|8| Don't Stop.

I tried my best to do my job efficiently. I made sure to resume early. Mr Lawson was always surprised whenever he saw me by the doorstep every morning. I assisted him to the gym after his therapy sessions and I made sure he was doing the workouts the therapist advised him to try out. I also ensured he was using all the drugs that were prescribed to him.

Over the past few months, his knee fracture has gotten better. Luckily, he was able to walk with a walking stick and he hated it whenever I tried to assist him.

I didn't want to lose my new job so I always served his coffee while it was hot and I didn't take too much time whenever he told me to do anything.

He didn't say a word about that day and was still as arrogant and rude as ever. He rarely smiles, he talks less and he frowns a lot. At first, I thought the fault came from me because I might be bad at the new job, but I was surprised to notice he actually was displeased with every other person around him. There weren't many people around him though: it was because his cold attitude kept them at bay!

I haven't even seen any of his family members or friends visiting him since the four months I had been working as his personal caretaker. I found it weird.

How can a man be this rich and still be this unhappy with everything. For some reason, those thoughts made me pity him. Although he was very wealthy, he lacked the most important things in life: love and true happiness.

There was always this joy and happiness I felt whenever I was around my loved ones and I wished he could feel that same joy and happiness one day. I really hoped so. It was a rare gem that money can never buy.

⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜

It was a peaceful afternoon. I stood under the sunshade, waiting for him to come out of the pool. My legs ached, but I didn't dare to sit down. He hated it whenever his employees did things without his permission.

I watched as he managed to swim even with his fractured knee, he wasn't as fast as one should be, but his strokes were still adequate. He spread his hands in the water, swimming like an expert as he dived in and out of the water. I gazed keenly at the pool, admiring its gentle waves. The sun was really scorching and it would be so relaxing to swim in that pool. I pouted and folded my hands. There was no way Mr Lawson would allow me to swim in his private pool. No way.

"Can you swim?"

It took me a moment to realize his question was directed to me.

I looked around before looking back at him. Then, I pointed a hand to my chest. "Huh?"

He shook his head and swam to the edge of the pool. "Can you swim, Miss West?"

"Yes."

He brushed his hair. His wet skin shimmered under the scorching sun.

"You don't look like you can," he confessed.

I snorted. Seriously? Do swimmers even have a particular look?

"I guess there are more to me than I look."

He shrugged. "Maybe."

Maybe?!

He came out—more like limped out— of the water.

I ran toward him with his walking stick in my hand. "Do you need help?"

He looked up at me. He grimaced and a cease pinched at his forehead like he was in serious pain. This was all his fault, I had warned him not to swim for a long time. Sometimes, I wondered why he hired me as his caretaker when he never even listened to any suggestions I made.

"I can manage on my own," he said stubbornly.

I stepped back and rolled my eyes. Can't he just accept my offer?

"Okay," I said and gave him the walking stick.

I turned and went to get his robe. I stood before him as he sat on the deckchair and started wearing the robe around his shoulders.

I gulped as I slipped the robe into his hands. I traced my fingers along his arms, it flexed under my touches. His skin was so smooth that I couldn't resist the urge to run my hand along his arms. I huffed and adjusted the robe on his body; it was one of the few good things about him.

I took a second look at him, observing the outlines of his body. He would have been an example of a perfect boyfriend if he wasn't so strict and blunt.

"Do you like what you see?"

I froze, my hands stopped moving along his shoulder.

"Eh?" I asked, shocked.

He smirked and leaned on the sun lounger. "Don't worry, I know you find me very attractive."

I quickly removed my hands from his robe and fanned myself. Why is everywhere so hot all of a sudden?

"Don't flatter yourself."

He smiled to himself. "You are still very bad at lying."

I was surprised because he barely smiled. He shouldn't even think I would fall for him because that will only happen when pigs fly.

He turned and looked at my retreating hands and pointed at his hair. "My hair is wet, won't you dab it?"

I rolled my eyes and grabbed a napkin from the stool nearby. Why can't he dab his hair by himself? At least, his hands aren't fractured.

I forced a smile and raised the napkin to his hair. "Sure, I will."

I started dabbing his hair. His hair was silky and soft. I brushed my fingers through it, feeling its gentle brushes. Suddenly, I realized he might not like someone touching his hair with bare hands so I stopped just as soon as I started.

"Don't stop," he said calmly.

I gaped at him.

Did he just tell me to continue?