My contract love story

Shock hung heavy in the air as Susan’s frantic words echoed. Adrian, his face an unreadable mask, snapped his head towards Mr. Atkinson. “Explain yourself,” he demanded, his voice tight.

Mr. Atkinson, flustered, stammered, “I wasn’t informed, Mr. Cagliari. Apparently, Mrs. Cagliari is unwell.” His gaze darted towards the anxious Susan.

“I tried to tell you,” Susan blurted, “but Mrs. Ashleigh wouldn’t let me raise an alarm.”

A mix of surprise and concern flickered across Adrian’s face. He turned to Mr. Turner, his voice clipped. “Get a doctor. Now.” Mr. Turner scurried off, dialing on his phone.

Unable to stay still, Adrian paced the hallway, his eyes flitting nervously between the stairs leading to Ashleigh’s room and Mr. Atkinson. “How long has this been going on?” he finally managed, his voice strained.

Mr. Atkinson cleared his throat. “To my knowledge, since the beginning of the week. Mrs. Cagliari’s been studying excessively for her exams, barely eating or sleeping.”

“She’s crazy,” Adrian muttered, his initial reservations forgotten. His only concern now was Ashleigh’s well-being.

He reached her door and pushed it open, his breath catching. The room was dimly lit, the only light filtering through sheer curtains. Ashleigh lay sprawled on the bed, flushed and frowning in discomfort. Her usually vibrant features were pale and drawn, a testament to her illness.

Adrian approached, his hand hovering over her forehead. He felt a feverish heat radiating from her skin. At his touch, Ashleigh’s brow twitched and her eyelids fluttered, but she didn’t wake. Behind him, Susan rushed to open the curtains, letting in fresh air.

Hurried footsteps approached the door. It was the doctor, a kind-faced woman with a concerned expression. Adrian stepped aside to allow her in, his eyes never leaving Ashleigh’s form. The doctor examined Ashleigh thoroughly, asking Susan questions in a calm, reassuring voice. When she finished, she turned to Adrian, her expression grave.

“It seems Mrs. Cagliari has a severe case of the flu,” she explained. “The combination of stress and excessive caffeine consumption has exacerbated it. Fortunately, with proper rest and medication, she should make a full recovery.” Relief washed over Adrian as the doctor finished her examination.

The tension that had coiled in Adrian’s gut since his arrival finally loosened. “Thank you, doctor,” he said, a hint of a smile gracing his lips for the first time. “Do whatever needs to be done.”

The doctor, a kind-faced woman with a concerned expression, sprang into action. With Mr. Atkinson’s assistance, she set up an IV for fluids and antibiotics, alternating them hourly. Susan received instructions to monitor Ashleigh’s temperature and breathing every thirty minutes.

When the doctor attempted to insert the IV line, Ashleigh stirred in discomfort. Adrian, noticing her struggle, immediately reached out and took her hand gently. “Ashleigh, stay still,” he urged in a calming voice. His touch seemed to have an instant effect, quieting her restlessness and allowing the doctor to proceed.

Susan watched in surprised awe, while Mr. Atkinson and Mr. Turner exchanged a silent glance of understanding. Recognizing the calming influence Adrian had on Ashleigh, the doctor suggested he stay by her bedside as she wasn’t fully conscious. Mr. Turner, ever resourceful, pulled over the chair Ashleigh normally used at her desk and placed it beside the bed for his boss. The sight of the tall Adrian perched precariously on the small, pink chair while holding his wife’s hand was rather comical.

The next few hours were a blur of worry as they waited for Ashleigh to wake up. Adrian’s initial patience began to wear thin. With each passing hour, he peppered the doctor with increasingly frustrated questions about why Ashleigh hadn’t regained consciousness. The doctor, though confused by his agitation, patiently reassured him that it was simply exhaustion causing the prolonged sleep.

Knowing Adrian had just returned from a long business trip, Mr. Atkinson and Mr. Turner gently tried to persuade him to freshen up and get something to eat. But their efforts were in vain.

Ashleigh finally stirred later that night, just as Adrian, finally convinced to take a break, felt her fingers twitch in his grasp. “Susan, help me up,” she rasped, her voice weak. “I can’t rest… I have to take the exam…”

She attempted to rise, but Adrian gently but firmly pushed her back into the pillows. “You can’t even open your eyes properly, yet you want to get up?” he said, a hint of coldness creeping into his voice. Her brow furrowed in confusion at the sound of his voice.

Despite her weakness, Ashleigh persisted. However, a quick glance from Adrian to the doctor, who promptly injected a sleeping medication into the IV bag, brought an end to her struggle. She drifted off to sleep almost instantly.

Adrian watched her sleeping form with a mix of annoyance and relief. He was finally at ease now that she had regained some consciousness, but her lingering concern about the exam grated on him. He stood up, intending to freshen up for the night. He instructed Mr. Atkinson to watch over her closely and report on her progress first thing in the morning. The doctor was also given a temporary room near Ashleigh’s in case of emergencies.

Adrian’s sleep was restless. The next morning, he summoned Mr. Atkinson for a report on how Ashleigh had fared through the night. In the midst of the report, Mr. Turner entered with an urgent call from Mexico. Adrian excused the butler and took the phone. The call concerned his sudden departure; although most issues were resolved, some required immediate executive attention. By the time he finished the call, it was well into the morning. He handed the phone back to Turner and headed to Ashleigh’s room.

Ashleigh was finally awake, her eyes blinking sleepily as she conversed with the doctor. Surprise flickered across her face when she saw Adrian standing beside the bed. They both listened intently as the doctor offered advice on self-care and a healthier lifestyle. The doctor also recommended some natural herbs to replenish lost nutrients. With Ashleigh awake and alert, the IV was removed, transitioning to oral medication.

“I’ll be taking my leave now, Mr. Cagliari,” the doctor said, packing her bag. “For any questions, feel free to contact me. My secretary will arrange payment. Turner, please show the doctor out.”

After the doctor and Turner left, Adrian signaled for everyone else to clear the room, the door closing softly behind them.

“Adrian? You’re here,” Ashleigh croaked, her voice weak.

“I arrived yesterday, right before you lost consciousness,” he explained, approaching her bedside.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

He noticed an improvement in her appearance since the previous day. A light dress, likely thanks to Susan’s help, replaced her sleepwear. Her hair was secured in a tie, but her skin retained a faint flush.

“One might think,” Adrian began, a hint of disapproval in his voice, “that you’d be mature enough to know your limits for the sake of your health. Unfortunately, it seems that’s not the case.”

“I simply wanted to ensure I was fully prepared for the Robin College exam,” Ashleigh defended herself weakly.

“If I hear that school’s name again, you can forget about it entirely. You seem determined to do everything yourself. What good has come of it?”

“Don’t overlook your role in my current state, Mr. Cagliari,” she countered, a cough escaping her lips at the end. “Adding the house responsibilities to my existing workload was bound to take a toll. Isn’t this what you desired? It happened.”

Adrian reached for a glass of water by the bedside and offered it to her. A tense silence descended upon them. Ashleigh’s words struck a chord. He tried to ignore the possibility that he’d been too hasty, pushing it down. After all, it would be easier if she just resigned, as originally planned.

“You seem to have plenty of energy, Mrs. Cagliari, pointing fingers so readily,” he said finally. “Since you refuse to take responsibility for your choices, perhaps you should have some time to reflect. Your admission to Robin College has been indefinitely postponed. No room for arguments.”