"What am I doing in my room?" I drawled, my voice parched and craving for water. Something was plastered to my forehead, and the cooling sensation coming from it was comfortable. "Wait. The more important question is - What are you doing in my room?"
Mr Black's eyebrow furrowed. "Is it wrong to visit a subordinate who is suffering from a raging fever?"
"N-No, but it's dubious. Very dubious," I muttered. "Anyway, what happened?"
"Edward called me up and said that you had fainted. He was pretty worried, but he had to tend to his shop."
"Oh." I tried to sit up, but my head seemed to weigh fifty pounds.
"You can't even sit up by yourself?" He clicked his tongue. Even so, he helped prop me up onto a pillow for support. His hands were soft, the complete opposite of the harsh tone in his voice.
"Says the person who fainted in his office." I rolled my eyes, wincing as that action resulted in a dull ache in my head.
"Feel grateful that I took time off work to see you." Mr Black snapped, handing me a glass of water that I gratefully accepted.
"Seriously?" My eyes widened. "Edward told me that you never take time off. Ever."
"Well," he averted from my gaze. "I guess that just proves him wrong."
"I hope I'm not disrupting anything important." My mother strode into the room, carrying a bowl of porridge.
"Great timing! I was just getting hungry." I straightened myself up on the bed, welcoming the tray onto my lap with open arms.
"You're always hungry, dear." She teased.
Turning towards Mr Black, she continued. "Sorry about my daughter's large appetite. If you plan to marry her, it's best if- "
"Mom!" I hushed her, turning beet red. "Please. Don't."
Winking at me, she casually stepped out of the room.
"Sorry about that," I apologized. "She's always thinking way ahead of things."
Mr Black looked utterly unfazed, and he watched me intently while I tried lifting up the spoon with quivering hands. "Ugh. Give me that." He snapped, gently taking the spoon from me. "It's annoying."
"Oh, okay." I relented.
"No smart comeback?" Mr Black commented with a tinge of snarkiness. "The fever must really be getting to you. Open wide."
I did as told, opening my mouth while Mr Black fed me scoop after scoop of porridge. Some dripped onto my collar, and he sighed.
"I've never had to take care of someone like this before," he reached out and wiped it off with a tissue. "Why am I even doing this for you?"
"Thank you," I murmured through my satisfied palate. "You're really not as bad as they say. It's such a shame that they don't see this side of yours often."
"I don't show this side to anyone, so feel honoured. Understood?"
"Yes sir."
"You can call me Jacob when we're out of the office."