Ana was looking through the window at the passing cars, thinking about the incidents that happened in the past week. She felt as if she was carrying a burden on her shoulders, trying to figure out a way to let Rahul know about Ria and Vicky.

Suddenly she noticed Rahul's red Mercedes turning right into a strip mall on the opposite side of the road. She asked Miso to take a 'U" turn and catch up with Rahul's car.

As they turned into the mall towards Rahul's car, they saw Javier, Rahul's driver, get out of the car and walk towards the mall. Miso stopped the car and shouted to get Javier's attention.

"Hey Javier, how are you? Where is Mr Shah?" Ana asked Javier, as he approached them.

"Thanks Miss Ana, I am doing fine. I am not sure, most probably at his apartment."

"Ok, I thought it was him. If you have the car, how is he gonna get to the party?"

"I am not sure. Today morning, he sent me a text with instructions to buy some medicines and get the car serviced, so I am just following them. He said, I could take rest of the day off."

"What kind of medicines and when did you give him?" Ana suddenly got worried.

"Not sure, looked like antibiotics. I left them with the concierge to deliver them to Mr Shah as per his instructions."

"Ok, thanks Javier." Ana got into the SUV, "Miso, change of plans, drop me at Mr Shah's residence and then you can leave. You should still be able to make it to your appointment."

"Ms Ana, what about the party? I can still take you after you visit Mr Shah." He offered.

"Its ok, I can take a cab." She replied, still thinking about the medicines.

Ana got off near Rahul's central park apartment complex and walked towards the concierge. Though she knew about the place, she had never been to his apartment.

She checked with the concierge and was happy to see her name on the list of people with permission to visit Rahul anytime. She was sure Mandy asked for her name to be included as she sometimes stays here to be close to Rahul.

She got off the elevator and stood in front of his apartment door. After hesitating for few seconds, she pressed the door bell. There was no response, so she started banging on the door and waited for few minutes, still there was no response.

She then called Mandy and explained the situation to her. Mandy gave her the code to get into the apartment and asked her to update her after checking it out.

Ana opened the security panel and punched in the code Mandy gave her and the door opened making a buzzing sound.

The lights were off, so she stopped after taking a few steps into the dark apartment. After figuring out the layout, she ventured further into the apartment. She realized as she walked further deep into the apartment, tiny motion activated led lights lit up showing the way ahead. The bachelor pad occupied the entire top floor penthouse with 360 degrees view of the city.

She found the lights and switched them on bathing the luxurious apartment in fluorescent light from the powerful overhead recessed lights.

She started checking the rooms one by one hoping to find Rahul. As she turned the door knob and entered one of the rooms, which was still dark, she figured it was the master bedroom and she could make out a figure buried under covers on the bed.

She went upto the bed and removed the comforter slowly and found Rahul sleeping, coiled as a ball. She touched his face and felt his skin burning with high temperature. She checked the medication on the bed side table and figured he took only one dose.

She sat on the edge of the bed and tried to wake him up. He didn't budge, so she tapped his cheek slightly harder. He turned in her direction and opened his eyes slightly and then closed them again.

She tapped his cheek again calling his name. This time he brought his hand upto his face and caught her hand. He started rubbing her hand all over his face, trying to cool his face with her hand.

"Rahul, please wake up .." she tried again. She wanted to know when he took his first medication and if he eat anything since morning.

"Please don't leave .." he murmured and then moved in her direction, putting his head on her lap and hands around her waist.

For a second, she was shocked by his sudden move, but realizing the state he was in, she adjusted her posture and pulled him fully into her lap and started combing his hair with her fingers. Rahul slipped back into deep sleep burying his head deeper into her lap and holding her tightly. Ana understood his need, realizing prince did the same, whenever he fell sick.

For Ana, having Rahul sleeping in her lap, the feelings she kept suppressed for so long, started boiling to the top. She wanted to take care of him and make sure he was comfortable. She felt as if the missing piece of her heart was back in place. She bent down slowly and placed a kiss on his head.

She sat like that for more than thirty minutes, when her phone started buzzing. It was Mandy. She answered the phone and updated her on Rahul's status, minus the sleeping in my lap part.

"Ana, does he need help? I can come over to take care of him."

"No need Mandy. I can take care of him. I will let you know if I need help."

"Don't you have to go to the party? "

"Nope, I am not interested anymore. I will make sure Rahul takes his medicine and get him something to eat. I will update you later." She whispered and disconnected the phone.

