13. "And keep putting up with your mood swings? Make me!"
Mr. Knight's cook brought me breakfast to my room early the next morning. After finishing it, I got dressed and then carried the tray downstairs to the kitchen.
My feet stopped in their tracks upon entering the kitchen. Mr. Knight stood leaning against the kitchen island, sipping on a glass of water. His eyes locked with mine, and I had to force myself to move my feet.
I placed the tray in the sink, feeling his eyes on my back. I turned around to look him in the eyes.
"I... have decided that I won't stay here any longer." I announced.
A frown etched on his forehead, his eyes narrowing. "And where will you go?"
"I already told you last night." I responded firmly.
A menacing look formed in his eyes, and he started taking predatory steps towards me. I stilled on the spot as he stood in front of me. Close enough for me to feel his body heat. His tall frame made me feel small and intimidated.
"You're not going anywhere." His voice was low and threatening.
"I'm not your prisoner!" I found myself exclaiming.
His eyes darkened. "I'll make you one if I have to."
I stared at him, searching his eyes and my brain for words suitable enough. "What is wrong with you?"
"Everything." He muttered.
I sighed in exasperation. "I'm getting late for the hospital." I mumbled in an attempt to end the conversation and get away from him, but as soon as I tried moving away, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me back towards him.
"Let me go!" I struggled, but his hold on my wrist stayed firm. "I'm fed up of you and your bipolar personality!" I blurted.
He sucked in a breath, as if trying to calm himself. He dropped my wrist. "This is just the way I am, Aysel. I can't change what I am."
What a convenient excuse.
"And this is the way that I am, Mr. Knight. Way too sensitive. The slightest bit of harshness hurts me! And you've been doing that since day one!" I exclaimed.
He took another sharp breath. "I told you, this is how I am."
"Well, I'm not forced to put up with your shit." I claimed, moving towards the door.
"You are!" He raised his voice, stilling me in place. "I'm your boss. If I'm asking you to stay here, you're going to stay here!"
"Or what?" I challenged, turning back towards him.
His jaw clenched as he squeezed his eyes shut, seemingly trying to hold himself back.
"I'm getting my bag and leaving." I declared as firmly as I could.
"You're not going anywhere! You're staying here until I tell you to leave." He bellowed.
"Stay here?" I snorted, although my heart had now picked up pace at the authority in his tone and demeanour. "And keep putting up with your mood swings? Make me!"
He grabbed my arm again, glaring at me. "Aysel, stop complicating this."
"You're the one who complicates stuff! We were fine! Until you yelled at me out of the blue!" I burst out.
He huffed agitatedly. "I'm sorry." He mumbled, clearly forcing the apology out of his mouth.
Half of my anger became replaced with surprise. "You're what?"
He sucked in a breath, averting his gaze from me. "I'm sorry," He said, a bit more clearly. "I received... bad news and lost my temper."
"That does not give you the license to yell at me!" I spoke after a minute of silence.
"I apologised." He glared.
I glared back. "I'm late!"
"So am I," his glare became more intense. "I have a corporation to run and a hospital to supervise."
I rolled my eyes. "Nobody asked you to buy the hospital I work at."
"I won't have you commenting on my business strategies. I know better than you what benefits me." He bickered.
I rolled my eyes again. "Of course. Because everything is about you and your benefit."
"Stop arguing already." He deadpanned.
"I need to get to the hospital." I said, noticing the number of missed calls on my phone. I had forgotten to turn it off silent.
"Get in the car." He ordered, starting to walk out with me.
"I'll call an Uber." I said.
He rolled his eyes, grabbing my wrist and dragging me out. "Let go!" I exclaimed.
He only let go once we stood before his car. Opening the door to the passenger side, he gave me a gentle push toward it. "Sit." He commanded.
I glared at him with all my might, before sitting in.
The tension between us was thick and heavy as we headed to the hospital in silence. Pulling up into the parking lot, he stopped the car. I got off without a word, and then watched him drive off.
The whole day went by fast and as my shift ended, I called an Uber, climbed into it and told the driver to take me to my apartment. My bag was still at Mr. Knight's, but I didn't care. He could not just treat me like that and then expect me to take his favour by staying at his house.
