Elena's POV:
Somehow, my first instinct when I wake up is to check on Adrian. I find myself in front of his bedroom door.
I knock first, and when I don't get a response, I push the door open and enter.
The bed is neatly made, almost as if he didn't sleep on it. His suit from last night is folded carelessly across a chair, and there's a half empty glass of water on his bedside table.
"Adrian?" I call out, but there's no answer.
Slowly, I open the bathroom door and peek in. Still no sign of him. I close the door back, and place both hands on my hips with a sigh.
Did he really leave for work? With the way he was coughing throughout the night, it would be impossible.
I head for his office instead. I don't bother knocking this time around, I just push open the door and enter. There's no sign of him here either.
Somehow, I'm not surprised. I find the tea I gave him last night, still on his desk, untouched.
He couldn't have just drank it? Did he think I poisoned it or something?
"Asshole" I curse under my breath. Just then, the door clicks open.
I freeze.
"Mrs Elena? You're up early"
The sound of Lucia's voice brings me a great sense of relief. I clutch my chest, rubbing on it lightly. I thought I'd been caught snooping.
"Good morning to you too, Lucia" I turn and face her. "Though it seems I'm not the only one who woke early"
I gesture around the room. "He's gone"
Lucia sighs. "I honestly don't know what to do with him. He didn't even stay for breakfast. If he keeps pushing himself like this, he's going to break down and there will be no one to do the work he so much cares about".
I cross my arms and think to myself. How does one function like that?
"Anyway, you can head downstairs. I made breakfast already. Let me just clean up here and I'll be down in a minute" she smiles and pats me on the shoulder before she moves to clean.
*****
After breakfast, I try to busy myself with things that don't matter. I try tidying my already tydied room, I work through my phone, I even try reading a few books from Adrian's library, but it doesn't take me time before I loose interest.
I'm bored out of my senses in this big house with nothing to do. I find myself pacing around from place to place, trying to distract myself from something. Someone. And I end up on the balcony, and let the cool breeze blow across my face, cooling my mind.
As I close my eyes, the image of Adrian's face seeps in. He looked exhausted. Weak, even, but he's just too stubborn.
It won't kill you to just get yourself checked in a hospital, better still call a home doctor if you don't feel like going to the hospital.
I cup my face with both hands as an exasperated sigh leaves my lips.
I reach for my phone and open the call log. My finger hovers over his name on the list for longer than it should.
Should I call him? Just to see if he's okay. I can tell him that Lucia sent me.
Just as I'm about to press on the screen, I stop.
"Leave"
His voice comes to play in my head. His cold dismissal from last night sounds clearly in my ears. That look he gave me like I was being a nuisance.
I groan loudly, then stuff the phone back in my pants pocket. This whole thing is just ridiculous and it's getting me agitated for reasons I can't explain.
By evening, I end up in the sitting room. Lucia had left almost two hours ago. The tv screen glows softly in the dim room, and the sounds are muffled to my ears as I can't seem to focus.
I pick up my phone and check the time. It's ten on the fuckin dot. I throw it back onto the couch and slump deeper on the couch.
He's always said not to wait on him but today I wanted to see when he gets back. I need to know that he's fine, and I don't know why but I can't seem to get myself to sleep without that knowledge.
I shift my focus back to the figures on the tv screen, but every faint sound makes my eyes snap to the door.
After a few more minutes of deceiving myself, I put the TV off, and shake my head as I stand.
He's probably not coming back till later. I turn and head for the stairs. When I'm just about climbing up, the door creaks open.
My heart leaps. Adrian?
I turn slowly. The light in the room is not bright but I can make out his form by the door. His usual composure is replaced with something off. His shoulders are slumped, and his movements are staggered.
"Adrian?" My voice comes out lower than I wanted, and a sense of worry fills me.
His head lifts at the sound of his name, his eyes unfocused for a moment, before they find mine.
The light shines on his face and I catch the dazed look in his eyes. Something is not right.
"Adrian, are you okay?" I take a step toward him.
"I'm.. I'm fine" his voice is hoarse and there's nothing okay about it.
""Adrian you don't look fine you need to–"
Before I can finish my sentence, his body sways.
"Adrian!" I rush forward, reaching him just before his knees buckle. I try to steady him, but his weight pulls us both to the floor.
His head falls against my shoulder, and I can feel the heat radiating off him. He's hot. Too hot.
Panic crawls it's way up to my throat."Adrian, can you hear me?" I sit up and shake him slightly but the only response I get is a faint groan.
