Chapter 3 2

Chapter Two

Karen's lips pressed into a thin line as she suddenly felt a surge of annoyance at the man before her. Who would have thought that their paths would cross again? Did this mean they were meant to see each other again?

"Really? Did I lick your lips?" Colton asked, his lips slightly moving from side to side, as if trying to suppress a smile.

This man was starting to annoy the hell out of her! Well, it was clear from his demeanor that he didn't value a simple kiss from a stranger. But for her, it was important. That had been her first kiss, for Pete's sake!

"Y-yes! I can still remember that night! You stole my first kiss!" She almost shouted at him.

After those words, she felt her face heat up in embarrassment as he let out a loud laugh.

She clenched her fist as a mischievous grin played on his reddened lips. Even in that dim light, she wouldn't forget that face! The man who stole her first kiss!

One of his thick eyebrows slightly raised, as if restraining his amusement at her and their conversation.

"How does it feel then?"

She glared at him.

"You have no right to do that to me!"

She felt like she was on the verge of tipping over from irritation while staring at him.

"Is that how you look at your boss? It's like you're about to push me into the swimming pool."

She took repeated deep breaths to calm herself down. Yes, she was irritated, but seeing him again brought a smile to her heart. Why did she feel this way?

"S-sorry."

He's still her boss. This man will be the one paying her salary. So she should treat him properly. She'll set aside personal matters for now; it's work first.

"Now, take me to my room."

At his command, she blinked, then later walked towards Colton, gently pushing the wheelchair.

As they entered the mansion, two household staff members greeted them, carrying a tray of food.

"Boss, it's time for your meal," one of the helpers said.

"I don't want to eat!"

"What don't you want?" She raised her eyebrows, looking down at Colton. His gaze met hers as he raised his head. She didn't back down. "You'll eat." She said firmly and turned to the two servants who seemed to avoid their grumpy master. "He'll have his meal in his room. Please bring his food there."

Suddenly, she found the courage to think that this man might be upset with her.

"I really won't eat!"

"Where's your room?" Instead, she asked him, ignoring his cute tantrums.

"Turn to the right!" She turned right as he ordered like a mad man. At the end of the hallway was an elevator. It seemed deliberate. "Second floor."

They entered and she pressed the button for the second floor. When the door opened, they immediately stepped out. There were only three doors in that wide corridor. Each door had a nameplate.

"Colton, right?"

"You should know the name of your boss! You don't need to ask!"

"Fine, boss Colton." She remained calm despite being yelled at.

She turned the doorknob, gently opening the door before they entered. It was dark, the lights were off, and the curtains were drawn, covering the thick windows.

She turned on the lights. She couldn't help but be amazed when she saw the man's spacious room. The dark blue and light blue colors on the walls gave the room a masculine feel. It resembled the ocean. Add to that the masculine scent that wasn't too strong or overpowering. She was starting to like the scent of his room, and his scent too.

"Where would you like to sit?" There was a sofa, a couch. And there was a large flat-screen TV.

"I want to rest."

She approached the side table by his bed to retrieve the chart that was there. She checked the medication and meal times.

"I'm sorry, but you have to take your medicine at 9:30 am. So, you should eat first." She glanced at her wristwatch. "It's nine in the morning and you haven't eaten yet?" She tsked.

"I want to rest my back on my bed." He said seriously. She weighed whether he really wanted to rest or if he was just trying to avoid eating. "My shoulder is fucking hurt!" He suddenly panicked and pushed the wheelchair towards the bed.

Karen carefully assisted Colton to stand. His heavy and firm arm rested on her shoulder, his fingers almost grazing the top of her chest. She felt a tingling sensation in her veins.

She wrapped her arms around his waist, her body pressed against Colton's. She could feel his hard chest against her breast, his body radiating warmth. Darn. What's happening to her?

Slowly, the young man sat on the edge of the bed, but the magnetic pull between them remained. Her hand rose to his chest, while the other gently supported his back.

"Is there anything else hurting you?"

