Chapter 63 Room

Chapter 63 Room
Maria’s POV

My eyes felt so heavy, struggling to open as if mini weights weighed them down.

Forcing them open, it took a minute for my vision to clear.

I was no longer in the medical wing; I could see that now. I must be in the room that Aleksander had sent one of the guards to prepare.

The sun was shining through a floor-to-ceiling window, filling the room with natural light.

The floors were covered in a delicate cream-colored carpet, accented with blue and red Persian rugs.

Touching my cover, I found the comforter was definitely feathered down in a pale pink color, and, studying it closer, I noticed the ends were ruffled.

Smiling, I knew that he must have done everything in his power to make me feel comfortable after the events of the previous days, from meeting his dad under those circumstances and surviving a failed assault on the compound and kidnapping.

I knew I lashed out at him; I could blame it on the drugs or even say it was my hormones, but I indeed hadn't felt safe since the shooting at the diner.

I honestly don't know if I’d ever feel safe again, but I couldn't keep blaming that on a man who not only opened his home to me but also did his best to protect me, and someone who was opening his heart up to me, who had previously had it under lock and key.

Struggling to sit up, I managed to swing my legs over the side, giving me enough inertia to pull my upper body up.

Sighing, I took a deep breath, using my hand to brace myself on the side table, and pushed myself up.

Finally standing up, I tried to smile, but as soon as the smile came, it was short-lived.

A sudden, strong bout of dizziness and nausea hit me like a ton of bricks.

“Oh shittttttt!” I yelled as I fell, missing the bed completely and ending up on the floor, lying on my side.

The only way I could describe my feelings right now would be absolute and utter mortification.

I didn't think it could get worse.

The door slammed open, and my own personal bodyguard walked in,

Henry.

Noticing me on the floor, he rushed in, getting down on his knees, bracing my head up against his legs.

“Maria, what the hell happened?”

Still having just enough energy, I rolled my eyes so far in the back of my head that it must've been a Guinness world record.

“What does it look like?” I scoffed, sounding a bit harsher than I meant it, “I fucking fell.”

Trying to hide his emotions, he didn't say a word, but did his best to position me back up onto my knees to help pull me back into bed.

After a few minutes of pulling, pushing, and shoving, I was back under the covers.

A few mutterings of “The boss is gonna kill me” had left his mouth a few times, but besides that, not much else.

It was weird, after the time we had spent together and the friendship I thought we were building, for him to be so quiet.

“What's on your mind?” I asked, reaching out and placing my hand on his.

Looking like he was fighting an internal conflict, he sat down and looked me straight in my eyes.

“I failed you, Maria,” his voice shook, “I should've noticed them, or you would've never ended up like this.” Gesturing to me.

So this is what is wrong: he blames himself.

Before I could open my mouth again to speak, he continued.

“When they dragged you out of my line of sight, I thought you were dead, or they were gonna make you disappear for good.” Taking a deep breath, he continued, “I knew the boss was gonna have my head for this, but that wasn't what had me so upset. You're my charge, but also someone I've begun to see as a friend. You're a good person, Maria. Not only that, but you also make the boss happier than I've ever seen him. That's why all of us would go to war for you.”

Clenching his fists, he turned his face, looking at the door, unable to look at me any longer.

Shock, awe, disbelief, and love were written all over my face at once. Never in my entire life have I ever had someone, especially a man like Henry, say something like that to me.

“You are my friend, don't ever doubt that!” I said as I playfully hit him on his back, “Maybe I should tell the boss to take you out because you're doubting yourself.”

He looked shocked until he saw my face. Winking at him, his face turned beet red from blushing.

“God, Maria almost got me on that one.”

We both burst out laughing.

Holding my ribcage and side, I squealed, “Stop making me laugh, it hurts!l”

The only thing it accomplished was making us laugh harder.

A knock came at the door, making us both jump out of our skin.

Looking over there stood Aleksandser, looking like the God of War, not because of what he was wearing, but due to the energy vibrating off him.

Looking between us, he murmured, “Am I interrupting anything?”

Henry paled, “No, boss, she had a dizzy spell, and I helped her back into bed.”

“You may leave!”

“Yes, boss,” and with a slight nod towards me, Henry ran out of the room and then gently closed the door.

“Aleksandser, why are you being so rough with him!” I blurted out.

Sitting down on the bed, he caressed my cheek with his right hand.

“I had assigned him to be your guard, and he failed,” he said very matter-of-factly.

“He did not fail me,” it came out sounding more like a whiny teenager than a middle-aged woman.

But I wouldn't let it stand with how he talked about him.

“Alek, you weren't here. He saved my life. He got me to the bunker. He taught me how to shoot.” I said, pronouncing every word deep and clear, “He did everything he could do under the circumstances at hand.”

Grabbing both of his hands in mine, he turned his head to look me in the eyes.

“I won't have you badmouth him or talk down to him, even if you are his boss.”

Sighing, he touched his forehead to mine.

Taking his other finger, he gently traced the outline of my lips, sending a shiver down my spine.

“You're right, my love, I let my emotions get to me. If biting my tongue when it comes to Henry is what it takes, then that's what I'll do.”

My body was lit ablaze just by the simplest of touches from him.

“Thank you” was all I could get out before his mouth was on mine.