Chapter 7

• LAURA’s POV
• I forced my eyes open, trying to cover them from the rays of morning sun. Blinking my eyes several times, I woke up clumsily and sat down on bed in Indian style, covering my legs with blanket. I yawned and then started stretching my arms in an attempt to retain some strength in me. After that
• I walked to the window and pulled the curtains away. I observed the view carefully while grabbing my hairs into a messy bun.
• Suddenly a familiar voice of someone's clearing their throat came and I looked over my shoulder to saw Daryl on the bed with his gaze being continuously fixed on me. A small blush crept up to my cheeks in embarrassment.
• "Morning." I said with a smile, turning towards him. He nodded and shifted his attention to his laptop which was on his lap.
• I scurried my eyebrows in confusion. Working this late? Huh?
• "Slept well?" I rolled out the question and the corner of his lips broke into a slight twitch. I guess he do not want to have a conversation. So I pressed my lips together and went to bathroom. I changed into track suit and after splashing chilled water over my face, I tied my hairs into high pony.
• After getting ready, I decided to go out but before that could happen, strong fingers wrapped my wrist.
• "Where the hell do you think you're going?" He asked in quite edgy tone making me startled at his sudden harsh behavior.
• I looked down at my shoes.
• "Jogging." I shuttered.
• "Like this?" He pointed over my clothes.
• "You are not going." He added calmly and left my wrist, returning back to the bed.
• I frowned but instead of opposing him, I nodded in agreement. I don't want to spoil his mood.
• After having a shower, I silently sat on the corner of the bed, stealing few glances of him who was busy in attending business calls on his laptop.
• "Breakfast?" I asked, hesitantly.
• "My cook doesn't comes in the morning."
• My jaw dropped, "You don't do breakfast, do you?"
• "No."
• I sighed.
• Next without saying anything more, I stepped downstairs, entering into his kitchen. I looked around and smiled having a sight of a beautiful kitchen. Soon whole kitchen started smelling in delicious aroma. After putting everything on tray, I went back to our room. His eyes met mine and landed on the tray. His eyebrows shot up in amusement. But by ignoring his expressions, I placed the plate in front of him.
• "I don't do breakfast, haven't I mentioned earlier?"
• "Skipping breakfast won't make your work complete." I countered, gesturing towards his laptop.
• He chuckled in response before catching a glimpse of his wrist watch.
• "I don't have a time. I've to attend an important meeting."
• "Can I?"
• He searched my face for a good minute but nodded anyways. I held a spoonful of bite in front of him and he swallowed in one go.
• "From today onwards, I will always be having food cooked by you."
• I smiled. "Should I take it as a compliment that you actually liked the food?"
• "Obviously." He said in blunt tone.
• Suddenly his cell phone rang, he glanced at the caller ID and then gestured me to receive. I nodded in confusion but picked up the call, putting it on speaker.
• "Where the hell is Laura?" Mike’s voice came from the other side and a small smile crept on my face.
• "Here only." I said.
• "Laura, I am going to fucking kill you." He yelled which made Daryl to roll his eyes.
• "Why?"
• "I was trying to call you for an hour."
• "Sorry Mike. Anything special?" I asked.
• "Actually nothing much. I am just bored." I laughed at his words while Daryl made an irritated face.
• "Take care. Meet me in the hospital, I've to discuss about one patient with you." Before I was able to reply him, Daryl snatched his cell phone from my hand.
• "She'll not go anywhere." He said calmly.
• I sighed. No, not again.
• "Aha, man no problem, I can understand that you want to spend some quality time with your wife."
• Mike spoke with a hearty laugh and then ended the call.
• "B...But why?" I questioned and he let out his signature smirk, closing his laptop and placing it aside.
• "Because I said so." He raised his eyebrows.
• "I've told you that I can't quit my job."
• "I must say my wife has a sharp memory." He chuckled. "Let's head downstairs." He grabbed my wrist then gestured me to follow him.
