Chapter 4
1190 Words
ANDI
"I WOULDN'T do that if I were," said the cold voice who entered the clinic. He was referring to the doctor's plan of pulling up my shirt to check my bruised side.
"Y-Your Grace...I-I was just going to check her—" the doctor stuttered with his thick Italian accent but still failed to finish his sentence when he saw the deathly glare that the Grand Duke is throwing at him.
"What should be the problem, Your Grace?" Adelina asked in confusion.
"I don't think it's proper to parade your body in front of my people," the Grand Duke answered, but instead of looking at Adelina, he was glaring at me.
"He's a doctor, and I'm a patient. I don't see any problem with that," I answered confidently. "Besides, this is not new to me. I used to change clothes in front of men," I added before proceeding into removing my tank top. It didn't bother me at all since I'm wearing a sports bra underneath.
I saw him tightened his jaw as if he was already losing his patience. "Give us a moment," he ordered, which the other two immediately follows.
He walks towards a small cabinet and opens it before getting something inside. "Move over," he said.
I move a little to give him space as he ordered. He immediately sits down beside me.
"What are you doing?" I asked, frowning when he tried to put some ointment on my side.
"Stay still," he said, ignoring my question.
"I can do that myself," I insisted before trying to snatch the ointment from his hand. But he quickly moved away, his hand preventing me from succeeding. I grimace when a sudden jolt of pain shot through my ribs.
"I said stay still," he firmly said before forcing his hand into my side to finally put the ointment on my aching side.
I flinched when I felt his fingers touch my skin. I completely ignore the electricity brought by his touch. I tried to act normal, but I can't deny the fact that my heart is racing like a raging bull.
After putting some ointment, he immediately put a patch on top of it. "You must see a doctor when you back home," he said.
I guess I haven't convinced him about taking me. This is going to be harder than I expected. "I am not going anywhere but your side, Your Grace," I insisted. "I don't have plans of going back to where I came from unless my job here is done."
I'm stunned when instead of his usual dark and annoyed face, I finally saw a smile broke on his face. His smile can sink a thousand ships, and I haven't realized that I was already holding my breath while staring at his beautiful face.
"You are something else, Signorina," he said while smiling and shaking his head in disbelief. "You are the most stubborn woman I ever met," he said before he stood up. "I will tell Adelina to prepare a room for you."
"Am I in?" My eyes widen in shock.
"No. But where are my manners if I sent away a woman with an injury? More so, an injury caused by me."
"You can't do this. I won the match, fair and square. If we are talking about manners, then you should have the manners to honor your word," I said before I stood up.
"Lay down and take some rest," he ordered.
"I'm fine, Your Grace. This is nothing. My body is used to it," I said.
His eyes immediately landed on my body. I suddenly felt awkward when I realized that I was wearing nothing but a sports bra in front of His Grace. Insecurities started to engulf my body when I noticed that the Grand Duke was staring at the scars all over my body.
I bet he already saw thousands of women naked in front of him. And I definitely sure that all of the women were flawless and unscratched, unlike me. I felt a sudden pain in my heart when I realized how unfeminine I am. I haven't think of myself as a woman for a long time. I don't know why I am suddenly feeling insecure in front of the Grand Duke.
An awkward silence filled the entire room. I gasped silently when his eyes finally settled on mine. I furtively tried to reach for my tank top that was lying on top of the bed. I had a sudden urge to cover my body from the scrutinizing eyes of the Grand Duke. I quickly picked up my top and put it on.
"Who did that?"
I chuckled, I said when I notice the sympathetic look in his eyes. "My job did this to me," I simply answered. I saw the relief in his eyes when he heard my answer.
Does he think that I was abused or something?
"What kind of job do you have to have that kind of scars?" he asked while frowning.
"It's confidential, Your Grace. I cannot divulge any information, but I can assure you one thing, there is no perfect person for this job but me."
"It is fortunate that you landed this assignment rather than God knows whatever it is that your company is asking you to do. Isn't it illegal for them to send a woman to a dangerous assignment?"
"And sending a man is legal?" I quickly responded.
He was obviously stunned by my questions. I don't know when he will continue questioning my ability just because I'm from the opposite s*x.
"I still don't think it is a good idea to send a woman—"
I blew a loud breath in defeat. I walked over to where my bag is located and get the credentials that I brought from the office.
"Here's my information and credentials," I said before handing it over to him. "If you still think that I am not fit for this job, then I can't do anything about it. Honestly, I think you're right. I don't think I can do my job properly when my boss doesn't trust me," I said before walking past him. When I was about to open the door, I heard him speak again.
"What happened to "I am not going anywhere but your side"?" he said, copying what I declared a while ago.
I turned my back and faced him in disbelief. "You've got to be kidding me!" I exclaimed, raising both of my hands in exhaustion. I can't figure out what this man wants. "I said that because I wanted to do my job right, but if you don't trust me at all, then I can't work—"
"I wake up and seven in the morning and retire at twelve midnight. I expect you to be by my side at all times," he said, not giving me a chance to finish my sentence. After that, he didn't even wait for my response and proceeded to walk out of the room.
My jaw dropped in amusement. I can't understand that brute. "Unbelievable!" I shouted.
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- Writer
