Just a Simple Love Story by Kimberley Nunes (best historical fiction books of all time TXT) 📖

for being just a lowly biologist?” I finished his question.

His face fell and I bit my tongue. Guess, that was slightly harsh. It wasn’t his fault after all.

“I’m sorry” I apologized laying my free hand on his, which was still holding on to my wrist.

Sebastian shook his head and said: “No, Kaitlynn. I’m the one who should apologize. The things she said were-“

“No biggie” I interrupted smiling widely at him. “I’m able to defend myself and know how to handle people like her.”

He didn’t seem to believe me.

“Listen, Sebastian” I got serious, “I’m not going to lie here. I can’t stand that woman.”

My opposite cracked a faint smile, one of those rare ones, and nodded: “I hate her guts, too. Don’t ask me why he married her.”

I genuinely smiled at the young Benz who partially returned it.

“You look tired, Benz.”

“Hm, guess whose fault it is I couldn’t actually sleep” he challenged.

“Karin’s?” I guessed.

Sebastian squeezed his eyes shut in exasperation. “Oh, please don’t mention that name.”

I chuckled feeling all the negative feelings evaporate.

“Hey, aren’t you wearing the same clothes from yesterday?” he suddenly asked.

Sheepishly scratching the back of my head I nodded: “Quite observant.”

His beautiful eyes grew wide as realization dawned upon him: “Don’t tell me you spent the night working?”

I shrugged not wanting to admit what I had been up to.

“Is it because of what Karin said?” his voice and expression grew angry.

“Are you insane?” I laughed. “You think somebody like your sister-in-law would be able to force me into doing something like working through the night? Need to disappoint you, but I’m doing this for a complete different reason.”

He arched a perfectly shaped brow at me.

“Long story. I’ll bore you some other time. You should head home, Sebastian. If I may say, you look like shit.”

He couldn’t comprehend what he had heard just now. “Did you just say that I look like shit?”

I smiled innocently nodding: “I did. I’ll stay by Ian, if you’re worried about that. I just need to get my notes.”

He seemed to ponder before sighing deeply. Before actually giving me an answer Mr. Sebastian Benz yanked me along the long white corridor leading to my office.

“I guess, that means you’re going to leave?” I inquired rather amused.

His signature answer was thrown onto me: “Hn.”

Reaching my office I fished for the keys and Sebastian pushed open the door after unlocking it. I expectantly waited for him to let go of my wrist, but there was no sign anyhow. Wondering what this man with the stoic expression was thinking I shook my head gathering all the papers using my free hand. Although it took some time, he didn’t seem to mind, or even think about letting go of my wrist. After finishing the task at last I smiled widely at him. The beautiful Benz just looked at me before leading me out of the small room. He stopped and motioned towards the mobile I had left on my sofa. At first, I looked dumbfounded until I understood him wanting me to carry the phone with me. I nodded once and he picked it up for me, as I carried the stack of papers in my only free hand. Sebastian was also the one to lock the door and lead me to Ian’s room. Finally arriving at our destination I put down the papers and stretched out, as he had let go. I walked over to the comatose brother’s bed checking his newest results before walking over to my notes.

“Here” Sebastian handed me the keys and mobile he had been carrying.

I held out my hand and he laid them onto my palm, not pulling back right away, though. His eyes bore into me and my heart beat quickened.

“You better answer your phone the next time” he warned.

My mouth went dry and my voice seemed to have disappeared. I simply nodded, not taking my eyes off him. What is happening here? Why am I suddenly feeling hot? Why is my pulse rate so damn high? I couldn’t take my eyes off him. His face inched closer. I could only register the motion, but felt myself taped to the ground. I couldn’t move, I couldn’t do anything but stare into those deep blue eyes.

“Good girl” he whispered. His face barely an inch apart from mine.

I could feel his breath on me. Sebastian suddenly pulled away sighing and walking over to the door. “I’ll be back in no time. I’m just going to take a quick shower and grab something to eat” he informed and left the room not waiting for my answer. Only then did I realize I was holding my breath. I took a few deep breaths calming my racing heart down and concentrating at the task at hand. There was no time for me to think about anything but waking Ian up. I could only succeed by concentrating 100%. Taking one last deep breath I sat on the visitor’s chair, notes in hand.

You Convinced Me the First Time

 

Two weeks had passed since Octavio and I had been working together nonstop on modifying the BNG-29 and awakening Ian from his coma. Unexpectedly, working with my superior turned out to be pleasant and helpful. Whenever he came to the lab the snake-man would lend a helping hand with no matter how small and boring the job. Whenever I believed to be hitting a dead-end Octavio would offer me encouraging words and sit down with me pondering together and offering help in anyway. Within no time this once so terrifying chief of department had turned into a great mentor to me. I knew I could confide in him at any time. Who would have thought it would turn out to be this way? But, the better my relationship with Octavio developed, the worse it turned out to get with Kasper, Renee and a few others. I didn’t actually give a rat’s ass.

