Episode 18

Brayan: She resists and pushes me away. I'm confused; what the hell did I do!

Nicole: No, Mr. Brayan, how could you? I'm your driver; this... was so wrong! Please, don’t repeat it. I leave without letting Brayan respond. I don't know what got into him; he's my boss, and I'm completely dazed! He made my heart race just by touching me. My entire body craved that kiss, but it can’t happen. I can’t leave the pool house, and I don’t know how I’ll face Brayan tomorrow. I lay down, confused, thinking about the kiss or almost-kiss, and I end up dreaming of Brayan.

Brayan: Damn! What the hell did I do! I go out, furious with myself. How could I kiss her? Damn! This woman is going to drive me insane. I lie down, thinking of Nicole in my arms; why did a simple touch of lips leave me like this? I keep thinking of Nicole's expression, of everything she makes me feel since the moment I first saw her. She literally turned my world upside down! I barely slept that night.

Nicole: I get up and follow my routine as usual, standing still while waiting for Brayan. Good morning, Mr. Brayan.

Brayan: Good morning, Nicole. Can we talk in the office?

Nicole: Of course, Mr. Brayan. I follow him, quite worried. He enters, sits down, and gestures for me to sit as well. I do so. Look, Mr. Brayan, if it’s about yesterday, it’s fine.

Brayan: No, Nicole, it’s not fine!

Nicole: I understand; you didn’t seem well yesterday, and after that approach... I believe you got caught up in the moment, so we don’t need to talk about it!

Brayan: Okay then, I just ask for your account of what happened.

Nicole: Look, Brayan, I’m no opportunist! I would never use this against you. Can we go?

Brayan: I didn’t mean to offend you, but I’ve made a similar mistake before and it came at a high cost!

Nicole: Mistake?! Where did I get involved in this? I look at Brayan in disbelief; does he think I’m trying to take advantage of this? As I said, it was a moment; it’s over, and since everything is clear, please don’t bring it up again. Excuse me, Mr. Brayan.

Brayan: Damn! Another slip-up— I say it without thinking and see the disappointment in Nicole's eyes. This shouldn’t bother me so much. I head to the car, and we go to the company. I feel terrible all day, return home, and go straight to my room. Ceiça enters; I see her looking distant, barely hear her, and I can’t keep my eyes open.

Conceiçao: Miss Nicole... Miss Nicole... Mr. Brayan... he... isn’t responding...

Nicole: Calm down, Conceiçao; he’ll be fine. I run upstairs, reach Brayan’s room, and he’s sweating and burning with fever. I ask Ceica to call security; they arrive, and I ask them to help me undress Brayan, leaving him in just his underwear, then to place him in the bathtub. He gets in, this man of such size and strength is now mumbling. I ask security to wait outside; Brayan is vulnerable, and I don’t want to expose him. Ceica goes to call the family doctor. I attempt to converse with Brayan. Mr. Brayan...

Brayan: I hear Nicole’s voice calling me and open my eyes; my body aches. Nicole is beside me, and I’m in a bathtub in just my underwear. Nicole... you gorgeous devil... You're going to drive me insane...

Nicole: Brayan seems to be hallucinating; with such a high temperature, I’m worried. He falls asleep again, and I can’t help but chuckle at what he said. The water gets too cold; I ask for help to move him to the bed, dry him carefully, and he opens his eyes. He looks at me in a way that makes me swallow hard. I look at myself and realize I’m wearing a white shirt that got wet and is now completely transparent and clinging to my body. Brayan pulls me in and kisses me; I feel his warm lips. I try to resist; he’s sick and vulnerable, but he’s still so strong. I lose my resolve when his tongue seeks entrance, and I let it in. The kiss is filled with desire and lust; now I’m the one burning. Our tongues synchronize, intensifying the kiss moment by moment until we stop, gasping for air. Brayan rests his forehead against mine; he’s still burning hot.

Brayan: Stay with me, my gorgeous driver!

Nicole: I... I... can't! You’ll get better, and you’ll see how crazy this is.

I try to pull away, but Brayan sits and kisses me again with more desire. He lifts me onto his lap, and I can feel how excited he is as he begins to pull my shirt up. I grasp his hands and stop the kiss.

I don’t want this, please stop!

Brayan halts immediately, pulls me back, and positions me beside him.

Brayan: Nicole, I want you. I don’t know why or how I ended up wanting you this much, but I will never force you into anything!

Nicole: It’s not about forcing. That's not it. It’s the many limits we’ve crossed now; you’re not well, and you should tell me this when you’re better!

Brayan: And what if I don’t? What if, when I’m better, I want you even more?

Nicole: Damn it, Brayan! Do you realize how confused I am? Don’t do this to me!

I stand up, and Brayan rises and comes to me, sliding his hand from my waist to my back, while the other hand cradles my neck as he gazes at me seriously.

Brayan: Nicole, don’t be so stubborn; just let it happen!

Nicole: He kisses me again, and I worry about how warm he feels. I stop the kiss and ask him to lie down. He agrees on the condition that I lay beside him. He quickly drifts off to sleep again; his forehead is covered in sweat, which might mean the fever is breaking. The doctor sees him, and a nurse attaches an IV for medication to his arm. He wakes briefly before falling back asleep. I let Conceiçao rest and stay with Brayan. He wakes up during the night.

How are you?

Brayan: I awake groggy; there’s an IV in my arm, and Nicole is in my bed! I sit up and yank the IV out.

Nicole: Don’t do that, Brayan. I place my hand over his arm to staunch the bleeding. With my other hand, I grab a box of medicines, clean the area, and put a bandage on while applying pressure.