Chapter 17: Chapter 17

Her stomach was cramping so badly that she could barely hear what he was saying while he was tutoring her. Charlene tried to conceal the pain but tears trickled down her cheeks uncontrollably. Javier was perplexed, he had been asking her what was wrong ever since he noticed her state of discomfort. Fiona stared at her pitifully, just as Javier was helpless she was also helpless.

Charlene had been in pain ever since she woke up after a thirty minutes slumber, she woke up to the pain which arose deeply in her. She clenched her eyes close trying all she could do not to cry out.

“Are you alright, Charlene?” Javier asked impatiently, he couldn't sit back and watch her while she was in pain. He sat closer to her, his eyes had become red due to fear that gripped his heart.

When the pain subsided, she glanced up at his face and shook her head vigorously. “I'm fine, it's just a slight headache.” She lied as she wouldn't be able to handle the embarrassment after telling him the truth.

Fiona was quite dubious when she answered, she thought she was going to say it was her menstrual cramp but when Charlene divulged that it was a headache she had to force herself to believe. She would have burst out but she believed Charlene had a reason for not telling him.

“Should I take you to the hospital?”

“This time Richard would literally kill me.” She said underneath that both Javier and Fiona didn't hear what she murmured. “No, I'm going to be okay.” She replied with a phony grin, she let the hand on her abdomen fall on her lap as she looked up at the space.

“If it's a headache then why are you holding your stomach? Tell me what exactly is wrong with you or please let me just take you to the hospital.” Javier implored her calmly, she shook her head several times and sat properly.

“I'm going to be okay.” She grabbed the bottle of water on the table, she uncapped the bottle then guzzled the water before returning the empty bottle to the table. “I'm fine.” She smiled feebly, she picked the textbook on the table and returned to relax her back on the couch.

“Is that a painkiller?” Javier asked knowing well what her reply would be but Charlene surprised him by shaking her head negatively. “It's already late, let me drive you home.”

“No, you don't have to.” Charlene replied instantaneously, she picked up her phone on the table and informed James to come over. She put her phone beside her before focusing her gaze on the textbook.

Javier found some odd changes in her attitude toward him. He shrugged off the thought, instead of reading he chose to watch her secretly.

Fiona never uttered any words, she stared at both of them in silence. Although she had something to say, she knew Charlene or Javier might shut her out as they never considered her as a friend.

When James arrived Charlene packed her books inside her bag, she stood up and took her phone on the couch. “Are you sure you're going to be alright?” Javier queried emotionally.

Charlene assured him with a grin, as she stood up the awful pain arose again, she slumped back to the seat helplessly and clenched her eyes tightly trying to conceal the pain. She put her phone down on the couch and groaned loudly.

Javier put his hands on her face, he felt a tinge of nervousness when he saw her like that. “Charlene!”

“I'm fine.”

“I think it's her cramp. It's her menstrual cramp precisely.” Fiona disclosed the truth before she could refrain herself. Javier looked at her, he formed his lips and let out a ‘Oh’ sound.

“I'm okay. I have to go.” Charlene rose to a standing position, she held onto her abdomen as she headed toward the door, Javier and Fiona followed her. She collected the bag from Charlene and Javier assisted her outside the building.

“Be okay, Charlene. Try to take some painkillers when you get home.” Javier put the bag beside her inside the car. She nodded once.

“Take warm water, it's going to help.” Fiona added.

“I will, thanks.”

Javier closed the door gently, James started the car and he drove away. Javier stood on the spot for a few seconds, he turned around when the car faded away, he was the first person to scurry back into the building then Fiona followed.

Charlene kept groaning in pain, the tears she had been holding back trickled down her cheeks freely. James had asked her multiple times what was wrong with her but she never answered him, she couldn't conceal it. She gnawed on her lower lip to stop herself from crying out however she ended up having a cut because of a teeth bite.

“Ma'am are you alright?” James asked with concern as he halted the car in the garage. Charlene didn't bother to answer him, she alighted from the car, she took her bag and trudged inside.

“Welcome ma'am.” Maids greeted, she ignored them completely as she ascended the stairs hurriedly. She opened the door to their room, she shuffled in. Her bag fell from her hand when she was close to the bed, she scuffed toward it and slumped onto the bed helplessly.

“Ah!” She yowled while holding her abdomen. She kept rolling from one edge to another, crying, her tears dropped freely on the bed. She turned around as she faced the ceilings, she bit her lip trying not to cry out but it was awfully painful.

The door opened automatically, Richard entered into the room with Miguel in his arms, he was wearing a casual outfit. Before he reached the bedroom he could hear her groan. He advanced toward the bedroom when her groan was getting louder, he saw Charlene rolling from one edge to another crying out in pain.

He was puzzled when he saw her. Charlene had noticed his presence but she couldn't pretend to be okay when he was around, in fact if she tried to conceal the pain but it was far too awful to conceal. Richard took a step toward her with reluctance, he had a look of concern while staring at her. He strode to her, sitting beside her he put a hand on her forehead tenderly and furrowed his brows.

