Tears pricked at Hayley’s eyes, seeing the housekeeping staff carry an unconscious Ashton to the bed. She had never expected his condition to be this critical. What could have happened to him? She noticed the dark circles around his eyes, the hollow cheeks, and the disheveled state he was in. He didn’t look normal at all. They summoned a doctor immediately to diagnose the problem since no one had a clue about his illness.
“The patient is suffering from extreme mental stress, dehydration, and insomnia. You can admit him to the hospital for immediate intravenous treatment,” said the doctor after reviving him and checking him up.
“I’m not going to the hospital,” said Ashton grumpily.
“Can’t he be treated at home, doctor?” asked Hayley.
“Fine, but you have to adhere to the diet chart I give you. You need to monitor his glucose level and pressure. Make a six-hourly chart for the next 48 hours or until the patient is stable. Increase his fluid intake and ensure that he gets at least a week of bed rest.”
“No, doctor,” started Ashton, but Hayley hushed him up.
“Yes, doctor,” she said firmly. The doctor noted down everything and handed her the prescription and diet chart. It was a challenging job for Hayley as she had never done such a thing in her life, and that too with an uncooperative patient. But she would do it for the man she loved. She would get him back on his feet. His words still rang in her ears.
I love only you.
She believed him this time. There must be something she was missing, since she had always seen him fight his fate. He wasn’t one to give up. She paid the doctor and thanked him profusely. The soup she had ordered arrived, and she took it over to his room, feeling a little guilty for jumping to her own conclusions. However, the moment she went inside the bedroom, she felt acutely aware of Ashton’s gaze upon her. The housekeeping staff had left, and they were all alone in his huge penthouse now. He got up from the bed the moment she went near.
“No, stay right there. The doctor has prescribed you complete bed rest for a week at least.” He sat down with a grumpy expression on his face.
“I don’t need bed rest. I’m fine.” Glaring at the stubborn man, she handed him the bowl of soup.
“No, you aren’t fine. You’re suffering from mental stress, dehydration, and insomnia. Please let me take care of you, Ashton.” She sat down beside him, watching him warily. She knew something was bothering him and he would definitely put up a fight.
“I don’t need any looking after. Why are you here, Hayley? Go home and look after your business.”
“This is my business now. On behalf of Barclay International, I have signed a deal with Simon Baylor as Baylor Group’s chief investor.” Ashton stopped sipping his soup and gaped at her in disbelief.
“You did what? Are you out of your mind? Baylor Group is sinking! Why did you invest in it?” he demanded agitatedly.
“I wanted to be near you, Ashton. Please don’t be mad at me. I called you, but your phone was switched off. Then I called your hotel but they said you were in New York. I called up Alexander, but he didn’t know your whereabouts. Dad called the cops, and they traced you to a beach hotel in Miami. When I came here, Gina told me about Madison’s visit. I was heartbroken. I thought you were with her. So I invested in this hotel to throw her out of your penthouse.”
Ashton sat massaging his temples, completely at a loss for words. “I see! So, was it your idea to appoint me the CEO of the Baylor Group?”
“Yes.” Hayley hung her head, realizing her foolishness. Would he decline the responsibility now? How would she face her dad?
“Then I have to get well fast and take over as CEO, right?” A small smile tugged at his lips at seeing the guilty look on her face. He still couldn’t believe that she had done so much because of him.
“You will? Thank you,” she said, searching his eyes for an explanation about Madison.
“I wasn’t with Madison. I haven’t seen her since a fight. I wasn’t living with her for your information.” Hayley smiled with relief and blushed at her reaction. She took the soup bowl from his hands and got up to leave.
“I’ll be back with your dinner. Don’t go off to sleep.”
“Why don’t you move in with me?” he asked in a lazy drawl, lying on his back with his arms supporting his head, but it was the amusement in his eyes that made her blush more.
“Why would I?” she said, pausing at the door.
