Kathleen's words rang loudly in Azriel's mind despite ending the conversation 15 minutes later. Nesryn's mother excused herself to check on her daughter, leaving the dazed Azriel behind in the garden. He was not able to act immediately.
Her words were like a bomb dropped on him, he repeated their earlier conversation in his mind.
He agreed that Nesryn's health is his first and foremost priority not just because she's his employee but he truly cares for her.
Would he really want Nesryn to leave his side?
Azriel growled out in frustration, running a hand on his long, silky hair. He doesn't want to let her go but he's torn. Azriel has to eventually, due to her medical reasons but he'll never find a person as amazing as Nesryn is.
No one can compare to her in his eyes. For him, she is the only one, a rare diamond in the midst of plain rocks.
'Why not marry Nesryn instead' a voice rang loud in his mind, his grandmother's words came back to him in full force.
Azriel let out a bitter laugh, realization striking him deep in his heart and mind. It took him 3 years to realize. Nesryn was not just a secretary to him.
For the first time since he started his 'casanova' life, he finally met his match.
A woman, so beautiful, smart and perfect in every aspect.
A woman named Nesryn Lorcan.
His secretary.
Azriel laughed like a madman as he covered his eyes with his arm, looking up at the grey cloud of the sky. He wanted to hit himself for not realizing and acting on it sooner.
Azriel Evanders, CEO of the billionaire-dollar company, Linus Zenon Group of Companies, a certified heart breaker, is in love with Nesryn Lorcan, his secretary of 3 years!
He wanted to let out a scream to the heavens to let out his frustration. He couldn't believe it, all this time he loved his secretary without him knowing. It was clear to him why he couldn't stay with a girl for more than a week when he could usually stay with them for months before he met Nesryn.
He was looking for another Nesryn in those girls he's been dating but his heart realized no one can compare to his secretary.
After contemplating and beating himself up mentally, he finally managed to stand up and go back inside the hospital. He recalled what room number Nesryn was in and made his way to the elevator, he pushed the 4th floor and waited quietly.
He left the elevator once it opened up and continued walking till he reached the hospital room, with shaking hands he softly knocked on the door, a silent 'come in' answered from behind a door.
He let out a deep breath and turned the knob.
Azriel's eyes were immediately glued on Nesryn's unconscious form. Kathleen watched Azriel, a smile etched it's way to her face.
"He loves her" she whispered to herself quietly, as to not break the silence in the room. She continued watching Azriel as he walked closer to her daughter and reached out his shaking hands to her face.
He tucked the loose hair behind her ear, removing the only thing he considered blocking Nesryn's face from his view. Azriel took a sharp intake of air, finally understanding what he was feeling all this time.
A tear fell from his right eye and Kathleen watched as he wiped it away with a smile on her face. She excused herself, closing the book she was reading and she left the two alone.
Azriel didn't pay her any attention, his eyes could only see the angel in front of him.
His eyes travelled to her hand and he carefully lifted it, as if Nesryn was a fragile porcelain prone to breaking from a single touch. He pulled a nearby chair to her bedside and sat down, her hand still clutched on his.
Time passed stopped for the two, Azriel felt a surge of relief traveling in his system. Finally, his brain screamed. "I am sorry for making you wait this long for me to realize" he whispered to her, his thumb slowly and lovingly rubbed against the back of her hand.
Azriel didn't know when but the relaxing beat of Nesryn's heart on the heart monitor, lulled him to sleep, his hand still holding hers as he fell asleep on the chair.
This was the view Kathleen returned to, she was out to the hospital cafeteria to grab some coffee for her and Azriel. When she came back, she found him fast asleep beside her daughter.
She placed the coffee on the table, grabbed the spare hospital blanket and draped it over Azriel.
"Maybe now I know why she just wouldn't quit her job" she said to no one in particular, but kept her eyes on the two. After a few seconds of starring she went back to her book and continued reading to pass time.
The doctors came to check on Nesryn but Kathleen asked not to disturb the man beside her daughter, the doctor gladly answered to the request since it was no big deal. The nurses left with a smile on their faces at the sight.
Nesryn woke up a few hours later, she looked around, blinking her eyes to adjust it to the surroundings. Kathleen noticed her daughter awake and immediately went to her side without disturbing Azriel.
"How are you Nesryn?" she softly asked her daughter, Nesryn gasped for water and she quickly poured a cup and helped her drink with a straw.
"What happened?" Nesryn hoarsely asked, trying to remember what happened to her.
"From what I was told you suddenly fainted and Azriel took you here" Kathleen simply said, Nesryn let out a breath before noticing the said man next to her.
She looked at him with wide eyes before turning her attention to his mother, who simply nodded at the question in her daughter's eyes.
"He's been sleeping beside you for 4 hours now, holding your hand" Kathleen whispered, Nesryn looked down at their attached hand, a confused look showing on her face.
