Chapter 9 It Really Must Be The Allergy

Ethan had a lot going through his mind.

He had a murderer for a secretary,was Karma finally catching up with him?

And more importantly what was he doing keeping her by his side?

He shook his head and laid back on the bed, Maya had come and gone,she had come back from China some days ago,it was obvious what this meant for his grandfather,that was why he hadn't been able to tell him that she was back well except she hadn't gone to present herself by herself!

Ava on the other hand had gone but was yet to come back,where did she think she could run to after leaving him bedridden

He picked up his phone and dialed her number...she picked on the third ring

"Where do you think you are?" Ethan's voice was sharp, more out of frustration than anything else.

Ava's voice on the other end was calm, almost infuriatingly so.

"I'm at the pharmacy, Mr. Walker. I thought I should get you some antihistamines, you know, for your allergy," she replied, her tone laced with a mixture of concern and nonchalance that made his blood boil.

"Antihistamines," he repeated slowly, as if trying to make sense of a foreign word.

"Isn't that a little late, considering you already poisoned me with caffeine?"

"I didn't try to harm you" Ava corrected him, her voice slightly defensive now.

"It was a mistake, I didn't know it would be do serious "

Ethan scoffed, running a hand through his hair.

"A mistake? You think you can just spike my drink with caffeine and call it a mistake? Do you realize that you could have killed me?"

There was a pause on the other end, and for a moment, Ethan thought he might have gone too far. But then Ava's voice came through, softer this time.

"I know, and I'm sorry. I really am."

Ethan sighed, the anger slowly dissipating, leaving behind a gnawing confusion. Why hadn't he fired her yet? Why was she still here, running errands for him as if nothing had happened? More importantly, why did he feel this odd tug in his chest every time ever since he woke up?

"Just... get back here," he muttered, ending the call before she could respond.

He tossed the phone onto the bedside table and leaned back against the pillows, closing his eyes. Ava's voice lingered in his mind, a strange combination of guilt and something else he didn't want to name.

This was absurd. He couldn't be feeling anything other than frustration towards her. She was his secretary, nothing more. A secretary who had almost killed him!!!

But then why was he waiting for her to come back? Why did the thought of her returning to his side bring a sense of relief?

Ethan shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. This wasn't him. He didn't get involved with employees, and he certainly didn't have time for distractions. Not when Ruby was about to be handed to him,he wasn't going to think anything about the strange and uncomfortable feeling,he only called Ava because she now owed him her life. So he believed

The door to his hospital room creaked open, pulling him from his thoughts. He looked up, expecting to see a nurse or perhaps his grandfather.

Instead, Ava walked in, carrying a small bag from the pharmacy.

"You're back," he said, more as a statement than a question. He tried to keep his voice neutral, but the words came out softer than he intended.

"I got the antihistamines, just in case," she said, placing the bag on the table beside him.

"How thoughtful," he replied dryly, eyeing her with a mix of suspicion and curiosity.

"Trying to make up for your earlier attempt on my life?"

She rolled her eyes, a gesture that was more endearing than it had any right to be.

"I told you, it was a mistake. And besides, if I really wanted to kill you, do you think I'd still be here?"

Ethan couldn't help the small chuckle that escaped his lips.

"You do have a point," he admitted.

For a moment, they just looked at each other, the tension in the room shifting from annoyance to something else entirely.

Ava was the first to break the silence.

"So, do you need anything else? Water, perhaps? Another pillow?"

He shook his head, but his eyes didn't leave her. "No, I'm fine."

She nodded and started to turn away, but Ethan's voice stopped her.

"Ava," he said, surprising even himself with the sudden impulse to keep her close.

She turned back, her expression questioning.

"Yes?"

"Did anything happen last night" Anything to explain his sudden...he didn't know the word

"Never mind," he muttered, shaking his head. "It's nothing."

Ava raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced, but she didn't press the issue.

"Alright then. I'll be outside if you need me.

Something did happen last night...she remembered the words he spoke over and over again, she turned back to him

"Ethan?" Her voice was barely a whisper, her usual confidence replaced by a rare note of uncertainty.

"Why are you still here, Ava?"

They spoke at the same time

"After everything, why didn't you just leave?"

Coz I need to bring you down

"I owe you my life now remember?"

Ethan's heart skipped a beat .There it was again, that strange, unwelcomed feeling tugging at his chest.

He sighed and turned his eyes from her

It was definitely the allergy.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Ava's eyes narrowed at the back of her boss head,what had suddenly gotten into him?

And more importantly where was the god of thunder

She shrugged off the thought and sat beside the bed, awaiting his next demand, she tried to think about all of it in a positive light, if she was now literally his slave she was now closer to him than ever before,it also meant that she would be more likely to uncover some secrets about him....she told herself that fate was still on her side.

Just then the door opened and a thin man that had a red suit on and a long magician's hat on walked into the room,he was a man in his late sixties or early seventies. Ava stood up, raising a brow

Ethan turned, eyes widening

" Grandfather"