Daisy’s Secret Crush

***Daisy’s POV.***

The next time, I woke up to a clear vision and felt a weight on my left hand. I look that way to see Theo laying his cheek on it. He is sleeping soundly and looks so cute too. I lift my right hand only to find an IV attached to it.

“You are up. Thank goodness.” Theo says and I look at him to see a tired look in his eyes.

“What happened?” I asked him, as my brain still feels fuzzy.

“You had a very bad fever. But it has gone and you are fine. I will call the doctor just to be sure.” He says and leaves the room.

I try to get up but I feel tired, like I have worked for hours and got sore muscles. But I am getting very thirsty and don’t like the feeling of my dry mouth. A maid enters the room and gives me some water which feels heavenly and just as I finish, Theo enters with something hot in the tray.

“Doctor is on his way. Till then, let’s check your temperature.” He says and takes the thermometer from the tray and says, “Open your mouth now.”

I do as he says while he orders the maid to keep an eye on when the doctor arrives. He takes the thermometer and sighs in relief.

“It is better now.” He says and puts it away, “Could you get up?”

“I can’t.” I say.

“Must be because you didn’t eat anything yesterday. You only had breakfast and a little lunch. You will get your energy back once you eat something and have a good bath.” Theo says as he helps me sit up and puts a pillow behind my back.

“What exactly happened?” I ask as he puts a bed table in front of me and a tray on it which has porridge.

“After you were gone, I got busy with work.” Theo says while I try to eat but feel my hand shaking, “Let me.”

“Thanks.” I say as he feeds me like I am a baby, “Then?”Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

“I came back late and asked Avery if you had dinner. She said you didn’t come out of your room at all. And when she checked on you, you were sleeping. I thought to ask you to have dinner with me. But you were still sleeping. I got worried when you didn’t wake up even after I called you many times. And when I touched your arm, it was as hot as summer.” Theo says as he continues to feed me.

“I didn’t realise it. I was just feeling tired and I think all that crying made it worse.” I say.

“I had to call a doctor. He said if you are not awake by morning, it could get serious. Thank goodness your fever broke, and you woke up.” Theo says and looks at me like he can’t believe I am okay.

“I am fine now. Just a bit weak but I would be on my feet in a day.” I say.

“I know. But that doesn’t mean you would be left unattained till then. Avery will help you with the bath, which you really need. But before that, here. Take this medicine.” Theo says and gives me medicine and I take it with water.

“Thanks for taking care of me.” I say with a smile.

“I had to. Wyatt would have my head if I would have let anything happen to his precious princess.” Theo says and chuckles and I do too.

Doctors said I am fine but I need a day of bed rest and little movement so my body doesn’t get stiff. He said a bath is okay but only lukewarm water, not hot. Avery gets my bath ready for me and helps me walk, too. But I felt embarrassed, so I told her that I would call for her if I felt dizzy.

As I sit in the bath, I think back to what Theo did. Anybody would have done that in his place. I shouldn’t give importance to his gestures way too much. It is like I am asking myself to hope. It is fruitless to even think about it. I have to harden my heart against it.

I can’t let myself be bothered. But even if I try to stop that from happening, there is one thing that will always weigh down on my heart and hold me back from moving on. I have never told Theo how I felt about him. And not until I say it, I will still be somehow connected to him.

I have to cut this last thread too. I have to tell him how I feel and just leave like he did. He left because he feared what I would say, but I would be doing the same because I know what he would say. I know it would be hard to do this, but I could do it.

My contract ends on Thursday, which is the day after tomorrow. I was thinking of staying two more days so that I could leave with Theo. But now I am thinking of just leaving that day alone. It would be much better that way.

After the bath, I went back to bed and was told to sleep. I am not even allowed to look at my phone or read a book. Just sleep. Avery gave me some fruits, which Olivia brought for me along with gratitude. Toby will come tomorrow and Olivia said that once he is okay, they will go on a small trip.

I am happy for them. Theo comes to check on me and tries to talk to me, but I keep it to a minimum. At one point, I saw hurt in his eyes, but I thought I must be seeing things that I wanted to.

Late at night, I booked my ticket to New York. I had made up my mind well enough. Next day, I work and try to sort everything out and file my complete report about everything to Theo. Besides work, I try to avoid him as much as possible that whole day.

On Thursday, I handed over all my work to a new consultant who would work for Theo’s international ventures. I feel kind of sad letting it go, but my job is done here. The team gives me a lunch treat.

“Daisy, I want to talk to you.” Theo says as he comes to see me just when I am leaving.

“Yes.” I say.

“Would you like to go out for dinner with me? It would be my treat for helping me so much.” He says.

“I was just doing my job.” I say with a smile and pack up things.

“Are you going to come?” He asks.

I think for a second, then say, “Okay. But I have an errand. So, why don’t you go to the restaurant and I will be there after I am done.”

“Sure. I will send the car for you.” He says with a smile and leaves.

I look at him and try to gather my courage. I can do it. I will meet him for dinner tonight and tell him how I feel, then go straight to the airport. I will do just that.

I pack up my bags and wear a blue pullover and jeans. I take a taxi instead of his car. As I give the address of the restaurant, which I asked from Theo’s driver, my heart starts beating rapidly.

Can I really do this? No. I can’t face him and say all those things. I can’t look him in the eye and say that I had feelings for me, which is a lie. Because I still have them. It is not like I never lied, but this feels like cheating on my self which doesn’t make sense to me.

“Excuse me! Do you want me to wait?” The taxi driver asks.

“Please wait a minute.” I say and get out of the taxi.

I gave an envelope to the host to give it to Theo and come back in the taxi. I leave for the airport after that. I am such a coward.