The midnight mist was dewy outside, but the air around this man, was rasp.
It smelled of heat, and a husk of masculine strength, too stong, she was tempted to fall back on his chest again.
She swayed slightly, slowly away, her arm still cupped in his arms to steady her.
"Thank you." Ava murmured, her head raised well enough to notice his chest and his face were covered in bandage, leaving his eyes, nose and lips in swarthy skin, still she was surprised he treated her with kindness.
He even bent low, wincing softly from pain probably around his chest, to pick her mop, bucket and cleaning towels.
He wasn't recognizable from where she stood and she had heard that this room was sacred.
She had seen too, how often Dr Phyl and his team, walk in and out of this room, much more than they ever visited other wards, where other patients, including her son, lay...
"You look you could fall again." Marcus mused flatly, cutting through her thoughts.
"I'm–l'm fine." Ava stuttered, smiling.
"Are you ok too?" Ava studied his eyes. They looked dark.
Marcus huffed, shrugging his shoulders.
"You look too strong to be a patient yourself." She continued, praying silently he wasn't hurt in any way.
"I was asked to clean your room tonight, so l assumed you'd have fallen asleep by 11pm. It's past 11:30!" She said, glancing around the most beautiful fairly furnished room, she had seen in Dr Phyl's hospital.
"It's fine." Marcus started. "Not everyone obeys Dr Phyl's instructions here, l'm afraid!" Marcus said with flat clarity, as he walked past her toward the door.
"Your wounds aren't fully healed Sir." Her voice, soft, but firm enough to make Marcus' head turn. "And your eyes look very tired. Dr Phyl, might not care about his patients, but if he cares enough for him to ask you to rest, then, it's important you listen to him."
His brows rose, and his face lit with slight curiosity to study her again.
First, it was her beauty.
Now, her boldness.
A cleaner. Hmmmmm!!
Closing his eyes briefly, he breathed in deeply, his hands still gripped on the door.
"How kind of you to remind me." Marcus smiled faintly.
"Rest doesn't only mean been on your bed, eyes closed, and thinking of nothing ,Ma'am, it also means taking a walk, and thinking of something."
Ignoring his response, Ava straightened up, turning fully to peer into his eyes.
Slowly, she closed the gap between them.
Lifting her chin, she forced a smile, a cool smile,full of womanly courage. Anger taking strength.
"Sir, l don't know who you are, or why Dr Phyl cares so much about you, but it would be nice, if you'd stop being selfish and start taking instructions instead, so you can get well soon, get the hell out of here, and let Dr Phyl, focus on other patients, including my own son."
Ava let our her breathe softly, her heart, beating heavily.
Her words were calculated to cut him. She saw that they did, and she knew they did, but she wasn't done yet."
"If l ever see Dr Phyl again, l'd tell him, he has no right treating a patient, more importantly than the others especially if he had bargained for something in exchange. Now, if you'll excuse me, l got work to do."
Ava prayed silently, she wouldn't fall while turning her back on him.
Picking her mop, and towels, she worked on the marble floor, so steep, she was glad she wore a pair of hard crocs to help her feet steady and firmly against it.
Unbothered by his presence or stare, she worked as though she were alone.
Marcus stood for a long moment.
He didn't speak, though he felt a pain jab through his knees, He didn't fight it either, cos he was pleased to be distracted this way by a woman who wasn't Aria, or Angela or Lyn.
And she didn't even look rich, but she was definitely put together and so proud of her job.
"Hmmmm!"
Nothing like he's ever seen.
His silence was like an anguished cry in the room.
Ava felt it, still she cared less of what happened behind her back. She had said what she had said, and there was nothing to be afraid or apologetic about, but then, she saw something...
Marcus' eyes met hers.
He had moved towards the bathroom to get something, quickly, she stole a glance at him.
Through the corner of her eyes, she could see that his eyes were wet.
For Marcus, something long forgotten was awakened within him—compassion stirred soft wings beneath his chest.
Dr Phyl cared for him the way he did, only because he knew who he was, but he had no idea, it was at the expense of other patients.
It took the kind courage of a cleaner to know. Wow!!!
Marcus felt as if he had discovered a treasure, hidden in an impossible place.
Hmmmm!!!
For the first time in his arrogant life, he felt defeated, but he was still Marcus Thompson, and he wasn't going to show it. Not yet!!
Now, he had something away from himself to really think about.
Speaking gently he said, "leave the door unlocked when you are done." He twisted his lips bitterly, taking one last look at the girl whose back still faced him.
She's really beautiful.
In the past, he knew what he would have done to any girl who bent over this way...
Marcus halted his thoughts.
Not today.
Maybe tomorrow, or some other day. But now, he needed to take care of something that needs to end this minute.