DICHOTOMY™

• SICK LEAVE •

"Alex! For the love of God, stop working."

This must have been the tenth time since this morning that he shouted this sentence on the top of his lungs. But despite his scolding, Alex refused to stop.

Liam looked at her and sighed. He had been here on Thursday because Dani wanted to stay home. Both of them had been worried sick last night when Alex fainted the moment she stepped inside the house.

"God forgive me if I do something to those bastards.", Dani entered into the tiny kitchen grumbling, standing beside Liam who was peeling potatoes. "They made her work like a horndog! So much that the poor girl caught a fever. And that bandage on her shoulder. . . ", he screeched, causing Liam to jump.

With a hint of vexation, Liam tried to console his worried boyfriend," Whoever bandaged her did it good. Now, we don't have to worry about her stubbornness of refusing to see a doctor. The wounds will heal on their own."

Dani nodded. Liam was right; whoever had bandaged her had done an excellent job. And both Liam and Dani were already taking care of her, she will be fine in no time he hoped.

Liam walked out of the kitchen and sat at the edge of the bed, looking at the woman packed in blankets with one hand on her keyboard and other holding the phone by her ear. Her flushed face demanded rest, but she did not stop speaking to whoever it was on the other side of the call.

Dani came out with the food, placing it on the small table. He made sure to not let out even a peep. Alex never liked disturbances when she worked. It was a small apartment prone to that.

Liam held her arm as he pleaded, "Alex, at least have your lunch. You have to take pills, right."

"I will, just this one.", with this, she returned back to her work.

Dani huffed as he sat down, his back facing her. He did not touch the hot meal, but instead tossed a bite i Liam's mouth.

As the other chewed, his eyes fell on a white stack of paper white as snow. They had nothing written on them. But when he saw closely, he saw a word scribbled in a beautiful handwriting.

He picked up the paper curiously and read it.

"Claude"

Dani looked at him as he whispered the name. "Yeah, she was writing that one day. Looked absent - minded. When I asked her, she said it was some guy from work."

"Well, its a real rare name you hear these days. Sounds cool."

"Yeah, but only if you knew what it meant."

"Why?", Liam asked, "What does it mean?"

"Nothing good - it means 'lame'."

Liam's eyebrows scrunched up. He repeated - "What?"

"Yeah.", Dani shrugged, "Lame - a person who can't walk. Exactly that lame. Who names their kids with names like those?"

*

"I want to apologize to Ms. Bridgette-"

"You don't need to see her." , Claude muttered to end the conversation. But Chandler did not stop.

"Fine. But at least convey my apologies on behalf of mother. Here."

He said, sliding a decorated gift box of the turquois colour. "It's a bracelet. "

The President eyed the bracelet carefully. Picking it up, he opened the box to see the glimmering rubies that sat inside so luxuriously.

"She will think you are bribing her.", he chuckled.

"No, I am not.", Chandler exclaimed offended. "It was a shortcoming of my staff to not prevent the harassment. I fired a few of them myself, except the manager. She did her best, she just did not know about it."

". . . . "

"I appreciate her. And goodness, she actually remained calm despite mother's erratic behaviour yesterday. I apologise for that. Convey it to her."

Suddenly, there were three knocks on the door. "Come in."

Henry sauntered in the office with a black case. He exchanged greetings with Chandler. "So, I'll leave busy people to their business then."

Sending an apologetic smile, Henry escorted him out of the office.

"Are you sure that there is no information available about her parents?"

"No, Sir. She lives with her brother, a final year high schooler. Daniel Smith. Only person who visits them is his boyfriend - Liam Becket."

Claude leaned back in his chair.

I am not an orphan.

The words that had spited Elysse.

If she was not an orphan, perhaps she lived away from her parents. She did have a brother after all.

He did not want to bother himself with digging up about her, so he only had her inner circle investigated. Nothing special came up.

None of his business.

"Did you deliver her safely to her home?"

"I tried to. . . .but - "

Claude questioningly raised his eyebrows.

"She insisted that I drop her two lanes before. She looked quite tense, so I accepted her refusal to drop her on the doorstep."

"You can go now, Harry."

Harry nodded and scurried out of the office.

When the door shut behind him, Claude looked down at his outstretched palm.

She caught a fever.

He thought.

She caught a fever after I. . .

He would confess it. Touching her bare skin with his hands, the way she allowed her neck to be smothered with his kisses, it was a delightful sight to see.

Even now, he could feel his hands and body heating on the thought of the sensational time they had together. However fleeting and short - lived it was, it evoked a delicious hunger inside him. His tongue tried to remember the savory taste of her skin.

It craved to caress it again; but this time, not just her shoulder.

Feels like a dream.

His fingers curved to feel themselves. Slowly, he carved smooth circles around the thumb.

Fed up of himself, he exhaled heavily and ran his hand in his hair.

How pathetic, he scoffed at himself. Just one taste of that woman, and he was already losing his sanity. The way her face twisted in pleasure was more satisfying than anything he had ever seen.

It made her want to devour her. Completely. But, not yet.

If he was sure of her willingness, he could have a time with her.

"Until I am done with you, I am keeping you for myself."

Claude stood up with the bracelet and shoved it in the cabinet.

Even if it was from his friend, the idea of another man's gift resting even an inch near her skin irked him.

He laughed at this ridiculous time.

After many years had he grown so obsessive about a woman, to the point that he felt like going crazy.

Today she was on a sick leave. But tomorrow,

her sight would lure his body to flames. This was a first.

*