chapter 40

Josie POV

Our new doctor, Dr. Simms stood with a congenial smile as he completed my exam. "You need to rest, eat some food and have more time to get over this pain and headache. You might have been feeling slightly better for a day because your fever broke, but the fever is back. You're already run down and it doesn't sound like you sleep or eat properly." The doctor's smile broadened.

''Early stages of pregnancy is crucial, so I need you to stay hydrated, take some naps here and there, exercise too, it'll help your mind mentally.''

The doctor breezed over the subject, instructing me to rest and treat the symptoms with other remedies he recommends.

I thanked him and gave him a tremulous smile before he turned to Matthias. Afterward, the doctor left our house to ourselves as Shirley came up the stairs and gave me a glass of water and some towels.

''Here you go baby,'' She says.

''Thank you, Shirley,'' I hoarse.

''Mmm, I remember those days when I was pregnant. Trust me, love, it's gonna swing by before you know it.''

I laughed. ''Yeah, I hope so.'' She nods her head and rests her hand on top of mine giving me a quick wink.

As she leaves the room, Matthias came back on his phone as he continues to march back and forth arguing with whoever was on the line.

I sat up quickly, too quickly, and the room rotated for a minute before my head cleared. God, I was as weak as a kitten from the return of the fever and lack of food. I bent slowly and snatched my slides from the floor, sitting on the bed to cram her feet into them.

"What in the hell do you think you're doing?" I jerked up at the sound of the booming voice.

He was too big, too gruff, too demanding, too much of everything. There was something about him that made me feel off-balance, and it had nothing to do with my pregnancy.

Matthias swung my legs back onto the bed and pulled my slides off. Damn. All of that hard work gone in seconds. Putting on those slides had been an effort and I didn't appreciate having to do it again.

"You're sick and you're staying here," Matthias told me sternly as his dark eyes swept over her and he grimaced.

"I can't. I'm working tomorrow. I need to get some sleep,'' I said.

"You're not working for at least the next week. I already called Eugene and I told him to replace you until you're okay." His expression was disapproving as he covered my body with the comforter and sat on top of it, effectively trapping me.

"You need to eat. And sleep." He touched the dark patches under my eyes softly with his index finger. "I've never been close enough to see how tired you look."

"The pregnancy kicked my rear," I murmured lightly, feeling warmed not only by the food but by the concerned frown on Matthias's face. "I'll feel well enough to work tomorrow."

He handed me the glass of water. "Don't even think about it. Finish that and sleep."

Too tired to argue, I downed the water and gave up the glass to his waiting hand. I'd deal with everything later. My eyes were drooping and exhaustion pressed on my body like weights. I needed to close my eyes.

I sighed and rested my head on the pillow. For the first time in years, I felt full, comfortable and...safe. Matthias might be cranky, but he had apparently appointed himself my protector. It was somehow...comforting.

With that strange thought rolling around in my mind, I slept.

∞

The next morning, I woke up to the smell of breakfast the was provided for me in the bedroom. It was a wooden serving board with plates filled in with pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, and some orange juice.

Slowly, I got out of the bed and took my grey robe that was marked Mrs.Lekas and plodded my way out of the bedroom. I went downstairs to see some gardeners walking towards the back while Shirley was training new maids over in the living room.

"How are you feeling?" I jumped as the low, inquiring voice spoke in the soundless kitchen. I covered my chest with a shaky hand as my heart accelerated and I turned to Matthias, who was watching me silently, one arm propped casually against the counter.

His brown hair was wet as if he had just showered, and he had on a pair of jeans that hugged his muscular lower body lovingly. A green fleece pullover shirt stretched to accommodate his massive shoulders and broad chest.

The man was serious...ripped.

''I... was.. umm,'' I stammered as he crossed his arms, waiting for me to tell him the truth.

''Upstairs, Josephine.''

''Matthias.''

''I'm serious, now,'' he chided. He grabs my arm up and makes me walk upstairs without any explanation. ''Love, your pregnant and you have a fever, I need you to rest for me, alright. I'm serious, I don't want you to hurt yourself. Doctor's orders.''

He looked at me and I sighed as soon as I went to bed. I begin to eat the breakfast meal as Matthias pulls out his coffee mug and place it on the counter.

"You can't leave. Not today. Not tomorrow." Matthias's voice was neutral as he moved to the coffee maker and slammed another coffee into the machine, lowering the lid with more force than necessary.

A double knock echoed through the door and Matthias went over to the door.

''Galen?'' He questions. Galen said something to him in a whisper that made Matthias's face angry. I raised my head and my confused, fear-filled gaze met his angry eyes with surprise.

''How the fuck does he know where I live?'' He growls then Galen shrugged. ''Lockdown, we're calling a lockdown. Call 911.''

''911?'' I said, getting out of the bed. ''Matthias, what's happening? Why are we having a lockdown.''

''Babe, It's best you shouldn't know.''

''Matthias,'' I gripped his arm. ''What's happening?''

''Michael,'' He said his name quickly.

''What?''

''Boss? I gave two, here you go,'' Galen said, giving Matthias two guns.

''Wh..,'' before I could speak Matthias quickly kissed me on the cheek. ''Stay here, don't move.''

''Matthias, what the hell?''

''Josie, stay.''

Despair and loss welled up inside me and I suddenly couldn't breathe, couldn't think. Silent tears rolled from my eyes and all I could think about was to hide. "No. Oh, God, no." I sucked in a deep breath, trying to squelch my panic, but I couldn't.

I left the room and went downstairs as everyone was huddled by the kitchen. The lights were out except for the kitchen lights. Galen and Khalid with our new security team were outside, shouting as the door was slightly open.

''HOW THE FUCK DID YOU KNOW WHERE I LIVE?'' Matthias yelled.

''You're a billionaire Matthias, all I had to do was google, track you down like a cheetah. Have you forgotten that I was at MIT right?''

''Police are on their way now. So drop your weapon.''

''I want to know how Josie is, where is she?''

''She's safe, with me.''

''Let me see her.''

''You have a restraining order, remember?'' Khalid shouted. ''Drop your weapon son, give it up. Josie is married, she's safe.''

''Is she happy?''

''Why do you care?'' Galen shouted. ''Listen dude it's five against one. Drop your fucking weapon.''

Unable to stop myself, I opened the door as everyone's back turns to me.

''Baby, stay back,'' Matthias said. He took a deep breath and tightened his arms around my waist, splaying one hand along my back, moving the hand in soothing circles to calm me.

''Michael?'' I questioned.

''Josephine,'' Michael said my name in a whisper, grinning softly. ''Oh, baby. I've missed you so fucking much.