It didn't mean that I wasn't scared to head back to my apartment. I was terrified. But I was also fed up of Mr. Knight's bipolar nature.
Soon, the driver pulled up in front of my apartment. I paid him, and stepped out slowly. As the car drove off, I stood in shock as I looked at the front windows. The broken glass was replaced.
I became more scared as I wondered who could have done that. I contemplated calling another Uber and driving off to Mr. Knight's, but then shook the thought away.
With small, fearful steps, I walked to the front door and unlocked it. It was heartbreaking that this small apartment that I considered my home, that once brought me peace and security, now made me feel so distressed and unsafe.
I hurriedly looked around as I entered to make sure I was the only one there, before locking the main door.
A small shriek sounded from my throat as my phone's ringing broke the pin drop silence, startling me. I looked at the screen which displayed an unknown number.
I gulped in fear, wondering whom it could be, before putting it to my ear. "H-hello?"
"Where the fuck are you?!" Mr. Knight's angry and impatient voice came through.
I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding, before frowning at his tone. "Don't curse at me!"
"Where are you?" He drawled angrily.
"My apartment!"
There was a short pause. "Are you crazy? What are you doing there? You're not safe there!"
"I'm not safe with your bipolar personality and anger issues either!" I quipped.
He sighed in frustration. I could make out that he was driving.
"Listen, Mr. Knight, why don't you—"
My doorbell rang, abruptly cutting me off.
I gasped, jumping.
"Who's that?" He demanded.
"I... I don't know." I whispered. The doorbell sounded again. Followed by another one. Before someone started aggressively knocking at the door.
I clamped my mouth with my hand, taking shaky steps backwards until my back hit the couch and I stumbled to the floor.
"That does not sound like a friendly visitor." Mr. Knight's voice came through.
I couldn't speak or move.
"Aysel? Are you there? I'm coming, okay? Hang in there."
I whimpered as the banging on the door increased, unable to get words out.
"Aysel, say something!" He urged frustratedly.
"I..." my voice broke. Just then, the banging on the door stopped. I sat there on the floor, hyperventilating with my eyes wide as saucers and my body shaking like a leaf in the wind.
The call disconnected, and now I was left alone with my fear.
As a few minutes passed by in dreadful silence, I slowly rose from the floor and forced my body to go upstairs to my bedroom. Climbing the stairs felt like climbing a mountain in the state I was in, but nevertheless, I made it to my bedroom where I closed the door.
But as I tried locking it, I realised that the lock was broken.
I palmed my face, dropping to the side of my bed, before bringing my knees to my chest.
Several minutes passed with nothing happening.
Until I thought I heard a faint noise downstairs.
The sound grew louder, becoming that of footsteps moving upstairs.
My eyes widened, and I sprung up on to my feet.
Desperately looking around, I picked up a small vase, and grabbed it to attack the intruder with. I hid behind the door, my heart thumping erratically in my chest as the footsteps drew closer.
The door pushed open, and as the man walked in, I wasted no time in hitting him with the vase on his head.
He groaned loudly, his hands flying to hold his head.
"Damn it Aysel!" He grunted.
I gasped, the vase slipping from my hands and making a loud sound as it fell on the wooden floor, somehow staying intact.
"M-mr Knight?"
He winced, sitting on the edge of my bed as he continued holding the back of his head.
"I... I'm so sorry!" I gushed. "I thought you were the intruder!"
He groaned. "Could you not have looked first?"
"I'm sorry!"
He took a deep breath.
"Let me have a look," I said, walking up to him and feeling the back of his head. I winced as I felt something warm and wet. As I brought my fingers up, it was confirmed to be blood. "You're bleeding."
"Excellent job, Dr. Aysel." He uttered sarcastically.
"I'm really sorry. I was frightened." Guilt dripped from my words.
He only sighed.
"Let me grab the first aid kit." I said, turning to my closet.
"There's no need. Let's go back to my place. You've seen the consequences of staying here." He denied.
"I will only come with you if you let me tend to your injury." I said, taking out the first aid box.
He sighed in exasperation, but didn't respond.
I walked back to him, standing before him as he sat on my bed. First, I cleaned the blood gently. He didn't make a sound, even when I applied the anti-septic.
"Your breasts are in my face... not that I mind." He commented.
