Chapter 3 Whispers and IV Drip

Jennifer The weather changed as the rain began to pour. I watched William drive back home. Mom and Dad were in the living room waiting for me. Assuring them everything was okay, I kissed them goodnight and stormed into my room. The cold settled in so deeply that I clenched my teeth until my jaw hurt. I took a warm bath and forced myself to sleep, but I was terrified. ​I closed my eyes, but the attack flashed through my mind. I was so scared that I gripped my pillow hard. Were the rumors really a lie? William had saved me from those thugs; what if I had been hurt or abused? But above all my shock, I wondered how he knew where I stayed. Maybe he had asked Mr. Pedro, or perhaps my address was still on the CV I dropped off. It was raining cats and dogs outside. I turned to my side, covering my whole body with the duvet. I couldn't forget his scent, or his hot body that had made me crazy-even though he was my boss. ​"He is just a charming star, getting any woman he wants," I muttered to myself. ​I snapped back to reality, and before I knew it, I fell asleep. ​The next morning, I arrived at his house on time. He was downstairs on a phone call with his manager. ​"We leave for London next week. Our UK tour starts from Manchester," he said, looking at me coldly. "What are you standing there for? Get me my breakfast now." ​The menu listed for Tuesday was simple: scrambled eggs with toast, coffee, and fruit juice. Breakfast was served. He walked to the dining table, turning the fork around before tasting the eggs. ​"These taste salty. Make another batch," he barked. ​"I'm sorry, Mr. Williams," I replied, quickly fixing new eggs. ​He sipped the coffee. "It's too sweet. I like my coffee bitter, but creamy. Fix it." ​I didn't talk back. I prepared another cup to his exact preference. He was arrogant, but I needed to keep this job; it paid far better than the restaurant. ​After cleaning up, I started prepping the ingredients for lunch. My phone buzzed-it was Jacklyn. ​"Hi, sis," she said. "I'm coming home next week for the summer vacation. I can't wait to see you." ​"That's great," I said. "Make sure you study hard and pass your examinations." ​"I will, sis, I promise." Jacklyn's birthday was two weeks away, and I had promised months before she left for school that we would celebrate properly. ​"I have to go now." ​"Okay, sis, bye," she said before hanging up. ​A shadow passed by. William was bare-chested again, walking around the house. He walked right into the kitchen. Look how gorgeous he was; his hot body radiated heat straight into me. ​"Miss Jennifer, I hope you know it's almost lunch," he said, drifting closer. His scent was intoxicating, and his low-slung pants rode right around his waist. ​Oh goodness, I gasped for air. He opened the fridge and took out a bottle of water. He knew exactly what he was doing. ​Get a hold of yourself, Jennifer, I told myself. ​He kept his gaze fixed on me. "What are you looking at?" ​I snapped out of my thoughts. "Nothing." ​"Do you like me, Miss Jennifer?" ​I went numb. Before I knew it, he wrapped his hands around my tiny waist. ​"Williams..." Before I could finish his name, his fingers were trailing down my skin. My body reacted instantly to his teasing touch. "Tell me the truth. Do you think I have the aura to drive a woman crazy?" ​I was completely lost for words. ​"Or do you think I am cheap?" His lips brushed close to his ear-close to mine. His solid body pinned me back against the wall, and one of the buttons on my shirt popped off, exposing a hint of my cleavage. I caught the expression on his face-seductive and hungry. ​"I could buy you the best Victoria's Secret lingerie. You would look much hotter in that." ​I was getting wet beneath. This man was really messing with my mental health. ​I shoved away from him quickly. "I will prepare lunch now." ​He flashed a smirk before heading back upstairs. ​I stood in the kitchen, the air heavy enough to choke me. I couldn't concentrate; everything had happened too fast. ​I wasn't going to allow him to play with my emotions. Jennifer, you are just his cook. This is William Scott, the chronic womanizer-don't let him use his charm on you. ​I had my dad's diabetic medication bills to cover, Jacklyn would soon be back home, and a new semester of tuition was right around the corner. I just needed to do my freaking job as a cook. ​Taking lunch up to his room was a terrible idea. Even if he asked for it served upstairs, I decided I would just drop it on the table and run away. ​A storm of different thoughts raced through my head. When I finished the food, to my surprise, he was sitting in the living room going through his laptop, reading a movie script sent to his email. ​My phone rang. I had just spoken to Jacklyn, so who could this be? I ignored the call. He glanced up at me, then back at his screen. ​"Food is served," I said calmly. ​He always ate breakfast and lunch at home, and kept dinner light with just fruit. Once I finished cleaning up the kitchen, I packed away a portion of the meal for my parents and turned to leave. ​As I moved toward the door, my phone buzzed again. ​"Answer your call," he said. ​"I will call them back later." ​"Is that your boyfriend or a sugar daddy?" he asked with a sharp edge in his tone. ​"No." ​"Then pick up." ​I pulled the phone from my pocket-it was Mom. ​"Hello, Mom?" I answered. ​"Jennifer, there's an emergency! Your dad fainted and was rushed to CNC Medical Centre." ​"What happened to him?" I didn't wait for a reply. "I'm on my way now!" ​I turned back to William. "Mr. Williams, please, I need to leave right now. My dad is in the hospital and I have to be there." ​He fell silent for a second before nodding. "You can leave." ​I tossed the apron onto the counter, grabbed my bag, and rushed outside to flag down a cab straight to CNC Medical Centre. ​I squeezed into the back of the cab, my chest heaving. The driver hit the gas, weaving through the wet city traffic. I stared out the rain-streaked window, clutching my bag. Please let him be okay, I prayed, panic clawing at my throat.I arrived at the Medical centre. ​Mom was in the room with Dad. His blood sugar had spiked, but the doctors had stabilized him. Dad was sleeping peacefully with an IV drip hooked to his arm. "He will be fine," I whispered, pulling Mom into a tight hug. Her face looked completely exhausted. ​Doctor Vondee walked in to check on his vitals. He handed me the hospital bill to settle at the accounts office, along with a prescription list for Dad's medications. My heart skipped a beat. It was a massive amount of money. I had literally just started my new job, I hadn't earned any salary yet, and there was no way I could ask William for an advance so soon. ​Dragging my feet to the accounts office, I braced myself. The receptionist looked at the paperwork, typed something into her computer, and looked back up at me. ​"Your bill has already been cleared, and your medications are fully paid for." I froze.