Chapter 5

"Laura, hi how are you?"

Laura heard Sylvia say as soon as she answered her phone.

"I am fine, Sylvia, how was your journey?" She asked.

"It was smooth, I am sorry I called you without any previous information. It was urgent and I couldn't call in at work that I won't be coming at the last minute and thankfully you were off work. Thanks for responding, I appreciate it."

"It's okay Slyvia what are friends for?"

"Thanks again Laura,"

"Yeah, anyway I am going for home service." Laura disclosed.

"Really? It's supposed to be my turn. I'm so sorry Laura." Sylvia said sounding displeased with herself.

"It's okay Sylvia," Laura responded laughing

"You won't feel sorry if I tell you who he is Sylvia though I didn't know about him until today I heard he is a big name an.."

Who is he?" Sylvia asked with excitement cutting her off.

"Well, Devon."

"Wait what did you say? Did I hear you right? Did you just say, Devon? Is it the Devon I know the billionaire handsome superstar or do you mean someone else?"

"Calm down Sylv one question at a time."

Laura said laughing at her excitement. Devon must be super popular since just one mention of his name got Sylvia this excited

"Yes, he is Devon Williams, the Devon." She answered

"Wowwwwww," Slyvia screamed over the phone Laura had to pull the phone out of her ear to avoid damages

"You are so lucky Laura. Oh my God, I wish I can come back and steal back my spot from you but I can't my mom is still in the hospital, and my finance will go crazy if he finds out he is super jealous of my love for Devon. I am a big fan of his. You know what baby girl you get me an autograph, I mean that's the least you can do I practically hooked you up with him."

Sylvia continued. Not pausing for breath. Laura was lost for words so she just shut up and listened to her talk.

"Laura you are not answering me." She said when Laura didn't say a thing.

"Oh, I just wanted you to finish with your request. Though I don't know yet if I can get his autograph but I will try. He seems not to like me anyway cuz he was acting grumpy when we met though we didn't meet for long. It's could be because of his surgery that why. I dont know."

Laura explained not even understanding what she was saying.

"Wait, he had surgery? Why what happened. Sorry, I was supposed to ask how you became his nurse in the first place but I didn't even think about that. So what happened to him?"

"An accident, did surgery, needs to be on a wheelchair for a while, needs a personal nurse," Laura explained in short form.

"Oh my God, I hope he is, okay, oh no, he has a tour coming up I even bought tickets."

Sylvia said with concern.

"He is fine surgery was successful as far as I know. That's all I can say for now."

"Okay, Lau I have to go now, my mom is about to have her surgery. Keep in touch will you." She said

"I will. take of your mom and yourself too."

"I will do that. bye, Lau." She said and hanged up.

Dropping the phone Laura strolled to her kitchen and brought out the chicken and placed it in the oven to reheat. She had some preparations to do before she lives the house tomorrow but for now, she just wanted to eat her chicken take a bath, and sleep till maybe 9 am tomorrow. Since she doesn't have to be at work till the afternoon tomorrow.

She will just eat and go to bed then tomorrow morning she arranges the things that she needs. And also make sure all the food and groceries that are in her refrigerator are moved to her neighbor's apartment so that they will not go to waste. She has done this before a couple of times so she was pretty much used to it.

The microwave beeped and she turned it off and brought out the chicken. Moving to the living room area she turned on the TV while she eats.

After she finished eating she took her bath and went to sleep.

The ringing of the alarm woke her up the next morning, at 5;40 am. she had forgotten to reset it since she didn't need to get up early. But now that she was awake she couldn't go back to sleep so she got up and went to the bathroom brushed her teeth and washed her face.

She started by going into her Kitchen and sorting out items that need to be given out, then she washed her dishes and made sure everything was intact and would not be in a bad shape when she returned. This was her fourth or fifth time going on home service and this would be her longest time away. When she was through with the kitchen the time was already after six.

She then moved to her bedroom and then the sitting room area. After making sure everywhere in the house was clean. She took her bath and went to the departmental stores to get some of the stuff she needed and also disposable bags.

Although she had tried not to think about the fact that her new patient might not like her, the way he had responded to her last night didn't have to be the deciding factor so she opted to think it had to do with the fact that he just had surgery. But it didn't make her feel less anxious. She was used to feeling that way every time she had to meet or stay with new people, it was part of the job she signed for so she has to get used to it somehow.

By exactly 10 am she knocked on her neighbor's door with the groceries in her hand.

Hi, ma Paula."

she greeted when the old woman opened the door. Her neighbor a sixty-something years old woman lived with her three grandchildren she and her grandkids were nice to Laura and always made her feel at home. During festive seasons like Christmas, they always brought her gifts.

"Hello, Laura dear how are you today?"

" I am fine ma,"

"Come in dear,"

she replied. Opening the door wider. Laura moved in and went straight to the kitchen and started stuffing the things she brought in.

