NOT A BRIBE

Laleen could barely speak as she took various deep breaths to steady her heart rate after settling into the car seat that zoomed off deliberately leaving dust on its wake.

Her chest rose and fell repeatedly as she struggled to keep her trembling hands steady. The slight fever she felt around the time she had stepped out of the house had worsened considerably and she was burning now.

But despite that, Laleen felt much more suffering from her injured foot that was silently bleeding.

She forced her gaze downward as her fingers tightened on the car seat. She thought she could bear the pain but it seemed she had reached her limit.

Slowly and with a face masked in pain, she tilted her head to Shane's direction to let him know but even before she could, he had noticed.

The smell of blood stuck to Shane's nostrils the instant Laleen got into the car and he froze on his seat. Blood... how was it that he could smell her blood? 

The driver at the driver's seat noticed as well and his eyes widened in disbelief. The young lady was bleeding and right beside his master. This wasn't good.

"There's... blood" Laleen announced in a trembling voice, but what she said wasn't really an announcement as both the men had realized the second she got into the car.

The driver feigning surprise immediately brought the car to a stop while Laleen continued to struggle with the pain.

Her fingers dug deeper into the car seat as she bit her lip hard, "It hurts" she whispered, her voice filled with pain.

"Please be calm young lady. We'll get you to the hospital right away"

Laleen nodded, tears of pain stinging her eyes as she tried not to make any unnecessary sounds. 

The car started once again, this time the driver moving at a faster speed than before. But Laleen wasn't the only one struggling. With the knowledge of the red liquid known as blood, Shane made a conscious effort to avoid looking in her direction, his face as pale as a white sheet as the black car sped forward into the night.

***

By the time Laleen had opened her eyes, she found herself in a familiar looking room. Squinting her eyes, she got up on the bed. Her eyes scanned her surroundings covered in white. She was in the hospital. Again.

She yawned as she stretched her arms, a few of her bones cracking. Raising her right foot slightly, she realized it had been bandaged. She sighed softly in relief as she relaxed back into the bed.

Last night was such a terrifying episode and she dreaded the outcome if Mr. Degavon had not appeared.

And that wound... Cursing the slightly drunken man who had thrown the perpetrator bottle at her, her eyebrows furrowed at the sudden realization.

She had been seriously hurting back in the car but he didn't look her way even once. He simply acted like it was none of his business.

"Shane Degavon" she slightly growled as she shook her head slightly with crinkled brows.

What a devil! 

Her deep mournful thoughts were broken by the movement of the door to her room where an familiar looking man walked in. It was the driver from yesterday.

Laleen's eyes immediately flew downwards as she felt him take steady steps towards her.

"Good morning ma'am. I see you're awake now. I'm glad" he voiced in a sense of relief and sincerity.

Laleen hummed in agreement still looking anywhere but his face, "Thank you for your help yesterday"

The man gave off a nervous laughter. If only she knew.

"Oh that was nothing. All I did was drive" he subtly hinted on why it wasn't him she should thank but Laleen deliberately ignored it.

Shane Degavon didn't deserve her thanks. She still bore a bit of resentment due to the fact that she was the only one who had to bear the brunt of the situation. 

"Speaking of which, is he..." She paused for a moment leaving the man puzzled.

Clearing his throat, he announced, "Mr. Degavon says he'll meet you in a few hours"

Laleen nodded slowly in understanding. That was good. She needed to speak with him too.

***

It was around noon by the time Laleen was discharged from the hospital. As they only had to treat her wound and her fever, it didn't take as long as the previous time she had been there. 

She followed the orders the kind driver from yesterday had given her. Apparently Mr. Degavon wanted to speak with her privately.

It surprised her though. There was an expensive dress provided for her and she was even booked into a comfortable and luxurious hotel room.

What was going on? Was he trying to compensate for all the sufferings being entangled with his name had caused her?

She didn't have much to say right now asides from that she was liking it. But it wasn't enough to buy her forgiveness. Neither was it going to solve the problem.

"Mr. Degavon thinking he can buy me over" Laleen murmured as she bit into the fried chicken thigh on her plate. She was currently having lunch served specially by the hotel staff. It felt good to be receiving the princess treatment once again.

"Humph. Never in a million years!" Just as she said those words, she reached for the glass of wine on the table. Her cheeks were stuffed with food as she brought the wine glass to her lips and took a generous sip.

"I've suffered enough. This tasty wine won't be enough to quench the fire of my anger" Even as she spoke, she took a large full spoon of rice into her mouth.

A cry of bliss unwillingly left her lips. How did it all taste so good?!

Realizing herself with a jolt, she looked left and right as if she had been caught.

Remembering there was no one in her room with her, she scolded herself internally. 

"I will not be bribed by tasty meat nor a comfy bed!"

An hour later she lay sprawled in her comfortable bed, her lips glistening with oil from her very heavy lunch. Of course she will not be bought over! This was a necessary rest, not a bribe.

Though she did look forward to dinner. With Shane Degavon himself.