After spending countless nights in the laboratory there finally seemed to be a breakthrough. I had been able to awaken one of my mice by pure coincidence from a coma similar to Ian’s circumstances. Wasting no time, I ran out of the lab, skipping a few stairs down to Octavio’s office. Before bursting in though, I knocked on the door, waiting for Kasper to grant me entrée. Getting impatient by every passing second I decided to open the door anyway. Screw you, stupid Kasper. I regretted it right away.

“Holy…” I just wasn’t able to finish my sentence. My eyes grew enormous and my hands automatically covered my mouth.

“It’s not as it looks” the personal assistant tried to explain.

Yeah… surely not that way. Kasper’s shirt was lying on the floor, his trousers pulled half way up, glasses on the desk and his hair a total mess.

“I told you it wasn’t a good idea!” an embarrassed brown-haired guy exclaimed. He wasn’t anybody I knew.

“Sorry” I tried to say something. “I guess Octavio isn’t in his office?”

Kasper’s face turned fifty shades redder as he shook his head. “He isn’t.”

“Um… then, sorry for interrupting. Excuse me” I turned around and left the room as fast as possible.

“Excuse me,” the stranger’s voice called after me before I could reach the corridor.

“Please don’t say anything to anybody” he pleaded.

I faced him directly: “This is not my problem or concern. You are free to do whatever you want with whoever and whenever. But let me offer you a piece of advice. If you don’t want people to find out about” I waved my hand towards Kasper and the entire room, “this, you better do those things some other, safer place. As I said, I don’t care and ultimately don’t have any desire to share whatever I saw just now with anybody, but I believe there are enough people who won’t keep their mouth shut.” I shot Kasper a glance and sighed. “I promise the both of you, my lips are sealed. But you guys should really think about what you are doing and especially where.”

The brown-haired stranger let his head hang down knowing exactly what I was implying. Before leaving I looked directly at Kasper and what I saw this time blew me away. A single tear ran down his cheek while he lovingly stared at the other man’s back. He realized me staring and turned around fishing for his shirt.

“I’ll leave then” I announced while heading out.

Wow! I shook my head trying to forget what I had just witnessed. I need to find Octavio. I pulled out my phone scrolling for his number. He picked up at the second ring.

“Yes?” he asked.

“Where are you, Octavio?” I couldn’t wait to meet him and tell him about my newest discovery. “Right now in room number 1024” he informed.

Room 1024? That’s Ian’s room! He had been transferred back to his old room as there was no visible change to his condition.

“Is it urgent?” the snake-like man wanted to know.

“Um… I think I found a solution.”

It was silent before he ordered: “I’ll be right at the lab. Wait there for me.” The line went dead. I turned back immediately and hurried back to where I had come from. Just a few seconds after I reached, my superior entered, clearly out of breath.

“So?” he asked not losing any time.

I pointed towards the cage with a mouse wide awake making efforts to stand up. Octavio’s eyes grew wide and his lips slowly formed his signature macabre smile.

“You did it” he exclaimed joyfully. He turned around to face me arching his eyebrow questioningly: “Why are you crying?”

I hadn’t realized that tears were running down my face. It seemed like all the weight and stress from the past were lifted after he had confirmed that I had found a way for Ian to wake up. My mentor walked over and hugged me.

“It’s fine, child. You deserve to cry to your heart’s content” he softly consoled me. He didn’t have to tell me that twice. I let go and wetted Octavio’s shirt. After some time I had drained out the last tears and felt reborn. “Thank you and sorry” I apologized seeing his wet shirt.

He just laughed and petted my head.

“What do you think about informing the family? They must’ve been waiting for news like this. But of course, please tidy up that face of yours” he joked warmly.

Nodding, I made my way to the nearest washroom and looked at the face staring back from the mirror. My eyes were swollen and red, but I didn’t really care. I washed my face. The chief of department had been waiting just outside, my research file in hand. He handed it over to me and smiled: “I informed that brainless surgeon you call friend. He’ll meet us outside the room.”

I smiled so wide my face pained. We headed straight for Ian’s room passing countless white doors and a few paintings.

As Octavio had said my friend and the best surgeon in this renowned hospital stood there impatiently. He grinned widely upon seeing us and closed the distance. Before saying anything he hugged me tightly. I was sure he was crushing my ribs. But I welcomed it gratefully.

“You did it, Kaite!” he excitedly exclaimed. “You are the best, BEST!”

“We shouldn’t get ahead of ourselves” I warned him.

“Right there” Octavio concurred. “Let’s go in.”

Not wasting