Fuck!
My heart hammers against my ribs, and I try to calm myself. Okay Elena, breathe. Calm down. Just think of something.
I ease his head down slowly on the floor, and move to turn on the light switch. When I return to him, his face is clear now. His skin is flushed forehead slicked with sweat, and he's…shivering.
I reach up to brush hair away from his face, and my fingers tremble at the heat. God, he's burning up.
"Why did you have to be so fuckin stubborn!?" I whisper to myself.
Leaning back on my heels, I try to think of something. I can't call anyone now. I don't even know any doctors. Lucia is probably asleep by now, and I don't want to wake her.
Water..cold water!
I rush to the kitchen and find a bowl, filling it up with water, and grab a piece of clean clothing on my way out too.
I need to get him off the floor. He's freezing. But how am I supposed to carry a 6'5 man on my own?
Squatting beside him, I drape one of his arms over my shoulder, and try to hold him up. He slumps against my shoulders and I almost fall back.
"Okay. You need to help me out here Adrian, let's get you to the couch okay?"
Draping a hand round his stomach to steady myself, I try to stand. Why is he so heavy?
I realize that this is not going to work so I decide to drag him instead. "I'm sorry, Adrian, but I have no other choice"
I grab his two arms, and start pulling him slowly towards the couch.
I'm nowhere near my destination but I'm already breathing like I ran a marathon. And he keeps squirming, and making it more difficult for me. "Hold still for just a sec!" I screech
After what feels like an eternity, I finally get him close to the couch. Now I have to lift him up on it.
I rest both hands on my hips and release a heavy breath. Bending again I reach for his hands and throw them onto the couch.
Okay. Deep steady breaths. On the count of 1,2,3…
I immediately wrap my arms around his stomach tightly, forcing him onto the couch. He slips a number of times but I'm finally able to get him on.
When he's properly settled in, I rush upstairs to my room, and grab a blanket, then drape it against his shivering body.
Grabbing the towel and the bowl of water, I find my way beside him, easing his head onto my lap. The heat radiates on my bare skin, warming the flesh.
I dip the towel into the water, and squeeze, then press it to his forehead. He lets out a quiet groan as soon as the towel touches him.
"Its okay. Just stay still for a while" my voice is unexpectedly soft.
Adrian squirms under the blanket, as I continue to wipe on his forehead. When it seems like he's cooling down, he starts burning up again.
I wipe down on his face, patting lightly, his breath hot against my fingers. I can't help but study his face. He looks calm when he's sick. Not his usual broody self.
I wipe his brows, his cheeks, his nose, and…
My eyes fall to his lips that are now paler than usual. I pat the towel lightly so close to them, and the thought of how his lips felt against mine when he kissed me on our wedding day, crosses my mind.
"Fuck" I mutter, moving my hand away.
What are you thinking Elena?
I bite my lip, and try to control my pounding heart.
Pressing the towel, back into the bowl, I squeeze lightly again. I press the towel onto his neck, and he flinches at the contact, his brows drawing together, but he doesn't wake.
My eyes catch the buttons of his shirt. Okay. I suck in a deep breath. It's just buttons. If I don't wipe him, he'll just keep shivering all night.
Slowly, and gently, I undo the first four buttons just enough for me to be able to wipe. The sight of his chest, sculpted, rising and falling, makes me pause and I swallow.
I dab the cloth against his skin again, sliding down the ridges of muscle. His body shifts slightly beneath me, a quiet sound escaping his throat.
I pause for a second, before continuing. Wiping continuously, repeatedly, in the same pattern. The only sounds in the room, are his uneven breaths and the silent drips of water from the towel.
After minutes, hours? His breathing finally evens out. A bit steadier than before. Every now and then, I rewet the towel and adjust his position to make sure he's comfortable.
I scan his face for any signs of discomfort, I don't even realize I'm touching him, until my hands brush his cheek. His skin is warm now, and relief floods me.
Adjusting the towel on his forehead, I lean back on the couch, and let out a deep breath. My arms hurt from dragging him around earlier but it's probably not as bad as how he's feeling now.
Hesitantly, I reach out and place my hand on his chest to feel his heartbeat. It's more even than before. His chest heaves up and down in rhythm.
My eyes flutter shut, and I feel myself drifting into sleep.
The last thing I feel is the soft thump of his heartbeat under my palm. And the soft sound of his breathing before I give in to the darkness.