Chapter Six
Carmella couldn't move away. She cautiously walked into his office and went straight to the bedroom at the back. From his en-suite she got the first aid box and returned to his office. He stared at her with disbelief. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" He barked.
Ignoring his words, she went towards him and saw that there was blood dripping everywhere. She went closer and his breath hitched. "Don't touch me, " he warned but Carmella just picked up his bleeding hand and cleaned the blood off with cotton balls soaked in antiseptic. She was aware of his hot gaze upon her but she didn't look into his eyes, concentrating only on her work. She felt a tug at her heart when she touched his hand. Why did he do this to himself? What made him so angry? Why was he always so angry? Didn't he get tired of being always angry?
She cleaned his wounds and then applied a medicated adhesive bandage to stop the bleeding. Jaxon couldn't look away from her glowing face even if he wanted to. Her nearness and her sensuous touch made him want to pull her into his arms. He closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath. He couldn't lose his control. He couldn't let her know the effect her nearness was having upon him.
"That's all. I'll have it all cleaned up. You may go back to work, Ms Parker," he ordered in a firm, indifferent tone.
"Yes sir," she murmured and went away to place the first aid where it belonged. She quietly left his office and went back to her cubicle to do her job, sighing heavily. After five minutes, some workers came to clean his room. After three hours he walked out of his office towards the elevators, not even looking in her direction. She was in a dilemma. Should she follow him or should she simply complete her work. Choosing the latter, she sat down to finish her work. If he wanted her to follow he would have growled out a command.
By evening her work was over and she left since Jaxon hadn't returned to office. She went to the nearest mall and bought many formal wear to mix and match. Returning home, she quietly had her dinner while her family talked amongst themselves. "When do you need to go to New York?" Asked her dad.
"After three weeks," she answered.
"What about your studies?" Asked a worried Tyler.
"I've opted for online classes, " she informed.
"Where will you stay in New York?" Asked her mom.
"I'll rent an apartment near my office," she said and her mom looked at her dad.
"Why should you live in a rented place when we have penthouses in all our hotels?" Asked her dad.
"Please dad. I don't like the penthouses since the hotel staff stare at you every time you leave or arrive. I want my privacy, " she protested.
"Why can't she stay at uncle Eric's apartment there?" Asked Tyler.
"If it's near my office, I will else I'll rent a place, " Carmella said.
"Then find out where in New York is the office. We can start looking for a place for you to stay, " her dad suggested.
"Yes dad," she said. The way her family was behaving it seemed she were a sixteen year old girl instead of a twenty-one year old woman. But she was tired of fighting them so it was easier if she just gave in.
The next morning, she wore a lavender skirt suit pairing it with black pumps. She tied her hair into a bun and left for work.
Making the black coffee that Jaxon always had, she took it to his cabin. He wasn't around. Didn't he come to office? The whole office looked clean and tidy. She checked the room at the back. No, he hadn't arrived yet.
She went to her cubicle and checked her emails. Nothing. It was very strange. After waiting for two hours, she went to Ralph's office to enquire. "Oh hasn't he come to office? Wait, I'll just call him up," said Ralph. He called twice but his phone was switched off.
"Jaxon never switches off his mobile. Hope he's well," he thought out loud.
"Maybe he's sick. Should I go and check?" Asked a confused Carmella.
"Please can you? I have two back to back meetings," he said, jotting down Jaxon's address and handing it out to her.
"Sure," she said accepting the card and checking. His apartment was at a five minutes drive from the office. Should she go and check?
She decided to go since he hadn't sent her any work also. Collecting her stuff she went to the parking lot and drove to the address given. It was a luxurious residential complex in the poshest neighbourhoods of Vegas. She parked her car and went up to the lobby where the security guards and a reception desk was present, with a grumpy looking receptionist. She gave them her name but they wouldn't allow her upstairs to Jaxon's apartment.
"Sorry, strict orders not to let anyone go," the guard said.
"I'm his personal assistant. He's called for me. It's urgent," she said but the guard wouldn't at all be convinced.
After five minutes of argument when she was about to give up, Gilbert came down the elevator. He saw her and grinned.
"Hey, miss PA, wanna go see Jaxon?" He asked with a grin.
"Yes, why didn't he come to office today?" She asked Gilbert. His grin widened.
"Why? Did you miss him?" He asked, lowering his voice.
"N no, I just was a bit concerned since he didn't give me any work," she said.
"Come with me, " said Gilbert, leading her to the elevator and waving off the guards and the receptionist.
He led her to the eighth floor to Jaxon's posh apartment door.
"Jaxon has fever since he hadn't taken a tetanus shot immediately. I brought a doctor today morning and ensured that he got the shot. He's under medication and is sleeping," he said, procuring a set of spare keys and opening the main door for her.
"You go on and see him. I have to return to office," he said, ushering her inside and then closing the door. She stood alone inside the huge posh apartment, scared that Jaxon would shout at her if he knew she was here. Should she escape now? But Gilbert might be there outside.
She stood still and then walked up towards the bedroom doors before her. Opening the door in front, she saw that it was a study room. The one next to it was a gym. She opened the room further away and found the room, dark. It was the master bedroom. Her eyes grew accustomed to the darkness and she saw a sleeping form on the bed. Jaxon was asleep. She should leave. She turned to escape when she heard a faint mumble.
"Where's the fucking bottle?" Maybe he wanted water. She went inside near the bed. Looking at the nightstand she found the bottle of water at the far end. Before she could pick up the bottle of water, a hand grabbed her wrist,"What are you doing here?" Growled Jaxon, switching on a light with a remote control.
Carmella blushed at his shirtless bare body. He was the most gorgeous specimen on earth. With his well-toned muscles and abs, he should have been those droolworthy models and not their elusive designer. Jaxon saw her checking him out and was quite pleased. So this wasn't a dream, she really was here.
"S sir, your hurting me, " she said in a nervous squeak. Jaxon left her wrist and sat up straight. Carmella looked everywhere other than him and it amused him to no end.
"You didn't tell me why you're here?" He asked again, excitedly, a faint smile on his lips. He had rested and he was feeling much better.
"I I , you, actually you didn't give me any work. So I came to ask for work," she stammered, looking at the floor, her feet, at the nightstand, at the water bottle and even at the bedsheet as if they were the most interesting objects on earth. Jaxon was more amused. He chuckled and she looked up at him with wide eyes. He could chuckle?
"So you came to my bedroom to ask for work? Interesting, " he said and Carmella blushed crimson. Did he think she was desperate?
"I can see that you're well sir. Please send me work, I'll go back to office," she said in one breath and started walking off towards the door.
"No, don't go Carmella," he said and she froze. "I mean, work from here today as I can't go to office," he corrected himself.
Carmella nodded. "Yes sir. I'll get my tablet and laptop from my car," she said, rushing towards the door.
Jaxon closed his eyes at the narrow escape. She was here and he was making a fool of himself in front of her. Did she like his body? Did she want him like he wanted her? Was she concerned about him? Did she care about him? A smile hovered over his lips at the thought that she might care about him a little.
