"Good afternoon to you too, Hastings." That arrogant and amused voice made her lose her mind.
"Professor!" She gasped, chest heaving.
Oliver didn't mind her shocked appearance and walked past her into the house.
"So this is what it looks like." he clicked his tongue and Kay snapped out of her daze, trailing after him.
"I didn't say you should come in!"
"When have I ever needed your permission?" He raised a brow.
"What…. What…. What are you doing here!? In my house!?" She asked exasperated. She wanted to die at this point. She looked awful.
"My slave didn't show up for work so I decided to find out why." He said as if that was a good enough explanation but knowing Oliver that was what all she would get.
She crossed her arms against her chest covering her breasts.
"My friend, Louisa has been sick since last night so I couldn't come."
"I see. Have you eaten, showered, slept?"
"What?"
Oliver rolled his eyes, "I never you were deaf, Hastings. Have you eaten? It doesn't matter, I brought Chinese food. Hope you like Chinese."
That was when she noticed the bag he was carrying. He dropped it on the table in front of the L-shaped couch and started bringing the packs out of the bag.
Oliver set the packs down with an unsettling calm, his eyes lingering on her, unreadable. His expression was soft, caring even, but the weight of his gaze unsettled her.
Was this concern, or something far more twisted? She couldn't tell. His movements were deliberate, as though every action had a hidden meaning just beyond her reach. His kindness wrapped around her like a cage.
Kay's head was spinning. He was in her house! What was going on!? And how did he know she hadn't eaten?
"Sit down, Hastings, and eat. It would make you feel better."
"But my friend, she's…"
"Sit, Hastings. I don't like to repeat myself.
The last thing I need is for my slave to die of hunger before I reap the benefits of her service."
So that's why he was doing this. Typical asshole.
"I need to check up on her." she insisted.
"After you've eaten. Sit like a human before I drag you myself. Choose." His eyes were fixed on her and every protest in her mind didn't leave her lips. For some reason, she wanted to be dragged by him but not today. She was too tired to argue with this brick of a man.
She sat on the floor and examined the food. Oliver sat across from her.
All these were her favorite Chinese foods.
"How did you know these were my favorite!?" Her Hazel eyes brightened a bit and Oliver's eyes softened.
Did he find out what she liked? Her heart almost did a flip.
"I didn't know anything. I just ordered whatever." The hope fizzled out immediately. Of course.
Her fingers trembled as she lifted the chopsticks to her mouth. But it felt like a command. She wasn't hungry, not really. Yet, as the first bite melted on her tongue, an odd sensation of surrender washed over her. The warmth spread through her, like a trap disguised as comfort. Each bite felt like yielding, not to hunger, but to him
His gaze made her unsettled and she choked on the food.
"Slow down, you raccoon." he sneered and handed her a bottle of water before giving her her favorite boba tea.
"Oh my god! My favorite! I was going to die if I didn't drink this!" She smiled widely and Oliver forced his heart to retain its normal rate.
"Did you stay up all night watching her?" he asked softly.
"She's my friend, I just couldn't leave her here and go to class or bed, could I?"
"Have you bathed her with warm water? It would reduce her high temperature."
She slapped her hand on her forehead. "Why didn't I think of that!" She dropped the food and was about to stand up when Oliver grabbed her wrist.
"Sit. We'll do that after you've finished eating."
His touch filled with her an electric feeling. It sent a warm rush through her body as she met his whiskey eyes.
"But-"
"Don't argue with me this time, fiesty. Listen." there was a gentleness that surprised both him and her. She complied and finished her food under his intense gaze that muddled her thoughts.
His presence made the big living room smaller. Made her feel small. There was a table between them but the room was unbearably hot.
He made her feel things. Dark things. Things that scared her, so she ate quickly. His presence itself was menacing and dark.
"I'll prepare the bath, so you get her ready. Can you do that? Do you still have strength?" His question warmed her heart. He wasn't mocking her per usual but was genuinely concerned.
"I can still bring her. She would kill me if I let you see her naked." she laughed to herself. She would yell at her.
"I wouldn't touch her if that worries you. I don't touch other women." other women. The phrase made her heart flutter.
"Right." she cleared her throat.
Oliver prepared the bath, rolled his sleeves to his elbows, and dipped his hand into the bathtub to make sure the water's temperature was just right.
He had mastered this. When his mother came home drunk, he was the one who took care of her. She was always messy, more violent drunk but he didn't have a choice. He was his mother after all.
He stood outside the bathroom door when Kayla and Louisa had entered the bathroom.
She didn't come to class and Oliver couldn't focus. He checked the security footage and saw she was home. When he saw her exhausted face and how she stayed up all night meticulously taking care of her friend, something in his heart stirred.
After class, he didn't think twice before he ordered all of her favorite foods and went to her house. She deserved all that and much more. She was resilient. He gave her that, reminding him of his old self.
