Chapter 26-Jonathan doesnt dislike Audrey
Jonathan's POV...
My eyes opened slowly and I took in my environment. I didn't feel dizzy as I felt earlier and the murderous headache had stopped.
I turned to my left and saw someone sleeping by my side. Her head was faced down on the bed. From the hair, I knew who it was... Audrey.
I remembered when I slumped to the floor and she refused to help me, but eventually gave in. Then, I was slowly losing consciousness but I overheard a bit of her conversation with Lena.
My right hand moved from under the covers to touch her hair and that was when I saw the cannula in my hand. Slowly, memories of what happened came back.
I remembered being treated by a doctor and when I thanked Audrey.
My hand reached down slowly and touched her hair. It was soft. Even though I overheard a bit of her conversation with Lena, I was able to comprehend that she was really putting up with me.
I sighed and retracted my hand as soon as I remembered the voice note that was sent to me. The painful memories of the past came flooding my mind. I shut my eyes in anger and fisted my hands.
"Ouch" I heard a groan.
I opened my eyes and saw Audrey trying to free herself from my hold. I was fisting the other hand that held her. When did I hold her hand?
I quickly removed my hand from hers. "Sorry" I muttered.
"Are you okay?" She asked as she placed the back of her hand on my forehead.
I looked at her, surprised and then nodded.
"That's good. The fever seems to have gone down. Let me get you water" she said and left the room.
My eyes were still wide from her action. I placed my right hand bearing the cannula on my chest. My heart was thumping hard in my chest. Why was my heart beating fast and why am I so flustered by her action?
She entered the room carrying a tray. I quickly maintained composure.
"Here" she said as she set the tray down on the bedside table. "Lena said this would be good for you of which after eating, you take your medication"
I looked at the tray. There was a covered plate on it and beside it was a glass of water.
She turned around to leave.
"Uh... wait" I managed to find my voice.
She turned around.
"I...I...uh" the words got stuck in my throat.
"You what?" She asked impatiently.
I cleared my throat. "Why are you being kind?" I shut my mouth immediately. That came out so wrong and that wasn't what I wanted to say.
"I'm not being kind... because I'm kind. I'm not putting up an act. Besides, I need you to get well soon because this suite is my vacation HQ and a sick billionaire in the bedroom ruins the vibe"
I nodded slowly.
"Now eat," she urged. "Lena's getting your medication"
I was reluctant to eat. I didn't usually have an appetite whenever I woke up from sleep.
"It's not poisoned," she laughed.
She misunderstood my reluctance.
"If I wanted to hurt you, I wouldn't do it in a hotel suite. I would be the prime suspect, just the same way you claim I'm your prime suspect"
I looked away. I remembered accusing her that she was the one behind the scandal. A part of my mind tells me she had no hand in it, but the voice in that voice note was undeniably hers.
Before I could say anything, she was already by the door and left the room.
I picked up the tray and placed it on my lap. I wasn't a fan of eating in bed.
I opened the plate and the aroma filled my nostrils. French soup.
I ate quietly and slowly. I heard her voice from the living room. She was laughing. The sound of her laughter made me smile.
"Wait... why am I smiling?" I hit my cheeks and shook my head.
I needed to recover fast and leave this environment. Audrey was influencing me.
That evening, I was alone in the suite. I felt like a little boy who was left at home while his parents went to work. This was exactly how my childhood was.
I was sitting on the couch with a duvet covering me. I was feeling a bit chilly. Richard had called me earlier and said I should relax and recover. That I should see this as a vacation before coming back to work.
I turned on the TV and the first news was about Audrey. Why was her face everywhere? It was like her face was haunting me.
'Audrey Willows stuns everyone by her million dollar dress to the annual models' conference. Fans all over the world are looking forward to her dress for the gala, including me,' the female reporter said.
I didn't observe the dress she wore that night. I was so consumed with anger that I missed that.
Suddenly, the door opened and Audrey came in. She looked at me and then the TV.
She scoffed. "Are you now watching news and reading articles about me so you can find more 'evidence' to support your claims? That's hilarious" she laughed as she shut the door.
I quickly turned off the television. "That's far from it"
She didn't say anything. She was heading for the room and her hand was on the knob when she turned around abruptly. "Lena's out for some work. So it's just you and I. I'd appreciate it if we respect each other's boundaries"
She tossed a bag in front of her. "Here's your medication" she came forward and dropped it on the table and went inside.
The Audrey that I met in the morning and this Audrey, were two different people. She must be upset about my accusation. I needed to explain things.
I spent the entire evening in the sitting room. Richard was updating me of how everything had been going. It was bad.
"The investors are refusing to put in any money," Richard said. We were on a zoom meeting. The meeting with other staff members had ended. Now, Richard and I were speaking.
"You've shown them our pitch and everything?" I asked.
"Yes sir," he nodded. "We've even shown them the blueprint"
I leaned back on the couch. "So why are they backing out?"
"I don't know sir"
I sighed and rubbed my temples. This was definitely going to add to my headache.
I checked the time. 10:45pm. My head was beginning to throb.
"Did they say anything as to why they are refusing to invest?" I asked.
"They didn't say anything. They just suddenly backed out"
That seemed suspicious. "Don't meet with them again or other investors until I come back. I'll be coming back tomorrow"
Just then, Audrey came out of the room. I ended the call and shut the laptop.
"You're still awake?" She asked.
I just nodded. The news I got from Richard wasn't making me happy. She must have noticed my facial expression.
"Is something wrong?"
"It's nothing" I snapped and regretted it. I was taking out my frustration on her.
"If you say so. I'm not interested in prying" she said.
My launch had been postponed long enough. First was the scandal that led to the first postponement and so many other things followed.
I sighed and rubbed my forehead. I reached for the medication on the table.
She came and sat at the far end of the chair. "If you say there's nothing wrong, that's great because I've got something I'd like us to talk about"
I looked at her.
"The other day you accused me of being your prime suspect, you sounded so sure like you had some evidence or something. If you don't mind, I'd like to know what gave you the balls to accuse me?"
I sighed. I wasn't ready for this talk and I wasn't in the right frame of mind. I had bigger problems I needed to sort.
"Audrey, please not now. I have a lot going on"
"I thought you said it was nothing?" She asked, amused.
I was tongue-tied.
"Tell me about it. You never know, I could have the solution you need so bad... and then after that, we talk about your accusation" she said.
I couldn't believe her. She was a unique person indeed. I was always on her nerves, yet here she was offering to help me. She is more mature than I am.
"Why do you want to help?" I needed to know.
"We might hate each other's guts and maybe dislike each other, but we are more like partners" she paused.
I watched her speak.
"We shouldn't be fighting against each other, rather we should try to work together and by that, I mean, we can try to be friends... and put our dislike aside..."
"I don't dislike you" I uttered before I could control myself. Her eyes grew wide as she looked at me in surprise.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter. See you in the next one.