The Rise Of Nicholas Hensaw

Chapter 3

"Rim Hotel, Room 89," Nicklaus read the message, his brows furrowing in confusion.

"Maybe she wants to give me the money," he thought hopefully. After taking a deep breath, he stood up and whispered to himself, "The only reason I married Stella was to raise the $300,000 needed for my sister's treatment, but I ended up using everything I got to pay off old debts."

He sighed heavily. Over the years, he had genuinely fallen in love with Stella's personality, thinking she was something special. What he didn't realize was that she was like a beautiful rose—gorgeous on the surface, but full of hidden thorns.

She had only been kind to him during the first few months of their marriage. After that, she stopped caring about him entirely and never bothered to tell him where she was going or what she was doing.

Determined to meet her at the hotel, he stood up and headed toward the building's exit. He avoided the front entrance, not wanting another confrontation with Frederick.

He successfully slipped out through a side door without being seen. With no money for transportation, he ran all the way to the Rim Hotel.

By the time he arrived, he was drenched in sweat. He wiped his forehead with the back of his hand, trying to make himself somewhat presentable.

"Damn," he muttered, watching well-dressed, affluent men exit the hotel. He walked into the building looking like he'd been living on the streets. It wasn't hard to spot him—his clothes were a stark contrast to the expensive fabrics surrounding him in the elegant lobby.

He wore black pants stained with mud, and his shirt looked as though it hadn't been washed in a week.

Nicklaus noticed people staring at him. Though no one said anything directly, their eyes were full of judgment.

He entered the elevator with two women and a man. The women couldn't help but stare at him with obvious disgust.

"What's that smell in here?" one of them asked, wrinkling her nose.

"Smells like something died," the second woman replied, not taking her eyes off Nicklaus.

Nicklaus couldn't wait to get out of that elevator.

"What is someone like this doing here? Doesn't he know his place?" one woman whispered to the other.

"He's probably here looking for a cleaning job," her friend responded, though her expression suggested doubt.

"You know the kind of people this hotel employs as cleaners. They hire presentable people, not... beggars."

Thankfully, the elevator doors opened before Nicklaus could hear any more of their conversation.

Just as he stepped out, his phone rang. It was Dr. Stevens calling again.

"Mr. Henshaw, you clearly don't care about your sister. We're discharging her immediately." The doctor hung up before Nicklaus could respond.

Panic-stricken, Nicklaus hurried down the hallway looking for room 89.

He found the door and noticed a cleaning lady finishing up inside the room. In her cart was a wastebasket containing used tissues and what appeared to be a discarded condom wrapper.

He double-checked the room number—"89" was clearly marked on the door.

"Excuse me, I'm looking for the people who were staying in this room," Nicklaus said.

The cleaner looked him up and down suspiciously. "They left about an hour ago," she replied, finishing her work and locking the door.

"They?" Nicklaus asked, hoping he'd misheard.

Unfortunately, the cleaner nodded. "Yes, both of them."

His heart sank. Desperately, he tried calling Stella again, but she didn't answer.

Frustration boiled over, and he clenched his fist and punched the wall hard enough to scrape his knuckles.

He walked back to the elevator, his mind racing. When it reached the ground floor, he rushed toward the exit without looking back.

With no money for a taxi or rideshare, he had no choice but to run to the hospital. He wasn't sure his legs could carry him, but he had to try.

Fueled by desperation to save his sister, he arrived at the hospital completely out of breath.

He walked inside and, just as the doctor had warned, his sister was no longer in her room.

"Rita!" he called out, spotting her sitting in the reception area, looking pale and exhausted.

"Hang in there. Don't worry, I'll fix this," he promised, then hurried over to the nurse on duty.

"Please, I need to speak with Dr. Stevens," Nicklaus said urgently.

"His office is the fifth door on your left," she replied, pointing down the hallway.

Nicklaus didn't waste a second before heading to the doctor's office. He knocked on the door, praying the doctor would see him immediately.

"Come in," he heard from inside.

"Doctor, please... I know I don't have the money right now, but you have to help my sister," Nicklaus pleaded.

"Are you Mr. Henshaw?" the doctor asked, and Nicklaus nodded frantically.

"I'm sorry, sir, but this is out of my hands now. The chief of staff has given strict orders to discharge her," Dr. Stevens explained.

"What do you mean? Who's the chief of staff?" Nicklaus demanded.

"Dr. Gabriel Fernandez," Dr. Stevens replied.

The name hit Nicklaus like a thunderbolt. It sounded incredibly familiar, but he couldn't place where he'd heard it before.

"Where is he? Please, I need to speak with him," Nicklaus said, nearly dropping to his knees again.

"He's not here. Last I heard, he went to the Rim Hotel for... a personal appointment. But that was hours ago," the doctor said dismissively, clearly wanting Nicklaus to leave his office.