“Hey, what's wrong?” He enquired calmly, he made Miguel sit on his lap and supported his back in his arm.

Charlene couldn't answer him, all she could do was groan while wiggling in the bed. Richard tried to lay Miguel beside her but he gripped the tip of his undershirt tightly, preventing Richard from laying him beside Charlene. Richard sighed loudly, he spoke through the intercom and ordered a maid to come into the room.

He looked at her pitifully, since he didn't know what was wrong with her and Charlene wasn't ready to tell him. A maid entered the room, she approached the bedroom and halted halfway close to the bed, Richard gestured to her to come closer.

“Sir...”

“Take him to his room and stay with him.” He extended Miguel to the maid who never let go of his undershirt, the maid looked at Charlene who was in pain then she swung her gaze on Miguel who didn't want her to carry him. “Just take him.” Richard gently took his undershirt from him, the maid carried him and started heading out of the room. In her arms Miguel had started crying, however Richard ignored him completely. He returned to Charlene and turned her around to look at him. “You're stained.” He informed her calmly. Charlene was embarrassed, she looked at him and their eyes locked, she tried to look away but he spoke. “Can you stand up on your own?” He asked politely.

She nodded once. “Ah, I can.” She sat up carefully and moved to the edge.

“Wait,” Richard stopped her from putting her feet on the floor, he stood up and strode to stand in front of her, he dipped his hand inside his pocket and took a black ribbon out of his pocket. He squinted and packed her hair in a ponytail using the ribbon, Charlene didn't understand why he did that but she was glad he touched her. “Sanitary pad...”

Charlene gazed at his eyes unbelievably, she was literally confused and surprised. Richard kept a straight face, Charlene found it hard to read his intentions through his countenance. “In the closet.” She replied.

“Let me get it.” He pivoted around and headed into the closet. Richard scanned the whole walk-in closet, he went over to the drawer, he drew it out a little, the drawers were overloaded with sanitary pads. He picked up a pack then strode out of the closet.

Charlene was already standing in front of the bathroom door, Richard walked up to her and handed the pad to her. She collected it from him then he made to walk away but she called his name. “Richard,”

He hesitated as he stopped walking, he pivoted his head a little without looking at her. “What?” He queried calmly.

“Nothing.” She shrugged out and went to the bathroom.

Suddenly a bodyguard spoke through the intercom that two people were at the gate. He wasn't expecting any visitors, he was about to inform him to tell them to leave when the bodyguard spoke again. He scoffed softly, he exited the room and took the elevator downstairs, he walked out of the building majestically while heading toward the gate, his gatekeepers wouldn't allow any strangers into the mansion.

Fiona and Javier were already inside the mansion but they couldn't take another step further from where they were standing. Richard recognized his face when he saw him, he was the same person that covered Charlene with his coat.

“How may I help you?” Richard demanded unfriendly.

Fiona couldn't help but admire him, it was her first time seeing him in person. She concluded in her thought that he was more luscious physically than in the magazines. “She's lucky.” Fiona contemplated.

“I'm here to return this, she left it behind.” Javier extended Charlene's phone to him. Richard looked at his hand, he extended his hand and collected the phone. He turned around to leave but Javier stopped him.

“Please wait. How's she now? Is she okay?” Javier asked with concern.

“She's going to be okay.” He replied without looking back.

Javier wanted to see Charlene before he left but he knew it was impossible, he looked at Fiona. “Let's go.” The huge gate opened automatically, and both of them walked out.

“Don't worry about me, I'm going to board a cab.” Fiona said ludicrously.

“That's absurd. You won't find one here, I'll drive you to your residence. Get in.”

Fiona couldn't argue, she hopped in the car and he drove away.

Richard entered the room, he strolled toward the nightstand and put her phone down. Charlene also came out of the bathroom in a white bathrobe, she looked over, there was a new bedspread, she concluded that Richard must have ordered a maid to change it. Their eyes locked however none of them looked away this time, Charlene started walking toward the bed, she sat down carefully.

“Are you feeling better now?” She shook her head negatively. There was no way she was okay when she could still feel the pain. “Is there any medicine you take to relieve the pain?”

She shook her head. “No. I'm going to be okay. Thank you.” She laid in the bed, she covered her body with the duvet and closed her eyes trying to take a nap. She thought Richard would leave if she did that but he remained in the same position. Charlene opened her eyes, she looked up at his eyes while he stared back at her. “Warm water will do.” She murmured.

“Only that?”

She nodded once as she supported her head with the pillows. Richard changed the room's air conditioner before walking out.

Charlene didn't understand why he was being nice to her, yesterday he was mad at her and today he was being nice. She found him strange. She laid down still in the bed while contemplating, she groaned silently and took her lips in to hold back the groan that was about to escape her mouth.