With each passing day, Theron was getting better. It seemed that another week, and he would fully recover, as though the injuries had never existed at all.
With Derek, however, things were different.
His discharge was still uncertain. The doctors were in no hurry to let him go home, believing that he still required observation. Amy, however, had no intention of giving up. She was doing everything possible to get him transferred to home treatment under her personal responsibility.
I still had not fully understood what kind of relationship truly connected them now.
Sometimes it seemed to me that Amy simply felt responsible for him. Sometimes — that there was something much deeper between them, something they both preferred to keep silent about.
But Derek was becoming quieter with each passing day.
He had almost stopped talking. More and more often, he would stare at one point for a long time, as though his thoughts were somewhere far away from here. Even when someone spoke to him, he answered briefly and only when it was necessary.
I did not know how to start a conversation with him.
More precisely, I did not know how to ask what had been tormenting me all this time.
Did I even have the right to ask him such questions now?
It seemed to me that the moment I started questioning him, he would remind me of his request again. The request he had demanded in exchange for forgiveness.
I did not want to talk about it.
At all.
Therefore, I preferred to remain silent and delay the inevitable conversation for as long as possible. Each new day without that conversation felt like a small postponement that I desperately tried to use to my advantage.
The moment I approached the room, I noticed Derek through the half-open door. He was standing beside the bed, placing his personal belongings into a small travel bag.
So, they were finally discharging him.
Amy was already waiting nearby with a wheelchair.
— I do not need this, — Derek said sarcastically.
— Of course, you do not, — Amy replied calmly. — That is exactly why you are going to sit in it now.
— I can walk perfectly well on my own.
— Derek.
— Amy.
They looked at each other.
I stood behind the door and silently watched them. Derek looked completely different. He argued, he was sarcastic, he was irritated.
But the moment I took a step inside, Derek fell silent. His gaze immediately shifted to me. All the ease disappeared from his face so quickly, as though it had never been there at all.
— Hi, — I said quietly.
He greeted me in his usual manner. Amy looked at him first, then at me.
— You are just in time, — she said. — We were about to leave.
— I see.
Derek turned away and began adjusting the strap of his bag again.
— How about a pizza party? — I suggested in my usual tone, the same one we had grown accustomed to throughout all the time we had spent communicating.
Derek finally raised his eyes to me.
— I will not refuse. Hospital food has already become rather tiresome.
He slung the bag strap over his shoulder and headed toward the exit.
Amy silently looked at me first, then at him.
— I will come by this evening for an examination, — she reminded him.
I think they had already argued about it countless times, so Derek did not even bother starting another argument.
He only gave a brief nod.
— Okay.
Downstairs, in the parking lot, one of Theron's cars was waiting for us.
We drove home in silence, looking at the noisy streets of New York.
For a moment, it seemed to me that tension had settled between us, but when I saw how relaxed Derek's body looked, I realized that, most likely, I was simply overthinking everything.
— Are you alright? — I asked carefully when we were approaching the house.
— Yes, — he turned toward me, and his answer was quiet and calm. The way I was used to seeing him.
I helped him get out of the car, and we slowly went upstairs to my apartment.
Everything was unbearably familiar, even though a month had already passed since what happened with Amy.
The pizza delivery arrived at exactly the moment Derek settled onto my sofa and turned on the television, as though everything was the same as always.
I prepared everything on the small table in front of the sofa and brought water instead of the wine we were used to.
We sat in silence, watching some other American show.
— You have been avoiding me lately, — he asked calmly, taking a bite of pizza.
— No.
— Maybe unconsciously, but you were still avoiding me, — his gaze found mine. — Is it because of my request?
— Maybe it is because I feel guilty toward you, — I finally admitted. — I cannot forgive myself for what happened to you. I was careless and selfish. I know we thought a lot about the end. But I never wanted me to be the reason for it. If it had happened, it should have been by your own choice. And besides...
— Theron...
He immediately corrected me:
— Yes, he really went all out trying to pull me out of there.
A faint smile touched his face. He took another bite of pizza and returned his attention to the screen.
— Are you with Amy? — I asked uncertainly.
