Chapter 6; Bad day

She wanted to open her eyes to see who it was but couldn't bring herself to do so for the sole reason of enjoying the feel of his muscular arms against her waist. It was clearly a feeling she enjoyed. She was still bent backwards as it was just her waist and small of her back he was holding up. 

'Why are his hands so muscular?’ she asked herself in her thoughts. 

It was only with great efforts that she was able to compel her eyelids to open. She definitely wasn't expecting who she saw because she gasped, scrambled backwards and somehow, fell on her bum with a thud, the very thing she wanted to prevent. She winced in pain when she touched her now aching bum then, moved to get on her feet. The sharp unpleasant pain she felt in her ankle made her rethink her action therefore, she settled for staying put.

“Mrs Brooks!” John who had been holding her exclaimed.

He leaned down to help her up but she was mad at herself so she refused his help. She tried getting up again but her sprained ankles didn't seem to be corporating with her.

“Let me help you up ma?" John offered out of impulse.

Finally succumbing, she let him help her up and take her to one of the comfy couchs situated at the center of her office. Her face was all scrunched up and she turned to the door to see that no one else was there. 

“Was anyone at the door with you when you knocked or perhaps behind you when you came in?” She asked with a rather serious look on her face.

His furrowed eyebrows had confusion written all over them.

“No," he replied, “I was the only one at the door," he answered frankly, standing upright with his hands joined together, one over the other at his back. 

'What? Am I now seeing things?’ she asked herself inwardly. 

'Rowan was definitely at that door,’ the thought rang in her head as her head tilted slightly.

His silhouette which she thought she saw had startled her and caused her an injury.

“Anyway ma'am, I came to inform you that your grandad has had the car that would take you to your uncle prepared,” he stated, gave a shallow bow and started walking to the door. 

“Wait John, please help me get my bag from the table and assist me because I don't think I can walk properly,” she pleaded.

“Don’t you think you should get your leg checked up ma?”

"I am fine, assist me so that I do not keep my uncle waiting.”

He helped her to the car and this singular action drew stares of concerns and sympathy from staff as they could see how she was limping. She stopped as a store and got herself a more comfortable footwear to put on and instructed the driver to take her to a pharmacy to get a tube of salve for her ankle. 

The driver dropped her off in front of a restaurant that left her hypnotized. The huge building was unique and was the most outstanding amongst all others around it. It was coated in cream quality paint and had black, long translucent windows and door. A mesmerizing water fountain with water that sparkled gold due to the sun's warm glow that casted on it stood magnificently at the center of the restaurant’s compound. Although she came from a wealthy family, she rarely visited restaurants due to her passion in cooking. She would rather she cooks something herself than go to one to get food.

Limping, she got into the restaurant and allowed her eyes to run wild, marvelling at the sight it beheld. The restaurant's relaxing ambience made her feel ecstatic. She looked around in hopes of seeing her uncle seated already in one of the seats but there was no sight of him. After trying to call him a couple of times, she gave up and opted to order a drink and work on some documents on her phone while waiting for him to arrive.

She happened to finish the drink she had ordered and realized that she had been waiting for over an hour and her uncle was yet to show up. She could safely say she had been stood up if he wasn't her uncle. Her uncle had neither answered any of her calls nor returned any. Her sprained ankle was draining strength from her and she wished she could leave but chose to wait a little longer.

Her phone chimed and it was a message from her uncle who informed her that he was still in an important meeting and didn't think he could make it. She was offended because she had waited for so long despite the pressing pains she felt. Additionally, he didn't answer any of her calls. She felt like calling her grandad and lamenting to him but she didn't. Picking up her purse, she got up from where she sat and went to pay for the drink she had.

Turning on her heels, she bumped into a staff that had a glass tray in her hands. The tray fell from her hand, shattering. Page almost fell tafter loosing her balance but straightened up herself by maintaining a tight grip on a table. 

“I am so sorry," the female staff apologized on impulse. 

“No, it's fine. You probably did not see me coming," Page assured.

She wasn't happy about how her day had being going. First, she thought she saw Rowan at her office door but it turned out to be John, then, she sprained her ankle and had to wait for over an hour for her uncle who didn't show up and then that. The lady bent down to pack the glass to a corner and Page did the same. Soon after she touched the third piece, the glass cut through her finger and blood spilled on the floor. She winced in pain and this caught the attention of the staff. 