“I might need you anytime in the night. What if my condition deteriorates?” he grinned at her, his eyes glittering with excitement. He didn’t look sick at all!
“Umm, I think I might have to move in. I have to monitor your pressure and glucose level every two hours.”
“Yep! You need to sleep right here in case my pressure drops below normal in the middle of the night.”
Hayley chewed her lips with concern and nodded. “Yeah! I’ll get my things.”
The moment she left, a lazy smile lit up his face, and he waited eagerly for Hayley to come in. If he could, he would love to be sick 24/7 and have Hayley sleep with him forever! Somehow, the sight of Hayley erased the depression he had been going through. He needed her comfort right now.
After some time, Hayley came inside his bedroom, dragging her luggage along with her. Ashton smiled at seeing how easily she had agreed to move into his bedroom, as if she too had been wanting the same thing. He got up to help her, but she glared at him instead.
“I thought you were sick!” Ashton chuckled, helping her wheel the luggage into the walk-in closet in case she changed her mind and returned to her penthouse.
“You’re my elixir.” Hayley rolled her eyes at the guy, who couldn’t stop flirting even when he was sick.
“Stop flirting, Ashton. I’m still upset that you didn’t contact me when you were in New York. You didn’t call me even once when you disappeared. I’m hurt that I still can’t figure you out while you know everything about me.”
Ashton sighed and went back to the bed to lie down, followed by Hayley. She sat stiffly at the far end, remembering the times when they used to sleep cuddled with one another. He didn’t want her at that time, while she wanted him to make love to her. Ever since, they had drifted apart.
“I wasn’t in the right sense of mind to call you, Hayley. There are things about me you don’t know. Maybe I’ll tell you someday when I come to terms with it, but not tonight. Can we just hold one another and sleep? I haven’t slept for the last three weeks.” His desperate plea made her heart melt, and she forgot all grudges and moved closer towards him.
Ashton grabbed her around the waist and pulled her closer, right into his arms.
“Ashton, you’re sick, remember?” she murmured when he pinned her to the bed and hovered over her, his intense stare drinking her in. Her arms wrapped around his neck, playing with the hair that had overgrown since she has last seen him. Yet it suited him, giving him a bad-boy aura. A deep, breathy sigh escaped her lips at his nearness. It had been so long since she had held him close.
“I’m feeling better already. I would heal faster if you kiss me, Hayley.”
She held his gaze but shook her head. “I’m sure you got them from your Madison.”
“No, she isn’t mine. In fact, her name isn’t Madison Parker at all. Her real name is Francesca Gambino. She’s Salvatore Gambino’s only daughter!”
“What? I can’t believe this! Madison is Francesca Gambino, the one who wanted to buy the Baylor Group.” Now it was Ashton’s turn to gape at her!
“How do you know that?” Hayley told her about her conversation with Simon Baylor.
“So that was the reason she was here in my absence!”
“Why is she after you?” Hayley felt a little uncomfortable about the mafia Don’s daughter’s interest in Ashton.
“She claims to love me. Her father wanted us to marry and take over his criminal business. As if I ever would! When she realized I loved you, she tried everything in her power to harm us.” Hayley’s eyes went wide like saucers. Everything fell into place.
“Did they abduct you because of our relationship?” she asked breathlessly, realizing the truth. Ashton nodded, but didn’t say more. He couldn’t talk about his dad yet. It was too painful.
“I’m sorry, Ashton, that you had to face that because of me.” She cupped his cheeks and peppered little comforting kisses all over his face.
He groaned, needing more of her. It wasn’t enough. The slight gesture had aroused a hunger that was lying dormant for so long.
“It wasn’t your fault,” he murmured, cupping her cheek and claiming her lips in a heated kiss. A sigh of contentment escaped her, and she opened her mouth eagerly to him. Months of abstinence, frustration, and longing finally found a vent as they eagerly deepened the kiss. Nothing was more heavenly than finally finding a way back into each other’s arms.