• "Call everyone." He ordered once we reached the hallway. I just kept my curious eyes fixed on him.
• Within few minutes, almost ten or so people who I guess work in his house gathered.
• "She's Mrs. Montefalco." He gave my introduction to them.
• With a polite smile I look up at everyone who greeted me back with their warm smiles.
• "You all are on leave for few days." He said and everyone nodded and went back.
• I could tell that they all were surprised but no one said anything though.
• "So?"
• "You can definitely go to hospital but before that you have to prepare food, wash all my clothes and iron them, clean every single room, and then I have few paperwork to which you have to complete personally." He counted each work on his fingers one by one.
• "As you have just witnessed all my servants are on holiday, so now it's your duty as my wife to do each and every chores." He added.
• I nodded and chewed my inner cheeks. He planned all this, didn't he? I looked around, in disappointment. There are so many rooms how am I going to clean them?
• "Take these." He handed me bunch of files. "Do the cross check." And with that, he left.
• I grabbed a seat on the couch, closing my eyes and inhaling fresh air. Completing all these works within few hours is impossible, definitely I will not be able to go hospital today. Finally everything was done, now all I have to do is to copy all the paperwork in handwritten form.
• Yawning and putting off my spectacle,
• I pressed my eyes closed and automatically tears started rolling down. I clenched my fist in frustration and leaned more into the couch. The headache was at its best. Since morning all I did was to clean all the rooms. And after that I tried completing all the file works but cross checking almost thirty files doesn't sound easy.
• I cleared my every thought with a shook of my head and put my spectacle back.
• Writing for few more hours, my arms became numb. I have never done something this much tiring in my life. It isn't like I am complaining but it made me feel as if I was trapped inside an invisible cage. My eyes started getting heavier with sleep and all I wanted was to sleep for few good hours but still more pages were left to be completed. How Daryl does everything? I mean I have seen him almost every time being engrossed in his office work. Doesn't all this frustrates him?
• "Haven't gone to the Hospital?" Daryl's voice dragged me back to reality.
• I found him sitting beside me. I tried to move away from him but instead he pulled me on his lap.
• "Have I asked you to shift?" He barked.
• I startled but slowly shook my head.
• "Get used to all this." He said, taking off my spectacle. In doing so his finger slightly brushed against my cheek and a warm shiver ran down my spine.
• Our eyes held a contact.
• "You are beautiful, Laura." He whispered softly in thick husky voice and cupped my face.
• His breath fanned over my face and a foul smell of alcohol washed over my nose.
• "Y You are drunk?" I shuttered and he smirked, bringing his face inch closer to mine.
• My heart beat doubled instantly feeling him this so close to me. Something weird felt inside me and for the first time I realized the fact that why most of the women were crazy for him. His face was perfectly sculptured and it wouldn't be wrong to say that I've never seen a handsome face like him.
• "You are drunk." I spoke, trying to wriggle my face from his hold but all in vain.
• "Have you enjoyed today? I am sure it was much better then working as a psychiatrist, isn't it?" He asked in rude tone.
• I averted my eyes away from him to stop the hammering sensation of my heart.
• "Look at me." He demanded, creasing the skin of my cheek.
• I bite my lower lips and again looked straight into his eyes.
• "You have purposely done everything today, right? So that I won't be able to go."
• He chuckled. "You look tired." By ignoring my question he pointed.
• I closed my eyes in irritation and a silent tear escaped. Why he has to be like this?
• "Sorry to disappoint you but I no longer need those files. So just throw them away."
• I snapped my eyes open in his direction and the corner of his lips curved into a smirk.
• "Let's sleep, after all you have to repeat today's schedule tomorrow also. And you need a proper rest for that." He shrugged his one shoulder.
• "My life is going to be like this only, isn't it?" I asked.
• "This is just a start, Mrs. Montefalco." He added and walked towards the bed.