“My God! You shouldn't have touched the glass ma'am, I could have handled it alone. I would get some tissue,” she sputtered and got on her feet before scrambling away.”

“I am so tired of all the messed up shits that have been happening today,” she lamented, throwing her hands in the air.

“Could my day get any worse?” She said with her emotions getting overwhelming and clutched her injured finger to blow air onto it. 

" Here, I am so sorry ma'am,” she informed Page and handed her the roll of tissue she had cut.

She took it and placed it over the cut before getting on her feet and leaving.

Everything seemed to be against her that day, the weather inclusive. Throughout the time she was seated in the restaurant, she hadn't for once noticed that the weather was changing. She was irked and all she wanted to do was go home but as soon as she stepped out of the restaurant, a heavy down pour began. Rain drops came down heavily and she didn't know when a tear escaped her eyes.

She was frustrated all the more when she recalled that her car was back at the company and no cabs were passing by the restaurant. She leaned on the wall of the restaurant and slipped down slowly the, she put her leg together and bent her face to her leg. Taking deep slow breaths, she worked towards keeping calm. 

“None of these things would have happened if I decided not to come out of the house at all today," she said, raising her head. 

She thought of calling Lina but she didn't want to, assuming she was still at work. Bending her head down despondently, she hummed a song to kept her tears from surfacing.

“Get up Page," she heard someone say from above her.

She had barely heard anything and was reluctant to lift her head up.

“Page, get up," the person repeated in a much louder tone and Page stopped what she humming instantly. 

She looked up from where she was and saw who she least expected to be there, Rowan.

“What are you doing here?" She asked, looking completely fazed.

“Let's go home."

“How did you know I was here?" She asked him but he still didn't give her an answer.

Silently, he picked her up and held the hand she had an injury on. He pulled her towards the road and when she suddenly screamed in agony, he turned around.

She flinched away in pain and this time, she couldn't hold back her tears.

“There is a cut on the hand you held and also, my ankle is sprained," she screamed out. 

She was crying profusely now and couldn't stand properly.

“How did you get injured that badly! I am so sorry,” he apologized and slipped one hand around her waist and put hers over his neck.  

“It's a long story. Please help me out because I cannot feel my legs," she pleaded.

As he helped her to the car, she started feeling dizzy and drained of energy. Slowly, her hand slipped off Rowan's shoulders and she fell forward.

“Page!" That was the last thing she heard  before her head hit something hard and she passed out. 

Chapter 8; Rowan is caring?

“Rowan, what's the use of asking for my preference if you knew you would do otherwise?” Page complained like a little child.

This made him chuckle within himself and he seemed to be happy that she was laughing some minutes ago but as usual, his face was rid of any emotions that could possibly threaten to give him away. 

"I do not appreciate you sending me on errands Page,” he said with his hands stuffed away in his pockets.

“Would you rather I go get it myself?" She asked but Rowan was silent. 

“Wouldn't you feed me after making me drain the last energy I had in me while crying because of the pain you caused?" She asked with a fake smile on her face. 

"Why the hell did you come get me then?" Page yelled as she couldn't control her emotions anymore due to the constant silence Rowan seemed to enjoy keeping. 

Clearly, he wanted to match up that energy and scream at her face but something within him didn't want to and he certainly didn't want to see her get hurt again. He admitted within himself that the pain he caused her by grabbing her injured hand and dragging her was enough. 

Clenching and unclenching his hand, he wore a little smile and repeated for the tenth time that night, “your uncle told me to." 

“Well, that doesn't matter. What I want is chicken and dumplings not chicken terrin,” bluntly, she said with her hands folded.

“Okay then," he replied and left to get what she wanted.

Rowan was glad that he had caught Page when she fell by swiftly turning on reflex to stand in front of her right on time. A staff in the restaurant helped him out with waking her up, taking that as an opportunity to flirt with him. He was relieved that her uncle had called him to ask if she had gotten home because he was starting to get uneasy but what worried him the more were the injuries she sustained. 

