Chapter 14- Why do you care ? " Gary , just give me the briefs , I have no time to take extra projects . " Austin sat in his power suit , running orders at the speed of light , sipping coffee while attending a skype call . It was almost two months now , I could move around the house now on a wheelchair , the doctor said I could shift to walking on crutches since my ribs seemed to have healed so I could alternate between both of them , though I preferred my crutches , although it was painful it gave me a lesser feeling of being dependent on Austin . Besides it was ridiculous how much extra work Austin was juggling because of me . He had a chain of restraunts to run , he had a book which was publishing in a few days and he had TV cook shows to guest in and he had interviewers lined up . He cancelled his trip to Italy which was supposed to be in the end of this month and he'd hear nothing from me . " Yeah , that would be it . I will be arriving at the meeting in an hour , tell Gigi to get my planner . Thank you . " With that he cut his call and turned to look at me . I continued to frown at him . I narrowed my eyes at his words and turned away from his ridiculously handsome self . I felt the now familiar bubble of anger , helplessness and guilt rise up my throat . Austin stood in front of down me and knelt down in one knee to level with me . " What is it cupcake ? " I bit my lip , hating how weak I felt , with absolutely no capability to stand up or sit without help , stuck in a stupid wheelchair . " You don't have to do this for me . " Austin raised his eyebrow at me . " We've had this argument quite a few times cupcake , you know my answer . " I rolled my eyes . " Yes , yes that you want to and all that . But seriously Austin your kind heart that wants to help charity cases aside , you have an empire to run and I'm like a useless appendage . I'm only trouble for you . I don't want you falling back in your work because of me , I mean look at this . " I waved todays newspaper at his face whic ' as usual going bonkers over the " Mystery girl " story . I wasn't pissed because I was juicy meat for gossip , was pissed because I was the reason people were focusing on this mystery girl in Austin's life and not his work , his food . I was bad publicity . I was bad luck to everything I was around , why couldn't he get it ? Austin just took the newspaper from my hands and tossed it to the side . " If only you'd just ," He tapped the side of my head " stop worrying about others and for once let others take care of you . " I looked into his deep brown eyes and I felt my breath hitch , there was the familiar flutter of butterflies . whenever he looked at me like that . He held my chin with his fingers as he looked into my eyes . " You're worth all my troubles , okay ? Get it inside that stubborn head of yours . Don't ever question that. " " But- " My eyes shifted toward the fallen paper on the floor . " Don't let the world get to you . They're supposed to speak . You're supposed to be my mystery girl after all . " He 14 ON א த 174 T O < * Chapter 14- Why do you care ? winked at me and got up . I felt all my vocabulary drain out of my brain , as a smile crept to my face . There , he melted my defenses effortlessly again . He grabbed his car keys and cell phone and placed a kiss on my forehead . " Stay out of trouble , okay ? " + B Points > I nodded rolling my eyes , a hundred unanswered questions ran through my head as his figure walked to the door . I wheeled myself to the door . " Why do you care ? " I blurted , not able to stop myself . Austin turned to look at me from the half opened door . " I care … because . " He looked at my face and smiled and shook his head like he couldn't believe himself then swiftly slipped on his sun glasses and walked out . I just stared at the closed door and tried to make sense of the mystery that was Austin Hamilton . ~~ " You shouldn't be working , you know . " Aerin spoke between writing and glancing at me worriedly " Oh hush , stop with the baby treatment , I'm fine . " I grumbled as I furiously typed the second draft while circling the errors in the first rough draft . " Alright , stubborn head . " We worked on the book the entire morning and afternoon till Aerin pulled away the scripts from me when the sun set , warning me that I was over exerting myself much to my annoyance but I let it slip because both of us knew that I'd continue to work after she left . That was the only way I knew