— I think she is simply carrying out Theron's orders.
He immediately interrupted me, as though he did not even allow himself to consider such a thought. After all, her concern was obvious. Although she was Theron's subordinate, from the outside it looked like something more than just work.
— Is she just a doctor to you as well? — I did not take my eyes off him.
— She is annoying, but I think that is actually a plus.
He smirked and took a second piece of pizza.
Someone knocked on the door. I approached it with disbelief and looked through the peephole.
It was Theron.
Since when had he started knocking on the door?
Perhaps the guards had informed him that I was with Derek. He still had not removed my security, but on the contrary — he had even increased it. The only concession he had made was taking away their overly elaborate formal suits.
I opened the door, and he slowly stepped inside, looking around the living room.
The guards followed him, as usual. They were carrying his belongings and dinner.
Derek only waved his hand in greeting, but he did not even think about standing up. He continued devouring the next piece of pizza.
Theron briefly kissed me on the lips.
— Is everything alright? — he asked with concern, gently brushing his thumb against my cheek.
— Yes, — I smiled lightly.
Theron took off his outerwear and walked over, sitting on the opposite side of the sofa. He pretended that he was watching the same show as well.
The guards had already left, and I began unpacking dinner.
That was when I noticed that Theron had taken a slice of pizza and started eating.
— I am glad you have already been discharged, — Theron said evenly, as though he was saying it merely for the sake of formality.
— Thank you, — Derek replied almost just as coldly.
I stood there stunned, holding his dinner in my hands, unable to believe my eyes.
I did not understand what I was supposed to do now. After that brief exchange of words, they continued eating and watching the show.
Setting his dinner aside, I took a book and sat in the armchair behind them.
When the show finally ended, Derek said goodbye to me.
— Do not forget what I told you back then at the hospital. I am still waiting for your answer, — he reminded me.
I knew that sooner or later I would have to return to his words. But let it not be today.
I helped him with his bag, but the moment we stepped into the hallway, Amy was already waiting by his door.
She immediately approached and took his bag.
— I will help him.
She took him by the arm. In response, I only smiled at her in a friendly manner. And Derek, as though rooted to the spot, stared at her. He definitely had not expected this.
I looked at him, but no answer came. Amy took the keys from his hand and opened the door. He did not even resist or argue.
— Good night, — I wished them.
Without waiting for a response, I returned to my apartment.
The moment the door closed, Theron immediately grabbed me by the hips and lifted me up toward him.
My legs automatically wrapped around him, and I only gasped softly in surprise.
His lips immediately found mine.
Passion and desire could be felt in every one of his touches — in the movement of his hands, in the kiss, in the tension of his body. His tongue captured mine in a passionate dance.
His intensity made it difficult to breathe, and when Theron felt it, he gradually broke the kiss.
But his hands still held me firmly, possessively.
— I missed you like crazy, — he pressed his lips to my neck, inhaling my scent.
— Me too, — my hand slid into his hair.
— Let's go take a shower. I definitely need to take a shower with you.
He looked at me with hungry and aroused eyes.
Theron began moving toward the bedroom.
— Can I go back to work? — I asked while he carried me.
Theron immediately froze.
— Derek has been discharged, and someone is already watching over him. So now you have no reason to keep me from going back to work, — I said, watching his thoughtful expression.
— Are you sure you want to continue working? — he asked as he entered the bathroom.
— Yes. I liked working for you. It was even fun, — I smiled, remembering everything that had happened.
Theron placed me on the floor and began taking off my clothes, first my shirt, then my pants. His eyes seemed to physically devour my body.
I felt his gaze with every cell of my body.
He ran the tip of his finger over one of the scars on my stomach.
— I will agree if you swear to me that there will be no more acting on your own. You will tell me everything: what you see, what you think, or what you are going to do.
Theron slowly lowered himself to his knees.
I gasped in surprise and almost stepped back from him, but he pulled me closer with his hands around my waist and slowly, gently kissed the scar he had just touched with his finger.
I shuddered.
Every one of his touches always awakened desire and greed inside me... The moment he started, it was never enough for me.
