The billionaire's only desire-Chapter 19: Prince charming to the rescue part 3

"Let’s get you home," Dalton said. "What is your address?"

Maya frowned, craning her neck to look out the window for a glimpse of her pickup truck. "I can’t leave my pickup truck here,"

"But you are in no condition to drive," Dalton pointed out. He was right; every muscle in her body ached, and she feels slightly dizzy.

"But I can’t leave my pickup truck here," she sighed.

"Can I drive your pickup truck then?" Dalton offered.

"My pickup truck?" Maya’s eyes darted around, taking in the interior of his luxurious car and comparing it to her beat-up truck. It was so inferior to her vehicle. There was no way he would be comfortable driving her pickup.

As if Dalton could read her mind, he said, "You are comfortable driving it; why wouldn’t I be?"

Maya shyly rubbed the back of her neck as she said, "All right, then."

"Keys," Dalton said as he hurled forth his hand.

Maya paused and looked around her seat. "I can’t find my purse, and my keys are in it."

"Check the pocket inside my coat," Dalton instructed.

"Your pocket?" Maya frowned. She reached into his pocket and pulled out a small purse.

"Oh my," she said, taken aback. "How did my purse end up in the pocket of your coat?"

"You left it on the balcony."

Maya furrowed her brows, and then it struck her. "You’re the guy I saw on the terrace."

Dalton nodded. "I went looking for you to return your purse, but it seems you had disappeared."

"Oh, I was with my stepfather," Maya blurted out. Come to think of it, she is in deep trouble. She didn’t slept with that potbellied man, and she had almost killed him. Terrence would not be getting that promotion.

She is dreading the aftermath. Her stepfather and Terrence will retaliate, and one of them might end up killing her.

Dalton spoke, interrupting her panic-driven thoughts. "I want to ask you a question."

Maya swallowed hard as she waited with anticipation.

"Has your stepfather tried to force you to sleep with his clients, friends, or anyone else?"

His green eyes bore into her as if he were looking straight through her soul. He would be able to tell if she was lying.

So Maya did not lie. "Yes," she admits, "He wanted me to sleep with the man I almost killed. I escaped him, only to be assaulted by his bodyguard." This experience is so traumatic for her. Although she seems to be fine now, she will have nightmares about this terrible incident for many nights to come.

Dalton appeared calm, but a dangerous flicker of anger flashed in his eyes. Maya felt uneasy. She had been joking when she asked if he was a Mafia boss, but the rage In his eyes suggested that he wanted to kill her stepfather. Even though he had beaten up that bodyguard to save her, he wouldn’t go so far as to murder her stepfather, right? This is real life; he wouldn’t kill someone over a random girl he has only interacted with on three occasions.

"I will make sure he never tries to force you to do that again," Dalton assures her, his tone threatening. Maya wondered what he was thinking. What is he planning to do to her stepfather?

Dalton stepped out of the car, walked to the passenger side, and opened the door. He took Maya’s hand and helped her out.

Maya smiled to herself, thinking how much of a gentleman he was. The woman he is going to marry is truly fortunate.

"Is your pickup the red one?" Dalton asked, pointing at it.

"Yes, " she replied. It was the old one out, easy to spot.

Dalton didn’t let go of her hand as they walked toward her truck. Maya had been worried that she was acting unprofessionally and crossing boundaries, yet here he was, woving their fingers together as if they were a couple.

"May I?" he asked politely, gesturing toward her purse.

"Sure," Maya replied, handing it to him. He took out the keys and returned the purse to her.

As they settled into the pickup truck, Maya provided him with the address of Natalia’s apartment. She cannot go home and face her stepfather and Terrence’s wrath. She will postpone the beatings she is likely to receive for one day.

"I have changed my mind. You are not going home; you need to see a doctor." His tone was firm, leaving Maya no room to protest.

"Okay."

"We are going to see Oliver at the hospital," he announced.

"Great!" Maya was thrilled at the prospect of seeing Oliver, as she had grown fond of him.

••

Twenty-five minutes later, they arrived at the hospital. Maya immediately felt nauseous. The strong combination of antiseptic and medicinal scents, along with the underlying smell of cleaning products and the sterile environment, was unpleasant.

When she looked at Dalton, she noticed him scrunching his nose. He also disliked the smell of the hospital. Maya kept a straight face, unable to endure the sight of the injured and ill patients surrounding them.

They came to a stop in front of a door with a large sign above it that read, "Dr. Oliver Ford." Dalton turned the doorknob, which was unlocked. When they entered, they found a man lying on the examination bed. Maya assumed he was a patient until he turned to face them.

Maya narrowed her eyes. "Your eyes are green... Hi, River!"

River sat up straight, his face brightening. "Hey, Black Hair Goldilocks."

Dalton shot a menacing glare at River.

River burst out laughing. "I won’t call her that; I’ll just call her Maya."

Maya smiled at River. "I don’t mind. You can call me whatever you want."

"I do mind—no pet names," Dalton protested adamantly.

River huffed. "You are so possessive of her."

