The Rise Of Nicholas Hensaw

Chapter 4

Before Nicklaus could fully process what Dr. Stevens was telling him, a knock on the door interrupted their conversation.

Nicklaus turned toward the door as Dr. Stevens said, "Come in, please." A nurse entered with a file in her hands.

"Dr. Stevens, the chief of staff wants to see you," the nurse announced, causing Dr. Stevens to stand up.

"But you just said the chief wasn't in his office," Nicklaus said angrily.

"He wasn't, sir. He just returned," the nurse replied, causing Nicklaus to nod, his nerves slightly calming.

He followed Dr. Stevens out of the office toward the chief's office. The moment Dr. Stevens opened the door, Nicklaus pushed it wide open, and his eyes fell on a man whose picture he had seen on his wife's phone.

"Are you Dr. Gabriel Fernandez?" Nicklaus asked, stunned. This was the same person Stella had described as her colleague at work.

He decided not to focus on that coincidence and get straight to the point—his sister's life was the only thing that mattered right now.

"Yes, how can I help you, Mr. Henshaw?" Gabriel asked, causing Nicklaus to pause.

The man even knew his name. "Please, sir, my sister... she was—"

"There's nothing we can do for your sister. Either bring the money, or leave," Gabriel said coldly.

"Please, sir, if you were in my position, you'd want someone to help you. I'm not asking you to start treatment immediately, but at least let her stay in a hospital bed instead of sitting in a reception chair," Nicklaus pleaded.

Gabriel burst into laughter. "You're quite amusing. Do you want her to die in one of our beds? Please leave my office."

"Please, sir—"

"Are you deaf? You're worthless! How did you even afford the hospital registration f*e?" Gabriel asked with a smug smile.

"Let me guess—your wife paid for it?" he continued.

Nicklaus was not only stunned but realized that this man knew far more about him than he'd expected.

"I know you and my wife are close friends. She told me you were her colleague at work. Please, I'm begging you—I need your help. I'll do anything," Nicklaus pleaded, but his words seemed to fall on deaf ears.

"Anything?" Gabriel asked with a malicious smile.

"Yes, please... for my sister's life," Nicklaus continued begging.

"I can see why your wife calls you a low-class beggar," Gabriel chuckled.

Nicklaus was momentarily stunned. "What? There's no way that's true," he muttered, trying to process what he'd just heard.

"Whether you believe it or not doesn't matter. Since when does society value a poor man's opinion?" Gabriel asked dismissively.

"If you want me to readmit your sister to this hospital, you must do something for me first," he said.

Nicklaus's jaw tightened. He was getting increasingly irritated and could barely stand being in Gabriel's presence another minute, but he tried to maintain his composure.

"What is it?" Nicklaus asked.

"I want you to get on your knees and clean this entire hospital floor—crawling the whole way," Gabriel said.

Nicklaus raised his eyebrows. "What? How am I supposed to clean an entire hospital on my knees?"

"Don't ask me. According to your wife, that's how you crawl around begging for money anyway."

Nicklaus realized this was Gabriel's way of humiliating him. He wanted to say, "My wife never said those things—stop lying," but the words wouldn't come.

"Please... give me something reasonable to do, and I'll do it right now. I just want my sister to be okay," Nicklaus kept pleading, which only seemed to irritate Gabriel further.

"Do you think this is a charity? If we treated everyone for free, how do you think we'd stay in business?" Gabriel demanded.

"You can go to one of those local, cheap hospitals. Besides, that's where you'll find people of your... class," Gabriel added.

One of the main reasons Gabriel despised Nicklaus was that for years, he had tried to win Stella's love and marry her. Then suddenly, Nicklaus had appeared out of nowhere and married her instead.

Letting out a sigh, Nicklaus decided to call Stella because he refused to believe what Gabriel was saying. "What are you doing?" Gabriel asked.

"I'm calling my wife. I know she didn't say those things—" Before Nicklaus could finish, both Gabriel and Dr. Stevens burst into laughter.

At first, Dr. Stevens felt uncomfortable laughing in front of his superior, but he had grown so irritated with Nicklaus that when Gabriel made his pointed observations, he couldn't help but join in.

"No matter how many times or how long you call her, she's not going to answer," Gabriel said.

Although Nicklaus knew he'd been calling his wife without response, he couldn't bring himself to admit it in front of Gabriel.

"What makes you think she won't answer my call? I'm her husband!" Nicklaus declared with forced confidence.

"How amusing that you boldly call yourself a husband. Your peers are out on the streets with bowls, begging for spare change," Gabriel continued his assault.

"I'm sure my wife is just busy with work, and that's why she hasn't answered my calls. She's been working a lot lately," Nicklaus muttered.

"Oh really? Why don't I call her and see if she picks up?" Gabriel suggested.

Nicklaus immediately nodded in agreement. "Yes, do it."

Nicklaus had been trying to reach her for days with no success, and Gabriel had her number. The moment Gabriel dialed, she answered on the first ring.

"Hello?" Stella's voice came through the phone, causing a triumphant smile to spread across Gabriel's face.