Page 7 of Christmas with Billionaire's Runaway Bride

One evening, as I sit at my desk, poring over yet another set of documents, Claire enters the room. She places a cup of tea on the table beside me and gives me a gentle smile. "You've been at this for hours. Take a break," she suggests softly.

I glance up at her, appreciating her concern. "I can't afford to take a break right now," I reply, my tone weary but determined.

Claire leans against the edge of the desk, her gaze fixed on me. "I understand, but pushing yourself too hard won't help either. Sometimes stepping back can give you a fresh perspective."

Her words strike a chord. I realize that I've been so consumed by the investigation that I've lost sight of the bigger picture. With a sigh, I close the file in front of me and lean back in my chair. "You're right. I need to clear my head for a moment."

Claire's smile widens, and she reaches out to give my hand a reassuring squeeze. "I'll be here whenever you're ready to dive back in."

As I take a sip of the tea she brought me, I'm reminded of the complex mix of emotions that initially surrounded Claire. Amidst the chaos of the investigation, her unwavering support and understanding have become a source of strength, grounding me amid uncertainty.

I'm watching as the whole world engrosses itself in tales and spreads whispers about my inability to walk again. They support their claims with images of me, cocooned in layers of protection, appearing fragile, and being pushed in and out of different places. Gosh, their stories almost succeed in convincing me! Claire, despite her attempts to conceal it, can't hide her engagement with those narratives. I catch glimpses of her determination to assist me, as well as her visible frustrations. I suppose she's limited to just being there for me. My parents and sister share their concerns over my sluggish advancement and are striving to engage the most esteemed doctors' money can buy. Naturally, I can't permit them to do that. Only my doctor and I are privy to the truth about my clandestine physiotherapy sessions and the huge changes that have been happening.

To my doctor, the substantial progress I am making will enable me to fully regain control and strength in my limbs within a few weeks. I can feel my strength and determination returning, but I'm not planning to reveal the truth to the entire world just yet. Not until I've exposed the informant and the one scheming against me. It might sound straightforward, but it's far from easy. All I truly desire is to drop the façade and resume my life, but I'm restrained. Recovering my ability to walk would signal the end of my arrangement with Claire, the only person capable of touching and being touched by me without pain. I can't relinquish that, and it's another reason compelling me to keep the truth concealed.

As I keep up my secret physiotherapy sessions, I feel stronger and more mobile each day. It's like a hidden fight I'm having, not just for myself, but also to outsmart the people who want to take advantage of my being weak.

I'm getting closer to showing the truth, but I have to be careful. I've gotten good at hiding my progress, sneaking around so nobody notices. Claire's worried about me, but it's a mix of her caring and our special connection. If I spill the beans, things could get messed up between us.

Wanting to walk normally again is exciting, like a bright light at the end of the tunnel. But there are still threats hanging over me, making me unsure about coming clean without facing consequences. So, I'm still pretending to be helpless and vulnerable.

In this tricky situation, my doctor is my ally, the person I can trust. We work together to make things better, changing not only my body but also the way my life is going. Right now, I'm waiting for the right time to let everyone know I'm getting better. Until then, I stay focused on my goal, driven by the wish to be independent, the urge to enjoy life again, and the determination to uncover the people who want to bring me down. I stick to the routines Claire sets for me, acting like I'm still finding them hard. I make sure to show her small improvements without making her lose hope.

The sessions with Claire are what I anticipate the most. Our connection stirs something inside me, something I can't do without. It's like a dream and uncertainty mixed. Our closeness is creating a strong bond that's hard to put into words. I just hope Claire feels it too. When she massages my feet, moves up my legs, and reaches my thighs, I have to hold back from standing up and embracing her. It's a struggle to stay in character and not reveal my true progress.

Chapter Six

Taking Up a Challenge

Claire's point of view

I woke up early in the morning, expecting to see Michael already in our training room. The whole house is quiet, unlike so many other times before when I find him already working on his upper body. I call out his name, but he doesn't respond, making me worried about his whereabouts. I sit down, contemplating my next moves, but I end up deciding to go for him in his bedroom. I've never been there. I knock on his door, but there is silence. I knock again and then decide to push it open. To my surprise, he's not there. My eyes scan the room, but I stop in fear of being caught. I then head to his study room, where I find him in deep thought after calling out to him.

"Hey, can I come in?" I ask. He signals me to get in. I watch him closely, observing his disheveled hair, red eyes, and dull, almost lifeless gaze. He seems like he's been through a lot and that he slept in his office.

"You don't seem to be okay. Is there something I can help you with?" I ask with hesitation, aware that I might be overstepping.

"I am fine, Claire. Can I help you with something?" he says, and I shake my head. His answers are short, and it's evident he's not in the mood for any kind of interrogation.

"It's time for our sessions. Are you in a position to do even one routine?" I ask, and he shakes his head. I notice that he's truly struggling, and I search my brain for what I need to do.

I take my chances and walk towards him. I stand behind his seat and begin rubbing his shoulders without saying a word. He relaxes a bit, and I proceed to his legs. I pull out the other chair, sit before him, then take his leg and place it on my lap. I massage it carefully, without any rush, making sure that every part of his leg is dealt with. I move to the other leg and do the same, then go back to his neck. After a while, I decided to help him out of his chair and work on his upper body. The moment he does that, my eyes grow wide at the sight before me.

His chest is huge, fully adorned with six-pack abs. His arms are strong, and his body is well-toned. My mind immediately goes to all the things I could do, but I quickly steer my thoughts away from that direction. I begin working on his upper body, but I can't stop myself from roaming all over his chest. My breath hitches in my throat as I struggle to regain my composure, and he notices my inner turmoil. A smile plays across his face, and I catch a glint in his eyes. Before I can regain my composure, he swiftly pulls me down so that I'm sitting on his lap.

What the heck, the desire flowing through my bloodstream is too much. I can feel my body pulsating, veins bulging throughout my body to handle the sudden increase in blood pressure. I look at Michael, and it's evident he's expertly mastered his self-control. Slipping away from him is tough. I watch as his chest goes up and down, his hands itching to touch me.

All this time, I avoid looking at him because I'm afraid of what I'll find, but I take that chance. I have to know because I can't be the only one feeling this way. I look into his eyes, and they're locked onto mine. They're burning with an undeniable desire that almost pushes me over the edge. I immediately hold my breath, trying to maintain his gaze, but I fail and look away.

"Clarie," he whispers, his deep voice resonating throughout my body. Shivers run down my spine, and for a moment, I'm lost in my burning desire.

"Look at me," he adds, not lifting a finger. My heart rate quickens, and I feel blood rushing to my face and ears, making me blush like a schoolgirl.

'Oh goodness! I'm being stupid now. Claire, get yourself together. Take your chance. You're on the same page. Oh no! But what about Kendra? I can't do this behind Kendra's back. It would be the betrayal of a lifetime. She's been there for me through hard times, and bodily desires shouldn't make me break that bond... What do I do? I want this man, no lying about it,' I debate in my head, completely forgetting that I'm sitting on his lap.

I'm only pulled out of my trance when I feel his warm, strong arms around my waist, pulling me closer to him. I get so close that I decide not to fight it anymore.

"I'm not letting you go, Claire. I've waited for this moment for far too long. I know you can feel it too. I see it in your eyes, the way you handle my body during our therapy sessions. I've been holding my breath all this while, but not anymore," he says in a dangerously calming and arousing tone.

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