Daisy stirred slightly on the couch, mumbling something incoherent before slipping back into unconsciousness. Desmond sat on the edge of the coffee table, watching her with a frown he didn't bother to hide.
He had come here to make sure she stayed on track with the designs, nothing more. Yet, here he was spending precious minutes pressing a damp cloth to her forehead like some worried friend.
"This is ridiculous," he muttered under his breath, replacing the towel again. He could feel the heat radiating from her skin. "You're too stubborn for your own good."
His phone buzzed on the table. One of his managers. He declined the call without a second thought.
Instead, he scanned her apartment. It was quite good simple furniture, clean but cluttered with papers and fabric samples. A few framed sketches hung on the wall. .
A faint shiver passed through her, pulling his attention back. He pulled the throw blanket from the armchair and covered her, tucking it gently under her chin.
When she groaned again, her hand moved weakly toward the sketchpad beside her. Even in her feverish state, she was reaching for work. He sighed, pushing it slightly out of her reach.
"Rest. Just this once," he said quietly.
Her lips moved, and he leaned closer, catching the faintest whisper.
"...don't… trust you…"
Desmond's jaw tightened. He wasn't sure why that stung, but it did.
Minutes passed. The sound of rain began to patter against the windows, soft at first, then heavier. Outside, the city was a blur of grey and wet asphalt. Inside, the only sound was her steady breathing.
His gaze drifted to the bag of medicine he had brought. He pulled out the pills, setting them on the table where she'd see them when she woke. For a moment, he considered leaving slipping out before she could throw more angry words at him.
But he didn't.
Instead, he leaned back against the couch, arms folded, telling himself he was just making sure she didn't pass out again. He needed to make sure she was strong enough to complete the designs.
And yet… he didn't notice how much closer he'd moved until he could hear the faint rhythm of her breathing.