She woke up Rahul again, slowly rolling him off her lap. He woke up, rubbing his eyes and then looked up at her, "What are you doing here? How did you get in?"

"I came to get your signature, but you weren't look good. Mandy gave me the pass code to the apartment. When did you take the last dose? "

"In the morning, what time is it now?"

"Almost 9 PM. Here take these now. Did you eat anything since morning?" She gave him medicine and water.

"Oh! Guess I have been sleeping since morning." He looked at her," Looks like you are on your way to the party. Aren't you late?" He asked swallowing the tablets.

"I was, not anymore. I am not going. Where is the kitchen?"

"You should go. I can take care of myself."

"You need help. You need to eat something and take the doses on time."

"I know, I can manage. It's not safe for you here."

"I am willing to take the risk. Take rest and I will get you some soup." Ana got up to go to the kitchen.

"I think you are making a mistake. I want you to leave." He caught her hand before she could move.

She came close to him and took his face in her hands and lifted his face to look into her eyes. "I am going to stay and make sure you are ok, no matter what, so don't worry about me and be a good boy."

Rahul felt his heart beat increase and a different kind of heat spreading through his body as she held his face in her hands. It was as if she was seeing straight into his heart, he felt helpless and didn't argue further and let her go, pointing the direction of kitchen to her. Walking into the kitchen, Ana was amazed, as it was well stocked and had everything she was looking for. She prepared some hot soup and took it to Rahul's bedroom along with some crackers.

She put some pillows against the headboard and made him sit with his back against the pillows. She then sat on the bed and fed him soup and crackers. Though Rahul tried to protest, she made him finish the soup. After he finished eating, she set his bed straight and tucked him in.

"I am not a baby, I can take care of myself." Rahul said, making a puppy face.

"Shhh ... sleep, no talking, you still have high fever." She sat by his side running her fingers through his hair. After making sure, he was asleep, she kissed his forehead lightly and tiptoed out of the room.

She set her alarm for every four hours and took over the love seat in the living room and closed her eyes to get some sleep.

By the time it was morning, Ana was pretty tired keeping up with Rahul's medication and checking his temperature constantly. However Rahul's condition improved and his temperature returned to normal.

She woke up around eight and after checking on Rahul, used one of the guest bathrooms to tidy herself. She then prepared him breakfast, toast and omlette and took it to his room.

Rahul was on phone when Ana stepped into the bedroom with his breakfast. She quickly backed out, not wanting to disturb his privacy, but he signaled her to come in.

"Its Ana, she brought me breakfast." He told the person on phone. Ana raised her eyebrows wondering who was on the other side.

"No ..no..o .. nothing happened, I was really sick. She took real good care of me. Ya .. hmm....sure, come over." He spoke looking at Ana.

Ana's expression went from being inquisitive to surprise to embarrassment and anger, hearing the conversation. Before she could say anything, "Its Ria", he said. "She is coming over."

"Its better if you stay away from her." Ana told Rahul, checking his temperature. She didn't mean to say it, but couldn't control herself as it rolled out of her mouth.

"Why?" His tone got serious.

"Nothing, just a caution. Maybe you don't know her well enough." She tried to support her argument without revealing Ria's secret affair.

"Hmm . . . I know her since third grade, much better than you. I don't know anything about you or your intentions."

"What do you mean?" Ana got angry.

"Why are you here? Why did you take care of me yesterday night, even leaving your son alone?"

"I took care of you because I care about your family, about Mandy and because I work for your family."

"I think you took care of me because you love me." He caught her hand and slowly rubbed it against his cheek, looking mischievously into her eyes.

Ana took few seconds to recover and then pulled out her hand slowly from his grasp and turned around and left his room.

Rahul followed her as she gathered her things and started putting on her heels to leave.

"Agree that you have feelings for me." He pressed her.

"I am sorry Mr Shah, I don't love you or have any feelings for you. I am just doing my job, which is make sure Mandy is happy." She said pulling the straps of her heels, avoiding his gaze.

Just then the door opened and Ria walked in, "What's going on?" She asked, scanning both of them thoroughly for any signs of intimacy.

"Nothing honey, I was just asking Ana to prepare the mansion for our wedding next month." Rahul replied glaring at Ana.

Ria couldn't believe her ears. She forgot completely about Ana and ran to Rahul and hugged him tightly. "OMG Rahul! That is wonderful news. You made my day."

Ana almost ran out of the apartment slamming the door, unable to stop the tears and throbbing pain in her chest.