All he wanted to do was to scream at her and ask her why she wasn't careful enough and thereafter, comfort her but he felt that it would seem out of place. He had never witnessed her cry before and he did what he thought was best, comfort her. Rather than driving to their home while the rain was still extremely heavy, he opted for a close by five-star hotel to pass the night. She wanted her chicken and dumplings from the restaurant behind the hotel, no where else and nothing short of that but he didn't want to go outside. 

Just to satisfy her in order for peace to thrive, he put on a raincoat and went to get it. Page was happy and surprised to see that he actually listened to her without having to act all rude or vituperate her. She savoured the taste of her meal in delight while Rowan typed away on his phone. 

“Come and join me. Are you not going to eat?" She asked, concerned.

“No thank you, I had already had dinner when your uncle called me," he replied.

" Okay then,” she shrugged and continued eating. 

It was relaxing for her as she indulged in the meal because Rowan had applied some salve on her injury and covered it up before taking her to the hotel. 

“Thank you for the meal Rowan, I couldn't be more greatful," she beamed while setting down the empty plates when she was done and picking up her open cherry coke to take a sip.

" There is no need to thank me, you are my wife after all,” he replied from where he sat.

This startled Page who had opened her mouth to say something but couldn't form a word. Rowan noticed it and immediately rephrased  his statement. 

“Sorry, contract wife and going to the restaurant to pick you up was out of my sheer  respect for your uncle. There is absolutely nothing at all that would happen between us,” Rowan added.

“I never asked for an explanation Rowan. Whatever you do is your choice to make as we both are clearly adults,” her resonating, soft voice sounded. 

“One day, you would come to cheerish those things you took for granted and when that time comes, I hope you wouldn't have completely lost them,” her didactic utterance rang across the room with silence proceeding it.

Rowan spared her a glance that lasted a few seconds before turning away. 

“Go freshen up so that I can apply some salve on your ankle,” he instructed. 

“Will do."

Without another word, she got up and went into the overly spacious bathroom to do as Rowan had said. She took her time in the jacuzzi bathtub, letting the feel of warm water tickle her silky, soft skin. Wanting so much to get under the massive shower head of the shower, she stood under it and turned it on. In a soothing slow and steady manner, all the pains and frustrations she underwent that day washed away, leaving behind an invigorated lady. 

When she was done, she walked out of the bathroom with a bathrobe on. Her walk to the king-sized bed went all wrong when she mistakenly missed a step and triggered the pain in her ankle.

She winced softly and Rowan who was seated on the couch in front of the bed jumped on his feet and ran to her.

In one swift motion, he picked her up from the ground in bridal style and rested her against his firm chest. 

“Oh!" She exclaimed as she situated her hand behind his neck. 

If there was a more expressive way to describe Page's reaction, it should perhaps be used, don't you think?

Shock is one way to put it.

“What are you doing?”

"Helping you obviously,” he replied.

Rowan placed her on the bed and helped her sit upright. He squeezed from the tube onto his index finger salve and applied it on her ankle. He knew she must have had a long and stressful day so he gave her a leg and shoulder massage which she appreciated. When he was done, he removed the bandage that covered the cut on her finger, applied some salve also and covered it up with a new one. 

“Why are you suddenly doing all of these?" She asked when he helped her lay down on the bed.

"Whatever you do is your choice, we are both adults said a certain someone,” he teased, mimicking her voice to the best of his abilities.

Chuckling really hard she said, “that is not how I sounded."

“Oh trust me, I am not wrong," a smile tugging at the corner of his lips after the utterance.

“Go to bed. I am going to shower and sleep on the couch," he said whilst covering her with the duvet. 

“Is that even necessary? What's wrong if you sleep on the bed? We are both adults.”

“Yes we are both adults but it is only right. Hormones act up in unexpected places and times,” he pointed out and disappeared into the bathroom. 

Now that they both were going to live together in the same house, Page was determined to foster her relationship and manner of interaction with him. She believed that despite all that tough facade and cold attitudes, there was a sweet and beautiful soul within, she just had to put in the work. She was willing to let go of the pains he had put her through if it meant that she lived in peace with him even though he might never consider her his wife. 

Rowan walked out of the bathroom with his robe on and Page could not help but admire his figure. He was without a doubt an attractive and decent young man.

‘I would continue trying,’ she said to herself.

‘He would definitely come around one day, hopefully, ‘ she said softly before succumbing to the persistent call of mother nature.