RED

17. Ivy

"Your fever seems to have returned." Enrico finally spoke up, before lowering his eyes down to hers, away from her forehead. Their eyes met and his eyes felt glued to hers. He couldn't look away. Her eyes held a lot of emotions; ones he couldn't decipher. He felt tempted to move his hand away from her forehead and caressingly down her face.

Kiana, being this close to him, didn't feel wrong. Not one bit. It felt right. It felt peaceful; it felt warm. Earlier, he didn't think. He just took an action on an impulse. She had been claiming she was okay and Enrico needed to find out for sure if she was. Perhaps, doing it this way was an excuse to draw her close and into his arms. Just perhaps.

A sly smile grew at the corner of his lips as he stared down at her. Kiana just couldn't look away. Not even a movement. It felt strange. It felt really weird, but in a good way. Her feelings were all over the place. She couldn't explain what was going on and why, on earth, Enrico was able to affect her so much. Little gestures like taking a hold of her hand, staying really close and looking into her eyes was enough to turn her into a zombie. Her heart raced and she feared he might eventually hear its loud beating. That was insane. The feeling was insane, but what this insanity does to her was what puzzled her more.

"You're blushing." Enrico stated, almost in a whisper, as amusement gradually filled his expression.

Blushing?

The word itself rang in her mind and that's when reality gradually returned to her knowledge. Immediately, Kiana looked away from him as she pushed herself away.

She tried her best to look up to him and say a few words, but each moment, she just couldn't seem to find the guts. She, then, forced herself to stop thinking entirely and let him know that he can't keep doing what he's doing.

"I... I admit that I work for you and that you... you pay me but... you can't keep coming onto me like that. It's... It's harassment and I can really report you for sexual harassment." Kiana stated, although amidst a little stuttering. She wasn't in denial that her heartbeat hasn't returned to normal yet. Looking him in the eye right now was also becoming a little difficult.

Enrico raised his brows at her, amusement still written all over his face, as he folded his arms across his chest.

"Really?" He asked, his tone a little bit mocking. Kiana took a deep breath as she found the courage to look up to him.

"Yes, really."

"Well then, I guess I might have to spend a few nights in jail after tonight." Enrico added, but Kiana couldn't understand his statement. Her brows slightly furrow.

"After tonight..." Her words trailed away as he quickly walked up to her and took hold of her wrist once more. Before she knew what was happening, she found herself walking along with him towards her room.

He turned the door knob and pushed the door open. He pulled her along with him into the room and made her have her seat on the bed. All she could do was stare at him, his actions making her speechless. She watched as he walked out of the room once more till there was no sight of him, but suddenly returned when she was filled with the idea that he was gone. In one hand, he held a glass of water and thereafter left it on the side table. Kiana stared at it for a while, before shifting her eyes to him.

Enrico let out a sigh, as he stood in front of her.

"Your clothes are a little wet." Enrico stated, as he pointed a finger at her shirt. She looks away from him and unto herself. Yes, she was a little drenched; but looking back up to Enrico, she realised he was worse off than her.

"Change your clothes, have your medication and rest." He told her and she continued to stare at him, still unable to say a word. This act alone was a little awkward and, at the same time, heart-warming.

He stared back for a while, before suddenly turning away and walking right out of the room, shutting the door behind him.

Kiana blinked several times a few seconds after the door was shut. Unable to understand what just happened, she eventually looked away from the door. She let out a loud sigh as she looked down at her palms resting in her lap. Honestly, she didn't know what to believe anymore. One moment, he was mean to her and the next, he was suddenly nice and caring. She couldn't tell anymore which was genuine, his mean side or caring side.

She placed a hand on her side of her chest to feel her heartbeat. Her brows slightly furrowed. It had gradually returned to its normal pace. She recalled just how fast her heart had raced, the moment he had her close to him. Kiana could feel something wasn't right with her. There was something definitely different with her. She couldn't quite figure out what was wrong. Whatever this strange feeling or emotion was, Kiana made up her mind not to let it get to her. At that moment, she was his assistant and maid, nothing else. Everything was perfect the way it was. Not too much and not too less. The past was left in the past. The future, not quite discussed and the present taking its own course.

* * *

Enrico stood outside her room with his eyes shut and a hand placed on the left side of his chest, as if that would control his racing heartbeat. Eventually, he opened his eyes as he gulped down and let his hand fall to his side. Enrico knew he was doing all the wrong things. They were supposed to be professional, but he couldn't help it. His heart raced each time she was close, but he did a good job at pretending like her presence didn't affect him. The truth was that it did. A lot.

He had never felt this way before. Happy, confused, angry, excited, stupid and a lot more emotions almost at once. One moment, he told himself not to care and the very next moment, he was doing the total opposite. Eventually, it has come to his knowledge and acceptance that he cared a lot about her. She was special. Very special to him. After all, she was his first love, so it was normal to feel a little overboard for her. Enrico concluded that little summary and decided to believe that was the case. Sooner or later, his heart would come to terms with the fact that it was really over. His childhood crush was gone.

He let out a sigh before taking a slight look behind at her door.

"Good night, Kiana." He stated in a whisper and after a few seconds, he turned away and headed for the staircase up to his room.

Suddenly, Enrico sneezed covering his mouth in the process, as he climbed up the staircase.