14 Neckless

When I flicker my eyes open the next morning, I am weirdly comfortable. Did the couch change? How did it become magically comfortable? My hands feels the sheets around me. I had two pillows in either side of my neck. How did that happen? I try to get up but I felt shooting pain in my neck, making me cry out loud. What the hell? Then I remember someone carrying me to the bed last night. Yes, something definitely happened last night but I was half asleep, I don't remeber much of it. I breathe through the pain and finally get up.

"Good morning, madame," Mary enters my room with a tray full of breakfast.

"Good morning, Mary." I stretch my arms. Oh no, bad idea. Damn I have a bad pain in my neck.

"Enjoy your breakfast, ma'am."

"Thank you very much, Mary." I smile at her. She gives me a smile back and leaves. I see a pain relief spray kept at the side table with 'apply me' written on it. Oh fuck, the pain is so bad.

"Nathan!" I call for him through the pain. The bathroom door opens, think of the devil and... a shirtless angel arrives? April Grey! I mentally slap myself. How can I check him out? I'm going crazy. Definitely going crazy.

Nathan stands in front of the large mirror in just his towel. Beads of water were covering his back and why am I noticing this? I try to look away, but I can't. Not because I'm enjoying the view, but because my neck hurts, you people.

"How are you?" he says in his usual cold tone.

"Not okay. I'm not able to move my neck. I think I broke it." I rub my neck.

"Yeah, you fell pretty bad last night."

"How did that happen?"

"I don't know. My sleep was disturbed by a large thud and I found you asleep on the ground. You fell but it didn't disturb your sleep. When I tried to wake you up, you cried about how badly your neck hurt. So, I put you in my bed. Maybe you should get a doctor's appointment."

"Yes, I will have to call mom over to take me. Right now can you please help me apply his spray." I request him which is one of the rarest things that I ever do (only with him).

"I'll send Mary or Venessa." he says and enters the closet to change. He is suck a jerk! Can't he just help me as a human being? I am telling you humanity is getting extinct. I push myself back into the bed in the exact same position as I was in when I was sleeping. After a while of staring at the ceiling, I hear a knock on the door.

"Good morning, April." I hear Venessa through the door.

"Come in, Venessa." I say, "There is nothing good about this morning." I roll my eyes.

"Hey, what's up. Why do you look so stiff?" she narrows her brows at me.

"Because she broke her neck." Nathan replies as he chooses from the million collection of watches.

"What?! Oh my God! How did this happen?!"

"Apparently, I fell from the couch." I say.

"Wait, why were you sleeping on the couch?" I look at Nathan, expecting him to explain his 'conditions' to her.

"Nathan!" she demands him to speak.

"It's my room."

"Are you kidding me!" she shouts at him, "What are you? A five year old baby?! You are unbelievable sometimes. This is your fault she has a broken neck and you will take her to the doctor!" she instructs.

"Venessa..." he begins.

"Don't you dare Venessa me! You'll take her that's final. I'll tell dad you are taking an off for the day." she says and leaves the room without any further argument with him. I feel so uncomfortable right now. I get up again, moaning in pain.

"Look at her, she is so much in pain. I am so disappointed in you, Nathan." She says and exits the room. The air in the room became solid. Nathan looked at me and then sighed. I give him a helpless look to which he sighs again. With great difficultly I get out of bed and take a shower. Now comes the most difficult part is wearing clothes.

"Nathan?"

"What?"

"Please call Venesssa for help. I'm unable to wear clothes."

"Wait." I hear him go out of the room.

"No one's home. You have to help yourself." he says

Oh no! For 15 minutes I try to hook my damn bra but it won't work. My neck is too stiff and if I move it even one millimeter the pain kills me.

"Nathan, you there?" I say in a low voice.

"What is it, April?" he says in an irritated voice.

"I can't do it." I say.

"No one's home, how hard is that to understand?!" he grits his teeth.

"Alright, I have had enough of you!" I say, losing my mind, "It's your fault I'm in such a situation, so will you stop being a jerk and help me out! I am in so much pain, I can't deal with you right now."

"Oh no no, darling don't blame it on me. It was you who wanted to marry me. It is you who is hungry for money or whatever it is you are getting out of this marriage. So it's your fault!" he says bitterly.

"For the last time I did not marry you for your money!!" I swing my head and hear a crack. I scream out of pain and tears rolls down my cheeks. Bad idea. Help! Help! The pain is so immense that I fall on my knees. The door of the closet swings open and Nathan runs towards me.

"Na-nathan, m-my neck." I say between my sobs, "Oh my God! I can't bear it!" I continue to sob. His eyes soften and he kneels next to me.

"Shh, it's going to be okay. Stop crying. I'll get you dressed and we'll go to the emergency, okay? It's going to be okay." He wiped my tears.

I then realize that I'm in front of him in just my underwear and unhooked bra. Holy shit! I cover my body with my hands.

"Oh come on, April." he rolls his eyes. He leans and quickly hooks my bra. He stands and takes one of my dresses out. Carefully with his help I slip into the dress and he zips me up.