I gasped and moved away.
His eyes gleamed with mischief. "Finish the first aid, doctor."
I swallowed, moving close to him again as I applied ointment over his injury. I felt his warm breath over my chest.
"D-don't do that." I stammered, as I felt my own breathing become uneven.
"Do what?"
"Breathe."
He snickered. "You want me to not breathe?"
"Y-yeah."
"A sentence like that does not suit you, little doctor." He said, a hint of playfulness coating his voice.
I put a bandage over his injury and then moved away from him.
"Shall we go now?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.
I nodded. When he stood up, I neared him to provide support in case he felt dizzy. He looked at me questioningly with raised eyebrows.
"Are you dizzy?" I asked him.
He sighed. "I survived a gunshot, I'll live through this too."
I sealed my lips, watching as he exited my room ahead of me.
"Someone fixed the windows." I told him as we stepped down the last few stairs.
"Yeah, that was me." He replied casually.
I stared eyes wide at the back of his head. "What? Why?"
"What do you mean why?" He asked as if it was a stupid question. "That was an open invitation for robbers and all sorts of bad people."
I pressed my lips together, getting into the passenger seat.
"Thank you..." I said timidly as he sat in the driver's seat. "For the windows... and for coming here.... And for letting me stay at your place."
"Don't worry about it." He replied, driving down my street.
"We need to find a solution to this... I can't just stay at your house for the rest of my life." I spoke.
"Then figure out who's after you." He said nonchalantly.
"How am I supposed to? It makes no sense that someone would be after me." I argued.
"Clearly you've messed with someone crazy or dangerous or both and now they're out for revenge." His eyes stayed on the road as he spoke.
"Now that you've mentioned that... I can think of one such person..." I said.
He glanced my way. "Who?" He demanded, his tone serious.
"Well... I once slapped our country's most powerful and dangerous businessman, and also broke his laptop... so..."
His face went from strained and focused to relaxed as he rolled his eyes. "Oh so you're aware that he's the most powerful and dangerous man in the country? You shouldn't be messing with him then."
I rolled my eyes. "Should I move out of his house? Sometimes I fear I'll wake up with a rope around my neck in the middle of the night."
"Oh and you're safe with Andrew?" He mocked.
"He's my friend, and does not possess a propensity to murder, so yes." I quipped.
He scoffed. "How long have you known him?"
"We met in the first week of medical school." I answered.
His face was strained as he continued driving in silence.
"Can we agree on something?" I spoke up after several minutes.
"What?"
"That you won't yell at me again?"
He went quiet for a few seconds. "Okay."
"Promise?"
"I don't do promises."
"First time for everything." I raised a point.
"No." He denied instantly.
"So you are going to scream at me?"
"I said I won't. I don't need to promise anything." His voice was uninflected.
I sighed deeply, looking out the window. "How long can I stay at your place?" I questioned after a few minutes.
"Until you figure out who's after you." He responded.
I looked at him. "What if your family and friends say something?"
His grip on the steering wheel tightened, his jaw clenching. "I don't have friends." He seethed.
I frowned. "You've got to have like one friend at least."
"No."
"That's... sad... okay... what about your parents then? If I was hosting someone I barely knew at my place, my mom would throw a fit."
His jaw clenched to the point where I thought it would break.
"Is something wrong?" I inquired, studying his face that was smeared with anger that he seemed to be holding back.
What did I say now?
"It's my house. I decide what to do with it." He said, almost through gritted teeth.
"Okay..." After a few minutes, he pulled into his driveway and parked, before stepping out of the car. I stepped out as well and started following him into the penthouse.
"What do you want for dinner?" He asked.
"Um... is it possible to have mushroom rice?" I asked shyly, biting my lip. I had a sudden craving.
"Yes. Cook can make anything. I'll let her know."
My face lit up.
"Good night." He said, heading towards the stairs.
"Wait!" He halted. "Can't we have dinner together?" I asked hopefully.
He seemed to be pondering. "Fine." He finally spoke.
I smiled brightly, but he did not retaliate.
"I'll meet you in the dining room once dinner is ready." He stated.
I nodded, watching him retreat upstairs. Then I went to my room as well to get changed.
