They were a group of six men, with the exception of Matthew, who were on a mission to find his young secretary. All of them were clad in raincoats and carried flashlights. The relentless rain made visibility nearly nonexistent. chief proposed splitting up to expedite the search.
"I'll check the south forest," Matthew volunteered.
"But that place is risky," the chief cautioned, shaking his head. "I doubt your secretary went there. I warned you about it."
Laura could be hardheaded sometimes.
"I need to be sure," Matthew insisted, feeling a strong hunch that his secretary had ventured into the forbidden area.
The chief reluctantly agreed, offering Matthew a slew of precautions. Armed with a map and an old radio, once used as a walkie-talkie, he set off towards the southern part of the island.
The night was pitch dark, and the cold was unforgiving. Matthew's body was soaked from the driving rain and biting wind. He could barely feel his fingers and toes due to the extreme cold. The temperature contrast between the southern and northern parts of the island was stark. With his flashlight in hand, he meticulously combed every crevice and corner, hoping to find Laura.
"Where are you?" he anxiously muttered, struggling to see in the darkness.
His heart raced as he spotted footprints in the muddy path. Following the trail, he arrived in front of a massive sycamore tree, its lush leaves shielding him from the relentless rain. Seated on the tree's roots was Laura, shivering and flushed.
Without hesitation, Matthew rushed to his petite secretary, calling out, "Laura!"
Laura raised her head. Despite her double vision in the dim light, she recognized that deep voice. "M-Mr. Schneider?"
And then, she found herself enveloped in a warm embrace, the CEO's body heat slowly banishing the cold.
"Damn, you're burning up," Matthew hissed as he felt Laura's feverish skin against his own. "What did you do, Laura?"
It was nearly 8 PM, and according to the chief, the rain had started around 6. Laura had been drenched for two hours. Worry gripped Matthew as he saw his delirious secretary, her cheeks red and hands and lips pale. Swiftly, he removed his jacket and draped it over her shivering form.
The CEO rubbed his hands over her body to provide warmth and checked for any other injuries. On her right ankle, a large violet bruise, now turning black, caught his eye. "Did you injure your ankle?" he inquired softly. Laura whimpered in response, "Is that why you couldn't return earlier?"
She buried her face in his neck, seeking warmth. Matthew sighed, realizing they needed to leave the south forest as soon as possible for her treatment. After ensuring she had no further injuries, he placed his right arm under her knees and supported her back with his left arm, carrying the whimpering secretary.
"Will you loop your arms around my neck?" he asked. She complied, shivering in his arms as they made their way back to the rest house through the dark and heavy rain.
A few minutes later, they reached the rest house. Matthew rushed to the second-floor bathroom with her in his arms, filling the tub with hot water and gently removing her wet clothes.
"Focus, Matthew Schneider. She is sick," he reminded himself, avoiding any inappropriate thoughts as he helped her into the tub. "Stay here, okay?" he whispered, "I'm going to make some calls."
The chief arrived promptly after Matthew's call. "Is she okay?" he inquired with concern. "I brought the local doctor."
Matthew led the chief and the doctor to her room. After bathing his secretary with hot water, he dressed her and tucked her into bed, turning the heater to the highest temperature.
"She's stopped shivering," he informed the two as he opened the door to her room. "Although she's still running a fever."
The local doctor swiftly opened his medical kit and retrieved his stethoscope. He examined Laura's vital signs and checked her temperature.
"Did you bathe her with hot water?" the doctor inquired, directing the question to Matthew.
"Yes," he nodded, "She was soaked for about two hours."
"Good job," the doctor commended, "The bath prevented her from shivering. Ms. Jones is suffering from the flu, which is not overly serious if treated properly. I'll leave her medications with you, Mr. Schneider. Make sure she takes them every six hours. Encourage her to drink enough water if necessary."
"Of course," the CEO replied, "Will she be okay?"
The doctor chuckled, "You're a caring employer, Mr. Schneider. Don't worry. If the doctor says Ms. Jones will be fine, she will be."
"Just call me if her temperature rises again," he started packing, "And one more thing, Mr. Schneider... always keep her warm."
Matthew couldn't sleep that night. He remained by Laura's bedside to monitor her progress. He sat in a chair, reading a book. The CEO yawned, and just as he was about to rest his eyes, his phone alarm sounded.
"It's time for your medication, Laura," he gently shook her, "Time for your meds."
Laura merely whimpered but nodded without opening her eyes. He raised her upper body and placed pillows behind her to support her. In a sitting position, he gave her the medicine and a glass of water.
"Open your mouth," he coaxed her chin gently. In a delirious state, she complied. After she took her medication, he adjusted her bed and let her lie down. As he headed toward the exit, her hand suddenly tugged at his sleeve.
"Don't go," she whimpered, "It's cold."
Matthew stayed and slowly rubbed her cold hands, hoping to bring warmth.
"Hold me."
He couldn't refuse the request. Gently slipping under the sheets, he held her close. She let out a contented sigh, burying her face in his chest. His arms wrapped around her waist, their legs intertwined.
"I'm sorry for the trouble," she whispered.
"Shhh," he soothed, "Just sleep, Laura... just rest."
For the first time in a long while, Laura Jones slept soundly without inhibitions. Matthew stayed awake, chuckling at the irony. He was supposed to provide warmth, but he felt something warm creeping into his heart, an unknown but not unwelcome feeling. He felt contentment at that moment.
At that moment, the warmth in his heart surpassed any external chaos.
*********************
Jack trudged to the rest house the next day after dealing with a company emergency. While whistling, he pushed the door open, expecting them to be having breakfast, but the eerie silence greeted him.
Is this how protagonists in horror movies feel?
With cautious steps, he headed upstairs, making his way to Matthew's room. He barged in, "Hey Matt, wake up! We have a long day ahead."
The room was empty. The bed neatly made, as if no one had slept in it the night before. Jack shrugged, thinking they might be out for a morning walk, and decided to check Laura's room. He quickly walked toward the other room.
"Hello, Laura," Jack gently tapped the door. "Are you in there?"
Once again, he was met with silence. Jack attempted to knock once more, and this time the door swung open. Surprisingly, it had not been properly closed or locked. He cautiously peeked inside and was taken aback by what he saw. There, beneath the sheets, were Matthew Schneider and Laura Jones, cuddled up. Matthew was spooning the petite secretary, his face nuzzled against Laura's neck, and the CEO's hands were wrapped around her waist.
With a stealthy approach, Jack moved closer to the bed. He discreetly retrieved his phone and captured a few incriminating photos of the two, a sly grin on his face.
"Clean hands are within reach," he whispered, a mischievous tone in his voice. "Let's send Chris some proof."