Chapter 10:

× "What? Coming over? I can't, I need to be home by night." She said.

× "Don't come at night, come now.

× Now? Like right now?

× Yes Shally, right now. You're in Gerard's house right? So being there or here is the same, we need to work and it's not like Gerard would die of you don't be there.

× Okay Henry, I'm coming."

Shally started picking her things to leave and told Gerard that she has to go see Henry, the only thing Gerard asked was: "Are you going to Henry's house?" Shally answered 'Yes' and made an expression to say 'is there a problem in that?' but Gerard didn't say anything else expect 'Bye'; he played it cool but he felt jealous, he wanted to stop her from going but he played it cool and tried to not care.

   The next day, Shally was so tired and sleepy, while getting to Gerard's house she almost fell.

× "Oh my god Shally! Are you okay?" Asked Margret rushing to catch her.

× "Yeah, I'm fine, I'm just a bit tired actually, I didn't have enough sleep, you know I have work to do.

× Oh honey! You shouldn't tire yourself this much. Go have some sleep in Gerard's room."

Shally smiled at her sympathetically then headed to Gerard's room as usual, when Gerard saw her, he was like: "

× Are you okay? You look exhausted, haven't you get any sleep?

× (Exhausted) Kind of, we've been working until so late.

× (Surprised) We? You were at Henry's all night?

× (With a very low and exhausted voice)We had a lot of work to do and many things to catch, there were many designs that we needed to redo to put our touch together.

× (Trying to look normal) I thought you couldn't leave your parents alone at night.

× (Exhales and exhausted) Please don't remind me, they got so mad at me and now I have to make it to them. Oh my god, these two weeks won't end soon, I'm going to lose 4kg at least if I carry on with this rhythm.

× (Teasing)You'll look as model then, and maybe you'll wear your designs in the fashion show.

× (With her head on the desk and almost asleep)Ha ha ha, very funny. Ugh! I need to work and I need some coffee."

Gerard asked a servant to bring them coffee and Shally gathered her courage to start the work; Gerard was working too, he focused on his work for 30mn then noticed that Shally is quiet, he raised his head to look at her, he found her asleep; Gerard left a light smile as to say 'Not surprising', he then stood up and walked toward her and sat next to her, he bent a bit close to her and moved her hair of her face then started caressing her cheek lightly to not wake her up; few moments later, he realised what he was doing, he stepped back and sighed in a very low voice: "What the hell is wrong with you Gerard?" He then called for a servant to move Shally to bed since he couldn't do it himself, the servant put Shally in Gerard's bed and Gerard sat in the other side of the bed working in his laptop; it's been so for hours and Gerard got tired of working, he shut his laptop and turned to see Shally, she was still asleep; Gerard kept staring at her and contemplating her while she was in a deep sleep; thinking that she looks beautiful, he suddenly heard a knock on the door and someone got in without waiting for Gerard's permission, that was his friend and partner Andrew who started talking fast with a raised voice not noticing Shally in Gerard's bed: "Man, I'm tired, there's a lot of work in your absence I can't..." before he be able to finish his sentence, Gerard told him furiously and with a very low voice to shut up: "Shh! She's sleeping, you're going to wake her; and, what's wrong with you and Gwen getting to my room like that unexpected? Don't you know how to knock?" and Andrew responded to him with a low voice raising an eyebrow and looking at Gerard suspiciously: "

× What is she doing in your bed Gerard?

× (Whispering) It's definitely not what's going in your mind so don't look at me like that; let's go to the other room to talk."

Andrew helped Gerard to get up and go to the guest room to be able to talk with ease so they won't wake Shally, Andrew forgot the reason he came for after seeing Shally in Gerard's bed so he asked directly to know:

× "Would you like maybe to explain what's going on?

× And what's going on Andrew? What do you mean?

× I mean that girl, what is she doing in your bed?

× She's clearly sleeping no?

× Don't play it fool with me man, you know what I'm talking about."Andrew raised both his eyebrows looking straight in Gerard's eyes while saying you know what I am talking about.

