FIRST TIME WITH A COLD PRINCE

CHAPTER 12 - BRUISED ANKLE AND THE COLD PRINCE

Kaya hurried out of the cab and through the hotel gate. “Yes, I’ll be there shortly” she muttered over the phone. Swaying past some movers, she hurried up the few steps that led into the building. Twisting her ankle, she lost her balance falling into sturdy arms.

“Careful” Mikael spoke in a rather calm tone sending shivers right through her.

“Um Director?” she pushed up from him and bowed. “I am so sorry, I was just in a hurry” her ankle stung so bad and she tried so hard to bite back the pain.

“Are you okay?” he asked watching her cautiously and she nodded stiffly turning to take her leave.

Each step felt like torture but she continued, leaping towards entrance.

Mikael watched her quietly before moving up to her. He had come to the hotel to give the owner a tour but had excused himself to take a call when he sighted Kaya. It seemed she had a habit of falling, he thought to himself as he got to her.

He scooped her off the ground, cradling her in his arms before she could react. She looked to him confused and flustered, her eyes moving over to the workers that were moving things into the building. None paid attention to them but she felt they had their eyes on her.

“What are you doing? Put me down” she ordered. He had taken a spin and was now heading down the steps.

“You shouldn’t be moving around; you’ll only make it worse” he noted heading towards his car. He pulled open the passenger’s door and placed her to sit, moving over he grabbed a first aid kit from the pigeonhole and proceeded to squat by her. He took his eyes up to meet hers as though asking for permission. She nodded and he gently lifted her leg, eyes on her to notice any discomfort.

He applied a cold compress to the swollen area granting her immediate relief from the throbbing pain she felt. His touch was gentle and his eyes continued to watch her.

With great care, he positioned her ankle, gently manipulating it back into proper alignment. The pain appeared brief as he calmly robbed against it to grant her relief.

“Are you okay?” he asked in a low tone and she nodded watching as he wrapped the injured ankle securely with a soft bandage.

“You shouldn’t put much pressure on it” he noted as he packed up the kit. “And you’d need to see a doctor.”

“Where did you learn to do that?” she asked absently and he took his eyes to her unsure of whether to reply. His mother had neglected her health while struggling to build the company, he had taken on the responsibility since she’d be knocked down so many time. ‘She didn’t need to know that’ he said to himself pulling up to his feet and placing the first aid kit back in its previous location.

“Thank you” she muttered noting that he didn’t plan on answering her.

“I’ll have someone take you back” he replied taking a look at his time.

“Um, no… that wouldn’t be necessary, I have a meeting with design team” she replied struggling to get out of the car.

Mikael looked to her bandaged ankle and then back at her before holding her in place.

“You are in no position to be moving around” even in this condition she thought of work. It reminded him of his mother.

Pulling out his phone, he placed a call through to his new assistant.

“Are you done with Mr. Adam, great… tell him I look forward to it to… I am by the car” he took his eyes to Kaya for a brief moment before taking it away again. “There’s someone I need you to take home”

“Didn’t you hear what I said?” Kaya blurted but he paid no attention to her.

“Yes, tell him I’ll be there shortly” with that he ended the call taking his eyes back to her. “The owner of the hotel is waiting for me inside, sit here someone will take you home.”

“I just said…”

“I will talk to the design team; they should be able to handle somethings without you” he took a turn heading back into the hotel. Kaya watched him, her eyes falling to her ankle.

…

The drive back home was silent and Kaya couldn’t stop thinking of what had happened earlier. The car pulled up at her apartment but she was too lost in thoughts to realize it.

“Miss Sinclair” Liam called and turned to him still very much absent minded

“We are at your apartment” he noted, she slowly turned to the window then back at him.

“Oh thank you” she smiled softly pushing open the door.

“Do you need help getting in” he asked and she shook her head.

“No thank you, you’ve done enough”

Liam watched her alight the vehicle and proceed slowly towards her apartment.

“This is probably something he’d want me to exclude from my daily report” he smirked, he had caught Mikael staring at her before at the parking lot and wondered what kind of relationship they had. His curiosity was eating him up.

Once she was safely inside the building, he turned on the engine and drove off.

Kaya made her way into the elevator, placing her card against the keypad, it read her floor number and proceeded to her destination. Leaning against the walls, she waited for it to get too her floor.

Stepping out of the elevator she made her to her apartment, Mina and Shelia were most probably still at work. She inputted the passcode on the keypad and pushed the door open. Shutting the door behind her, she moved over to the kitchenette to grab a glass of water.

She winced at the slight pain she felt in her ankle.

“You shouldn’t put much pressure on it” Mikael words rang in her head and she went red in an instant. Filling a glass of water, she took it all up in one gulp trying to calm down her nerves.

“But what the hell was that?” she thought back, recalling the feel of his hand on her ankle. Just then her phone lit up with a message from Ryan.

‘When are you getting off work?’

She stared at the phone for the longest time.

“God I might just go crazy”