This is the seventh chapter of an eight chapter story. I recommend starting with chapter one.
My thanks go to Joffa for providing his spelling and grammar expertise. His help is highly appreciated. If any errors remain, I'm sure they happened after his editing.
Please vote and/or leave comments. It is your feedback which fuels my motivation.
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Ch. 07: Building the relationship
The next morning I woke feeling better than I had in a long time. The Pneumonia that had almost killed me was, while still affecting me, clearly beaten and retreating. And probably more important, I had come to terms with my feelings and emotions regarding Melissa. Since I first noticed her, fell into her deep, green eyes for the first time, I knew that she was the one who could hurt me more than anybody else. Not even my sister-in-law Andrea, whom I had known for almost twenty years or her kids that I adored beyond reason, had such a destructive potential.
But she also had the potential to deliver happiness, joy, peace and love to an extent I hadn't thought possible. And I had learned that from looking into her eyes once. That much was clear to me now; that was why I had blocked her off that night at the club or the later opportunities. But I was done being scared of the negatives that could happen but was instead looking forward to the potential positives. Somehow I knew she wouldn't intentionally hurt me.
I got up to go to the kitchen. On my way, I passed the bedroom Melissa had chosen for herself. She had left the door open and I took a quick peek inside: she was still sleeping, mostly covered but one of her legs stuck out. And what a delectable leg it was. It took all my willpower not to go into her room and start feasting on that leg. Instead, I went downstairs and got myself a coffee from the capsule machine. While the coffee ran through I went to my office to get my laptop.
I sat down at the kitchen table, started the computer and opened the email-program. I prepared an email to all employees in which I thanked them for all the flowers and well-wishing cards, informed them that I was over the worst and announced that I would take some time off to fully recuperate. They would not hear or see anything from me for at least two weeks.
I was reflecting on a paragraph in which I wanted to express my confidence in the management team and every single employee to be successful in reaching both their personal and professional targets during my absence when Melissa entered the kitchen.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing? No working!"
I waved her over to let her look at the email. This softened her reaction massively, especially the part where I told them about taking time off. She allowed me one call with Helen but supervised me closely to make sure I wouldn't turn it into a full-scale business meeting, not that it was necessary; Helen would never have allowed such a thing to happen.
When the call was done and the email was sent, I moved towards the counter to start and prepare breakfast for us. Of course, this attempt was shot down before I had opened the fridge.
"You go somewhere other than the kitchen and indulge your hobbies."
After pouting a bit I left the kitchen for the living room. The next thing I found out was rather depressing: I had no hobbies. In the last seven years, my life had consisted of work. When being at home I either continued to work or watched some nonsense on TV. I enjoyed gardening but I couldn't shake the impression that Melissa would intervene for multiple reasons if I tried to do some gardening in the middle of October with temperatures around ten to fifteen degree Celsius (fifty to fifty-nine Fahrenheit).
While attending university I didn't pursue any hobbies as I was fully engaged majoring in computer science, mathematics and business administration.
So what did I do in High Scholl when I was not learning? I played games on the computer. I was tutoring. I read. Maybe I could take up a new hobby? What were my interests outside the information technology?
I regularly visited the gym. I could expand on that and take up some sport like Tennis or Squash. I always wanted a dog. But these would have to wait until I was better. Less physical and more indoors. Should I take up gaming again? But somehow I couldn't see me sitting at a computer doing anything but working.
I slipped into a very bad mood while realising how one- sided my life had become. I didn't even have any interests apart from working.
"Breakfast is ready!"
As we sat and ate and talked about how to spend the coming week, I remarked to Melissa that I didn't have any hobbies or interests outside work.
"For years you have devoted your entire life to your company and neglected your personal development. Of course, you don't have any hobbies. But don't worry. If you reduce your workload you will automatically develop some. You have been working out. That's a good hobby, just not one you can follow right now. We will find something less strenuous for the next week.
How about being pampered by me?"
"Don't you have to study or attend lectures?"
"Tired of me already?"
"No. But I'd hate it if you didn't chase your own targets just to care for me."
"Caring for you is my one and only target right now. I can do most from here and should be able to catch up on everything else. Please don't worry. I'm sure you are worth taking a chance."
Once finished with breakfast I was supervised taking my medicaments and sent to take a shower while she cleared the table and cleaned the kitchen. I intentionally skipped drying my hair as I had enjoyed Melissa doing it immensely and just as I was about to leave the bathroom with mostly wet hair, she came into my bedroom.
"I knew it!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with laughter. "You enjoy being pampered by me. Sit down and let me take care of your hair."
I suppose my smile gave me away as I happily complied and greatly enjoyed her fingers tenderly combing my hair.
This was how we spent the two weeks. Melissa made sure I took my pills, kept warm, ate enough and didn't do any kind of work. I made it easy for her. I didn't try to sneak away to work or do something strenuous but focussed on recovering and getting to know Melissa. And I was really willing to change my life style. I would not neglect the company but I accepted that I needed some regular downtime, both physically and mentally.
We both enjoyed the building sexual tension. We never discussed it but we had come to an unspoken agreement that we wouldn't sleep together during these two weeks. The first few days that was not too difficult as I was already exhausted when I walked up a flight of stairs. But as I gradually regained most of my fitness, it became reciprocally harder by the day if not by the hour.
When I felt I had sufficiently recovered I insisted on at least helping in the house. Step by step I increased my contribution by helping to prepare meals, clear the table, empty the dishwasher, do some laundry or change the sheets. I was used to doing these things and I was really starting to feel bored. At the end of the two weeks, we had found a good level of sharing the tasks.
It was Melissa who upped the heat. I was loading the dishwasher about a week and a half after I had come back home from the hospital when I felt a finger drawn along my neck. Following my surprised exclamation, she looked as if she had no idea what just had happened.
