Chapter 143 Holding Hands
"Who gave you permission to come in here?" Lucas's face darkened with anger as he scolded Quinley.
Quinley quickly tried to let go. Zachary only held her tighter.
"Lucas, don't yell at her. I asked this lady to come in. It was so scary outside just now. I was terrified." Zachary's voice was small and hesitant.
"It's okay now. They're gone." Lucas's voice softened to comfort him.
Zachary's emotions finally settled a bit. Lucas looked deeply at Quinley. "Come outside with me for a moment."
"No! I want this lady to stay with me. Her tummy is so soft. I don't want her to leave." He pressed his head against Quinley's belly and nuzzled.
Quinley felt awkward. Lucas patiently coaxed, "Be good. I need to talk to her. Once we're done, I'll let her come back."
Zachary looked at Lucas suspiciously. After a long while, he slowly released his grip. "Come back soon. I want more hugs."
He pouted, blinking those bright eyes.
Quinley followed Lucas out of the rest area. Her head was spinning with questions. "Mr. Murphy, what's wrong with Mr. Jennings?"
Lucas sighed heavily. "Mr. Jennings had an accident. Severe head trauma. He's awake, but he's forgotten a lot. The doctor says his current mental capacity is equivalent to an eight-year-old child."
"Will he get better?" Quinley was stunned.
Forgotten? He forgot everything? Even the memories between them—did he forget those too?
"That depends. The doctor says with good recovery, he might return to his previous state. But if recovery doesn't go well, he could stay like this forever." Lucas's expression dimmed.
Quinley was still reeling. Zachary was twenty-eight years old. How could he be like an eight-year-old child?
"Right now, besides me, only you know about this. So, Ms. Promise, I hope you can keep this secret. It's better for you, for Mr. Jennings, for all of Apex Global Group."
Quinley understood. If news of Zachary's amnesia got out, the consequences would be catastrophic. She nodded. "Don't worry, Mr. Murphy. I won't say anything."
"Go on, get back to work." Lucas dismissed her.
Quinley quickly grabbed her mop and left. But she'd barely been gone ten minutes when Lucas came to find her again.
"Mr. Jennings is making a fuss about wanting you." He paused. "How about this—from now on, you stay with Mr. Jennings and take care of him. Name your price for salary."
"Take care of him how?" Quinley asked.
"Twenty-four-seven. Keep him company, manage his emotions, don't let anyone notice anything's wrong. I need you to move in with him. I'll arrange for staff to handle meals and everything else. Of course, don't worry—mentally he's just an eight-year-old. He won't try anything."
Quinley was silent for a moment. She raised her eyes. "I want fifty thousand a month."
"Done." Lucas agreed instantly.
"Come with me." He led her back to Zachary's office.
From the rest area, Zachary's petulant voice already carried out. "Lucas, where did you hide her? I want her with me."
Lucas glanced at Quinley. "Go on in. I have a lot to handle. I'm heading out."
He left quickly. The moment Quinley entered the rest area, Zachary stopped fussing. But he seemed upset, pouting as he ordered, "Come here."
Quinley bent to pick up the scattered items from the floor, putting everything back in place. "Mr. Jennings, stop making trouble. Rest for a bit."
Even though his mind was that of an eight-year-old, Quinley couldn't immediately treat him like a child. While she cleaned up, he leaned against the headboard watching her.
"I said come here." He reached out and suddenly grabbed Quinley's arm, pulling her toward him.
"Zachary, what are you doing?" Quinley tensed up, instinctively trying to push him away.
Zachary's ink-dark eyes fixed on Quinley. He asked in confusion, "How do you know my name? Did Lucas tell you?"
Quinley didn't answer. He kept asking relentlessly until she gave in. "Yeah."
"What's your name?"
"Cindy Promise."
"Can I call you Cindy?"
"Whatever you want." Quinley's tone was perfunctory, but Zachary smiled.
In that instant, Quinley was shocked. She'd been with Zachary for three years and never seen him laugh like this. He always kept that handsome face expressionless, his feelings and emotions locked away tight. Right now, he smiled brilliantly, as if his heart had never known shadows.
"Sit here. Lean against this." The next second, he was bossily directing Quinley, wanting her to sit against the headboard.
Quinley didn't understand. But he was insistent. Before she could comply, he was already pulling her, making her do what he wanted.
The moment Quinley sat down, he immediately lay down next to her, pressing his head against her soft, squishy belly. The current Quinley wasn't the old Quinley—she wasn't thin anymore, even a bit chubby, with soft fat accumulated on her lower abdomen. Very comfortable.
Zachary clearly knew how to enjoy himself.
"Zachary, this is too much!" Quinley reached to push him away. He clung to her with both arms.
"Cindy, your tummy is so soft. It feels so good." He greedily pressed against her belly, rubbing his head back and forth.
The position was incredibly awkward. His strong masculine scent surrounded her. Quinley felt completely uncomfortable.
"I'm uncomfortable. Get up." She tried pushing again.
But Zachary seemed to have latched onto her. He hummed and whined, acting spoiled, refusing to let go.
"I'm sleepy. I want to sleep. Let me lie here for a bit." With that, he actually closed his eyes.
Soon, Quinley heard steady breathing. He was handsome, his features sharp and defined. Even sleeping, he carried an innate nobility.
After six months apart, this was the first time Quinley had been this close to Zachary.
"Stop pretending. I know there's nothing wrong with your brain." She gently pushed Zachary.
But he lay motionless against her belly, sound asleep. He slept deeply, not waking until the sky darkened.
The moment he woke, he complained he was hungry and insisted on barbecue. Quinley remembered—Zachary never ate grilled chicken. He was very health-conscious, never touching fried or grilled foods.
"Cindy, I want barbecue! I want barbecue!" He grabbed Quinley's arm and shook it, acting cute, being unreasonable, totally domineering.
Quinley's brow furrowed. She put on a fierce expression. "Zachary, if you keep making a fuss, I'm leaving right now."
She made to shake off his hand. He immediately gripped it more carefully.
"I'll stop." He pouted, looking at her pitifully.
"If I behave, can I have barbecue later?"
"Depends on your behavior." Quinley shot Zachary a sideways glance.
"Okay." He dragged out the word, immediately letting go of Quinley and curling up by himself.
When Lucas returned after finishing work, Zachary was quietly huddled under the covers chewing on his finger. Not fussing, not making noise.
"Looks like he really likes you. Thanks for this. Let's go." Lucas quickly went to Zachary to help him change clothes.
Zachary refused. "I want Cindy to help me change."
He stuck to Quinley like a stubborn piece of gum.
"Don't you have hands? Change yourself." Quinley's tone was sharp and cold.
Zachary's eyes immediately dropped, scared. He obediently changed his clothes himself.
A few minutes later, Lucas wheeled out a fully dressed Zachary.
"Cindy, I was so good. Can I go eat barbecue now?" He looked at Quinley hopefully.
"Yeah." Quinley gave a cool reply and pulled open the door to leave.
The elevator opened. All three entered. Adela came running over.
"Mr. Jennings!" All day, Adela had tried multiple times to get Zachary to sign documents, only to be blocked by Lucas.
Now, while greeting Zachary, she tried to squeeze into the elevator. Lucas blocked her outside. "Ms. Gomez, take the next one."
Adela looked shocked. "Why?"
"Not convenient," Lucas replied.
Adela didn't understand. Her suspicious gaze fell on Quinley. She was Zachary's secretary. Quinley was just a new cleaning lady. What right did she have to share an elevator with Zachary?
"Then how come she can?" Adela had just voiced her confusion when suddenly, right in front of her, Zachary grabbed Quinley's hand.