Her Savior

She spent her morning by sleeping some more in the guest bedroom, then screamed and almost slapped the maid. Thankfully she couldn’t raise her arm high enough, because of her cast.

“I’m sorry… I… I thought you’re…” she managed to stop her words before she revealed herself to the older woman.

“No… it’s my fault. I’m Rose, the maid. Mr. Taylor had asked me to make sure that you have your lunch and take your pain medication.”

“Rose, nice to meet you I’m… Jane. I’ll… be up… oomph… damn it…” she was struggling to get herself out of the bed until Rose helped her up.

“Thank you…”

“You’re welcome, Miss Jane.”

“Oh Rose, please just Jane. I don’t care much for titles.” She smiled at her, knowing that she had a wanted title in front of her real name.

Rose smiled at her and accompanied her to the dining area where she had arranged her lunch.

“This is too much for me, have you eaten? You want to join me?”

“No mam, I mean miss … I mean Jane.” She nervously replied to her, knowing that Ian Taylor doesn’t usually have a woman sleeping over at his. And when she put more thought into it, the cold and overworked Ian never leave a woman unattended in his house.

She knew she would be questioned by his mother when she finds out about this. Rose was assigned by his mother to attend to her son’s residence while he’s away at work. She was to tidy up and cook for her son every couple of times a week.

And his mother would definitely look for her when Rose won’t be available for her weekly high tea preparation with her closest friends. All because Ian had asked her, to be fully available for him all days of the week for this week. 

“I’m going to do his laundry, do you want me to take yours from your room?”

“No… I’ll do it.”

“But Mr. Taylor said…”

“Rose, please… I may be injured but I’m still able to take my laundry to you. It might take a while but I need to walk it out.”

“Okay…”

Rose wasn’t sure looking at her condition. But she was backing down and didn’t want to push further. Jane seemed nice enough, and her words sounded genuine Rose thought to herself.

“But tell me if you need anything, just yell out for me. I don’t think you should move a lot.”

“Rose this is not my first time…” she accidentally spilled out the words and was quickly masking it by starting to eat her lunch.

Rose took a glimpse at her nervousness, and asked herself what happened to the nice young woman? And she was also secretly hoping that Ian, would take good care of her.

She had known him since the first day the little boy arrived at the Taylor’s. He has always been very nice to everyone, he treated the help with respect. And that didn’t happen from being raised by the Taylor’s. Though they’re a very nice couple, but there was something about the rich that would still distance themselves from the help.

Moments later she excused herself to do her usual housework, before finishing off cooking for Ian and his injured house guest.

Blair had just finished her lunch and was done taking her pain medication that was left by Ian. And then she struggled with the simple task of collecting her clothes until she finally breakdown and cry from the intense pain. Her sprained ankle turns out to be getting worse, and it was getting swollen and hurting her with each step she took.

She was sobbing when Rose passed her room, and decided to check up on her.

“Jane? are you okay? oh my God… it’s swollen. Here, let me help you to the bed. Please try not to walk on it for the time being.”

It was taking all of her willpower and energy, to finally get to the bed with Rose’s help.

“Thank you, looks like I’ll be needing your help after all.”

“Oh child, please… let me help you, it’s my job and Mr. Taylor would be upset if I didn’t help you.”

“Did he really ask you to call him Mr. Taylor?” she asked when she finally reached the bed. She was sighing in relief when her legs were up, and Rose helped her some more by putting a pillow under it.

“Actually no, I was just being respectful to you. I call him Ian.”

“Well, can you call him that when talking about him?” she asked, making the older woman smiled at her. She was liking this Jane person, she just really hoped that she would get well soon.

“There, you’re settled. I’m going to do some laundry, I’ll be checking in on you in the next thirty minutes. Try to rest?”

She was sleepy from the pain medication, then the stress was catching up to her. It had exhausted her to the point that she was finally able to just sleep it off.

It was dark when she woke up and decided to go to the bathroom, she smiled when she managed that simple little task.  Her feet were feeling better, the swollen had lessened and the cut was less painful. She was about to go and get some drink when he yelled at her.

Beads of cold sweat start to appear, her heart beats faster, her palms were sweaty. Her mind was taking her back to the past. Her face was pale.

His loud voice was triggering her trauma, and her body reacts just like it used to. Her arms were covering her head, her body was flat to the nearest wall, her face was shielded to the wall.

She didn’t think twice, she was squirming, quivering, getting ready for the big hit. She was still trembling when he pulled her into his embrace.

“I’m so sorry… I’m sorry. I didn’t realize… it’s me, it’s Ian. You’re safe.”

He was upset when he saw her walking after Rose had told him that she found Jane crying from the pain. She said that Jane was trying to take her laundry.

And he was even more upset when he saw how she was affected by his raised voice. His late mother would do exactly that. He used to think, that she was playing hide and seek with his father. Her face was to the wall, her hands on her face. Months later he finds out, that it was her way to protect herself, every time she was about to take a beating from his father.

“Blair? look at me… I would never hurt you. Never.”

She was still in her own mind until he reached for her wet cheek and took her face to look at him. She was still closing her eyes, her body trembled, her tears rolled down her very pale face.

And that was when he decided to carry her back to her room, and lay beside her, not letting her go. His comforting words flow steadily to her ears. Until he could finally feel her getting more relaxed, and she was pulling her body closer to him.

“I got you, Blair, you’re safe baby…”

He was feeling all kinds of emotions towards her.

“Ian…” her voice was small, but he let out his breath knowing that she had finally acknowledged him. Then he was pulling her closer while rubbing her back slowly.

She was afraid, yet felt safe at the same time. It was a weird feeling, it was a new one for her.