch by now. Tina had timed her visit hoping to share it.
Hansel massaged his temples. Miranda again!
Tina emerged from the kitchen, disappointed. "Isn't she feeling well? I saw her at the hospital entrance; she looked pale"
"You saw her at the hospital?" Hansel sat up straight.
"Yes. I was visiting Dr. Young at Westerton Hospital when I saw Miranda. Oh, and Hans, Dr. Young accepted me into her Master's/Doctorate program!"
Hansel frowned. "What was she doing at the hospital?"
"You're asking me? How would I know?" Tina retorted.
Hansel remained silent.
"Maybe she wasn't sick, just visiting someone. But I don't think she has any friends; her world revolves around you"
"Are you finished?"
"Huh?"
"If so, leave. I'm still half-asleep," Hansel said, rising.
"No, waitWhy are you trying to get rid of me? Fine, I'll leave," Tina said angrily, putting on her shoes. "Mom arranged a blind date for you tomorrow at Cielo Gourmet at 2:00 pm. Don't be late."
"You only talk nonsense."
Tina glared before leaving. She wasn't surprised; Hansel could date Miranda and still look for a suitable wife—they were separate issues. He'd been on many blind dates, usually doing the bare minimum to satisfy his mother, Evelyn.
After Tina left, Hansel worked in his study. Years ago, he'd started his own business to escape his parents' control. The first three years were difficult. He refused family help, relying only on Miranda. He'd finally succeeded, founding his company two years prior. People stopped calling him a playboy or a spoiled brat. His family's attitude softened, and they became more involved in his life, including their acceptance of his relationship with Miranda.
By the time Hansel finished working, the sun had set. He was hungry.
[Removed "+15 BONUS"]
He called his girlfriend. "What are you doing?"
He heard bells ringing. A soft voice said, "Dear, I'm in class. I'll see you after."
He felt queasy at "dear." "Okay. Finish class."
He hung up and tossed the phone aside. It rang again half a minute later, but he ignored it, burying himself in work. Only when his stomach growled loudly did he reluctantly leave his study.
He called Calvin and the others to meet for dinner, changed, and prepared to leave. A young woman sat outside his door. Hearing the knob turn, she stood, smiling shyly.
"Ingy?"
"Sorry. I knocked, but you probably didn't hear me," Ingrid said, looking at his jacket. "Are you going out?"
He frowned. "How did you find my address?"
Ingrid admitted, "I asked a friend."
"Calvin?"
"No. Zach."
"Come in."
Ingrid's face brightened as she skipped inside, looking around the mansion. "You didn't answer my calls! I was worried!"
"Weren't you in class?"
"I skipped it. My boyfriend is more important."
Miranda would never have done that. When he'd started dating Miranda, she was a freshman, swamped with classes, yet never skipped one for him. Only in her senior year, with fewer classes, did she have time for him.
"Dear, you haven't eaten. I—"
"Do you know how to make cream of vegetable soup?" Hansel blurted.
"Cream ofvegetable soup?"
"Yeah."
"I don't, but I can learn."
Hansel refused Ingrid's obvious invitation to spend the night. After eating the takeout she'd brought, he drove her back to her dorm before meeting Calvin.
At a traffic light, he glanced at his phone. He remembered Tina saying she'd seen Miranda at the hospital. Even though they'd broken up, he still cared. He should check on her, even as friends.
He texted Miranda, "Are you not feeling well?" Only one gray tick appeared; she'd blocked his number.