Book 2: Chapter 39

Sean looked so stunning in my dream; his eyes were filled with love as he looked at me. That gentle gaze probably held some magic spell because I melted like wax against candlelight, suddenly forgetting all of his sins. Smelling that musky scent of his body, I got drawn to the comfort I missed for a couple of days already. I snuggled into his chest, and his arm wrapped around me tightly. The last thing I remembered about that dream was when he kissed my temple before I drifted off to deep sleep.

"Dr. Red?" a gentle voice pierced into my ear, waking me up. I turned to my other side, wanting to sleep more.

"Dr. Red!" This time, she rubbed my upper arm. And when I didn't move, he shook me gently.

I forced my eyes to open up, meeting the worried look of the housekeeper.

"Yes, nay?" I also addressed her the way Philip and Sean called her.

"Dr. Red, you should wake up now. You slept too long already. You also need to eat."

I smiled at her and nodded. If it were not for the baby inside my womb, I would have continued sleeping.

"Give me thirty minutes," I said. I still have to shower to let cold water wake me up completely.

"No, you should eat first. Your food is on the coffee table already."

"Thank you," I mumbled after glancing at the table across the room. The aroma of the hot chocolate began to waft through my nostrils.

Nay Mina extended her hand, helping me to get my heavy body out of my bed. I was still entering the second trimester of my pregnancy, but my body already weighed like tons of bricks.

"Nay, may I know your name?"

"Mina," she chuckled. It was indeed ironic that I didn't know her name.

"I see. Would it be alright if I stay in this house?" I said as I put on my slippers, then took a few steps towards the coffee table.

"Of course. This is your home, Dr. Red," she said, her voice cracking. Perhaps, she remembered my father and the older man.

She pulled a seat for me, then helped herself on the chair across me. The set of plates and cutleries was just for one, but because I had questions, she perhaps decided to just sit down and listen.

"Would I be safe here?" I continued as soon as I was seated comfortably.

Nay Mina did not answer, but she stood up and pulled the curtains to the side, exposing the kaleidoscope of flowers and ornamental plants through the glass wall of my room. While I feasted my eyes on the mini paradise of the lawn garden, my eyes then bulged out when I caught the figures of men walking back and forth in black pants and jackets.

"Who are those men? I didn't see them before," I said, glancing at Nay Mina after throwing out a loud gasp.

The sight of them alerted a suspicion in my mind. They looked like those kidnappers who confined Eric and me in that house.

Though I suspected that Eric was a part of them, there were still some clues that made me doubt it. There must be somebody else, and I had no one in mind except Ian of Riddance Corporation.

"Those men are Sean's guards. He sent them yesterday to guard you. He even sends his personal driver to take you wherever you want to go. At least, he could also be your bodyguard."

"Sean?" I exclaimed, my jaw dropping low, plucking a cord of excitement inside my heart. These men were exactly the ones that showed up at the airport.

Nay Mina drew her brows together in a confused look. Seeing my unchanging expression, she continued.

"You may have slept so well," she smiled, her eyes shining with joy.

"What do you mean?" Her bit-by-bit response drove me crazy, pulling a frown into my face.

But Nay MIna broke into an amused grin. "Sean came here last night. He even slept beside you."

My heartbeats then flared up into crazy thuds. I remembered seeing him in a dream before I drifted off to a night of deep sleep. That explained why Sean seemed so real in my mind. I was then regretting why I slept like lard.

"Where is he, now?"

"He said he must present himself before the Board of Directors."

Probably, Atty. Evarez informed him about the shareholders' chaos. Perhaps, Sean already knew that those people wouldn't trust me unless they would hear his stand. Those videos that Atty. Evares presented to boost my worth didn't trick them.

"What else did he say?" I was curious, and my heart swelled in excitement.

"She instructed me to take care of you, especially that you are pregnant."

A sense of deep longing filled up every chamber of my heart. I wanted to put down my spoon and fork and barge to the company, but I remember I couldn't. I had already ended everything between us. I just couldn't easily take back what I spit out. And besides, I had broken his sense of pride and dignity. Stripped him off from his once dazzling glory.

"Nay, can you please clean the table for me? I'm not feeling well."

"Sure. Shall I tell Sean to go home?"

I froze at what she said. These two are apparently communicating.

I wanted to say, "Yes, please," but I knew what I should say. "No need, nay."

She creased her brows and looked at me. "You don't really look okay."

"I just need more sleep," I replied, then lifted my legs in heavy steps back to my bed.

"If you say so, then I'll take my leave." There was a look of worries in her eyes, but she did not insist.

The moment Nay Mina closed the door, I just couldn't keep my thoughts away from Sean. And I wondered how he faced the Board of Directors. There was one thing I was sure of-- he did everything to convince them to believe in my capabilities.

Unable to hold my curiosity any more, I called up Atty. Evares.

"Dr. Red?" I could tell he was surprised by my call. He was used to seeing Philip carrying my requests.

"How's the meeting?"

"Mr. Sean confessed everything to the BOD, including your marital status. Then, he submitted his resignation."

"And what did they say?"

"They want to appoint Mr. Ian as the new CEO."

I remembered that message from Ian on Eric's phone. He's not going to accept the BOD's appointment if I don't sell half of my share to him.