Without wasting any time, he drives me to the emergency. The doctor tell us that I have not completely broken my neck but I have a hairline fracture. I should strictly avoid moving it and give it time to heal naturally and wear a collar for the next two weeks. He prescribes me some pain relief tablets and a spray. Nathan helps me to the car and then stand in the queue for my medicines.

Today, for the first time I saw his soft side towards me. I know he felt bad seeing me in pain. He is not as bad as I think of him. I smile to myself, thinking I'm lucky he just mentally torments me. My destiny could have brought worst to me. He could have been a violent person, he could have hurt me physically or could have taken advantage of me otherwise. I chuckle at the thought. He would never do that, if he tried I would kick his ass.

"Are you feeling better?" he asks me as he hands me the box of medicines.

"Yeah, the spray is working." I answer.

"So my sister will not eat me alive if I drop you off, right?"

"I'll talk to her. You can drop me."

Nathan leaves me at the porch and leaves for his office (I think). I walk in and go straight to my bedroom. Venessa and Anna aren't home yet. I eat the breakfast Mary left at the coffee table and take my medicines.

"April?!" I hear my mum's voice from downstairs.

"Mom?" I go downstairs, "What are you doing here?"

"Are you kidding me? You broke your neck and I won't be with you!"

"I'm fine mom, I didn't break my neck. It's just a hairline fracture which is going to go away soon."

"Alright, but I think you should come home."

"No mom, I'm okay. Nathan would come home early....maybe."

"Honey, please I insist." she makes me rest on the sofa. The door opens and Nathan comes in with a cervical collar in his hand. He smiles as he sees my mom.

"Good morning, Mrs Grey," he says.

"Good morning, Nathan." my mom returns a worried smile, "Nathan, I think I should take her home."

"Mrs Grey that won't be a good idea." he says and hands me the collar, "Specially after what happened in the conference, yesterday. I don't want the media to know much about April right now."

"Oh to hell with your media! My daughter is injured and media is my last concern right now. Being her mom I'm not seeking your permission to take her home."

"Yes of course ma'am, you don't need my permission," he says politely trying to calm my mom, "Alright, if you want to take her home you can."

"Mom, I'll stay here." I say as I try to wear the collar, "Nathan is right. Media is my worst nightmare and I hate to have the spotlight on me."

"Alright, but Nathan you have to promise me to take good care of her and keep me updated." she instructs him.

"Sure will." he smiles at her. She kisses me goodbye and leaves.

"Come on let's go upstairs." he says to me. "You'll be more comfortable in bed, I guess."

"Okay," I try to get up but I cannot up. Argh, the collar has made me even more stiff.

"What's up?" he asks me.

"I can't get up." I say.

"Try..." he is interrupted by his phone, "Oh no. I have to go. Will you be okay?" What the hell? Of course not. I can't even get up and he just promised my mother he'll be there for me.

"I am not okay." I answer. He gives me expression so hard to explain in words. He was helpless. "But I'll be okay."

"No, I'll cancel." he sighs, "I think your mother's idea wasn't bad afterall."

"I'll call her to get me." I say.

He thinks too hard and then shakes his head, "No, we can't."

"Then what do you want me to do?! I am in so much pain I can't even get up!" I say losing my patience.

"You think it is easy for me? Do you how much work pressure I have been under since this stupid merger!" he yells. He lets out an irritated sigh and then picks me up in bridal style.

"Nathan, what the hell? Put me down!"

"Shut up." he says and carries me upstairs.

"Don't move out of your room for the next one or two hours. Mary will be home in half an hour, she'll take care of your food." he instructs me as he puts me on the bed.

"But why?"

"None of your business." he snaps.

"Excuse me?! You are putting restrictions on my mobility and not even telling me why!"

"Yes. And this is how it will work. You would have known if you heard the conditions properly. My house my rules." he says and moves out.

I curse under my breath and close my eyes. After a while of staring at the ceiling I get up with Mary's help for my lunch.

"Mary who is with Nathan right now?" I ask out of curiosity.

"I don't know ma'am. He is in the study." she simply replies and leaves.

To hell with what Nathan said, I'm going downstairs. This is ridiculous. He cannot treat me like his slave. I move downstairs, but did not find Nathan anywhere in site. The door bell rings and I open the door to welcome Anna and Venessa.

"Hello, April!" Anna hugs me, "I'm so sorry I was not there to take to you to the hospital!"

"Uh, that's all okay Anna. I'm feeling better right now."

"Does it hurt bad?" Venessa asks me as we moved inside and sit in the living room.

"Yeah," I sigh and rest on the couch again.

"Is there anything we can do?" Anna asks me.

"No Anna, I'm fine. Don't worry." I smile at her. She is so caring, just opposite to her son.

"Oh please, darling call me mom. I know Nathan and you aren't really like a husband and wife but you did get married and that makes me your mom as well."

"Uh, okay mom." I say hesitantly.

"Good girl. Now you stay right here, I'll bring you some hot chocolate." she kisses me on the forehead and moves to the kitchen. As I drink my delicious hot chocolate Nathan hurriedly enters the house.

"We have to go to New York," he announces to me.

"What?" I say, surprised by this sudden proposal.

"I am not having any argument with you regarding this." he moves upstairs quickly. I decide to ignore all of it and enjoy my hot chocolate.