Chapter - 51 - No matter where or what

The doorbell rang for the second time bringing both Gianna and Rick back to senses. Gianna gave Rick a hard push which made Rick stumble a few steps back and she looked at him with a questioning look. Rick rubbed his forehead and quickly leaned closer to her and whispered in her ears, "I think the people outside came in search of me. Can you please send them off?" His warm breath against her ears brought goosebumps all over her body and felt ticklish.

Gianna distanced herself from him and signaled to him to stand behind the door. She took a deep breath and opened the door. She calmly looked at the two men in front of her and asked, "Who are you?" The men looked at each other and one of the men hurriedly took out his phone. "Didn't you hear my question? Who are you?" asked Gianna, losing her patience.

"Sorry for the disturbance mam. We are searching for a notorious criminal so can we take a look inside your apartment?" said the man on the left. He came a bit closer and whispered, "If he is threatening you, please blink your eyes twice." "Notorious criminal you say, but why am I standing still alive in front of you? Are you with the police? Who gave you the right to search my apartment?" asked Gianna haughtily.

Rick was amused by her attitude and was literally laughing loud in his mind listening to her questions. 'This woman has no fear at all. The men do look dangerous but how can this woman question them so bravely? She is one of a kind.' thought Rick, squeezing himself behind the door.

"If you are not hiding anyone in the apartment, why can't you show us around?" asked the man. "Are you my uncle, to show you leisurely around my apartment?" The men were baffled at her question. They searched the whole area and no one stood against them but this woman was not an easy target.

Gianna's patience was going down as the seconds passed by and wanted to smash the men and Rick until they were dead. The man on the right looked at her and then nudged the other man and showed something on the phone. Gianna was irritated and was about to speak but the two men shouted in unison, "Sorry Dr. Gianna!! Please forgive us for causing you disturbance."

Gianna was completely puzzled and looked at them questioningly. One of the men in black suit said, "We work for Mr.Richard Ellerbrock. He has told all of us to respect your interests no matter where and protect you no matter what. So, please forgive us, Dr. Gianna."

Gianna couldn't believe what she heard and knew Mr. Ellerbrock had ordered them as a way of gratitude towards her but she didn't know he would go to this level. Gianna saw the men moving towards Mrs.Rogers's apartment and asked them to stop. "The person staying there is an elderly woman who is my patient. Don't disturb her. You are free to check other units." said Gianna in a low voice but still it was like a command for the men in black suits.

The men assented to her command and entered the lift to check the units upstairs. Gianna let out a breath and closed the door quickly. She wanted to reprimand Rick at once, who was hiding behind the door but to her surprise she saw a misty-eyed Rick with clenched jaw staring back at her. She could clearly feel an unbearable sadness from his stare.

"Gianna, is that your name?" asked Rick in a hoarse voice. "Yes" replied Gianna casually and went to the kitchen. Rick didn't understand what kind of fate it was! He quickly followed Gianna to the kitchen and called her name, "Gianna." She turned and looked at him and asked, "What is it?" "Your name is really Gianna!" exclaimed Rick. "Are you showing off that you know my name?! Do you want me to call those men back?" asked Gianna, raising an eyebrow.

"Nope. I'm just happy to know the name of the person who saved my life." said Rick with a faint smile. Gianna knew he was lying because he was just about to cry a few minutes before but didn't bother him. She served a cup of coffee for him and for herself. They both sat quietly and started to drink their coffee. Gianna desperately wanted to know the reason behind the visit of those men and it kept bothering her no matter how much she tried.

Gianna finally decided to ask him. "You don't look like a notorious criminal but why are they claiming you to be one?" Rick nearly choked on his coffee and answered after clearing his throat "I don't know but I'm surprised that you don't think I am notorious."

"So, are you claiming that you are indeed a notorious criminal?" Rick chuckled and said, "I am not. I am surprised because any woman in that situation would have desperately called out for help but here you are serving me a coffee and talking with me so calmly." Gianna looked at her cup and said, "I know a little bit of psychology and also have been interacting with many kinds of humans so it's not that difficult to judge a person."

"How do you know the Ellerbrocks?" asked Rick because he was really curious after witnessing the scene. "Why are the Ellerbrocks looking for you?" asked Gianna without replying to his question. Rick knew she was a smart woman and the more he answers the more information she will gain.

"You should be one of the Ellerbrocks to receive such respect." commented Rick haughtily, looking straight at her eyes. "Then you should be one of the Visconties to be chased down so miserably." commented Gianna with a smirk, looking back at his eyes.