Chapter 7

I had trouble falling asleep because of the pain in my arm, once the painkillers took effect I fell asleep like a baby. At 6 a.m., my alarm rang as usual and I woke up. I had to call the owner of the restaurant. For me it was clear, losing my job was not an option. So if I had to work with an injured arm, I would.

I went to the living room to make some coffee, then while it was heating up, I went to Flo's room to take his phone to call my boss. I heard him move as I closed the door on my way out. I dialed Mr. Moretti's number which was on my service uniform. He answered on the third ring.

"Moretti speaking."

"Mr Moretti, this is Meghan Wyatt. I wanted to..."

"Ah Miss Wyatt, I heard about your accident. How are you?!"

How did he hear about it.

"I have a deep wound on my arm, so I won't be able to serve but I was thinking that if you agree I could do something else."

"No, Miss Wyatt take your leave, and come back when you are better."

There I was hallucinating. He never gave more than three days off. Beyond that, you could go and find yourself a new job.

I thanked him and hang up. At the same time ,Flo came out of his room.

"What are you doing up so early? I hope you're not thinking of going to work. You're sick I remind you."

"I'm not sick just injured. And for your information no I'm not going to work, I just spoke to my boss, he told me to take my leave and come back when I'm better."

"Are you kidding, he just said it like that?" Flo picked up two cups and poured ud some coffee and passed me a mug.

"Yeah he even said he heard about my accident."

I couldn't understand how he could have heard about this,because it happened in the middle of the night and it was only 6.a.m.

"You think that Davis has to do something with that?" Flo asked staring at me.

"How so? Why would he have anything to do with it?"

"Maybe because yesterday he clearly didn't want you to go to work." It was very possible but I didn't want to think about it. I had sworn to myself to stay away from that man and that he was going to be my boss, nothing else. But life kept playing tricks on me and bringing me closer and closer to him. Last night I had dreamed of him,and his beautiful eyes. But there was a little voice in my head that kept reminding me that he was engaged.

"No I'm sure he has nothing to do with it." I replied to Flo, but it was more to convince myself than him.

I wanted to believe that everything he was doing was because he had pity for me. And I hated that people took pity on me.

"I've been begging you for so long to take a break and rest because fatigue was going to kill you seems like God has heard my pleas."

I rolled my eyes because he annoyed me every time he mentioned that.

"Don't you have class today?!" I asked him to change the subject. He was in his last year of law school and he had classes every weekend.

"No, "

"Why?" I didn't want him to miss class on the pretext that I was injured.

"Because we're in the middle of exams and I had one yesterday and I don't have one today."

And that's how he was on my back all morning. I had to admit that his presence was useful . It was an ordeal to use only the left hand.

***

At 1:00 p.m. someone knocked on the door, I was sitting on the couch looking at the job ads and Flo had gone to do some shopping. I got up to open. It was Sean Connery. He waved my car keys in the air as soon as I opened it.

"Well then, I was about to go and file a complaint against you." I joked letting him in.

"Sorry Miss, I couldn't call you back yesterday. I heard what happened to you."

Yes like everybody. I said internally.

"It's just a scratch." I answered him.

He sat down on the couch and put the keys he was holding on the table.

"So, Miss Wyatt your..."

"Ah no Sean no Miss Wyatt with me, we have the same boss ,we're sort of colleagues so call me Meg." he smiled.

"Well, Meg, I was saying your car was in terrible shape. It had a bad glow plug problem, and also dirty coolant. But don't worry, we took care of that. Your little gem will be able to hold on for a while longer."

While he was telling me this, I was afraid of the money all this was going to cost me. We were in the middle of the month, I was afraid of not being able to pay for all these repairs.

"So how much will it cost me?" I asked him.

"Oh nothing, Mr. Davis took care of that." he replied as if nothing had happened.

"What? But why? Why did you let him?"

That exceeded the limits.

"I had no choice, he kept himself informed of the condition of your car and he also asked that the invoice be returned to him personally."

"And you didn't think to ask me first."

