24 The Only Thing I've Ever Wanted

When Jimmy saw Miya enter the room, his face visibly lightened up.

"Look," he told the nurse, who stood with a plate full of apples in his hands, "That's my best friend. She'll tell you I hate apples! I do not need them!"

Miya walked into the room a bit dazedly. Jimmy gave her a broad smile.

She couldn't help but grin at the sight of him.

He was sitting on the bed, with his left arm heavily bandaged. His hair was dishevelled, sticking out in all possible directions. His face still looked a little pale, but he sounded energetic. Miya sighed, content.

The young man though, was busy obsessing over the apples.

"Tell him, Miya! Tell him now!" he immediately called out to her. She shot him a disapproving look.

"I'm telling him no such thing," she then said with a small huff, "And you're not my best friend."

"You…! I bled for you, woman!"

"When I warned you not to."

Jim looked at her indignantly, resembling a pompous kid who had just been denied T.V. In that moment, she was so thankful for his health, she could have given the proud young master a hug. Shrugging, she stepped closer to him.

"How are you feeling now, Mr. Hunter?"

Jimmy immediately fell into thought. Frowning, he complained:

"I can't move my arm. The doctors said the bullet just grazed by it, but they still wrapped the wound with the thickest bandage anyway. I guess the extra attention is because I'm C.E.O." He was grumpy.

"And how long do you have to rest?"

"Three days, they say. Might as well have said forever."

"Hm. And why are you so cranky? Any way I can help with that?"

Jim shot her a dirty look.

"Yes. Tell this man I hate apples!"

When Jimmy said this, he actually pointed at the nurse. Miya chuckled, then shook her head.

"I guess you are alright," she laughed.

Silence passed between them, just as the nurse looked at Miya uneasily. She appeared dreadful, with stains of blood still on her face, her clothes messed up and one shirt sleeve ripped out. It was clear he couldn't understand why a person of such lowly rank, was talking so amiably to the heir of the Hunter family. The nurse's uneasiness turned to scorn soon, his expression visibly showing what he thought of the girl. The only question was, why someone like her, was best friends with Jimmy Hunter.

Jim saw the nurse's face, and read the disdain on it. His own turned cold.

"Out," he said silently. The nurse flinched when he heard the young master's voice. He scurried away.

Miya had taken notice of the nurse's expression too, but because she was used to the treatment, she didn't think much of it. Jim however, looked apologetic.

Jim didn't even know why he was surprised. Of course she knew about gunshot wounds.

"How would I know? I just remember being in shock. It didn���t hurt as much back then, as it hurts now."

Miya nodded.

"And did you take your medicine?"

"Yes. And please, stop talking like that doctor!"

"Hey, I'm just being considerate."

"Well, don't!"

"Ah! But when I tell you to stay put and you don't, that's okay. Because yes, you have to jump in to help when you have zero f***ing idea about the situation. I mean, would it have killed you to just stay in that goddamned house?"

"Yeah."

"What?"

"Yeah. I mean, I couldn't let you fight all those big guys on your own. You got into that situation because of me. Cowering away in a house, how does that make me look?"

"I don't know. Smart? Rational? Sane? Take your pick."

Jim looked at her in defiance, his expression clearly stating that she was wrong. Miya sighed in resignation.

"All I'm saying is, you wouldn't have got hurt had you just stayed back."

"It's not that big a wound."

"Come on! You're a prince. And the last thing I want is for a prince to know what a gunshot feels like. That too because of paupers like me."

A hint of a smile played on Jim's face at her words.

"You underestimate us princes, dear," he told her gently.

De-Dear? Again?

Miya's eyes widened, and despite herself, she turned red. Jim laughed.

Then suddenly, he gave her an admiring look and said,

"Seriously though. Your performance today was beyond good. I was so shocked. I have never seen anybody so kickass in real life!"

Miya folded her hands and played with her thumbs. She obviously wasn't used to being complimented.

"I'm just an average fighter, you know. You should visit the ring someday. The fighters there are really berserkers."

Jim wasn't sure what the ring was, or if he ever wanted to go to a place like that. That wound on his arm was the height of his berserk-ness anyway. He refrained from mentioning it though. Then, his eyes fell on her arm. He saw that the entire sleeve of her ragged shirt had been ripped off, and faintly recalled her wrapping his wound. He saw the gash on her own hand.

"Why didn't you get your wounds dressed?" he asked her gravely.

"Um," Miya looked towards her bleeding feet, thinking that was what he was talking about. They hurt, but it wasn't a big deal, "It's not that big a wound."

Jim was not amused. Not when he saw her feet.

He could fairly imagine what had happened at the hospital though. Nobody had obviously thought they should notice her injury, because she wasn't important. He swore under his breath.

"I guess I'll have to get this hospital shut down for being unprofessional," he said darkly. Miya was surprised at his words. Why was he being so severe?

"You can do that?"

"Of course."

"Wow. You really are rich and spoiled."

"What did you think – What?!"

Jimmy had heard the 'rich' part. That he didn't mind. The 'spoiled' he found offending.

"I am not spoiled!"

"Oh come on."

Jim thought carefully. Now here was a golden chance.

"If you're talking about my proposal," he said, "Let me again tell you, it's only because I desperately want the contract."

Miya immediately shut up.

"What is it?"

"What?"

"I was thinking about it before," she told him quietly, "What is it that you want, that someone can threaten you to the point of marrying just anyone?"

Jim remembered Senior Hunter's face and smiled, frustrated.

"Let's just say, it's about having something really important. To be honest, what's at stake is the only thing I've ever wanted, ever since I've been old enough to want anything at all."

Silence pervaded the room. Miya thought hard. In fact, it had been at the back of her head ever since she was roaming the hospital corridor.

"It's the Hunter Corporation, isn't it?"

Her voice was barely a whisper, but Jim froze.

She then looked up at him with her striking black eyes, and whispered again,

"Right?"

There was no doubt.

Why was this woman so smart?

Before Jim could reply, she gave him a soft smile.

"If it's like that Mr. Hunter, we can't let you lose the only thing you love. Let's do this."

Jim didn't dare to breathe.

Did she mean what he –

"Let's get married."

The words couldn't have been plainer.

"Miya, you –"

"Don't get me wrong. I'm saying I accept the offer, if it still stands of course. Mutual benefit, you call it, I guess?"

Jimmy's heart was pounding so fast, he thought he'd pass out again. But he was quick to say, "Of course it stands! The offer, I mean."

Miya smirked.

"Well then, Mr. Hunter. It's settled. You are to by my partner for a year. I'll go have a look at my son now. Rest more, and get well soon."

Jim was shocked. Words didn't leave his mouth. But when he noticed her falter slightly as she walked out, he was concerned and said out loud, "Get your wound dressed, alright?"

She nodded and left the room.

Just outside, the old man who had earlier accompanied Miya, stood smiling. That took her by surprise, and after rewarding him with a tight smile herself, she staggered away.

Mr. Park entered the room.

Even though he was satisfied with Jim's pleased expression, he couldn't help but say out loud.

"You dog."