|6| My Instinct.

I ran back into his room. I didn't care that I had forgotten to knock, all I could think of was if he was harmed or not. The tray fell from my hand and I stood still, shocked. Mr Lawson sat on the cold floor, blood oozing from his left leg. The wheelchair was upside down. This was my first day as his caretaker and I couldn't even take good care of him. He rubbed his knee and used his handkerchief to wipe away the blood stain. He tightened his lips and moved his left leg with heavy breath. He tried to hide the pain, but it was obvious he was in severe pain. His forehead was furrowed and he gasped softly.

I walked slowly to him and squatted a little. "Mr Lawson, are you okay?"

Suddenly, he jolted and looked up like he wasn't aware of my presence. "What are you doing here?"

"I heard you groaning so I came back to check on you." I looked around, searching for something. "Where are your pain relief drugs?"

He frowned and exhaled deeply in exhaustion. "I don't need you checking on me."

He stretched his hands to his electric-powered wheelchair beside him and held the armrest. He lifted his body with difficulty, trying to sit back on the wheelchair. He was about to place his left foot on the footplate when he slumped to the floor with a thud, falling on his broken knee. He groaned inwardly and held his knee. Sweat ran down his neck.

He seemed to be in so much pain. I quickly stretched my hands to him. "Sir, please hold my hands, I can get you back on the wheelchair."

He slowly raised his head and I froze when I met his cold stare. "I don't need your help. Leave!"

I flickered my hands and sighed deeply. "But I was hired to assist you."

"I hired you to do only what I need you to do, so leave now."

I hesitated, I couldn't leave him like this. "Mr Lawson, you are hurt, you need my help."

He shook his head and glared at me. "Can you heal a broken knee or take the pain away?"

I shook my head. "No."

"Then, I don't need your help."

"But sir–"

"Annie, leave now unless you are fired!"

I tightened my hands and stood up. I sighed and forced myself to look away from him. Without looking back, I walked away from his room. I leaned on his door the moment I closed it.

Why did he hire me if he wouldn't allow me to assist him?

***

On a warm afternoon, I was assisting Tonia who was also a worker at the mansion in tidying the garden. She told me Mr Lawson used to be very friendly to people until he came back from a vacation, threea years ago. He stopped being his usual self. He distanced himself from everyone and preferred to be alone. She told me it has something to do with whatever happened during the vacation. I've been wondering what could have broken him that deep which made him change into a cold person since that day. Still, it's hard to believe that Mr Lawson used to be friendly.

Some days after, I was still thinking about Mr Lawson's issue when my phone rang. I checked the caller and saw it was an unknown number. I picked it and a husky voice spoke.

"Hello, Annie."

I recognized the voice. Mr Lawson? How did he get my number? Oh, maybe he saved it from my application letter.

"Annie, I forgot my briefcase in my room, bring it to my office," he said calmly.

I nodded and waited for him to say anything else.

"Annie, are you there?"

Oh shit, I forgot to reply.

"Yes sir, I will bring it shortly."

"Okay, don't be late this time." The line went off.

I closed the phone and went to his room. I silently opened the door and entered inside. I took off my slipper and walked playfully on the sulky rug, loving the way it brushed my foot. After playing on the rug, I went to view his wristwatch collection. It was arranged according to its gems; silver, jade, diamond, crystal and many more. Wow, I had never seen precious stones in this quantity before.

Then, I checked his wardrobe, most of his clothes are designated suits, jackets, shirts and ties from renowned fashion designers.

I hummed and finally took his briefcase from the desk. I took a final look at his room before leaving and hummed.

How can he be so lonely despite having this much richness?

***

I squinted my eyes as I looked at the huge enterprise. Mr Lawson had sent his chauffeur to pick me up.

Mr Sutton, Mr Lawson's chauffeur, directed me to his office after taking me there. I stared around the building as I walked through it. Mr Sutton gave the car kegs to the clerk and joined me. He entered a lift and I ran to catch up with him. When we got to his office, I was told to knock once and enter. Mr Sutton even told me Mr Lawson had fired someone because he knocked twice on his office door.