———
I waited at the dining table for Mr. Knight after his cook served dinner. Minutes passed by, but he did not show up. I didn't know why I felt disappointed and upset.
Accepting that he won't come, I scooped some rice into my plate and grabbed a spoon.
"Starting without me?" I turned at the sound of Mr. Knight's voice.
"I thought you wouldn't come..." I said softly.
He sat opposite to me. "I had to take an important call."
"Okay.... Should I serve you food?"
He shook his head. "I'll take it," he said, putting some rice in his plate. "Do you want anything else?"
"Nope, this is perfect. Thank you."
He nodded, taking a bite of his food. I started eating too.
"Will you be coming to the conference as well?" I asked.
"It's for doctors. What will I do there?"
I shrugged. "I mean you funded it, right?"
"I have meetings that day. So, I can't."
"Okay... I don't even have anything to wear for it."
"You can go shopping tomorrow after your shift." He suggested.
"I'll be too tired." I sighed.
"You can have tomorrow off." He declared.
My eyebrows shot up. "Really?"
"Yes. Good thing you live with your boss." He smirked.
"Thank you, Mr. Knight."
"You can call me Aiden while we're in my house." He said, surprising me.
"I can?"
"Yes." He confirmed.
"Okay..." I bit my lip. "Aiden."
Something clandestine coloured his eyes, his gaze becoming intense and freezing me in place, forcing me to stare back.
I cleared my throat, tearing my eyes off of him. "You're barely eating." I pointed out.
"Yeah, I'm full." He said, putting his spoon down.
I frowned. He had only taken three bites. "So is your plate."
"I'm not hungry," He replied. "I'm going to bed. Good night."
I reached out to grab his hand before he could get up. He stopped mid-way, staring at me with raised eyebrows. "Stay, please," I requested, and was relieved when he sat back down. "It's not good to waste food. Especially when it's so tasty. Here." I spooned some rice and brought it to his mouth.
He stared at my hand first, then at me as if I had grown another head. Then a frown formed on his forehead. "I can eat on my own." He glared at me.
"Yeah, but you're not doing that... come on, have a bite; it's okay." I insisted.
His glare stayed, but a few seconds later, he gave in and wrapped his lips around the spoon. I smiled, withdrawing my hand as he chewed.
"Good. Now since you can eat on your own, do that. Finish the food on your plate." I stated.
His glare never went away, but he obediently took another bite of his rice regardless.
I beamed at him. "Good boy."
His glare intensified.
"Do you have to do a catwalk or something for which you're dieting?" I giggled, taking a bite of my own food.
He rolled his eyes. "I don't have too much of an appetite."
"That's surprising. I don't think I've ever heard of a male having a small appetite," I remarked. "Andrew, for example, he loves food so much, sometimes I feel like he would cause a famine in the country."
His eyes narrowed. "You talk about Andrew a lot... do you like him or something?"
"Of course I like him," I said matter-of-factly, watching his glare intensify. "He's my friend."
"Do you like him romantically?" He interrogated.
I almost choked on my food. "What? No! He's my friend. The only male friend I have."
"The only? Why is that?" He inquired.
I shrugged. "Men, in general, make me uncomfortable." I muttered.
"Is there a reason for that?" His gaze was intense and scrutinising.
I sucked in a breath, putting my spoon down as I was done eating. "I really need to sleep."
He didn't move as I stood up. "Good night, Mr. Knight."
"Aiden." He reminded.
"Oh right. Good night... Aiden." It felt weird saying his name.
"Good night, Aysel."
"Oh by the way. I don't know what happens but sometimes there's no water in my bathroom." I told him.
"It's probably because my bedroom is the only one used in the house. I'll have it fixed." He replied.
I nodded. "Okay but what do I do if I have to pee? Is there another bathroom I can use?"
"You can use mine. I'll leave my bedroom door unlocked."
I blinked. "Are you sure?"
He nodded.
"So like I can just walk into your room as I please?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.
"No. You must knock first." He asserted.
"I did that last time. I kept knocking but you were dreaming at the time." I responded.
His gaze hardened. "Just go."
I bit my lip. "Okay but—"
"Go, Aysel. Sleep." He repeated with more emphasis.
I nodded, walking out of his dining room and up the stairs to my bedroom.