I knew I was wrong to take it out on Sean. It wasn't his fault, poor guy, but I couldn't help myself because I was angry.

"Sorry, I know you were just doing your job." he nodded.

"No, I'm the one who's sorry, even though I had no other choice." he got up to leave and I accompanied him to the door.

"Thank you anyway for all you've done." I thanked him while saying goodbye.

"It was a pleasure." he shook my hand and just before leaving he said :"If I may,Miss…I mean Meg, Mr Davis is a good person, i think he only wants to help you."

Then he left.

***

It was great to have my car back. I thought about driving to Skylight to get my phone and my keys, but Flo didn't let me. He offered to take me there. It pisses me off the way he was treating me like a cripple, but I let him this time because my arm was still hurting badly despite the painkillers. I just hope it'll dissipate soon.

"I'm waiting for you here." Flo told me once he parked the car in front of the Skylight.

I got out of the car, I greeted Bobby before entering, he asked me how was my arm. And I stayed two minutes to chat with him as usual.

Inside, my colleagues were working, I went straight to the locker room. I took my bag and went out, I had to talk to Fred, and at this hour he was still in his office. I decided to first go and greet my colleagues.

They were all worried about me, so I reassured them that I was fine. Then I went to Fred's office. I knocked before entering. I heard him shout "come in" and I entered.

"Ah Meghan, I didn't expect to see you here anytime soon!" Fred made no effort to hide his sarcasm.

"I came to pick up two or three things, and I had to talk to you. I know I can't work with one hand, but I'm sure in two or three days the pain will have dissipated and I'll be able to work again."

He took a document from the desk and handed it to me.

"What is it?" I asked him taking it.

"Your sick leave."

"My what? I never asked that." I didn't want a sick leave, because that meant I won't get any tips.

"Well talk about that with the boss."

"Well that's what I'm doing, because last time I heard, you were my boss."

"Listen Meghan, if it was up to me you'll be there working like the others, because I can't afford to go without a bartender for two weeks..." he was interrupted by his phone. who rang.

"Sir." He picked up. He listened to what was said to him and answered.

"Right away sir." he hung up and looked at me strangely.

"Mr. Davis wants to see you in his office."

I don't know why but my heart almost jumped out of its socket when he told me that.

I got up and walked out of his office.

On the way there I tried to think of all the things I wanted to say to him. I had to clear things up with him. He had to stop taking himself a little too much for I don't know who.

The hall was still quiet, and the curtains were drawn so I couldn't see inside. I walked over and knocked on the door. I waited a moment and pushed open, he was standing and staring at the view. I stood in the middle of the room

"Sir, you wanted to see me." he turned and stared at me.

"How do you feel Miss Wyatt?"

"Good sir, thanks for worrying about it."

"I don't know if Fred told you, I asked him to write you your sick leave."

"Yes. I wanted to talk to you about it, I don't want this sick leave."

"Excuse me??" he asked me as he came towards me. He stopped a few meters from me and looked at me. I avoided looking at him.

"I can't afford to be out of work for two weeks I thought I made it clear yesterday I need the money I earn working."

He didn't answer me for a moment and just stared at me.

"You have to follow the doctor's instructions, you have no other choice."

"Why are you doing this?" it was stronger than me, I had to know. Because it was becoming too much.

"Why am I doing what?" this time I stared at him too.

"Everything, It was very nice of you to take me to the hospital. And I thank you very sincerely for that, but know that I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself, I am capable to determine if I am able to work or not. And then I am also able to pay for the repairs of my car. I don't need your pity." my tone went up as I spoke

He let me talk without interrupting me and not for a second did he take his eyes off me.

"It's no pity Miss, why do you find it hard to accept that someone can help you?" he said that in a calm voice.

"I can manage well without your help sir." I replied with a calmer tone too.

"I know that very well Miss." his voice grew softer and softer.

"You want to know why I do it Miss?" he said as he walked towards me again. My heart started pounding to the point that I was unable to answer him. I completely lost my composure when I felt his breath on me. He ran his hand through my hair and brushed his lips against mine.