She didn't know why a hint of tenderness escaped her voice. Perhaps it was because she was genuinely concerned about Colton's condition.

"My back is hurting too."

"I will check that later. Rest for now."

She gently guided him to lie down. She almost gasped when his hand slid onto her waist and stayed there, gently applying pressure as if trying to maintain balance.

She fought the sensations enveloping her and focused on how to help him lie down without causing any discomfort.

"Ouch..." Colton suddenly groaned. His hand gripped her small waist.

"W-why?" She looked at him in concern.

"Your hand touched my wound..."

She carefully removed her hand from his back. She subtly assessed their position. One of her hands was on his chest, her body was almost leaning on Colton. They were too close, making it hard for her to breathe.

"Sorry..."

She gently moved away, allowing his back to rest against the pillow and headrest of the bed. She lifted one of his legs, which was in a cast.

"Turn off the lights," he ordered.

"No." She shook her head. "I still have to feed you." She grinned when there was a knock on the door. It must be the food.

She opened the door and she was right. The two household staff members were there, carrying delicious-looking food. Once they entered, they promptly left.

She approached Colton, who seemed lost in thought. He was that handsome, intimidating type. The kind you wouldn't admit you liked for fear of being insulted or rejected. But who knows? Let's not judge based on appearances alone.

"I said, I don't want to eat."

She even spoon-fed him, despite him turning his face away from her.

"Come on, please, just three bites."

"No!"

How could she possibly persuade this man? They couldn't go on like this every day. She'd age prematurely from frustration.

Her hand lightly touched his chin and she gently turned his face towards her. His budding beard pricked her palm. It was ticklish.

"Please?" She pleaded as their eyes met. "Eat up."

He seemed reluctantly resigned and opened his mouth to take the food she offered. Secretly, she smiled, feeling like Colton's caretaker. She was feeding her baby! Damn! She was getting giddy over her own thoughts.

"Enough," he said, stopping her after almost four spoonfuls.

"Last one..." She fed him the spoonful.

Colton looked at her, clearly indicating his refusal. She couldn't help but bite her lip as his gaze intensified. She felt like she was melting under it.

"Stop!" His voice thundered.

She bit her lip harder in response to his angry tone. She needed to get used to his behavior. She had to last in this job.

"You haven't eaten enough, b-boss. You have three more medicines to take." She softly said, biting her lip again to suppress her fear of being yelled at again. She kept her head slightly bowed, avoiding his gaze.

"Stop biting your lips in front of me... or else I will lick it again..."

She quickly stopped biting her lip, nervous but also oddly excited. There was something about this man that affected her deeply.

Karen stood up and retrieved Colton's medication. He didn't resist and took the medicine.

"You'll take your next dose at 3:30 pm. I'll be back. I'll just tidy up my things." Colton didn't speak. "Is that alright with you?"

"Come back here right after you finish what you do."

"O-okay."

She quietly left Colton's room and headed to the mansion's living room. She found a housemaid dusting the picture frames.

"Ms..." She got the maid's attention.

"It's you, Miss Karen. Do you need something?" Her eyes inadvertently focused on the pictures in front of her, and it seemed like she noticed Karen's curiosity about who they were. "The Altaraza siblings are quite handsome, aren't they?"

Yes, they are all handsome even if the men don't smile in the photos. Colton looks serious, just like the two other men.

"Yes, they are. They look very serious though."

"They only look serious in pictures. The Altarazas are actually very kind."

"Colton doesn't seem that way... I mean, boss Colton."

"It's only recently that boss Colton started being this way since the accident and then..."

"Esmeralda!" Their conversation stopped at that voice. They both turned to look. It seemed this was the housekeeper of the mansion, the one who accompanied her earlier to see Colton. "Save the talk for later. Finish your work first."

Esmeralda nodded and went back to what she was doing. She gave a small smile to the housekeeper before asking.

"Where are my things, by the way?"

"Come, follow me. I'll take you to your room." They walked down the same hallway they passed through earlier. The housekeeper opened the door before they reached the elevator. "Your things are already in your room, Miss Karen."

