Chapter 6

I stood there for about 3 minutes with no answer, I had already knocked 3 different times, I was about to walk away when I heard the door unlocking. My heart felt like it had stopped when Marianna appeared in my line of vision. She looked horrible, but yet so beautiful, her hair was a mess, her eyes were red, and still I  couldn't help but to notice the butterflies in my stomach at the sight of her enchanting face.

"What are you doing here?" I heard her say, her voice was hoarse barely even audible. "I was checking in to make sure you were alright Marianna, you've never missed before, and you weren't answering any of my calls." measuring my words carefully so she wouldn't run from me again. 

"I apologize sir, I'm pretty sure I have the flu, running in the rain did me no favors, and I know you don't like your employees at work sick." She muttered

She looked so vulnerable, my heart couldn't handle it "do you need anything while I'm here? Medicine? Soup? Anything?" Not caring that I sounded desperate to help her.

She tried to speak through her coughing, " no sir, honestly I'll be ok, you may go now, I wouldn't want you to get sick as well".

This time she wasn't going to get her way, she was barely able to stand, I made my way into her apartment, held her up and walked her to her couch "look you need help, and I'm already here, so please just let me help you" basically pleading her. It looked like as if she was already laying down on the couch since there was a pillow and blanket. She had used tissue paper on the floor next to the couch. 'This poor thing' I grimaced 

"Marianna your hands feel hot!" Worry consuming my voice, I felt her head and she was burning up. "Do you have a thermometer? Have you taken any medicine?" I asked while looking around her living room. 

"No, I haven't been able to go to the store, I've been sleeping all day" she yawned, I shifter her body to the side so I could lay her back down, "sir, I'll be ok you really don't need to do this" she insisted, as she could barely keep her eyes open. "Marianna, just go back to sleep, I'll be right back, ok? I'm going to borrow your keys so I can get back in ok?" it seemed I was winning her over as she no longer protested and just closed her eyes, with a small nod. I watched her for a minute or two before I left, 'such a stubborn beautiful creature she is.'

Right away I took out my phone to call my office "this is Ms. Jennings, I need you to cancel my schedule for today and tomorrow, reschedule everything for next week. I will be out of touch till Wednesday, handle everything and I better not be disturbed" I left no room for negotiations. I made it to my car as I hung up the phone. I found my way through the grocery store pretty fast since I didn't want to leave her alone for long. I managed  to get everything I needed to make her some soup, medicine, a thermometer, tissue paper and some cough drops.

I entered back into her apartment to find her fast asleep. While placing all the grocery bags on her kitchen table and placed my spare backpack on the floor, I looked around for something to cook the soup in. I was pretty surprised that she didn't have much cooking ware, but, I made due. 

As I heated up the water to boil the chicken, I went go get a temperature on her and give her some medicine.

"Marianna I need you to wake up for a bit, I have some medicine for you to take and I need to take your temperature" I shook her lightly till she opened her eyes. 

When she finally looked up at me I noticed a small smile on her face "you have beautiful eyes" she said through her almost nonexistent voice. Letting out small laugh as I helped her sit up "thank you ma'am, now open your mouth so I can put this thermometer under your tongue".

my eyes were wide up to see her temperature was at 104.2, "here take this" I said as I gave her some medicine. Before I knew it she was back to laying down and fast asleep. 2 in a half hours later I finished the chicken soup. 

I managed to wake her back up, she looked so peaceful, she finally stopped coughing. It felt like a sin having to wake her back up, but she needed to eat. I was over the moon being able to help her in her most vulnerable state, after I spoon fed her, she was fast asleep again. 

I brushed her hair out of her face, I began to think 'any man would be so lucky to be hers, so tiny yet so fierce, she didn't need any man, yet here I was hoping she would pick me' I tore my gaze from her as I went and got my backpack. I always carried extra clothes in my trunk just in case I had to go out of town or stay late at the office. 'I hope she doesn't mind if I use her shower' 

After showering, brushing my teeth and throwing on some sweat pants and a plain white tee shirt, I cleaned up her kitchen, cleaned up her living room, and threw out the trash. I made my way back over to her couch, picked up her feet and sat down, with her feet on my lap. Flipping through the tv, I finally found a movie to settle on. While looking at the movie I couldn't help but to think, 'I wish this would last forever, I could spend my whole life taking care of her' 

Through out the night I continued to give her medicine, help her to the restroom, give her water. She was in and out of sleep, barely said anything but thank you. Her body was in complete exhaustion.

I hadn't noticed when I fell asleep, still sitting on the couch with her feet on my knees. I felt movement around me that made me wake up instantly. I found her beautiful eyes looking straight at me, she gave me the sweetest smile I have ever seen "Good morning Manny" her angelic yet hoarse voice rang through my ears