"Are you going away again?"

Yes ma" she replied

"Oh, for how long Laura?"

"Three or maybe four months depending on how well my patient responds to treatment." She answered.

"Wow that long, we always miss you when you are away."

"Oh my, don't worry three months is not long I will be back before you know it," she replied.

"Are you leaving today?"

" Yes maybe later in the evening I still have to go to the hospital to see the patient. We haven't talked much."

"The kids are gonna be sad when I tell them. They have already gone to school."

"Don't worry I will see them before I go she replied."

When she had finished arranging everything in the fridge she excused herself and went back to her apartment and started placing the stuff she needed inside a traveling bag. She was halfway into it when her phone rang. It's was the director

"Good morning doctor,"

she greets when she has answered the phone.

"Good morning Laura, can you come over to the hospital," came the reply.

"Right now?" She asked

"Yes, Devon needs to leave the hospital this morning before things get out of hand the media had somehow found out he is in the hospital so he is getting discharged before time. If you don't mind coming right now so that you guys can finalize your arrangement."

"Okay, sir I am on my way." She replied.

The hospital wasn't far from her house so in less than fifteen minutes she was there.

The entrance of the hospital was filled with different cameras and media persons when she got there. It took a while form to enter the hospital.

She went directly to the director's office since he told her to meet him there. She knocked on the doctor and entered.

" Hello, Laura, sorry if we disturbed you Devon manager Mark greeted as she entered the room.

"Good morning Mark. I am not disturbed she replied. She liked Mark just yesterday that she met him. It's felt she had known him all her life.

" Good morning Doctor, she greeted the director who was busy with the papers in front of him.

"Good morning Laura." He replied.

Mark already signed all we need is your signature and also about sleeping arrangement I don't know if you guys have talked about it?" The director asked

"Yes, we have last night," Laura replied. reading through the contract. She signed where her name was and handed it back to the doctor.

Who stamped it and gave one to Mark and kept the other in the file.

"That's good to hear, the director replied. The patient is already discharged. Laura, you know the drill so I don't need to go over it again right?"

He asked looking in her direction

"Yeah sir," she replied.

Mark's phone rang and when he picked it the expression on his face changed.

" Doc, nurse, I am sorry for the chaos that we caused in the hospital." he apologized.

"It's okay." The doctor replied.

"It's may get worst so for our benefit we will like to leave now. If you don't mind Laura."

"No, I don't mind."

"Oh thank you," he said getting up from his seat. Laura followed so did the director.

"Thank you so much for everything doctor," Mark said.

"No need for thank you. It's our job."

The director replied. They shook hands and Mark together with Laura exited the office.

"Laura thank you for being available despite the short notice he said."

Laura smiled in response.

"Devon is already in the car at the underground parking lot. We are going that way to avoid meeting the media we can't talk to them yet since not official announcements have been made." He explained.

"Okay, but I still need to go home to finish parking what I need," Laura replied.

" Don't worry we will drop you off on the way and pick you up when you are ready."

"No, no, no, there is no need for that," Laura replied.

"You just need to give me the address I need to go and I will be there when I am done."

"Sorry, Laura the address can't be disclosed. It has to remain a secret for now till the media calm down. We are not going to Devon's actual house. Rather we are going to what we call a safe house. He would be more comfortable there and also the environment is perfect for healing." He explained.

"Okay," Laura responded in understanding.

When they got to the car park three other men were there whom she assumed were bodyguards.

"Is he still sleeping?" Mark asked one of the men

"No, he is awake."

the big man with a broad chest and a face that can be considered scary replied.

Mark stepped into the enormous car and beckoned on Laura to do the same. Which she did. Inside the limo, Devon was sitting in a wheelchair.

"Hi, nurse," he greeted when she entered the car.

"Hi," she replied.

Laura was comfortable with Mark but she couldn't say the same for Devon. Maybe because she was more used to interacting with older patients than younger ones.

"No, Mark that will draw attention to her house,"

Devon replied in disagreement when Mark told him they are to drop her at her house to pick up some things.

"I can always just buy are the things she needs, there is no need for her to go back home." he continued

"No," Laura said. And the two men turned in her direction.

"I can go home on my own and get my stuff I don't like people buying me things don't worry I will find my way to where ever you are." She added with a smile though she felt anything but smile.

"Sorry about that," Devon replied. He seemed surprised at her outburst.

"How about she goes with Dan in the other car before the Limo leaves that way Dan will bring her home," Mark suggested

"That would be better." Devon and Laura both replied.

"I'm glad we all agreed." mark said calling on the bodyguard or driver she didn't know which one he was.

"Dan, you will take the young lady to her house and when she is done parking you will bring her to the house."

Mark instructed. Dan replied with a nod and beckoned on her to follow him. She quickly stepped down from the car and waved the men goodbye as Dan lead her to another car.