She nodded. "Thank you."

"The phone there is only connected to boss Colton's room. He'll call you if he needs you."

"Alright."

"I'll just have your meal delivered here. I'll leave you now."

Once the housekeeper left, she closed the door. She smiled when she saw her entire room. It looked newly renovated, everything in it seemed brand new. The walls were a light blue color, very refreshing. She liked it; it reminded her of Colton's room.

She glanced at the telephone on her bedside table before remembering the man. He was probably resting now.

She arranged her clothes and placed them in the closet. In just a few minutes, she was done. Her meal arrived shortly after.

"Thank you, Esmeralda. You don't have to bring my food here every time."

"It's boss's order. We're just following."

"Which boss?" She asked in surprise.

"Boss Colton."

"Is that so? Alright, thank you again."

Maybe all of the nurses who took care of him had the same meal rotation. Though it was a bit lonely to eat alone, she pushed herself to do it. It would be better if she talked to Colton and ate together with the household staff rather than eating alone. Yes.

Karen first went to the kitchen to get Colton's lunch before bringing it to his room. She found Esmeralda there, setting the food on the tray.

"Is that for boss Colton?"

"Yes, Miss Karen."

"I'll take it to his room. I also need to give him his medicine."

Esmeralda looked at her for a moment before nodding. "Alright, it seems boss isn't too grumpy with you."

"If you only knew." She let out a soft laugh. "But I will do my best to help him recover and heal."

Esmeralda smiled sadly as she placed a glass of iced tea on the tray.

"We've heard that it'll be difficult for Sir Colton to walk again according to his doctor, so we understand his condition. Even if he shouts at us, it's fine. We all here owe a lot to their family."

"Difficult? But it looks like he can move his cemented leg just fine."

"That's what we were told by the housekeeper, Miss Karen."

"I'll review his medical background again. But I'm sure he can walk again." She said confidently.

"We'll pray for that. And hopefully, when boss Colton can walk again, he'll find a true..."

"K, go to my room now." That low yet intimidating voice suddenly echoed around the kitchen.

There was a speaker attached to the upper part of the kitchen, where the familiar voice came from.

"That's boss Colton! He needs you." Esmeralda hurriedly arranged the spoon and fork on the tray.

"My name is not 'K'."

"Maybe they found your name too long, so they just called you by one letter."

"After one minute and you are not here...you'll be fired." His threat pounded in her chest.

She quickly made her way to the elevator, carrying the tray of food. She was truly alarmed by the young man's warning. She didn't want to be fired on her first day of work.

"Is there something wrong with you?" she asked Colton as she entered his room.

He was typing on his laptop resting on the bed table.

"I want to eat," he said without looking at her.

She nodded before placing the tray of food on the table with wheels, near the bed.

"Finish the food, boss Colton."

"Cut the boss."

"You ate very little earlier, S-sir."

"Just Colton."

"O-okay, C-Colton. Eat more-"

"Feed me."

Her eyes slightly widened. She had already fed him earlier, but why did she feel a flutter in her chest when he himself asked her to feed him?

"Um..."

"You see, I'm busy with my laptop."

"O-okay..." She sat on the edge of the bed, her thigh almost touching his outstretched leg. Colton seemed unfazed by it. She scooped food into his mouth. "Ah."

Colton opened his mouth without diverting his gaze from his laptop. She shouldn't feel the tingles running through her body because of what she was doing; it was perfectly normal, but why did it feel like this?

She fed him again before she remembered to talk to him about joining the household staff in their meals.

"Colton."

"Yes?"

"Can I eat with your staff instead? It's lonely to eat alone."

"Now you know how I feel while eating alone."

That's when she realized the pattern of Colton's meals. It would be more difficult if he ate in the kitchen; she just found out that he no longer dines with his family.

"If you want, we can go down together when it's time to eat."

"No, let's just eat here together from now on."

"But-"

"Just do what I've said and stop complaining, K." Colton gives her a look. The kind of look that telling her to follow him not because he's the boss but because he's Colton Altaraza who doesn't take no for an answer.