EPISODE TWENTY
THEME: Hypothermia
KNOX MARTINS BEACH HOUSE
Eretia woke up with a start to darkness. She blinked, a panic of not knowing where she was or what had happened choking her for a minute. Then she remembered everything. She closed her eyes for a moment and lay very still as she remembered the whole drama with her new boss. Eretia was in bed, she knew that and she was feeling so warm.
Eretia opened her eyes slowly trying to focus. She slowly turned her head toward the light source in the room. She looked beyond and her breath caught. Knox was there. He was sitting on a couch about two feet away from the bed and his eyes were on her.
“You..” Her voice trailed off too soon.
“You are awake.” Knox said softly as he stood up from the couch.
Knox Martins was dressed in a flannel shirt and jeans and his hair was slicked back from his face. He moved towards the bed. “How do you feel?” He asked while bending over her to touch her forehead.
“Good.” He murmured.
Eretia shifted slightly to test her body and that was when she felt the blanket directly on her skin. She peered under the blanket and saw that she was naked. Immediately Eretia pulled the blanket up to her chin and glared at her new boss.
“What did you do to me?!” She demanded.
“Questions again.” Knox reached for her wrist and circled it with his fingers.
Eretia tried to get free but Knox didn’t stop touching her. “You must be feeling better.” He said with a forced smile as he checked her pulse.This belongs to NôvelDrama.Org: ©.
That wasn’t funny! Here she was in her bra and panties on a bed in her new boss house with him right next to her. She trembled and tugged to get free from his hold.
“Let me go or I’ll -”
“Shh.. let me concentrate.” Knox silenced her.
Eretia bit her lip and waited for a few second. And then he finally let her go and stood back.
“Now what do you think I did to you, or I was doing to you?” He asked.
Eretia still kept the blanket up to her chin. “I am naked.”
And her words brought a smirk to his lips that only made her face burn from embarrassment. “Not completely. It is best to get rid of clothes where there is a chance of hypothermia especially if they are wet and cold.” Knox Martins explained to her.
Eretia didn’t know the meaning of Hypothermia. “But–”
Knox interrupted her. “You passed out and you weren’t in any condition to undress yourself.” His words didn’t make her feel better.
“Well… so.. you just.. undressed me.” Eretia stuttered.
“You looked pretty awful when I found you but now you are in a good shape and the shivering stopped. That should be your concern.” Knox replied.
“So.. whose… fault was that?! You should be blamed.. for me drowning in that snow!” She snapped shakily.
“I told you to leave but you refused. I thought you were going to freeze up with all the shaking you were doing.” Knox rolled his eyes.
“Whatever… I.. I feel.. okay now. My clothes.. where -”
Knox cuts in. “You still want to stay around and work for me?” He asked.
“I am not giving up on you, Mr Knox Martins.” Eretia shot him a glare that faded too soon.
Knox kept watching her and it made Eretia feel uncomfortable. Her face colored when she remembered someone holding her when she was shivering. It was Knox holding her when she was wearing only bra and panties.
“Perhaps… how long have I been out?” She asked.
“Twenty nine hours.” Knox replied.
“What?! Wait.. you mean to tell me that I have been here for a whole day!” She was surprised.
“More than a whole day.” Knox corrected.
Eretia tried to maneuver herself into a half sitting position with her back against the headboard. Her stomach made a rumbling sound.
“I am hungry.” Eretia said abruptly.
Knox Martins stood there silently and she became too uncomfortable at his silence.
“Mr Knox Martins, can I get my clothes? I need to eat or I’ll die of hunger.” Eretia murmured.
“Okay.” He replied.
“Wait.. is this my room?” Knox turned to face her.
“No.” And with the short response he walked away and came in later with her box.
“Thank you.” She mumbled.
Knox moved out of the room. Eretia went to the door and locked it. She took out her towel and nightgown and went to the bathroom.
After she was done changing, Eretia walked into the kitchen. Knox Martins was there, a pot of coffee on the gas and he was taking something out of the toast machine.
“Cinnamon toast.” She said.
“Yes.” Knox asserted.
It was getting close to midnight. Eretia sank onto the stool close to the island. Knox brought two coffee cups to the table and sat across from her. He passed one cup of hot coffee to her. He sipped his coffee and ate his toast.
Eretia sat back cradling the cup in one hand. “Now let us do a proper introduction.” She said.
Knox Martins put down his cup and looked right at her. “I am Eretia Jones.” She introduced herself.
“Eretia Jones.” He nodded slowly.
“Your mother hired me to -”
“She is not my mother.” Knox interrupted her.
Eretia exhaled noisily. “Why do you keep saying that to your mom? It is -” Her voice trailed off.
“Stop it. And if you want to stay around then stop talking about that woman.” Knox stood up and walked away.
“What’s so wrong about his mom? He is so proud! She did nothing wrong! And isn’t he old enough to realize that? Jerk!” Eretia hissed lowly before she took another sip of her coffee.