Part 50

"I'm tired of answering that same question, Claire," he replied flatly.

He stood up, took her shoes, and left the room, only to return shortly after.

"So?" he asked as she placed her phone back on the nightstand.

"Gladwin's on vacation with his friends," she replied irritably. "You don't need to worry, Sir. I'll be fine after some rest." She was trying to politely dismiss him, but Antony only smiled in response.

"I already told you, if Gladwin couldn't come, I'd call my family doctor. He's on his way here now," Antony said casually. Claire stared at him in disbelief.

"Can you stop making decisions for me?" she asked, clearly upset. "I'm the one who's not feeling well, so why are you the one telling me what to do?"

Instead of getting angry or upset, Antony just shrugged. "So, you admit you're not feeling well?" he challenged. "Haven't you been saying all this time that you're fine?"

"Sir..." Claire started to interrupt, but Antony cut her off.

"Can you stop calling me that? I feel ancient every time you say it," he responded.

"But you're my boss," Claire protested.

"And from now on, I've decided I'm not your boss outside the office. I'm just the father of my child and a man who's crazy about a woman," Antony said, leaving Claire speechless. "So, get used to calling me something else," he ordered. Claire could only stare at him in disbelief.

"You're insane!" she exclaimed.

Antony shrugged again. "You're the one making everything difficult, so I've decided to make things difficult for you too, and make you fall for me," he replied, walking out as the doorbell rang. "That must be your doctor," he added over his shoulder.

Still sitting on the edge of the bed, Claire leaned back against the headboard, feeling utterly exhausted. Her head was spinning, her body began to tremble again, and her eyelids grew heavy with drowsiness. She wished all of this was just a dream, one she'd forget when she woke up. But she knew it wasn't a dream, because at that moment, a man in his fifties entered her room.

"Dr. Vincent?" Claire furrowed her brow. Her voice came out as a murmur, lacking the strength to speak any louder.

"You two know each other?" Antony, who had followed behind the casually dressed doctor, looked between Claire and the older man.

"I didn't realize the patient you mentioned was the twin sister of my son's close friend, Sir," Dr. Vincent explained. Indeed, Dr. Vincent was the father of Gladwin's best friend, whom Claire had always considered like family. "Let's start the examination, shall we?" the doctor said kindly.

Claire nodded silently and pulled her legs onto the bed, lying down. She glanced at Antony, who remained in place, showing no intention of leaving.

"Aren't you going to step out, Sir?" she asked.

Antony shook his head. "Someone needs to know your condition so I can explain it if anyone asks. Right, Doc?" He directed the question at Dr. Vincent.

The doctor just chuckled and took out his stethoscope, starting to examine Claire.

"What symptoms are you feeling?" Claire explained everything—the aches, chills, and discomfort.

"Constipation?" the doctor asked, and Claire nodded.

"How many days?"

"Almost four," she answered.

"Any vomiting?"

Claire nodded again. "This morning, after breakfast."

Dr. Vincent nodded thoughtfully. "I suspect you might have typhoid, but it's also possible you have dengue fever. You should go to the hospital for a blood test to be sure, since the symptoms are quite similar."

"We're going now," Antony declared, making Claire glare at him.

"It can wait until tomorrow, Sir. Besides, the lab's already closed at this hour," Dr. Vincent interjected. "In the meantime, I'll prescribe some medication." The doctor gave detailed instructions on the medicines Claire needed, foods she should avoid, and what she could eat, along with a recommendation to get a blood test and follow-up check soon.

Claire could only nod, her head pounding more intensely. Soon after, Dr. Vincent took his leave.

"I'll go pick up your meds. Do you want anything to eat?" Antony asked after escorting the doctor out.

Claire shook her head; all she wanted was to sleep. Antony nodded in understanding.

"Alright, I'll head out, then," he said, and with that, he left.

Once Antony was gone, Claire slowly sat up, holding her aching stomach. She made her way to the wardrobe and grabbed some fresh clothes. There was no way she could sleep in her sweaty work outfit.

Claire was too exhausted to protest as Antony climbed into the bed beside her. She was still shivering, her body curled up tightly beneath the covers. Antony carefully wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer to share his warmth. His body heat immediately began to seep into her, helping to calm her violent shivering.

For a moment, Claire stirred slightly, murmuring something incoherent, but she didn't resist. Antony's presence, surprisingly, brought a sense of comfort amidst the fever-induced haze she was in.

"You're burning up," Antony muttered quietly, his voice soft yet full of concern. He gently tucked the blanket around her more snugly and rested his chin lightly on top of her head.

Claire's breathing, though still a bit labored, seemed to relax as she fell back into a deeper sleep. Antony stayed still, holding her close, determined to stay by her side throughout the night, silently hoping that her fever would break soon.

As the minutes passed, the house remained quiet, save for the occasional rustle of the sheets and Claire's soft, uneven breaths. Antony's thoughts wandered, questioning why he cared so deeply for her, why the idea of leaving her alone like this felt impossible. All he knew was that she mattered to him more than anything at this moment, and that thought was both terrifying and comforting.

He tightened his hold around her just a little more, determined to be there for her through the night.

Claire hesitated for a brief moment, her mind still clouded by fever and exhaustion. Despite her initial surprise, she couldn't deny the warmth Antony was offering. Her body, desperate for heat, seemed to respond instinctively. She let herself relax against his chest, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat oddly comforting.

Antony's arm wrapped securely around her, pulling her closer as if to shield her from the cold. "Just try to rest," he whispered softly, his voice calm but filled with concern.

Claire didn't reply, the warmth of his body slowly spreading over her, easing the chills that had taken over. Her eyelids grew heavy again, and she found herself drifting back into sleep, her breathing becoming slower and more even.

Antony remained still, holding her as her trembling began to subside. He stayed alert, listening to her breathing, watching her in the dim light. The unexpected closeness felt intimate, but for now, his focus was on making sure she was comfortable and safe.

As Claire finally seemed to settle into a more peaceful slumber, Antony couldn't help but feel a wave of protectiveness wash over him. He would stay right there, making sure she was okay for as long as it took.