Filed to story: Watch Out, I’m The Lady Boss (Eleanor & Sebastian) Book PDF Free
“It’s nothing. We’re safe now, that’s all that matters. I told you I wouldn’t let anything happen to you.” He set down the cotton wool, stood up, and handed me a paper bag.
“Here, you should eat.”Looking at the food, it suddenly hit me. Daniel had gone out to get this for me. Had he been hurt because of that?
The thought brought a lump to my throat.
“Don’t look like that. I’m fine,” he said gently.
“You shouldn’t risk yourself for me like this.”
“You’re worth it. You’re the only one who is,” he said, his eyes holding mine with an intensity that felt too heavy.
I turned my face away.
“What really happened out there?”
“They spotted me when I went out. I tried to be careful, but it wasn’t enough. Luckily there weren’t many of them. I dealt with them, picked up some supplies, and took a long way back. They won’t find us here. I made sure to send them in the wrong direction.”
“Who are these people, Daniel? Please, just tell me.”Something told me he was keeping things from me, big things.
“Some things are better left unknown. The less you know, the safer you are. Once we’re back in Skyline, you’ll be protected.”That only confused me more.
“But I was taken from Skyline.”
“It’s not the same people. This is a different group.”I stared at him, completely lost.
“What are you talking about?”
“Some things are just… complicated to explain right now,” Daniel said, his voice weary.
“Look, just eat something. Then get some more rest. You need your strength. I don’t know how long it’ll be until my people or Sebastian’s find us.”I watched him trying to clean the wound on his shoulder. It was still bleeding, and he was struggling to reach it properly.
“Let me help you with that,” I said. After he’d nearly gotten himself killed for me, tending to his wound was the least I could do.
“It’s fine. I’ve got it. You should eat and rest.”
“Please. Let me do this for you.” I insisted.
He finally sat back down.
The wound looked nasty. He flinched as I cleaned it, his brow furrowed in pain. He should go to a hospital. This was just a patch-up job.
“Let’s hope it doesn’t get infected.”
“Don’t worry, I bought some antibiotics,” he said, forcing a weak smile.
“There. All done. Now go wash your hands and eat. I got you some biscuits, bread, bit of fruit, and some milk.”
“It’s more than enough.” I was determined to eat. I needed the energy for whatever came next.
I forced down the dry, cold bread, fighting back another wave of nausea.
Daniel had warmed the milk. I took a sip, and the warmth in my stomach was a small relief, though the sick feeling lingered.
Exhaustion eventually pulled me under, and I drifted back to sleep.
A harsh, rasping cough woke me.
Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains. It was fully morning, and clearly a bright one.
Another fit of coughing from Daniel made my stomach drop. Was he running a fever? Had the wound gotten infected?
Shit.
I hurried over to where he was lying and pressed my hand to his forehead.
“God, you’re burning up.
“Danger… It’s dangerous… Eleanor…” he muttered, his voice thick with sleep and fever.
“No, don’t… Eleanor… look out!!
“Daniel? Daniel, wake up.” He was twitching, trapped in some nightmare. I called his name again, but he didn’t stir. I shook him gently.
“Daniel! Wake up!”
“Hmm?” His eyes flew open, and he stared up at me, disorientated. He winced and shook his head slightly, as if trying to clear it.
“It’s fine. I just need some water.”As he tried to sit up, I gently pressed him back down.
“Stay there. I’ll get it for you.”I poured a glass of water and handed it to him.
“Are you feeling any better? You’ve definitely got a fever. That wound must be infected. You said you bought antibiotics?”
“Yeah, they’re in the bag.”I upended the bag of supplies onto the bed, picked out the packets of ibuprofen and antibiotics, and placed them in his hand.
“Here, take these. Then try to get some proper sleep. Let’s hope the fever breaks.”He nodded weakly and swallowed the pills.
I fetched him another glass of water and helped him drink.
Walking over to the window, I lifted the edge of the curtain just enough to peer outside.
Where were we? Nothing looked familiar. The street was quiet and nearly empty. It must be a small town, somewhere out of the way.
Waiting around helplessly wasn’t an option. I thought about slipping out to make a call, but the fear of running into the kidnappers was too strong. It would have to wait until nightfall. Darkness would offer better cover.
Daniel was asleep on the bed. There was no question of me joining him. I sank into the armchair instead, my thoughts spinning in messy circles until, without meaning to, I fell asleep.
***
I woke up to find Daniel was gone.
Before I could panic, he pushed the door open and came in.
“Where did you go? Did you go out again?” I looked at him.
I went out to get some food,” he said.
“Eating nothing but bread and milk all day isn’t healthy. Have some meat. He pointed to a box of takeaway steak.
Ugh… The sight of the meat made my stomach turn again. Finally, I couldn’t hold it in any longer and rushed to the bathroom, where I was sick.
Are you okay? Daniel came in, gently patting my back. He handed me a tissue and poured a glass of water.
“Drink some water.”
My whole body felt weak and uncomfortable. I sat down heavily, took the glass from Daniel, had a small sip. My stomach settled a little, and I sighed.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with me lately.” My body seemed to be falling apart. I felt terrible, incredibly sleepy, and exhausted all the time.
Daniel said, “You haven’t been resting well, and you haven’t been eating properly either. It could just be an upset stomach. When we get back to Skyline, we’ll go to the hospital for a thorough check-up and get you back on track.”I nodded. My eyelids were so heavy, and I felt like sleeping again, but my stomach was too unsettled to let me. It was a miserable feeling.
I must have drifted off again, and at some point, Daniel had gone out.
I missed Sebastian. I missed him so much. He must be going out of his mind with worry.
Daniel returned, carrying a large bag of fruit.
“I bought apples, tangerines, and grapefruit,” Daniel said.
“What would you “Not now, maybe later. I’ve got something to ask you.”
“What is it?”
“I lost my phone. You can’t use yours. But why can’t we borrow one?”He asked, “From whom?”
“There must be other people in the hotel.”Daniel frowned.
I said, “The front desk, for example. We could borrow their phone.”Daniel thought for a moment.
“It could be risky.”I stared at him.
Daniel looked away.
“You’re right… I’ll go and make the call now.” like?”As Daniel turned to leave, I grabbed his sleeve.
“I’ll come with you. I want to call Sebastian.”
“Okay.”I could tell he was really reluctant. Did he not want me to come?
But he still led me out of the room. That was when I realised how small this so-called hotel really was. It was probably a private residence converted into a bed and breakfast. There was no one at the front desk. Daniel knocked on a door on the first floor. He knocked for a long time before an older woman came out, wearing pyjamas and an impatient look on her face,
“What do you want?” she demanded.
I said, “Can I borrow your phone? I need to make a call.”The woman looked at Daniel, who nodded.
“Come in,” she said.
She handed me her mobile phone. I’d memorised Sebastian’s number and dialled.
Soon, the call connected, and that familiar, lovely voice came through.
“Hello?”
“Sebastian, it’s me,” I said, my voice catching.
“Elean? Tell me where you are. I’ll come and get you right now.”
“Where are we?” I looked at Daniel.
“Give me the phone. I’ll talk to him.”I handed the phone to Daniel.
He took it, gave the address, and then added, “Be careful. They’re looking for us everywhere. This call is a risk. 1 just hope you find us first.”Then he passed the phone back to me.
“Sebastian…” I had so much I wanted to say, but the words stuck in my throat.