She brought her friend back to the bedroom after she dressed her in the bathroom. At least, Loui could stand now.
They both went back to the living room and Kay lowered herself to the couch with a thud.
"Don't do this next time," Oliver said.
"Do what?"
"Neglect yourself."
"Neglect me?" she scoffed. "You come into my house and think you have the right to make comments about my life?" All the pent-up stress, frustration, and weariness caught up to her. She hated it the most when people thought they knew her more than herself.
Oliver didn't back down. "Think what you want, Hastings but you know I'm right. What's the point of her getting better if you get sick?" His words made sense but he didn't understand. No one did.
She got to her feet, standing her ground. "I'm not having this conversation with you of all people. Thank you for the food but you need to leave. Now."
"No."
"No? In case you have forgotten this is my house!"
"You want to run away because you know I'm right, Hastings."
"You are insufferable and overstepping is what you are. Leave! I have other things to do so you're wasting my time!"
She walked away but Oliver grabbed her arm, turned her, and pulled her close to him.
"Let me go, professor!"
"You are my student so I need to make sure they are doing well, or have you forgotten?"
"I'm doing fine, professor. Now you can leave." But Oliver didn't budge.
"You don't have to sacrifice yourself for others. It's okay to be selfish."
"You are crazy and have no idea what you're saying!" She struggled to break free but to no avail.
"I get it-"
"No, you don't! You don't get it! None of you do!" She needed to vent and Oliver knew that.
Kayla's stomach churned as Oliver's voice echoed in her head. Every instinct screamed to pull away, yet something else, something darker, whispered for her to stay. She didn't understand it—this pull. It felt wrong, suffocating, and yet strangely… she didn't want to leave. Was this fear? Attraction? The lines blurred in her mind, a storm she couldn't control
He let her go and he took a step back, before sitting down and patting his fingers on his thigh.
"My mother was a drunk amongst other things. The first time I had to take care of her was when I was five."
Kayla was shocked and honored that he was sharing this with her. She also took a seat beside him. Maybe he did understand.
He had never told anyone this but his therapist and it took him a year to tell him.
"I'm sorry. No child should ever go through that." But she did.
"I know we don't see eye to eye on most things but I want you to take care of yourself. Can you do that for me Hastings?"
She went silent. It was more difficult to do so, especially now.
"I'll try."
"Don't try. You will take care of yourself or I'll have to punish you." His voice was low and Kayla gripped the hem of her sweatshirt.
What was the punishment? She gulped and nodded stiffly.
She was lying, he noted. But he let it slide. He would have to do it himself, then.
"I'll go check her temperature," she informed him.
"I'll do it. Wait here." She found that it was useless to argue with him. He did whatever he wanted so she made herself comfortable. No one had ever taken care of her this way before. It was always the other way around.
He came to her house and infiltrated it was the sweet smell of citrus. Citrus that lulled her to sleep. She was just going to close her eyes. That was all. She wasn't sleeping. She yawned.
Oliver came back a few minutes later and saw she was dozing off. Her head fell to the side and her lips parted, slightly.
Louisa's temperature was almost back to normal, so she deserved to rest.
He carried her horizontally and into her room and he almost tripped over the pile of clothes.
The roll was a mess. Is this where she slept? What did he expect from her in the first place?
She would be uncomfortable sleeping in these dirty clothes so he woke her up and instructed her to take a shower.
Kayla was tired but she managed to take a half-hearted shower. When she came out, Oliver had picked out a pair of comfy pajamas.
Her hair was wet and the bathrobe reavelaed her sexy collarbone. Oliver's mouth dried but he didn't do anything to her. Not now, at least.
She muttered a 'thank you' and changed in the bathroom.
Oliver found her hair dryer and helped dry her hair but Kayla had already slept when he started. Her hair was so soft and the feel of it on his fingers made him smile.
When it was dried, he placed her on the bed, turned on the A.C., and tucked her in. He bent beside her, her head turned to the side as he watched her sleep.
She shook off the blanket and her hands came into view. He saw her red swollen hand and he inspected it. His heart hurt for her.
The way she spoke earlier showed she thought this was her duty. Something mandated to her which was wrong. He would correct that mindset.
"Careless girl." He brought a bowl of water and cooled the burn for a while before cleaning the area with mild soap and water.
This was something he had to learn to treat himself after his mother tortured him. Sometimes she would pour hot water on his legs when she was having a tantrum.
He used gauze before wrapping a bandage around the burn not too tightly to prevent blood flow from stopping.
She looked so docile when she slept. All the fierceness was gone only a baby-like aura. So fragile.
And that was the thing about fragile things, you always wanted to break them.
He kissed her freckled nose, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "I've touched you, Hastings, which was a big mistake because now I can't let you go."
No matter how wrong it was, he would shatter her completely. Why? Because she was the only one he could mark and get burned back. He would do whatever it took.