Under His Protection

After her teasing game with Michael over breakfast and a very busy morning at her boutique, Laura finally met japhet at the trendy high class restaurant few blocks from her shop, the waiter led her to the table where japhet was waiting for her, he smiled brightly in her direction once he caught the sight of her.

“Sorry to keep you waiting” she murmured as the waiter help her slid the chair across japhet before giving them the menu and left in silence.

“It is okay” japhet reassured her, taking a look at the menu in his hand, ” iam glad to see you without the bodyguard hovering around you”

Laura gave him a tight smile before focusing her gaze on the menu, ” Iam sorry about that, Michael is only following my father’s instruction concerning my Protection, that is why he is always with me 24/7″

“Michael? Hmm it seems like you are getting along with him so well since you came back from your trip” japhet inquired delicately, ” I thought you said in the past that you are not in good terms with that man Laura”

“Uh… well… you seem…” Laura swallowed hard, she was lost for words for a moment, she didn’t know how to answer him. Does he suspect anything about she and Michael?

“I really can’t do anything other than to get along with him since we are in each other’s pocket for now”

“You don’t have to explain to me Laura” japhet said, with his eyes focused on her, ” it was just an observation from me, when I see you with him yesterday it seems you were comfortable around him, it was so different when he first came into the picture. If my guess is correct he always pass the boundary of employee/employer, he is more of a friend to you now and it makes me worry”

“Worry?” She frowned at him, putting down the menu on the table, ” what do you mean?”

Jaoeg gave her a self mocking smile, ” call me ridiculous or absurd, buy my worse nightmare is that you will fall for him since he is always by your side, how I wish it is me who is always by your side”

“Japhet….” She started, she looked at him for a moment not knowing how to tell him about the reason why she met him in the first place.

Japhet smiled, ” I know I don’t have the right to ask you this Laura, but can you promise me that you won’t fall in love with him in the future no matter what happens, so mu mind will be at ease”

“I won’t” she replied technically, she didn’t assure japhet nor lie to him, it is just that she did not think that she would fall in love with Michael In the future since she is already inlove with him for so long, Laura did not know how to tell japhet that she is already in a relationship with the man in question, and she did not want to break japhet heart for the sake of her happiness. He was such a dear friend to her.

It had been exactly six weeks since Laura came back from France, since that night that they have been together, she and Michael were inseparable. It is their daily routine to sleep on thesame bed, being with him like this was nothing but pure happiness.

Sometimes she wakes up early to see his sleeping face, her hand arched to caress his handsome face while he sleeps soundly but she could not do it, she fears that the gesture would wake him so she settled just to study his face when he is unaware. When they were sleeping she could not move an inch away from the bed since his strong hand was securely placed in the flat of her stomach.

Michael said that he hated it when she slid off bed to fix their breakfast since they were practically living together, they settled to this domesticated lifestyle to the extent of terminating the contract she had with the housekeeping agency who provided a person who cook, clean and do her laundry. Michael told her that they should do that together like any other Normal couple, Laura never expected that living with Michael would be like this, he taught her things that other people sees as basic necessities in life which was not for Laura, growing up as the daughter of a very wealthy and influential man she has everything at her fingertip.

This new experience was surreal for her, Michael taught her how to buy her own pantry from vegetables, fruits and good cut of meat to purchase, how to do her laundry and even clean her table after eating.

Even that creepy stalking thing had stopped since she came back, she was never happier with the flow of her life now, but Michael reminded her to always put her gaurd up, he is still not fully convinced that the stalker is now fully out of the picture, Laura vowed not to let the stalker damper her happiness, she is building a career in the fashion industry with the man she had always wanted on her side even though their relationship was still a secret till now.

She was glad that it was good for them anyways, they were away from the prying eyes of the society, living away from the estate, away from the powerful name of her father to a place where her family bears no importance, she was pretty happy.

But this morning was not like any other, she feared that something had changed in her. While she was busy fixing their breakfast, it seems that something had upset her stomach, she wanted to be sick.

Laura gulped back the bitter saliva in her mouth, ” why does my empty stomach rebel easily this morning?” She asked herself silently, trying to calm her breathing.

“Are you alright Laura?” The concerned voice of Michael floated through the silent kitchen, he just finished his shower, his hair was still damp, she could not miss the anxiety in his eyes as he stared at her.

Laura nodded, trying to speak without throwing up in the sink, ” iam fine silly, it seems that I ate something last night that didn’t go well with my stomach”Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

He closed the distance between in a few stride, his hand touched her cheek tenderly, ” you are so pale, maybe i should take you to the hospital and let them have a proper check-up on you, why don’t you lay in bed for a moment”

“Iam fine Michael” she assured him while fighting off her nausea, her denial I’m the last few days suddenly hit her like a speeding train, it couldn’t be that……

“How?” She thought silently, she didn’t even know what to think about, “this can’t be happening to is for heaven sake, oh wait a moment…..” She silently groan when she remembered their first time, he just took her to an innocent romantic getaway a little but from the estate and she mischievously seduced him and she could recall that they didn’t use protection that night.

“How can I……. Wait!, Iam thinking too much into this, it could be stomach upset but there is only one way to find out and that is to take a test”

But even if she would take a test, it would be in private, she doesn’t know how to tell Michael about this sudden news, she feared that she was already in trouble since she could not remember the last time she had her period. Laura could remember it clearly now that she bought new tampons only last week when she also saw in her drawer that she hadn’t used the previous one yet, the one she bought last month.