I widened my eyes. What? Who fires someone for such a meager reason?

I nodded and waved back at Mr Sutton who was already taking his leave. I smiled as I watched him enter the lift. He was such a kind old man, unlike his boss.

I knocked once and entered the office.

I halted when I saw a lady on Mr Lawson's lap. It was the same lady I had seen with him the first time we met at the bakery. I stood still and observed them. I didn't know what to do. Should I just make my presence known or leave? I bit my lip and shook my head. I can't just leave like that, I was to give him his damned briefcase.

He didn't look at me when I entered.

The lady on his lap brushed her hand through his thick raven hairs. I stared hard at her. Who does she think she was to touch him?

Wait…

Who was I to think this way?

I laughed at myself. I must have thought we were something more just because he reminded me of another man.

She leaned close to his ear and whispered to him. Then, she ran her hand down his chest, he stopped her, holding her hand. I crossed my hands and eyed them. Where was their modesty? Ain't they aware of my presence?

I gulped when Mr Lawson grabbed her waist. Gosh, seriously? Are they really going to have sex in my presence?

She smiled seductively and stroked her finger along his arm.

"Someone is getting really horny," she teased him.

Surprisingly, He pushed her off him and adjusted his suit. "Stop your nonsense, Violet." He turned the wheelchair away from her and faced his desk. He took a pack of money from the desk and stretched it to her. "I don't have sex with a woman twice so use this cash to get yourself a gigolo if you are that horny."

Violet looked at the money with distaste and shook her head. "You can't be serious. Are you saying I am not attractive enough for you?" She asked, shocked.

He glanced at her and turned back. Then, he saw me.

Instantly, the briefcase dropped from my hands and the floor sank beneath my foot. The truth was the floor wasn't sinking, I was just nervous. His cold eyes stared so deep into mine that I felt the floor might swallow me up. I averted my eyes and uncomfortably cleared my throat.

He sat up and frowned. "Annie, are you so dumb that you don't know you should knock?!"

I took a deep breath and gritted my teeth. I knocked once and entered the office as instructed by his chauffeur. It wasn't my fault he didn't hear. He would have heard me if he wasn't fooling around with Violet.

I gaped at him. How could he say such a word?

"I'm not dumb and I knocked! You aren't deaf so you should have heard!" I defended myself.

He had a way of getting on my nerves every time. How could he asked if I was dumb? It wasn't my fault he was fooling around with Violet!

He raised his hands to his chest and frowned. "Did you just talk back to me?"

Violet rolled her eyes and snatched the money from him. She held it up and glared at him. "Do you also think I need your money?" She hissed and threw it at his chest. He looked at her, shocked. "For all I care, you and your damned money can rot in hell."

Violet picked up her purse and stormed out without regarding me.

He looked at me sternly and thrust out his finger at me. "The next time you intrude like that or talk back to me, you will be fired."

I stared at him, unbelievably. It wasn't like I wanted to see him making out with the lady or experience their break up or whatever it actually was.

He exhaled deeply and concentrated on his computer. "Where is the briefcase?"

I pointed at the floor, indicating where the briefcase was.

He rested on the chair and nodded to himself. "Wow. Suddenly, you can't talk anymore."

I dropped my hand. "I thought you could see it," I deadpanned.

He rubbed his forehead and yawned, covering his mouth.

"Bring it here."

I picked it and gave it to him. He opened the briefcase and brought out some documents. He yawned again and closed the briefcase.

He looked very tired and stressed. It's so obvious he was overworking himself, he should try to get some rest.

"Do you need coffee?" I said without thinking. I shouldn't have asked but I couldn't ignore the fact that I was his carer and he was tired.

He raised his head and studied me. I shivered when our eyes met.

He nodded. "Yeah, get my usual." He said and continued checking the files.

I nodded and left his office. Since I was new there, I wandered around the company searching for their cafeteria. I later asked a worker who directed me to the cafeteria. I brought the coffee and headed back to his office. Unluckily, I forgot the way to his office. I bit my fingers, frustrated with myself. The company was so big that I easily lost my way.

So, I followed my instinct.