Chapter 34

jack

        As soon as Alex leaves, I can breathe a little easier. I enter the barracks, go straight to my boss's room and knock on the door. - Sir? I call him and he gets up to open it.
— Good morning, Jackeline.
How is everything? he asks curiously.
    I marvel at the way he says good morning to me, looking like he already knows something.
Strange! I've been to his office several times, but now I'm nervous.
- Yes sir!
Are you busy? I ask cautiously.
— No, come in.
Some problem? - he asks.
"So, sir, I don't know where to start...
" I stutter, not knowing how to break the news to him.
"What is it, Jackeline?
" Speak up, what's going on with you? my boss says, reaches out and points to the chair.
"I don't know where to start...
" I stutter again.
“Come on, Jackeline, you don't have to be afraid of me.
He declares fondly.
"I know, boss, but I really don't know where to start...
"
— What troubles you so much?
- wants to know.
"So, boss, you know I'm doing Mr.
Mendonça's security, don't you?" I ask.
“Yes, and what's the problem?
He sits better in his chair.
“Sir, I know it's wrong, but I'd like to let you know that I'm involved with him,” I blurt out quickly.

—Jackeline, are you telling me that you're dating Mr.
Mendonça? He says a little surprised.
“That, sir.
I'm dating Alex Mendonça! — I stutter.
“Jackeline, you know this can't happen,” he declares firmly.

"I know...
" I stutter. “It ended up happening, it shouldn't have, but it did.
“You know you won't be able to continue the case,” he says.

- And why not?
I question.
“Jackeline, you know very well that the only involvement we have with the client is the professional one,” my boss reminds me.

"I know...
sir!" I grumble in agreement with what he said.
“Then I'll assign your boyfriend a new security guard,” he decides.

'Who's going to replace me?
' I ask feeling a bitter taste.
“I'll see later,” my boss replies.

"Okay, but until then can I work for him?
" I ask, starting to feel strange.
“Today will be the last day.
Tomorrow, I'll assign another security guard to Mr. Mendonça,” he answers and looks at me curiously.
"Okay...
I see..." I whisper.
- All right?
- he asks.
- Yes sir.
-  I stand up.
"One more thing, Jack, how's his case going?
" - he asks
“Today I'm going over to your agency to find out more about the story and I'm also going to probe the person who's hurting you.
” My stomach churns.
"Jackeline...
are you okay?" my boss asks, looking worried.
- Yes I'm fine.
I think I ate something that didn't sit well in my stomach.
- Are you sure?
He looks at me and I nod my head.
         I can't even answer my boss, my mouth is bitter and I feel the vomit rise, I try to run to the bathroom, but when I find myself, I'm lying on the floor, I hear Rubens' voice far away, calling my name.

Some hours later...

      I open my eyes and the first thing I see is a white ceiling. I look around and realize I'm in a hospital room. I do not understand anything. How did I get here? I feel something on my face and when I go, I hear a voice:
"Hey...
Don't take it off!" — my boss, Rubens asks.
“This is bothering me,” I mutter to my boss.

“I know, honey, but you need to keep the nasal cannula,” he says patiently.

'And why do I need it?
' - I'm confused.
“Because you're breathing hard,” he answers me.

- What happened?
I'm confused,” I say.
— Glad you woke up, we were worried about you!
- my boss speaks without answering me.
- What happened?
I say, breathing hard.
"Calm down, Jackeline!
" — he asks and I notice that I'm taking a saline solution.
"Sir...
what happened?" I ask more firmly in my voice.
- You passed out.
Don't remember anything? he asks looking at me worriedly.
“I remember being in your office…” I begin.

“Yes, we were talking.
You felt dizzy, tried to leave my room and passed out.
- What I have?
I ask curiously.
"It's not known yet...
" he says worriedly.
“Boss, I need to talk to Alex!
I remember.
— I already called the agency, they said he left early.
my boss says.
        Where will Alex be?
— I look thoughtful.
"Take my cell phone, please, boss!
" - I ask.
         He picks it up, hands it to me and I see that they had several missed calls, all from Alex.
At the very least, he's worried about me. I try to call back, but the number is out of range. I decide to call his apartment and Renata is the one who answers, so I go right away saying:
— Renata, is Alex at home?
I ask.
"No, he is, and even if he were, I wouldn't call him," the cow replies.

— Oh, Renata, do you really think Alex will stay with you?
— I mock her.
"Oh, sure enough, he will!
" She responds all victorious.
“Bitch…” I curse and hear my boss laugh.

- Problems?
- he plays.
— Yes, and the name of that problem is…” I grumble.

"But who's causing the trouble, is she or are you the one who's been teasing?
" – he asks curiously.
"Renata what's causing it!
" I answer sincerely.
- What's the problem?
he asks curiously.
“Look, boss, I'm sure she's very much in love with Alex.
I shrug.
"Yeah, maybe you have problems!
" He jokes, laughing.
“I got it,” I admit.

  Before he can speak again, a man enters the room, and by his clothes I know he is a doctor.

- Sorry to interrupt, but I'm here with the results of your exams - the doctor says showing the exams.
— My name is André Souza.
— Nice to meet you, doctor!
Sorry for the anxiety, but I really want to know what caused me to faint.
— We did several blood tests and detected that the lady was poisoned!
He lets go and looks shocked.
— Doctor, I think you are wrong!
I reply to him. I laugh so much that I even cry.
"Jackeline, are you okay?
" My boss looks at me shocked.
- If I'm fine?
I ask laughing and tears run down my face. - The answer is no. I just found out I was poisoned—I almost scream.
“Try to calm down or else I'll have to sedate you,” he warns, looking at the monitor.

- Calm me down?
Doctor, how long have I been being poisoned? I ask trying to calm down.
“The dosage in your blood is low…” The doctor begins.

“So, am I okay?
I ask desperately, afraid of dying. In that moment, I remember Alex and the kids.
"Yes, Miss is fine!
— The doctor reassures me.
'I don't take any more risks?
' I ask worriedly.
- Do not run.
The lady suffered an attempted murder, as the poison detected in her blood is rare to be found. We've alerted the police and they'll be coming to talk to you soon,” the doctor warns.
— Okay, doctor, thank you!
— thank you for saving my life.
— For now, you are responding well to the medications and, if you continue like this, I will take your oxygen — the doctor says and says goodbye, leaving me alone with my boss.
“We need to find out who did this to you,” he declares.
“Yes, I need to know who wanted to end my life,” I declare firmly.

"Do you have any idea who it might have been?
" my boss asks.
"No, but I'm going to find out who poisoned me and finish that person off!
" —My cell phone rings, looks at the screen and it's Alex, I answer.
- Hello...

“Bloody hell, Jackeline.
Where are you? he asks worriedly. - Alex, I'm in the hospital! — I warn him. I tell him what happened and I hear him scream.
- What?
He yells nervously.

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