His kisses moved lower. Then he lifted one of my legs, placed it over his shoulder, and began covering the inside of my thigh with kisses.
— I do not hear your answer, — he rasped when he squeezed my thigh with one hand while continuing to kiss it.
— I promise, — I forced out.
His kisses turned into little bites, and a moan escaped my lips.
— Fuck, — Theron could not hold back, stood up, and captured me in another feverish kiss.
— Mine...
He repeated that word again and again throughout the night.
***
I woke up completely exhausted and was already regretting that I had returned to work and now had to get up so early again. Although perhaps it was not only because of that. Maybe the reason was that I had not stopped Theron earlier, and we had only fallen asleep near dawn.
But judging by his gaze and his composure, he seemed full of strength and energy.
I took a shower.
By that time, Theron was already completely dressed and drinking coffee in the living room.
I had only just started brushing my teeth when I noticed that all of his things were still in the bathroom.
— You forgot your...
— No, — he immediately shouted back at me.
I looked at his toothbrush and numerous bathroom supplies.
Had he decided to leave them here?
Settle in?
I smiled to myself at the thought and hurried to get dressed.
He had prepared coffee for me as well.
In the car, he was scrolling through his phone as usual, reading the news and reviewing work-related information. But his other hand was always holding mine, never letting go. I drank my coffee and watched the morning noise of the streets. Everyone was rushing somewhere, hurrying along.
Half an hour later, we were already in the parking lot. The moment we stepped out of the car, he was still holding my hand. He did not hide or feel embarrassed about our relationship. Everyone in the company already knew, and even outside of it, everyone had been talking about it after what happened near the police station. But he had made no official statements and stopped any attempts at public discussion about it.
He valued and respected the quietness of our relationship that existed between us. And I liked that.
The elevator stopped on my floor first. He held the doors, gently kissed me.
— Figure out what is happening with the reports in your office. I expect you in my office in two hours.
He was giving instructions, but his voice now was not like that commanding tone I was used to hearing within the walls of this building. Now it sounded more caring and softer. I briefly kissed him in return and, agreeing, headed to my office.
When I entered my office, I felt emotions wash over me. As though I was back where I belonged again. There was an enormous amount of documents. After the latest inspections, they had remained with me.
I roughly divided them by companies, made a plan for handling and sorting through this mess, and headed toward Theron, just as he had asked.
In the reception area, I was greeted by Hilda, as always strictly composed and polite. She asked me to stay for a minute.
— Theron asked me to select two small buildings in New York for you. Which areas are you interested in? And also apartments.
I looked over the options laid out before me, the portfolios of buildings and apartments, and I did not understand what she was talking about.
— What is this?
— He said it was a Christmas gift, — she immediately commented.
Had he really taken my words back then seriously?
I laughed and, gathering all the papers, shook my head negatively, waving my hand at Hilda.
— I will talk to him myself. He misunderstood everything.
I smiled at her. She only gave me a polite smile in return.
— May I go into his office? — I asked politely, still smiling at the situation.
I still could not fully believe that he had actually taken it seriously.
— Yes, he is free, — Hilda confirmed.
I headed toward his office. I carefully opened the door and closed it just as carefully behind me.
Theron was sitting at his desk, attentively reading something. I smiled as I looked at him. But my thoughts began drifting in another direction.
The silence between us.
Tick...
Tock...
My thoughts slowly began falling into place.
Tick...
Tock...
The long-forgotten question that had tormented me began rising to the surface again.
Tick...
Tock...
My heart tightened...
My thoughts raced and kept returning to the same point. To the point I did not want to see. The point I did not want to acknowledge.
Theron finally looked at me and, seeing my expression, immediately stood up. Anger appeared in his eyes. He understood that I had once again become lost in my thoughts, and he immediately came toward me. His hand touched my cheek.
— What? — his commanding tone pierced me even more sharply.
It became even harder, but I had to say it.
— Hilda, — I barely managed to force out.
Theron glanced at the papers in my hand.
— It is only a small gift.
I shook my head negatively, and then Theron's face became harder.
— Speak.
His low and dangerous voice cut through me.
— Hilda... is also a secretary.
Tick… Tock...