No Strings Attached

Chapter three

“Mr Reynaldo?” Mia’s voice grew weary and afraid. She stormed out of the kitchen, racing out in the cold, while tracking the GPS location of Rey’s phone. Her heart throbbed as she raced into the dark deserted road. Although, winter was almost gone, it began snowing filling the streets with little white flakes coloured yellow in the glow of the overhead street light.

She dialled the Emergency contact in her phone as she switched in between little runs and walks before a male voice crawled out of the phone speakers.

“Hello. This is the 911. What’s your emergency?” The male voice asked.

“There is an accident somewhere around old highway 80 right here in San Diego. Please help me!” Her voice cried.

“We’d be right in there in a minute.”

“Okay, thank you so much.” Her voice died with a whisper.

She looked into the dark night, set aglow by the waning street light, towering over her. There was a car across the street that looked exactly like Rey’s, swerved into a ditch. She walked a little closer and slower, the GPS tracker indicating arrival at the prospect location. The face her eyes met, in the pit of his subconscious, almost through her off balance. It was Rey, with his head on the cars wheels few steps away from her.

“Mr Reynaldo?” She said, her voice clouded with despair, feet drawing closer to the scene. She opened the car’s door and tried to revive him, but to no avail. She pulled them out in a struggle and laid him on the grass. He had gotten a few scratches and his alcoholic state wasn’t helping.

In the cold air, her breath laboured crawling visibly out of her lips. The snowflakes dropped on his face and she stretched her fingers out to pick them away. Her fingers froze and she withdrew in realisation. This was the first thing she had ever stared at him for this long. Her eyes travelled along his relaxed face. It traced the shape of his brows how perfect the complimented his eyes. It traced the perfect pointedness of his nose.

“What on earth was that?” She exclaimed at how much her thoughts betrayed her in such a critical situation.

The ambulance arrived in time. In a few seconds away from where the accident happened, she could her the siren roll out into the night draw close. She sighed in relief when they arrived and pick Reynaldo up and headed for the hospital. In the ambulance, she was sitting next the door with sleep-bathed eyes, staring out into the snowflakes pouring and back at the Paramedics from UC San Diego health-La Jolla and Hillcrest hospitals.

“He would be fine.” One of them said.

“Yeah... it’s a minor case.” The one who seemed to be a superior said.

They had baggage his arm and placed a small plaster on his head.

“Wait a minute, why does this guy look like Reynaldo Davies, the software guy, I saw on TV last night?” Another paramedic asked. She was the youngest of them.

“That’s true though, he looks just like him.” Another responded.

Mia knew she didn’t want this going out into public knowledge. It would make the headlines that the son of California’s richest billionaire, was found wasted on a deserted highway. So she averted it.

“No...He isn’t Reynaldo Davies. He’s just my boss.” She affirmed by nodding her head, in hopes that that should have cleared all visible doubts.

Reaching the hospital, Andrews, Rey secretary was waiting on them. Mia had called him and informed him about Rey’s accident and he immediately rushed down to the hospital.

“Hey!” Andrews waved toward her from where he stood at the entrance.

“Mr Andrews!” said waved back, walking towards him.

“It’s a good thing you’re here on time. I had no idea how I would have dealt with the hospital bills.” She said, heaving.

“How’s he doing?” Andrews asked.

“One of the agents said he only sustained a few injuries and he’d be discharge as soon as they examine him.” Mia replied and Andrews’s face relaxed.

“It’s good to hear. By the way, you look tired, yourself. Would you mind a light snack?”

“Well... I’m not actually hungry. I had dinner while waiting for Mr. Reynaldo to get home.” A faint smile appeared, pulling the corner of her lips.

They waited in a nearby teashop in the pouring snow, until Rey was examined and discharge about two hours later.

***

It was almost morning when they arrived at Rey’s villa. He had regained consciousness but with a slightly banging head, just as they left the hospital. Andrews and Mia helped him up the stairs to his room on the second floor, before Andrews bid them goodbye.

Mia helped Reynaldo adjust into the soft duvet in his room. She was at first hesitant to go close to him now that he was watching her movements. His eyes followed every step she took and she felt like the ground should have swallow her that moment.

Rey never allowed her into his room, not even the ladies who came trailing in every night. He did all he wanted to in the guest room and by morning, they’d be gone.

“Sir, is there anything else you’d like me to do for you?” She asked, a little sceptical on staying in the room for a minute longer. She watched him move out of bed, pouring himself a glass of water.

“Sir, I could have done that if you told me.” She said, with her eyes lowered. He tilted her head in her direction and smirked. He turned drew slow steps toward her, pulling at his tie and undoing the buttons of his shirt with his left hand.

“You can stand there if you plan to watch me undress.” He said towering over her.

Her heart did flips and Pounded hard against her chest, as she fumbled, her hands searching for the door’s knob, behind her.

“What was that?” She exclaimed, after scurrying out. She placed her hands on her chest, feeling it thump. She remembered the look in his eyes when he spoke his last words. Was he even in an accident a few hours ago? Did he have to be so cunny all the time?

These questions dug themselves a space in her mind as she raced to the staff quarters outside the house. The icy foam of the snow had kissed the morning view. It would be sunrise soon and she hadn’t gotten enough sleep...