Impulsively, Beauty kicked at the blurred image, so hard.
Then she heard a low groan and snapped fully awake, her heart pounding. Rubbed her eyes and blinked rapidly, her vision clearing just in time to see Bruno stumbling back, clutching his nose, his eyes wide with surprise.
He was kneeling in front of her, holding a blanket, his nose was bleeding and the blood trickling between his fingers.
Beauty panicked.
*He only wanted to cover me up, I ...kicked him and made his nose bleed!*
"Oh my God!" she yelped, shooting up from the bed. "Sir Bruno, I'm so sorry! Are you okay? Let me help."
She offered but he turned her down politely.
Bruno grimaced, trying to smile through the pain, though it was clear his nose had taken quite a hit.
"It's... it's fine," he managed to say, his voice strained. "I... didn't think you'd wake up so suddenly."
That didn't make her feel any better. Her face turned pale, a mix of embarrassment and guilt flooding inside her.
*How can he be so calm about it?*
She cried inside her head.
"I didn't know! I thought... I thought... I am so sorry".
Bruno, despite the bleeding and the awkwardness, tried to make light of the situation.
"It's okay, I guess I should've thought twice before getting too close. I shouldn't have startled you."
*Why is he making it seem like his fault?*
Beauty groaned inwardly.
Pressing her hands to her flushed cheeks, she continued apologizing.
"I'm deeply sorry, sir. I don't know what came over me!"
"It's okay, really".
Bruno replied softly, his hands were still pinched on his nose.
Despite how many times he said it's okay, Beauty couldn't bear the guilt. Her heart was still racing...not just from the kick, but from the fact that Bruno had been kind enough to cover her up in the first place.
Bruno sensed her guilt.
"Beauty...it's not your fault. Have this".
He said calmly and gave her the blanket then with his head up and fingers pinched on his nose, he walked away, heading to the door.
He stopped at the door and threw the key at her, she had a smooth catch.
"You can lock it from inside if you don't feel safe with me" he said dryly, still holding his nose, with his head up, he left the room.
*What a statement!*
The soft blanket slipped down from Beauty's shoulders, heightening her embarrassment.
"What if I get fired for this, I didn't even know when he carried me in here, and he then wanted to cover me up, I stupidly hit him, what was I thinking that someone like Mr. Bruno may find me attractive and wanted to take advantage of me? What a joke! I am such an idiot".
She cursed shamefully.
She can't just do nothing! She got up, there's no way she will be going back to sleep after what happened.
After giving it a thought and of course a courage boost meditation.
Beauty quietly walked out of the office and went to the department and found him trying to type with his head still up, it's obvious he isn't done with the work yet.
He kept enduring the pain and the bleeding, then he got fed up and hit the desk so hard that it scared the shit out of her. Someone that gentle, she didn't expect such from him.
He looked up and found Beauty staring at him in shock. Quickly, she looked away when their eyes met, only to steal a glance at him again.
"You aren't going back to bed? You should rest."
His voice came softly.
Beauty swallowed.
"I... I... want to continue from where I stopped yesterday".
She replied, unable to meet his eye contact, still flustered and embarrassed by the whole thing.
"It's okay, don't worry, go and rest, I am done with the ones I gave you to work on".
He replied.
*He worked ok hers while she was fast asleep?*
"O...k".
Beauty replied sadly about to leave then a sharp gasp, followed by a groan, stopped her.
She turned and found him attempting to stop his nosebleed with a few tissues, but he was clearly struggling.
The sight of him with blood trickling down made her heart race with a mixture of guilt and something else...something she didn't want to admit.
She went to get the first aid box and returned to him, before Bruno could notice.
Beauty was right in front of his desk.
"I... I can help with that," she stammered.
She knew it would be risky to be that close to him, but the thought of leaving him to tend to himself felt worse. Plus, this was her fault anyway.
Bruno shook his head gently.
"It's alright, Beauty. I can handle it."
But Beauty wasn't having it.
"No, let me do it, sir...please" she insisted, her voice shaking slightly.
Bruno felt his heart skip at the, please.
"Okay".
He whispered huskily.
Beauty cheeks heat up instantly. She was nervous, more than nervous, but she couldn't back down now.
The thought of tending to him, being that close...plus they are all alone in the company at night, sent her heart into overdrive, but she forced herself to focus.
Taking a deep breath, she grabbed some more tissues and gently nudged his hand away from his nose.
"You're not supposed to tilt your head back, by the way, sir. You could swallow blood that way. Just tilt forward and pinch the bridge of your nose."
Bruno, caught between surprise and quiet surrender, did exactly as she said without questions.
He tilted his head slightly forward, his eyes meeting hers, and for a moment, everything seemed to freeze.
That sent a jolt of electricity to Beauty's whole body. She could feel his breath, soft and steady, and her own breath hitched.
Trying to keep her composure, she pressed the tissues gently against his nose, her hand brushing lightly against his.
Her fingers trembled, but she kept working.
Bruno was staring at her without blinking! She had to be strong.
Her gaze flicked up to his eyes, and he was still watching her; it made her pulse quicken.
Their eyes locked, Beauty was the first to look away shyly.
"I'm really sorry again," she whispered, breaking the silence. Her voice was soft, barely above a breath.
Bruno's lips twitched into a small, reassuring smile, though his eyes were still on her face, making her stomach flip.
"It's okay, thanks for caring to help," he murmured, his voice gentle and soothing.
Beauty swallowed hard, her heart thudding in her chest.
After a few moments, she finished tending to his nose, but neither of them moved away.
Bruno's soft gaze didn't waver, and for a second, Beauty wondered if he could hear her pulse pounding in her ears.
He leaned closer, his eyes saying something. Beauty's heart started pounding heavily, she felt sexual panic inside of her. She quickly closed her eyes.
*Is he going to kiss me now? Please ....let it be a kiss...where it comes*
Unfortunately, Bruno gently took the tissues from her hand, their fingers brushing for just a moment, sending a shiver down her spine.
"Thank you," he said quietly, his voice sounded so deep and sincere.
Beauty opened her eyes embarrassed and nodded, biting her lip to keep from saying something foolish.
She forced herself to step back, giving him some space.