"He love you Nesryn, I can see why you don't want to leave his side" her mother said, catching her off guard.
Nesryn looked at her mother weirdly before returning her gaze to the tired face of his boss, despite having dark bags under his eyes, his face still looked perfect, a smile appeared on her face without her knowing.
The action didn't go unnoticed by Kathleen who let out a teasing hum "The moment he came in earlier, his eyes were glued to you, he didn't even spare me a glance. The man loves you so much Nesryn" she said proudly.
The secretary looked at her mother and slowly shook her head "He doesn't mama, he loves someone else. It's impossible for someone his caliber to fall in love with someone like me" she whispered but it rang loud in the quiet room.
Kathleen let out a sigh "Trust me, I know those eyes" she said to her daughter before going back to her chair, this time pulling it closer to her daughter's bed before the peaceful silence came back in the room.
Nesryn unconsciously rubbed her thumb on Azriel's hand, thinking what her mother said. In all honesty, despite being 'asleep' she could hear what was being said around her, including what Azriel said to her earlier that day.
Her eyebrows furrowed, not clearly understanding what Azriel ment with his words. Nesryn stayed quiet and just let her boss sleep in peace, she wanted to wake him and ask him to go home but Kathleen insisted that he stay.
She can't fight her mother so she just let her boss be. Nesryn was on high alert when Azriel's phone rang, waking his boss up. Azriel groggily sat straight, running his eyes around the room before spotting the fully awake Nesryn.
His ringing phone forgotten, his focus was on Nesryn, he flooded her with questions and she tried her best answering everything he asked. When he was sure that she was fine, that was when he noticed his phone ringing.
Azriel answered the phone, not leaving the room. "Yes, I am still in the hospital, yes Attendant Yun...Nesryn won't be back till next week and so am I, please take care of the office for now" his orders were straight to the point.
Attendant Yun is his assistant, a man in his mid-thirties, with black hair, blue eyes, hidden behind a black, thick rimmed glasses.
He oversees the company whenever Azriel and Nesryn are not available or out of the country. He's like Azriel's left hand, Nesryn belonging to his right.
Nesryn watched her boss like a hawk, his words sinking in her mind slowly than usual. She tried moving and a painful shock shot through her whole body making her hiss.
Azriel's eyes were immediately on her, he quickly hung up the call and fussed over Nesryn.
He had her doctors called and they quickly checked on her under Azriel's hawk-like gaze. The doctor and nurses, no doubt knew the man from the news and was extremely cautious when treating her.
He let out a sigh of relief when doctors found nothing wrong with her and assured him that it was just her body adjusting from her very long nap. Satisfied with the answer, he politely thanked the man and went back to her side.
Kathleen excused herself earlier, with her phone ringing. Nesryn broke the silence and the two were able to go back to a peaceful conversation.
"Now that we know who the culprit is, can I go back to my apartment now?"
"I'll ask my friend if it's safe, we don't know but Aphrodite might have an accomplice. An heiress won't take those kinds of vulgar things in her own hands."
"Oh...alright"
"Nesryn? What's wrong?"
"Nothing.."
"It's not nothing Nesryn, your mood plummeted. What's the matter? Are you in pain? Should I call the doctor?!"
"No, it's fine… I am not in pain"
"Then what's wrong?"
"..."
"Tell me" he whispered softly, unconsciously reaching in for her chin to lift her face back up so he could look at her. They met eyes, Azriel's eyes softened at the sight, a small smile gracing his handsome face.
"It's nothing"
"I know it's not Nesryn, tell me"
"I...I need to get something from my apartment"
"Alright, I'll get it for you"
"No! I...Uh, let mom get it"
Azriel looked at her weirdly, for all the years he knew her she never raised her voice. Nesryn's head slumped down again, her face red from her sudden outburst. He was about to ask her something when the door suddenly opened, startling Azriel.
He turned around to see Kathleen walking in with a warm smile on her face. Azriel greeted her with a polite smile on his face. Nesryn called for her mother over and whispered something in her ear.
Azriel watched the two, not uttering a single word. "I asked Attendant Yun to send your bag here" Azriel said, grumpy that Nesryn's attention was not on him. He tried snapping out of it by saying that she's her mother but it just puts him in a fouler mood.
His eyes immediately lit up when she turned to face him before flashing her beautiful smile, his mood quickly changed and he flashed her a smile.
The two talked for a little bit, surprisingly able to manage a normal conversation, not a work related one.
Their conversation was cut short when Nesryn's bag came with Azriel's driver. Nesryn thanked the man and Azriel dismissed him, she rummaged through her bag and took out the glass container.
Azriel looked at it curiously and she handed it to her mother, along with her apartment's keys. Kathleen kissed her daughter's forehead before saying goodbye, leaving the two behind.