Maid for Me by Kat Lieu, Eve Lieu Page B

floor next to a bucket of burning charcoal, appeared unconscious. Mina fanned the air in front of her face and coughed.

    “Mom!”

    Seeing Mina’s mother out cold on the floor, Jaiden called the police.

    Mina dropped to Kaila’s side and scooped her into her arms. She carried her mother out of the bedroom and placed her on the hallway. She dashed into the bathroom and brought back a wet towel to wipe her mother’s face. Jaiden checked Kaila’s wrist pulse and whether she was breathing or not.

    “She’s still alive. It’s a good thing the window was open,” Jaiden said.

    Mina bit her bottom lip, fighting back tears.

    I’ve already lost Daddy. I can’t lose you too, Mom.

    To Mina, an eternity passed before the police and EMTs arrived. Two paramedics carried Kaila onto a stretcher. Mina hopped onto the ambulance. Jaiden dismissed Driver and followed Mina.

    “What are you doing?” Tears brimmed in her eyes. “Just go home. You don’t need to come with me.” She wiped her face with the back of her hand.

    “I know the best doctors at UMC, Mina. Plus, my father knows the President of the hospital. I can help you.” Besides, Jaiden would rather spend the rest of the day at Uptown Medical Center than at the manse. Jameson had given him a mandatory summer reading list, economic and finance tomes Michael had published throughout his career.

    Business interested Jaiden, but it did not excite him like the medical field. That and he couldn’t stand back and do nothing when Mina’s mother’s life was in danger.

    Jaiden put his hand on Mina’s shoulder. “She should be fine. Her lips and face aren’t blue-which means she has enough oxygen in her system.”

    Squeezing Kaila’s hands, Mina exhaled and said, “I hope so.” Face pale and spirit defeated, Mina managed a weak smile. “Thanks for coming along, Boss.”

    Miss Marshmallow has a vulnerable side? Interesting.

    “I told you, you won’t regret working for me.” Jaiden winked.

    It was only Day Two working for Rich Boy but already, Mina felt indebted to him.

     

    ~*~

     

    Uptown Medical Center, UMC, in the middle of West Uptown, consisted of five buildings-one of which was an eight-story glass hospital. Five years ago, Kaila took Mina out of class and rushed her to the emergency room here.

    The repetitive beeping sounds from machines that looked like primitive-robots, the bright fluorescent rooms, bustling nurses and doctors, and the antiseptic, alcoholic smells were forever etched into Mina’s memories. The dark-blue body bag they had put her father’s stiff body inside made the eleven year old version of her realize death didn’t only happen in the news and movies.

    And that bad things happened to really good people.

    Five years later, stepping into the hectic emergency room, following the paramedics, Mina shivered. Even after the ER doctor who attended to Kaila told Mina her mother would be fine, Mina fretted, pacing the ER back and forth.

    Daddy was perfectly fine the day before he died.

    Jaiden pulled the ER doctor aside. He offered the young doctor his hand to shake. “Jaiden Daniels,” Jaiden said, eyeing the doctor’s ID. Dr. Wang was a resident, a practicing doctor fresh out of medical school. In a few years, Jaiden hoped to be in this guy’s shoes. Jameson, of course, had other plans for Jaiden, all of which involved Jaiden taking over D.L.P. and becoming a politician.

    “Please arrange for Dr. D’atria to be Mrs. Lin’s attending and transfer her to a VIP suite when she’s ready. If this can’t be arranged, I’ll have my father talk to Wendy,” Jaiden said. Everyone in the hospital knew Wendy—she was the President of the hospital.

    Dr. Wang adjusted his stethoscope. “Not a problem, I’ll make sure everything will be arranged.”

    “Wait,” Mina said, walking toward Jaiden and the doctor. “I can’t afford the VIP suite for Mom.”

    “Don’t worry-I’ll take care of the hospital bill.” Jaiden