Maya’s face lit up with confusion. Dalton was acting strangely. She didn’t want to read too much into it, but he seemed a bit overprotective of her, almost like one of those heroes in a romantic novels. No, she is overthinking things. He is simply looking out for her.

She stole a glance at him, and their eyes met. He had been looking at her the entire time. She quickly looked away, feeling a strange sensation spread through her chest.

Dalton’s attention shifted away from her, allowing her to breathe normally. Her breaths had been jagged due to his intense gaze.

"Where is Oliver?" Dalton asked River.

River yawned and stretched his arms. "He is performing a surgery. You can wait for him; he is almost done." He glanced at his wristwatch.

Dalton held Maya’s wrist and guided her to a leather couch. "Sit," he said, his tone strict yet gentle.

Maya did as he instructed.

"I will get you something to eat at the cafeteria," he added.

Maya shook her head. "The chicken was enough," she said, rubbing her stomach.

"You still need to eat again," he insisted.

River couldn’t contain his laughter. "Daddy Dalton," he teased.

Dalton ignored his brother’s taunts and headed to the cafeteria.

Maya’s cheeks flushed; she couldn’t stop blushing because Dalton kept acting so caring.

River suddenly teases. "I need to get a suit ready for your wedding with Dalton."

Maya’s eyes widened. "N-No, we don’t have that kind of relationship. We just met. This is absurd."

River laughed. "I’m just joking. But who knows?"

Maya took a deep breath and said, "He is just being kind."

River shook his head. "My brother doesn’t care about anyone except us, his brothers. Now you have joined the list of people he cares about, and you might even be at the top of that list."

Maya tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as she ran through the many thoughts piling up in her mind. She doesn’t dare to believe River and thinks that she is important to Dalton. He is just a gentleman helping a damsel in distress.

"Hey, Maya, don’t get worked up. I might be joking," River flashed her a mischievous grin. freёwebnoѵel.com

Maya hoped he was.

River left the examination bed and sat down beside her on the couch. Suddenly, he frowned. "What happened to your face? Were you in a fight?" he asked as he examined her face.

"I got into some sort of accident," Maya replied nervously, avoiding his gaze.

"Oh, I’m sorry," River said. He didn’t press further.

The door swung open, revealing Dalton and Oliver.

Maya’s eyes brightened with a smile. "Hi, Oliver."

Oliver returned her smile. "Hey, Maya, good to see you again."

"Same here," Maya said, grinning widely. Her grin turned into a shy smile when Dalton handed her a sandwich and a soda.

"Thanks,"

Oliver waited for Maya to finish eating before he examined her.

When she was done, Oliver politely asked Maya to sit on the examination bed. He used the penlight to shine light into her eyes, examining them closely.

Oliver’s keen eyes studied her face as he examined her bruises. "Did you treat the bruises yourself?" he asked.

"No, Dalton did,"

Oliver shoots Dalton a smile. "You did a good job."

Dalton didn’t respond, as usual.

"And Maya got you to visit me at work. You hate the hospital," Oliver teased.

Maya’s eyes sought Dalton. "Sorry, I made you come to the hospital. I hate the hospital too."

"Don’t apologize. Your health matters more than my dislike for the hospital," Dalton said nonchalantly.

River coughed deliberately and Oliver smiled knowingly. As for Maya, she was plunged into more confusion, and her heart was acting strangely.

Maya doesn’t know what Dalton told Oliver, and he didn’t ask her how she got the bruises. She is very grateful for that. She wants to pretend, the terrible incident never happened.

Oliver did a thorough examination, asked Maya a series of questions, and had her take a painkiller, which made her migraine vanish and subdued her body ache.

"Let me conduct a full set of tests so I can prescribe new medication to help combat the migraines, dizziness, and fainting you have been experiencing," Oliver suggested.

"Okay," Maya said as she followed Oliver to the lab. She was about to ask him how much the tests would cost when she remembered that free health care was included in the employee contract she had signed. She relaxed.

•••

The tests took a long time, and soon it was midnight. Maya was extremely exhausted and fell asleep while Dalton drove her to Natalia’s apartment.

"We’re here," Dalton tapped Maya to wake her up.

Maya got out of the car, feeling a bit unsteady. The thought of the stairs she needed to climb to reach Natalia’s door made her consider the option of just sleeping in her pickup truck.

"You look sleepy," Dalton suddenly swept Maya into his arms without warning. She was too tired to protest, so she simply made herself comfortable, resting her head against his sturdy chest.

"Where is your friend’s door?" Dalton asked.

"Second door," Maya replied sleepily.

With quick but careful strides, Dalton soon reached Natalia’s door.

"Is she at home?" he inquired.

"No, the spare key is under the flower pot," Maya told him.

Dalton gently set Maya down, holding her hand with one hand while using his other hand to move the flower pot aside and retrieve the spare key. He unlocked the door and left it slightly open. Then, he reached for Maya and lifted her back into his arms.

He shut the door with his foot when they made it inside. He didn’t need to ask Maya; he quickly located the bedroom and took her inside. He carefully laid Maya on the bed and took off her shoes before pulling the covers over her.

"Good night," Maya heard him say before she drifted deep into sleep.

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