My boss is in a hospital?

After that call, I swear I forgot how to breathe.

I flew out of my room like a maniac and yelled,

"Dad! I need to go to the hospital. Now!"

He looked up from the couch, TV remote halfway to his mouth.

"What? Why? What happened?"

"It's Vincent!"

No more questions. Ten minutes later, we screeched into the hospital driveway.

Dad dumped me out like a delivery package and I bolted inside slippers and all.

I slammed into the reception desk, gasping,

"Vincent! Vincent LeClair!"

The nurse blinked at me, half amused.

"Um... and you are?"

"I'm— I'm— I'm... a random albatross— I mean— Montasia! Rose à Montasia!"

She giggled behind her mask.

"Ah. Miss Montasia. Right this way, please."

And there he was.

My boss.

Half-dead but still stupidly handsome on that hospital bed.

"Oh no... Vincent..." I whispered, stepping closer.

A nurse appeared beside me, bowing politely.

"He doesn't have any family listed, Miss Montasia. You're the only emergency contact. Actually... 

you're tagged as 'Favorite.' The rest are just clients and company lines."

'Favorite'? Me??

My smile cracked my cheeks.

"Do you need anything else, miss?"

"Eh— no! I'm just... worried. How is he?"

She explained gently: a bad head injury, but he'd be okay. 

He just needed someone by his side for now. Then she left me alone with the sleeping devil.

A few minutes later, he groaned. His eyelids fluttered open.

My heart dove straight into my shoes.

"Boss! Don't move! You'll kill yourself again!"

I squeaked, gripping his arm.

He frowned at me through half-open eyes.

"Where... am I?"

"Hospital. Lucky you. Safe and sound."

He squinted, trying to focus.

"How... did I get here?"

Alright brain, time to be a hero and lie.

"Um— I just... felt something was wrong. So I called help. See? Ta-da. Saved you."

He gave me that death glare. Yep. Even half-dead, he's intimidating.

If only he glared like that at the robbers instead.

His voice was raspy but gentle.

"...Thanks."

My chest squeezed so tight I almost blurted out how scared I was. 

But nope. My mouth betrayed me. So I ruined it instead.

"Well, looks like I have to take care of you now. Can't let you die before you pay me, you know!"

He laughed. That lazy, rich-boy laugh I hate and love.

"I've been robbed, you know. I have nothing left."

We both giggled like idiots in that dull hospital room. And right then and there, just me and my half-dead boss, I knew it:

I was really, really glad he was alive.

Later that night...

After a quick chat, we fell asleep.

Yup. Just me. Right next to his messed-up head on that stiff pillow.

Alright. Can I not tell you what happened next? It's embarrassing.

...Fine! I'll tell you before you slam my book shut.

So there I was, drifting off gracefully.

And Vincent that evil boss of mine looked at me.

"Rose..." he whispered, thinking I was still awake.

Then his hand slid to my forehead, brushing my hair back so gently.

"Thank you, Rose."

The next morning.

I opened my eyes and boom. There he was. Sitting up like a prince, grinning at me.

"Good morning, Sleeping Beauty."

"Eeeehhh! Why are you up so early!?"

He leaned closer, too amused for my sanity.

"Eh... so that's how you look when you wake up? You drool, you know."

My face erupted hotter than lava.

"NO WAY!"

I bolted into the bathroom, but his stupid voice echoed behind me:

"Don't run, Rose. I might end up having to take care of you again..."

Ugh! Damn you, Vincent. I should've left you rotting on that street!

After discharge...

We went straight to his apartment.

Yup. Now I had full control over Vincent LeClair's life and death.

You better obey every word I say, boss. Hehe.

I smirked.

"What's that? Planning to kill me?"

He asked, deadpan, while I fussed with his chair cushions.

House tour time!

Vincent's lair

A small but sleek apartment, with a security gate.

7th floor, unit 8.

From the entrance: kitchen on the right not too big, not too tiny but judging by the pristine counters, he hadn't touched it since the Stone Age.

A huge window overlooked the city lights.

Straight ahead: a tiny living room, a small round table, a sofa set in muted greys and dark greens. Tasteful. I'll give him that.

A tiny balcony, too.

Past the kitchen, on the right: his room. Private. Mysterious. Smelled expensive.

And that concluded Vincent's boring bachelor cave.

Then I popped the question.

"Where's your family?"

He replied casually, arranging his sleeves.

"My mother's abroad for work. My father... I lost him when I was eight."

"So... you have no siblings?"

"None. I'm the only child."

Ohhh! That explains a LOT.

"What was that?"

"Nothing!" I squeaked, running into the kitchen like a confused chicken.

I peeked at his fancy stove. It looked more like a museum piece than something that cooked actual food.

Hmm...

His voice cut through my detective moment.

"Miss Montasia, I'd rather you order takeout or go to the store than poison me with your cooking."

Eeeek! Who said I was gonna cook for him!?

"Um just looking around!" I yelled back, pretending to care about his spice rack. Phew. Crisis averted.

I marched back and plopped beside him, ready to interrogate him properly.

"So, Boss Vincent LeClair... can I ask you something?"

He looked completely unbothered.

"What is it?"

"So... what did you save me as in your contacts?"

He smirked like he'd been waiting for this moment since birth.

He pointed at his phone screen M.L.R.

"Oh, this? Just random letters."

My face twisted.

"Then you set me as your Favorite?"

He glanced at his phone, feigning innocence.

"Did I? Must've misclicked. The robbers must've done it."

He gave me that smug look that basically said 'What else you got, Rose?'

AGHHH!

Why is he always ten steps ahead?!

Every time I think I've won... it backfires!!

Damn you, Boss!