CHAPTER 44
**CHLOE DUARTE**
I soon realize that this is looking a lot like that scene in one of the Twilight movies, where Bela falls off her motorcycle and hits her head on a rock, and calls Jacob cute.
“Because you are strangely looking at me and admiring my body, and you have never done that before.", he says, analyzing my ankle.
“Well, I'm doing it now and I don't know why, maybe I hit my head too hard myself."
“Okay, you seem to have just twisted your ankle, you didn't break anything because if you had you would be screaming in pain right now, and the cut was a little deep, maybe the bandage will stop the bleeding, but it was too close to the head and it would be better to go to the doctor and see if you need some stitches to heal faster..."
“I don't need a hospital, I'm fine!", I say too quickly remembering when I was with James in that hospital and the fear I felt when I was with him almost completely unconscious inside that car.
“Okay, but be careful and let me know if you feel any dizziness or pain.", I nod my head and get out of bed with his help.
“Do you need help?", he asks as I limp to the closet to get one of my pajamas.
“No, I can walk, thank you!", I thank him by slowly limping to the bathroom where I change with difficulty from the cut on my forehead that won't stop throbbing.
After putting on my pajamas I look at the reflection of my face in the bathroom mirror and see the bandage that Matt carefully applied to my cut, I touch the bandage and a frown form on my face as I realize that I need to work in this state tomorrow morning.
When I return to the bedroom, I see Matt finishing arranging my blanket on the bed, I approach frowning.
“What are you doing?"
“Making up the bed for you.", he says shaking his shoulders as if this is the obvious.
“Okay, but I didn't think you'd be staying long.", I say, sitting down on one side of the bed.
“Are you kicking me out? It's still raining outside, and you seem to have hit your head and we don't know if this bump on your forehead will have any consequences, so I'm staying a little longer."
“You're still wet, you can dry off in the bathroom, Matt."
I take advantage of his exit to check on my kitten who is sleeping comfortably in her bed in the living room, go back to the bedroom and just as I am about to lie down on the bed, I hear one of the worst thunders of my life and everything goes out quickly.
“Matt!", I shout groping around trying to see something because I realize that the power has just gone out in the whole apartment because of the heavy rain that continues to fall full throttle outside.
“I'm here, ohhh!", I hear the sound of the bathroom door being opened and the sound of something hitting the wall.
I control a giggle when in the dimness I can see him coming toward the room with absolutely nothing in front of him.
“I need the flashlight on my cell phone, but I can't find it in the dark."
“I left mine on the coffee table in your living room.", he sighs in defeat.
I limp groping the air in front of me until I feel Matt's body close to me, our hands meet, and he tries to help me find the phone in the complete darkness of the apartment.
“Careful or you could get hurt again, princess!", Matt squeezes my hand tighter and at that moment I burst into laughter.
“What's up, crazy girl?", he asks humorously and this adds to my laughter.
“I am so clumsy that anything can happen to me...", I laugh and he also follows suit.
“I managed to find my cell phone!", he celebrates and seconds later the flashlight of the cell phone is turned on by him which lights the way to the kitchen for me where I find another flashlight and candles.
I light some of them taking care to put them in places so that they don't fall or end up catching fire all over the apartment without me realizing it.
I also find my cell phone and together we go back to the bedroom, but I scream and shudder when a new bolt of lightning cuts across the sky and lights up the entire room for a second.
When I lie down on the bed and pull the blanket as far as I can across my body, I see Matt laughing at me, I show him my tongue and he gets more amused by the situation.
“Are you afraid of thunder, princess?", he asks, sitting down near the head of my bed.
“Everyone is afraid of something, so stop making fun of my fear right now.", I shudder closing my eyes as another loud bolt of lightning cuts through the dark sky.
“Far be it from me to mock my princess, she is injured, but she can still beat me if she wants to, so I'll be quiet here...", I smile when he finds his head on the headboard of the bed while I lie under the covers.
“Thank you for taking me to the show, I loved it!", I thank him by moving my head until I lay it on his warm uncovered shoulder.
Matt doesn't deny or pull away when I do this, it's quite the opposite, one of his arms encircles my shoulders pulling me tighter against himself, and his other hand lands on my still damp hair and so we remain embraced waiting for the heavy rain to stop.
“Come on, I saw that you were enjoying yourself when you were screaming and jumping around like crazy wearing that piece of cloth as a skirt.", I lift my head from your shoulder to tap your arm.
“You said you liked my outfit, Matt!"
“I loved it, but I didn't like seeing the guys drooling and trying to look under your skirt when you jumped up and down.", he says with a grimace that amuses me.
“Thank you for protecting me from prying eyes, my protector."
“That's what friends do with friends they love, princess!", I smile and lay my head back on his shoulder, still feeling my forehead aching.
“Sorry again for Jesse's behavior and Simon's teasing manner, that's just the way they are."
“It's okay, it's not his fault he thinks that, everyone is thinking the same thing after those prom pictures were leaked...", I sigh closing my eyes trying not to think about my damn boss.
“Do you hate Colucci?", he asks and at the same moment, I open my eyes thinking about what to say to him at this moment.
I stay silent for several seconds, if I tell him to change the subject, he will realize that there is something strange and will ask even more questions on the subject of James and I want to avoid this as much as possible.
“Hate is too strong a word, Matt. He may be cold and like to tease me most of the time, but hate is a word that doesn't define it.", I say, still with my head resting on his shoulder.
“You work alongside him every day and should know more than I do, but the people at the company say he is a grumpy boss who needs everything to be according to his orders.", Matt says this by shaking his shoulders.
Okay, James Colucci may fit perfectly into the things he has just told me, but I am just now working with him to discover more of his facets as CEO of a famous multinational.
“Maybe he has not been like this all his life, maybe something happened to make him become this man who needs absolute control."
“Maybe, but will you be able to work tomorrow like this?", he asks, smoothing the bandage on my forehead before pointing at my sore ankle.
“I have to, we've already missed today for the company and I'm sure some of Mr. Colucci's commitments are piling up because of this..."
“But your health and well-being come before Colucci's ego, you'll be working yourself to death injured while millions drop into his bank account every minute, princess. That's not fair."
“I know, life isn't fair, Matt."
I start to think about it, maybe my ankle will be better in a few hours until it is time to leave for work, this time wearing heels will not be a smart option. I also remember the head injury and think that this will not be a problem that will keep me from going to work either.
It is hurting and still throbbing every time I frown, I am sure it will be purple and swollen, but I need good make”up to cover it up in a few hours.
“I can work, Matt. I'm fine and thanks for worrying about me!", I sit up in bed kissing his cheek for taking such good care of me.
“Enough about me, how is your life?", I ask, pulling the blanket tighter, still listening to the thunder outside.
“What do you want to know about me? I don't have anything interesting to tell you.", he denies it, but soon a smile breaks out on my lips and I am amused by it.
“How is your love life? Have you found any nice girls?", I ask, feeling one of his hands on my shoulders and the other caressing my arm which is around his bare waist.
“I don't want to get stuck in a fake relationship, and if it ever happens, I want it to be for real. But currently, I continue with my one-night stands and I'm satisfied with that, princess."