CHAPTER 11

The figure's semi-lean frame suggested a life of balance, neither too indulgent nor too restrained.

The faint outline of his muscles was visible beneath his crisp, white shirt, hinting at his strength that was more than physical.

Yet, at this moment, his power and influence seemed insignificant compared to the vulnerability he felt.

His posture was relaxed, yet there was an air of quiet intensity about him.

He leaned slightly, one shoulder resting against the cool glass.

He was six foot three, hands buried deep in the pockets of his pants.

The glass door reflected his shadow, elongating it into a dark, enigmatic silhouette that seemed to stretch endlessly into the hallway light.

His sharp, observant eyes were fixed on Maryann, who sat so confused on the ER hospital bed dressed in a loose hospital gown.

Her hair tied into a messy bun and her face, expressing both confusion and shock.

The figure neither moved, bulged, nor spoke.

To show how fearless Maryann was, she called out to the unknown figure;

"Excuse me, Sir, could you please call a nurse for me? I'm really in need of assistance and would like to take a walk to relieve my fatigue." Maryann said, not minding who the person leaning by the doorway might be.

The emergency room was dim, with the lights off, and only the glow from the hallway seeping in, casting a mostly shadowed space.

The door creaked open, and the figure stepped into the room, both hands still tucked into the pockets of his pants.

Maryann squinted, attempting to discern his features, but his towering figure blocked the light spilling from the hallway, shrouding his face in shadow.

Maryann froze as the door closed itself.

The figure walked towards the bed where Maryann sat, and stood there without talking.

"Ehm... Sir, you aren't answering me though" Maryann said to the figure, but he responded with silence.

With his hands still in his pockets, the figure leaned in towards Maryann, bringing his face near to her side profile.

He smelt like the combined scent of jasmine, sandalwood, cedarwood, amber, and a hint of strawberry mint.

He smelt so heavenly, divine and pleasant that it tantalized Maryann's senses to the point she didn't notice when a light moan escaped her lips.

His breath was cool, smelled pleasant, and brushed gently against her cheeks.

Maryann leaned closer to his neck, sniffing him more and inhaling his scent.

She felt the urge to grab the man, not caring whoever he may be, by the collar and hugging him so tight, so she could inhale the scent more.

But she had to hold herself back.

"Sir? You smell so good….." Maryann whispered in his ear as she exhaled slowly and moaned longer again.

He stiffened.

The hair at the back of his neck stood.

The figure stood back, removing one hand from the pocket of his pant and snapped his fingers once and the lights from the ER room came on.

Maryann snapped out of her daydream, her gaze settling on his face, and she recognized him as the President.

With nobody to tell her and with an immediate effect.

Maryann knelt down quickly on the bed and bowed.

"Your Excellency... I ..... I .... I'm sorry, I went out of my way… I didn't know it was you…. I'm so….." Maryann stuttered in fear as she bowed.

Cyril tucked his hand back in and stood mute, not saying a word but watching her stutter and bow in innocence.

Maryann's face remained lowered in embarrassment, while Cyril remained silent.

The door creaked open once more as Bobby and several guards barged into the room.

"Your Excellency!" Bobby exclaimed, snapping to attention as the guards mirrored his actions, bowing together in unison.

Cyril stared at Maryann and smirked, then turned around and exited the room quietly without uttering a word, while Bobby and the guards followed him from behind.

Maryann knelt bowed in fear as embarrassment washed over her from head to toe.

Then, she sat down and let out a sigh of relief as soon as Bobby and the guards left the room.

She was perplexed by the President's visit and his silence throughout the encounter.

Could she be in trouble? Again?!

"Oh fuck! Not againnnnnn!" Maryann said as she hit her palm on her forehead and exhaled.

Cyril left the room, but his scent didn't, forcing Maryann to sniff the air again, moaning again and falling slowly backwards on the bed.

The scent did things to her, she couldn't control, she felt safe and comforted by just inhaling it.

And she didn't know when sleep took her off to the next hours.

❤️💙💛🧡💚💜

Amy and Jo knocked on Cass's room door.

"Come in", her voice hoarse as she answered.

They entered, Cass yawned and stretched on the bed, sat up and removed her eye mask.

They bowed to her as she ran her fingers through her tousled blonde hair. "You two just interrupted my beauty sleep," Cass said.

"We are so sorry, ma'am", Amy and Jo apologized and bowed in unison.

"What's the time?" Cass asked as she flung the duvet across her body and stood up from the bed and walked over to the big beauty mirror pasted on her room wall and sat opposite it.

"Eleven p.m, Ma'am" Jo answered.

"What!" Cass screamed as she turned her head to look at them in anger.

Amy and Jo knelt down, knowing too well, Cass had serious anger issues and could launch a hairbrush at them in a minute, so they tried all possible ways to impress her.

"You two had better have a good explanation for waking me up by this time of the night" Cass said angrily as she turned back to the mirror.

The two of them kept their faces down.

"Is my Dad back?" Cass asked.

"Yes, ma'am" Amy answered.

"Are you two going to tell me why you woke me up this late at night or na?" Cass asked angrily as she removed a sheet of beauty mask from a pack and pasted it on her face.

"Ok ma'am, we saw the President leaving the presidential sickbay not too long ago..." Jo began.

Cass interrupted Jo, as she immediately stood up and turned towards them in shock, exclaiming, "Is he sick?!"

"Not sure, ma'am, because he seemed perfectly fine" Amy concurred.

"Could it be that someone from the council is ill? Because if he visits there in good health, it likely means that it's someone he cares about," Cass reasoned, understanding Cyril all too well.

"None of the council members are ill, ma'am, but we are aware of one person who was sick the day before," Jo stated.

Cass asked, "Who?"

"The thief".