Filed to story: Watch Out, I’m The Lady Boss (Eleanor & Sebastian) Book PDF Free
Slowly, I actually did drift off to sleep.
That afternoon, the doctor came by to check on me again.
My temperature was coming down slowly, and though I was still a bit feverish, it was nothing some paracetamol and plenty of rest and fluids wouldn’t fix.
Nothing wrong with me, really, just general weakness.
Hearing that, Sebastian finally seemed to relax.
I took the medicine and drifted in and out of a hazy sleep. At some point, I could make out voices floating up from the living room downstairs.
“She was absolutely insisting on coming to see her. Didn’t have much choice in the matter, I’m afraid, “said Ryan Fenty, his tone slightly awkward.
Naomi clearly wasn’t bothered by formalities.
“I was worried about Eleanor. I had to see her. Where did you finally find her, anyway?”
“A… friend’s house,” Sebastian replied after a brief pause.
“Someone pulled her out and took her back to theirs.”
“Why take her to a house?” Naomi pressed.
“Why not straight to a hospital?”Sebastian was silent for a long moment.
“They had a private doctor on hand.”
“Well, who was it? We absolutely must thank them for saving her,” Naomi said.
I almost laughed to myself. The idea of Sebastian thanking Daniel? Over his dead body.
“I heard it was that Genevieve again? So what are you going to do about it this time?” Naomi’s question sounded like a direct challenge, as if she were demanding justice on my behalf.
I wondered how she knew.
Apart from Sebastian and Yvaine, I hadn’t told anyone that Genevieve was at the lake that day. Surely Genevieve hadn’t gone around boasting about it herself.
Sebastian said nothing.
“Your wife really has been treated poorly in all this,” Ryan interjected.
“We… well, I think you need to have a proper word with Genevieve. Actually, that’s not from me. That’s a message from Cassian.”
“I will speak to her,” Sebastian said flatly.
“Speak to her? What good will that do? If you ask me, she needs proper punishment, a lesson she won’t forget. Now, I know I might be overstepping here, since we don’t know each other that well, but I like Eleanor. I consider her a friend, and I have to say it. The way you keep protecting this Genevieve woman makes me absolutely sick,” Naomi said, her voice thick with disapproval.
Again, Sebastian stayed silent.
Naomi’s words filled me with a grateful warmth. Sebastian’s silence felt like a fresh cut.
She wasn’t finished.
“Ryan Fenty, let me tell you, consider yourself lucky Genevieve never set her sights on you. If I were Eleanor, and my husband treated me like this, I’d have divorced him long ago. I just don’t get it, Sebastian. How can you so blatantly take another woman’s side? You don’t deserve Eleanor.” Naomi was properly angry now.
“Why she chooses to stay with you is beyond me.”She was right. I was a fool. A complete idiot.
Why? Why did I keep letting him hurt me, over and over, and still not find the strength to walk away?
It was pathetic, really.
I slowly got out of bed, left the room, and made my way down the stairs.
“Naomi.”
“Oh, Eleanor! You really… you gave me such a fright. You’ve no idea how worried I was.” Naomi rushed over to take my hands as I reached the bottom step. Her voice caught in her throat, and her eyes were glistening.
I managed a small smile.
“I’m alright. See? I’m fine. Thank you for coming.”
“If you’re fine, why didn’t you call me? I would’ve come to get you. You could’ve stayed with us,” Naomi scolded gently, her voice full of concern.
“I’ve been worried sick.”
“I was out of it for a while. As soon as I woke up, I called my friend to come and get me,” I explained.
“Well, next time something happens, you call me, okay? Promise me,” she insisted.
“My phone wasn’t with me, and I couldn’t remember your number. The only one I know by heart is my friend’s, because it’s a palindrome. I promise, I’ll memorise your number too, and then I’ll call you next time I get in trouble, alright?”
“Okay. Any trouble with work or…” Naomi threw a pointed look at Sebastian.
“At home, you come to me. Come stay at our house. I’ll personally keep him from getting through the door. I’ll always be on your side.”
“Okay,” I said with a grateful nod.
We hadn’t known each other long, but Naomi’s straightforward nature and genuine warmth made me certain we were going to be friends for life.