× "(Sighed) okay fine, it's not what you're thinking, you know that my mother thinks she is my girlfriend and obliged her to stay here, the poor girl got exhausted from running from work to here and from here to her house trying to satisfy everyone so she fell asleep and I put her in my bed to get some rest. That's all.

× You didn't find a way to tell your mother the truth? For how long will this last?

× I don't know Andrew, I can't tell her the truth now or she won't leave me alone until I get married; at least I got some peace now. (Changing the subject)Anyway, why don't you tell me the reason you came here?

× Oh yeah, I can't take care of the company all alone I need you there, I'm tired running from a place to another I can't catch everything.

× And what do you want me to do? Come to the company carrying this heavy thing on my leg? I'm already working from bed, I can't be there, you need to be patient for few more days. And thank you for asking, I feel better now and I am recovering.

× (Feeling sorry) I'm sorry man, I forgot to ask but you look good."

Andrew tapped on Gerard's shoulder as saying that he then left and Gerard came back to his room, Shally was still asleep it was getting late and Gerard knew that Shally has to go home so he got close to her trying to wake her up with a gentle way, he started saying her name tenderly, Shally opened her eyes slowly not knowing what happened, the last thing she remembers is working and feeling so exhausted, when Shally opened her eyes and saw Gerard looking at her she started smiling but suddenly she realised that she slept so she raised herself from the bed quickly and hit Gerard in the head with her head, both put their hand on their forehead feeling hurt: "Ouch!" said both then Gerard added: "

× Slow down!

× (Nervous) I'm so sorry, I didn't know I fell asleep, what time is it?

× It's 19h30.

× (Freaked out)Holly s**t!" Then she put her hand on her mouth: "I'm so sorry for the word. I can't believe I fell asleep.

× Calm down, you just slept for few hours, you were exhausted, it's not like you're going to die for sleeping.

× (Still freaked out) You don't get it, do you? I have so much work to do and I have to be on my way home by now but I slept.

× (Murmuring) Well! This is what happens when you don't sleep all night.

× Excuse me?

× No, nothing. By the way, Henry called you, many times actually so I sent him a message telling him you'll call him later.

× (Double freaked out)Oh my god! He's going to kill me, where's my phone?

× On the desk."

Shally rushed to the desk and took her phone to call Henry, she was having a terrible headache after sleeping at that time: "Henry! Hi, I'm sorry I didn't answer you. Yeah I know, I'm working on it don't worry. I know I'm sorry for not answering, it won't happen again I'm sorry. Yes Henry I know, I'm sorry, I won't do it again." Gerard was listening to Shally talking with Henry on the phone and after she cut the call sighing, he asked: "All these apologies just for not answering his calls, are you sure there's nothing going on between the two of you?" and Shally responded to him while grabbing her thing with rush to leave: "I already told you that we are best friends and he is in love with a woman, he has a girlfriend and now if you'll excuse me I have to leave." Shally walked to leave and before she gets to open the door, Margret opened the door; Gerard got annoyed and murmured alone 'Why isn't there any person in this house who knows to knock on the door before getting to my room?' Margret saw that Shally was prepared to leave: "

× Oh Shally?! I'm glad you're still here, I thought you left without I see you. Now that you're still here, you're joining us for dinner, it's almost time.

× Aunt Margret, I really need to leave I'm already late and I can't leave my parents alone, I'm so sorry."

Gerard murmured again feeling bothered while he was looking in his computer but this time it was hearable: "

× But you can leave them when it's about having a night with Henry!

× Excuse me?" Answered Shally with surprise.

× "Having a night with Henry? Who's Henry? Are you cheating on my son?" Questioned Margret many questions at once, shocked.

× "(Shouting)No, not at all; Henry is my boss, we just have to work a lot these days, that all." Said Shally looking at Gerard with anger.

× "(Relieved) Oh! That's reassuring, so you're staying for dinner, I don't accept any excuses."