"Give her a tour of the entire property. That way she'll know her way around. She really inconvenienced me last night." Ethan complained. His heavy reddened eyes and messed up hair where clear indications of his lack of sleep.
The maids quickly came and collected the pillow he held tightly in his hand. Through out the night, that pillow was his source of comfort.
In the cabin, there was only one bed, Roxanne insisted they slept apart. This meant, Ethan spent the night on the floor. But that wasn't what kept him up all night. It was Roxanne!
Through out the night, Roxanne kept tossing and turning, she would scream, cry and even move her limbs in defense. She kept having series of bad dreams.
Ethan sat on a chair next to her and watched her through the night. When she started fighting, he'd hold her limbs. He received some few punches as a result. When Roxanne would cry, he would soothe her.
As a result of his caretaking, Roxanne eventually stopped. But that was just two hours ago. Ethan looked miserable.
"Er Sir?"
"I know. Tell Andrew to Cancel all my appointments for today. I need sleep." Ethan responded. He already knew what Joseph wanted to say. Usually by this time, Ethan would have been ready to head to his office. However, today instead, he was lazily climbing up the stairs heading towards his room.
Ethan never canceled appointments! Joseph's eyes were wide as he looked to Roxanne in disbelief. This woman was here just for a night and she had changed Ethan's schedule!
Even for the fourteen years they spent together, Joseph could never convince him to cancel. Even when his life depended on it! What sorcery! Joseph thought to himself. He struggled to hide his gasp.
"And." Ethan remembered something. "Book her an appointment with her psychiatrist." Ethan yawned. Soon, he was out of sight.
"Psychiatrist?" Joseph questioned. It appeared that Ethan was the only member of his household who had any knowledge of Roxanne's medical history.
The surprising thing was that after Andrew briefed him on this, Ethan still insisted on living with Roxanne.
To him, it didn't matter what her past was like, all he cared about was how her presence would affect his present and possibly future. However, with the way their first night went, Ethan had little regrets about his decision.
He was more concerned for Roxanne.
Andrew never mentioned her having nightmares. This meant that it was a new development. As such, her psychiatrist had to be contacted.
"Where do i take my bath?" Roxanne asked uneasily. She had a good night sleep, so she couldn't understand why Ethan was making such a fuss.
Either way, she had to see her doctor. Since her discharge from the hospital last week, Roxanne's mind often felt foggy for no reason. Initially she waved it off. But now it's been happening to frequent for her to ignore.
"This way." Joseph led her to one of the guest rooms. He figured that since Ethan was sleeping in the master's bedroom, Roxanne must have felt awkward for her to take her bath there.
"I'll come back in thirty minutes time. Please be ready by then."
"Thank you."
Twenty five minutes later, Roxanne was already done and running down the stairs. Half way down, she remembered she had forgotten something and quickly turned to get it.
"Are you going wearing that?"
"Huh?" She turned. Her blue eyes dilated in shock, but she quickly waved it off. "Is something wrong with my dress?" Roxanne inquired. With her fingers, she felt over the fabric of the slightly wrinkled floral dress she was putting on. Sure the dress had seen better days, but it was her favourite. She wore it to all her appointments.
He slowly made his way up the stairs to meet her, "Don't Tell me you don't have anything better to wear?" Ethan grazed her face with his fingers. He gently removed some wet strands with stuck to her face.
Roxanne's eyes dilated even more.
Out of reflex, she stepped up, creating distance between them. Ethan immediately retracted his hand, stuffing it in his pocket.
"You can't wear that to the appointment." He stated.
"But i have nothing else to wear." Roxanne replied, honesty beaming on her face. "I didn't have much in the first place." She spoke under her breath.
Ethan was mute, He stared intently at her. Roxanne was shifting awkwardly under his gaze.
His curiosity grew.
"Follow me." He smiled slightly, "I'll take you shopping." He finished.
"Shopping? Me?" Roxanne beamed. The first time she had ever gone shopping was with Annie and that was for the dinner party.
Even back then, it was still Ethan's money they shopped with.
"Mm-hm." He grabbed her by the wrist. "Let's go." Without further warning, Ethan proceeded down the stairs. Roxanne lagging behind him.
"What is happening?" Joseph questioned himself. His confusion evident to the world.
From the side, he watched everything. His feet barely held him up. He was hit by a sudden shockwave.
Since when did Ethan care about other's appearances?
"Get in." Ethan opened the car door for Roxanne.
"Sir!" Matthew ran towards their direction. "I'm sorry I'm late Sir. I had no idea you were going out today." He quickly apologized.
Matthew only drove Ethan. He was his personal driver so he always knew Ethan's schedule. However, today for the first time, he cancelled. Just for Matthew to get an almost immediate call from Joseph informing him that Ethan was going out again.
What inconsistency, unusual for his boss. Matthew thought to himself.
"No need."
"No Sir. I'm sorry! Please pardon me." Matthew immediately started begging. A 'No need', was equivalent to 'you're fired'. Matthew pleaded for his livelihood.
If Ethan fired him, who would employ him?!
"Give me the keys". Ethan ordered.
"No Sir I'm sorry, I'll do better.".
Ethan sighed, infuriated by Matthew's resistance. This episode was getting frustrating, "Give me the keys Matthew."
"I'm going to drive myself!"
"No sir I'm sor.-" He rethought, "Wait. Sir what?"
"Give it to me!" Ethan collected the keys from him. With frustration, he got into the car, "Tell them to open the gate."
"B-but Sir you never drive."
"Gosh Damnit! Just do what i said Matthew!"
"Y-yes Sir. O-open the gate." He spoke through the intercom. "The boss is driving himself." Matthew gulped.
"What!" The person on the other side of the intercom reacted similarly to Matthew.
"Why?!"
"Just do it."
"Fine. The gate is open." He paused. "Mr. Matthew, are you sure about this?"
"Yes. Sir was very clear. Thank you."
He turned to Ethan, "It's open Sir."
"Fine." Ethan turned the ignition.
"Please drive safe. Call me if anything goes wrong. And don't forget.-"
"I'm not a kid anymore Matthew. I'll be fine." Ethan cut him off quickly before zooming off.
Even as he watched the car turn then exit, Matthew still held his reservations.
He was the one who taught Ethan how to drive back then when he had newly turned eighteen. Since then, he had driven him everywhere.
Why today? Why so out of the blue? Matthew gulped hard. Like gall rising to his throat, he had a bad feeling about letting Ethan drive himself.
His boss who was more like a younger brother to him, didn't need him anymore.
In his twelve years of working with Ethan. This was the most painful moment.