Plus, she and Yvaine both seemed to enjoy giving Sebastian a hard time. They’d probably get on like a house on fire.
Sebastian shot a look at Ryan, who walked over to his wife and helped her up.
“Right then, we should be off.”
“What’s the rush? We just got here. I’ve been waiting days for Eleanor to get back, I want to spend more time with her,” Naomi protested, giving Ryan a light shove.
“What she needs is rest. Let’s not crowd them. Sebastian’s been waiting days to get his wife back, too.”Finally catching his meaning, Naomi relented.
“Oh. Right, okay.”She stood.
“Well, Eleanor, you get some proper rest. I’ll pop by to see you tomorrow.”
“I’d like that,” I nodded.
Ryan led Naomi out. The moment the door closed behind them, the atmosphere in the room turned thick and awkward.
“Did you feel any better after your sleep?” Sebastian asked, coming over to take my cold hands in his.
“A bit,” I nodded faintly, my gaze distant.
“Could you manage something to eat? Carmen made some miso soup. The kitchen has prepared a few other dishes you like as well.”
“Alright.” I was actually hungry, so I might as well eat. What was the point in starving myself?
I needed to pull myself together, get back to work.
I needed Genevieve to see that I was alive and well.
Sebastian went to the kitchen and asked Carmen to bring up the soup.
Carmen arrived with the tray, setting down my soup and a full meal for Sebastian too.
“Mr Laurent, you should try and eat something as well. You’ve barely had a drop of water or a wink of sleep for days. You’ll make yourself ill if you carry on like this, and then who will look after Mrs Laurent?”I wondered who that little speech was really for.
Was it meant for Sebastian’s ears, or for mine?
Sebastian nodded.
A pleased smile touched Carmen’s lips.
“Good. I’ll leave you to it. Just ring when you’re finished.”She hesitated for a moment, then added, “Mrs Laurent, it’s so good to have you back. You should have seen Mr Laurent while you were gone. I’ve never seen him like that. He just looked… utterly lost, he really did.”That word, “lost”, felt like a cold blade slipping between my ribs.
There it was again, that ache for him.
I knew I was pathetic. This man had hurt me over and over again for another woman, and yet here I was, feeling that familiar pang of sympathy for him.
“Carmen, that’s enough. You can go. I’ll call if we need anything,” Sebastian said.
“Of course, of course. Just ring if you need me,” Carmen said with a quick nod. She gave me one last glance before leaving.
I only drank the soup, leaving the other dishes untouched.
When I’d finished, Sebastian spoke softly, yet his tone left no room for argument.
“Rest for a bit, then take your medicine. After that, get some more sleep. You’ll feel brand new by tomorrow. I know you’re worried about your studio, but you can only go back to work when you’re well and have your strength back. Understood?”
“I know.” I didn’t mention Genevieve anymore. There just didn’t seem any point.
After our meal, he watched me take the pills and then urged me to lie down and rest.
“Try to sleep. I’m just going to take a quick shower.”I watched him leave.
I knew Sebastian was trying his best to make things right, but a wounded heart isn’t so easily mended with a few kind gestures.
I must have been truly exhausted, and the fever still had its grip on me, because I was already asleep by the time he finished his shower.
I woke up to find myself in Sebastian’s arms, my skin damp and sticky with sweat. I’d been sleeping so fitfully that I was drenched, and yet he’d held onto me the whole time.
Maybe it was the sweat finally breaking my fever, or maybe it was just the deep sleep, but whatever the reason, I felt noticeably more clear-headed.
“You’re awake?” His voice was a low, rough whisper.
“Mmhmm. I’m all sweaty. I feel disgusting. I need a shower.”
“You shouldn’t shower straight after sweating like that. You’ll catch a chill.”I frowned.
“I’m having a shower.”He tried to talk me out of it, but I was adamant. Finally, he let me go.
When I came out, he wasn’t in bed.
He’d probably gone to his study to deal with work. He must have let so much pile up over the past few days while he was searching for me and then looking after me. The sacrifice was undeniably significant.
But even this version of him, who was willing to make such grand sacrifices to find me and care for me, still wouldn’t punish Genevieve for what she’d done.