how to make myself useful . Nancy , my friendly neighbor who had now become my designated dog - walker arrived to take both Tango and Roxy for their evening walk . " Thank you Nancy ! " I called out as she started to take two beagles out . " You're welcome Sophia , take care ! " I smiled as Aerin closed the door for me . " Coffee ? " I nodded as she wheeled me to the kitchen . " So , how's it going in the outside world these days ? " I asked to Aerin as she worked around the kitchen . Aerin laughed . " You're still within socialization , Sophia . " I sighed dramatically . " Oh , I wish . " " You'll be fine drama queen and the world is fine too , nothing new , pretty boring , everybody is just ridiculously busy . You tell me , how's life with Austin ? " She wiggled her eyebrows . 2/4 pOM T O < Chapter 14- Why do you care ? +8 Points I blushed as I shook my head a little . " It's amazing … he takes such good care of me , I could never get tired with all the free delicious food I get everyday and he's so good to me but to be honest , it confuses me why someone as perfect as him would just throw all this time to play nurse for me , I mean for what ? " Aerin grinned like she knew a secret I didn't . " Oh your obliviousness is so cute , I can't even wait to see how the story unfolds . " " What story Aerin ? Please don't tell me you and Trish are still trying to concote some imaginary love story that has the possibility rate of being as true as my life being some w ***** d story . " Aerin didn't say anything but the Cheshire cat grin on her face spoke louder than words . God , why did you forget to add a bottle of normal to my life ? My thoughts were interrupted by the doorbell . I pursed my lips , surely Nancy couldn't come back to early ? " I'll get it . " Aerin offered and walked to the door . I wheeled myself slowly behind her as Aerin opened the door . " Esmeralda ? What are you doing here ? " A beautiful blonde with gorgeous porcelain skin , vivid green eyes and bold red lips wearing a short pastel dress stepped inside . She looked like she stepped out of a Vogue shoot . I looked down at my plastered leg , old ratty shorts and old faded graphic shirt and felt like a homeless person next to her glamazon self . Aerin looked like she wanted to push the woman out of my house . She looked annoyed and..nervous ? The pretty woman or Esmeralda ran her eyes through Aerin's figure and scowled . " Does Jace know his lovely wife is cheating on him ? " Aerin looked like she could smack her . " What ? " Esmeralda rolled her eyes . " This is where Austin is seeking refuge these days , isn't he ? What are you doing at Austin's place ? " Aerin placed a hand on her hip . " I could ask you the same thing ." She fired back . " So you are cheating on Jace . " " You little- " " Uh - uh - uh ladies , as much as I would appreciate a catfight on my doorstep , I think I'll pass today . " Esmeralda looked at me like I was a chewing gum stuck on the sole of her pricey Gucci shoes . How nice . " Who are you ? " " I'm Sophia Martell and I happen to be the owner of the house your 20000 dollar Gucci clad feet are standing on . " I flashed her a sweet smile . " This your house ? But Aerin … " " I'm her editor and as you can see I'm not in a state to go to my office everyday amd Aerin is nice enough to OOON 3/4 COM DT III O < Chapter 14- Why do you care ? come over . " Esmeralda looked confused . " But doesn't Austin live here ? " +8 Points > " He does . Temporarily with me , um , for well , even I don't know why he claims because of my accident and all but I really don't know , you could ask him . " Suddenly Esmeralda's confused eyes turned cold , like she wanted to freeze me to death . " So you are the mystery girl ? " I shrugged . " Ta - dah ? " Esmeralda looked like I just told her I set her house on fire . Aerin stepped in before Esmeralda could say anything . " Esme , stop harassing her , she's been through enough . Leave . " But she wasn't having any of it . She pointed a perfectly French manicured finger at me . " Listen , wounded soldier , as much as I want to throw you a pity party I would have to step back and make something very clear . Stay away from my fiancé . I'm going to be married to Austin and don't you dare steal him away . He's my fiancé . " With that she stormed out of my house and I felt my whole world start to come crashing down . I gripped my wheelchair feeling my heart sink as my eyes stung with unshed tears . Fiancé ?