Chapter 12 - Being Warm Towards Him

Pleased to hear Cassandra call him by his first name, Marty could not help smiling from ear to ear.

Seeing Marty, smiling at her like that makes Cassandra weak - kneed. She could hear her heart pounding wildly. 

"Why are you here?" Cassandra was baffled why he came at such an hour. 

“Won’t you invite me in?” Marty’s bright face instantaneously changed into gloom upon hearing her question. 

Cassandra is debating with herself whether to ask him to come in or chase him away. However, seeing his glum expression, she opened the door wide for Marty to come in. 

“Have a seat while I make coffee for you.” Cassandra said while closing the door. 

“Ummm” Marty hummed faintly. 

Cassandra hurriedly made a coffee for Marty and gave it to him. 

“Thank you.” said Marty while he raked his fingers through his hair. 

Marty felt a splitting headache, to alleviate the throbbing pain, he massaged his temple. 

Cassandra looked anxiously at Marty rubbing his temple.

"Are you all right?" Cassandra put her hand over Marty's shoulder. 

"Yes" Marty stared at Cassandra's eyes and smiled. 

Accustomed to seeing Marty’s sparkling silver eyes, Cassandra is certain that he isn’t feeling well, seeing his eyes lack luster.  

She touched Marty’s neck and forehead to see if he had a fever. Marty was surprised when Cassandra held his neck and touched his forehead, just the same, he was over the moon. The pain, knowing that she had been with Graham all day, was absorbed by the warmth she brought him.  

"You're not well, you're running a fever," said Cassandra in a worried tone. 

Cassandra went into her bedroom and got a thermal scanner. The thermal scanner screen was reading 39 degrees and confirming that Marty was running a fever. 

"Stay here, I'll get you some medication." Marty held Cassandra's wrist.

Cassandra felt a chill running through her spine though Marty's hand holding her is warm from the fever. 

"Thank you." Marty said feebly. 

Cassandra didn't respond, only nodded her head with a smile. 

Marty’s throbbing headache is still persistent, nonetheless, he wasn’t affected in the least because of Cassandra’s caring attitude towards him. 

"Have you had any dinner yet?" Cassandra wanted to make sure he wasn't on medication on an empty stomach because it wouldn't be good for him. 

"Not yet." Marty didn't feel like eating because Cassandra had dined with Graham. 

“Why are you starving yourself? You have to take care of yourself. ” Cassandra scolded him, even so, Marty’s heart swelled up with joy now that she is no longer indifferent. 

Cassandra cooked pumpkin soup for Marty. After placing the bowl on the tray, she sauntered towards Marty and placed it on top of the coffee table. 

"Now eat the soup." Cassandra seated herself next to Marty. “Be careful so you won't  burn your tongue” Cassandra gave him precaution for the soup is really hot. 

Some seconds later, seeing that Marty had not touched the soup, Cassandra took the initiative of feeding Marty. She thought he might be too weak to raise a spoon into his mouth. 

“Open your mouth.” Cassandra said as she lifted the spoon to feed him. 

Marty obediently opened his mouth and ate the soup. After emptying the bowl, Cassandra fed Marty a medicine. 

"It's late, you must ask your driver to come and get you so that you can rest." Cassandra grabbed a tissue and wiped Marty's mouth clean. 

Marty held her hand and said “Can I stay here?” his eyes implored her. 

Cassandra was spooked. How could she allow this man to stay in her apartment? She was supposed to avoid him. 

“No, you can’t. Alexia should look after you instead of me." She shunned his gaze, she could not bear his imploring eyes. 

If she keeps seeing them, she'll end up yielding. 

"We're not together anymore." Marty took this opportunity to tell her that he's no longer involved with Alexia. 

Cassandra froze for a couple of seconds and felt pleased with what she heard. However, she was saddened again when she remembered the woman in the restaurant. Now, she understands the presence of that beautiful and elegant woman seated next to him. 

She felt so much pain that she was about to clutch her chest but Marty spoke again. 

"I don't have anyone in my place to care for me." Marty seemed weak and that prompted her to let him stay. 

Cassandra's conscience has been piqued. She can’t send him away, he is the man who helped her out from her predicament. She made up her mind to let him stay. Cassandra took the thermal scanner to see if his fever had subsided. Fever hasn't calmed down yet. 

Cassandra is having a headache upon realizing that she can’t let him stay in the guest room. It hasn't been cleaned in a week, which means the room is dusty. She had no choice but to take Marty to her room. 

Cassandra sighed before she patted Marty’s arm and said, “Let’s go to my room.” 

Marty stood up and followed Cassandra, who was heading to her room. A warm feeling envelops Marty’s heart as he steps into Cassandra’s room.

He felt at peace just like the first time he entered her apartment. He hadn’t felt this way each time he entered Alexia’s condominium. 

Cassandra is certainly the woman he wanted to spend the remainder of his life with. He hadn't considered marriage, but Cassandra changed his mind. He is going to marry this woman. He wants to see her every waking moment of his life. 

Marty sat on the bed while Cassandra went into the closet and picked up an over-sized t-shirt. She then took a two face towel and soaked it with water and wrung it. 

She went out of the bathroom and found Marty still sitting at the bedside, his elbows on his knees and propped up his head with his hands. 

Marty felt Cassandra sat beside him. He looked at her and saw her smile. It took much of his strength to fight the urge to kiss her and that made him weak. 

Seeing how weak Marty is, Cassandra took the initiative to take off his suit. After hanging  up Marty’s suit, she began to unbutton his shirt. Cassandra was trembling inside, but she managed to keep herself calm outwardly. 

Marty watched Cassandra closely as she unbuttoned his shirt. He's inexplicably pleased with the way she takes care of him. He is happy and content even though he isn’t making love with her. 

Looking at Marty's chiseled chest and toned abdomen, Cassandra's heart went crazy.

She felt as if her heart was a race horse. Her heart pounding so strong and banging her rib cage. 

Even in this state, Cassandra was able to exercise her composure. She thanked her manager pressuring her for a regularly scheduled acting workshop. If she hadn’t taken those short courses, she would have trembled and faint in this situation. 

After wiping Marty's body with the wet towel, she dressed Marty in her oversized shirt. Cassandra chuckled as she realized that the t - shirt’s color was baby pink. A muscular man wearing a baby pink t - shirt is amusing to her.

On the contrary, knowing that he is wearing Cassandra’s t - shirt, Marty is over the moon. 

Cassandra took off Marty's shoes and placed them on the shoe stand next to her shoes. Cassandra felt bizarre seeing their shoes in the shoe rack as if they were a real couple. 

“You lay down.” Cassandra ordered which Marty obediently did. 

After she tucked him under the quilt, Cassandra took away the face towel and Marty’s shirt. She stuffed Marty's shirt into the washing machine. 

She returned to her bed with a wet towel in her hands and sat next to Marty who was fast asleep. She touched his neck and felt relieved that he wasn’t hot as before. She wiped Marty's face and neck with the moist towel before sleeping to make sure his fever would calm down. 

Spending a whole day with Graham and attending to Marty, Cassandra felt exhausted. The moment she closed her eyes, she never knew what had happened. 

In the dead of night, Marty was shaking and needed something to warm him up. He pulled Cassandra into his arms and hugged her. Cassandra squirmed out of his embrace and turned to him and snuggled on his chest. She put her hand around his torso and twisted their legs together.