A Baby For Billionaire Knox

THEME: Drowning in the snow

KNOX MARTINS BEACH HOUSE

TWO HOURS LATER

The cold air made Eretia gasp and she pulled her jacket more tightly around her. Eretia stepped into the snow to see if the lights inside the apartment were on. The snow immediately penetrated the boot she had changed into and cold air tickled her exposed skin and the howling of the wind scared her a bit. She started forward, the cold made her barehand and knee ache so she pushed her hands into her pocket immediately. The cold was freezing her system.

“Mr Knox Martins!” She called but her voice was lost in the wind.

“Mr Knox!” Eretia yelled again and it was lost again. She started to the side of the house and as she walked, she kept her head down against the driving snow.

“Mr Knox! Please open the door! I am freezing!” Eretia screamed.

And all she heard was the wind, more and more snow fell on her as she called out to her boss. It was then it hit her that her boss might be fast asleep in bed. She looked closely the lights were on through the curtains. She wandered to the right side.

“Mr Martins! Please open up!” Eretia shouted loudly.

But soon the snow caught at her feet tripping her, sending her falling right to the ground and there was no hands to stop the fall. And Eretia went down into cold wetness, which went down her neck, up to her sleeves and into her nose and mouth. Eretia wondered if a person could drown in snow and die.

She couldn’t find anything to hold on to or just something to get back on her feet. The cold was overwhelming and she was gasping, totally off balance and out of air. Eretia knew she should have waited on the porch. She hit the icy ground with her hand in regret and frustration. She wasn’t born and bred to this life. This sort of weather did strange things to people.

Eretia doesn’t want to die in the snow. She decided to use her last strength to call for help. She spat out snow and she screamed. “Mr Knox Martins! Help me!”

His eyes flare open immediately when he heard the loud cry. And he remembered the psycho lady was still out in the cold while he had fallen asleep on the couch.

“Damn it!” Knox muttered as he rushed to his room to grab a jacket. He stepped out into the cold but he didn’t know what to call her as he looked around him into the night and snow storm.

“Lady!” Knox shouted in the wind. No response.

He cupped his hand at his mouth and tried again. “Miss!” He listened for a second and then he heard a tiny voice.

“Mr Knox.”

He wasn’t sure if he heard it or he had just imagined it until he heard it again. One word could define the way he was feeling at that moment, terrified. What if something bad has happened to her? He took off in the direction of the sound, stumbling through the snow. He saw a figure down in the swirling snow.

“Mr… Martins!” Eretia cried.

Mr Knox Martins headed for her then he was there. He grabbed her hand and lifted her up. And without thinking he pulled her to his body, the next instance her arms went around hugging him tightly and her face buried in his chest.

Knox Martins heaved a sigh of relief. And the instant he held her tightly to his body, he felt something in him that he had been trying to keep at bay. His heart arched from a fear that came from knowing what could have happened to her. The fear caught him and his hold on her tightened for a moment.

“What in hell were you thinking?” Knox Martins demanded with more roughness.

“I was… calling.. for you.” Eretia said in a voice so unsteady and low that he almost couldn’t make out her words.

Knox Martins held her away from him and saw her chin trembling. And he grounded out. “You are so stupid.”

“It… was.. your.. fault..” Eretia shuddered violently.

Knox felt her unsteadiness. He wanted her gone. He wanted to be the way he had been for years – alone. Knox tried to let her go but the moment he did, he felt her sway to one side, so he had no choice but to keep that contact. The wind grew in intensity as he slipped his arm around her shoulder letting her lean against him and turned her towards the porch. As he pulled her to his side, she hid her face in his jacket.

Eretia seemed to have no strength. By the time they got to the porch she was barely able to walk. Her jacket was heavy with snow and she was already too pale. Her breathing was unsteady and shallow and she was shaking all over. Eretia hugged herself as Knox opened the door. He helped her with the box.

“Take off your coat.” Knox commanded when they stepped into his apartment.

Eretia hands were shaking so badly that she couldn’t pull at a button. Knox went to her and helped unbuttoned the jacket for her and he tossed it on the floor.

“Full heat will only hurt you more.” Knox said.

He knew the signs of hypothermia. Heat could do more damage to her. Eretia needed to regulate her own body heat. “Are you okay?” He felt the urge to touch her pale cheeks.

“You.. left.. me.. out.. there.” Eretia shuddered violently again.

“I thought you were going to give up.” Knox admitted.

“Sound… Like a plan.. but just so you know I am not quitting anytime soon.” Eretia muttered.

Knox looked at her again. “Where.. is .. my .. room.?” She asked.

“Come on..” He pointed towards a direction.

Eretia looked at him and it was then that Knox realized something was wrong. She shivered violently again, her whole body was shaking, and then she stretched out her right hand towards him. And as Knox reached for her hand, he watched her almost falling to the ground but he caught her and then scooped her up in his arms. Eretia was completely limp and he knew she was unconscious.

“Damn it!” Knox uttered profanity and he rushed her to his bedroom.

*************

Eretia could feel a hand on her forehead, a gentle contact, warm and careful. She felt a pain when the soft warmth dissolved and comfort was gone. Her skin on fire, an ache all over her body. She felt the heat and cold, the pain burning and bone deep aches.

Then the shaking started all over and it was a convulsive shivering. In her unconscious state, she heard a deep voice, so soft and soothing. She felt something against her lips, cool liquid and she choked on it but she managed to swallow it down her throat. The shaking grew until someone gather her in strong arms, holding her tightly as if to keep her steady. And gradually, the shivering lessened as she snuggled into the warmth. The voice whispered that she would be okay and very slowly she fell asleep.

Eretia didn’t know anything until she felt herself waking from a deep sleep. She heard a voice.

“I wish I could get her to the hospital.” Knox said on phone.

“Even if you could, she can’t go back outside for now. How is she?” Doctor Brandon replied.

“She is doing better.” Knox’s voice was low.

“Well she is lucky you knew what to do.” The doctor said.

“Really lucky doctor. Thank you.” Knox heaved a sigh.

“Check her again.” Doctor Brandon ordered.

Eretia was too weary to open her eyes or speak. Knox touched her wrist, holding it lightly and then the touch was gone.

“Her pulse is strong, a bit fast but she is breathing well. Her body temperature is normal and her color is better now.” Knox answered.

“You did a good job.” The doctor chuckled

“That’s a relief.” Knox mumbled.

“But just make sure she is fine.” Doctor Brandon added.

“Of course.. thank you.” Knox cuts the call.

He touched Eretia again but this time on her forehead. He leaned closer and whispered to her ears. “You are okay… just rest.”

Then she let go and tumbled back into the comfort of sleep. Knox watched Eretia settle and something in him eased. He took a deeper breathe for the first time since he had carried her into his bedroom more than eight hours ago. He could hardly breathe without tightness. She would be okay. Knox reassured himself as he moved out of the room to get a cup of coffee in the kitchen.