章 16: Olive of the Children's Bureau

*Jenny*

What in the world is going on here. I was speechless, I don't know what to say. Noel was staring at me so sincerely that I would've cried. I don't know how long we were staring at each other but it doesn't matter. All I know is that it was comforting.

"Milady!".

Small voices took me out of my trance. I tried to take my hands back but Noel didn't let go. Though he eventually did since Chloe jumped at me in the bed. We looked at the newcomers.

"Hey, how are you, guys?".

"I'm fine!" Chloe exclaimed as she hug me tight. Clay just went near my bed and said, "We're good Milady. Mr. Noel helped us too.".

"Thank you.". I told Noel to which he responded with a smile.

"No problem, at first I thought they were your niece and nephew, but they told me, you rescued them from a bad man.".

"A very bad man!" Chloe exclaimed cheerily. Noel then clicked his tongue and playfully went along with her. "Yes, Chloe! a very bad man indeed.". I couldn't help but giggle and I responded as I brushed Chloe's hair, "He wasn't actually THAT bad, he was just doing his job, anyway, yeah, I kind of saved them. And I don't want them to roam around the city at night so I offered my place.". I then remembered the incident after that, it was unfortunate, I sighed in disappointment, "Maybe if I hadn't done that, they wouldn't experience something scary.".

"Jenny, what happened isn't your fault." Noel tried comforting me.

"I know, I know... It's just, you know, I took them in to be safe but instead... it just brought them closer to danger...". I couldn't help the tremble in my voice, I couldn't imagine what will happen if Noel didn't come that time. I just couldn't...

Noel then took one of my hands again and rubbed it. I looked and flashed him a thankful smile which he smiled back. His smile and touch brought me comfort. I can't explain it but whenever Noel is near, I feel safe and content. It's like I don't need anything else, just him is enough. It's a bit selfish and it concerns me, what if I am the only one who feels like this? What if he is just concerned about me because of what I went through? What if he is just a really kind person who happened to save me? Twice at that, too?! There are so many what-ifs in my mind and it's slowly stressing me out. Crushing on a client is a bit out of my character but this feeling keeps growing every time I'm with Noel. Especially since I kept dreaming about him, it really doesn't help my heart.

"Ah finally, she's awake." A female voice entered the room. We looked and wow, she is pretty. "Kids, why don't you let your big sister rest a bit more, okay? I brought you some snacks at the cafeteria.". Both children said yes and hurriedly went out of the room, though Clay waited for Chloe to get down and they waved goodbye to me which I waved back.

"It's good to see you here, Olive.". Noel said to her, it seemed that he knew her. The woman smiled and replied, "Well, it's always a pleasure to help you, Noel.". Oh, first name basis, why is that bothering me? I question myself. She went nearer to Noel as he stood up while she asked, "Is she able to talk now?".

"Yes I think so.". Noel answered for me. It was just a normal conversation but her hand brushing Noel's arm, formed a crease on my forehead and I felt a little irritated at the gesture. I was so focused on her that I didn't notice Noel sitting beside me in the bed until I felt his hand that hooked my waist then gently slid me closer to him. It's like he side-hugged me or something. I got a bit startled, but then he introduced the woman, "Jenny, I like you to meet my sister-in-law, Olive Miles-Locke. She's my brother's wife.".

"What?!" I exclaimed rather than asked. And the fact that he is so close to me didn't help my reaction at all. He turned to me and chuckled, "You looked like you wanted to know who she was so I told you.". Damn, he must've noticed my stare, it was so embarrassing, I had to look away in an attempt to hide my flustered face. How can I feel like that towards his sister-in-law?!

"N-no I don't.".

Both of them loudly giggled at me, it was an embarrassing moment. Olive, the woman, then commented, "C'mon Noel, stop teasing her. Anyway, Ms. Jenny, I came here not only to check on you but also about the children.". Oh.

"I'm actually working for the Children's Bureau, mainly in Child Protection Services.". She's here for work and here I am getting weird feelings against her, I slapped myself in my mind. "The children mentioned that you rescued them. That's a remarkable thing to do.".

"Oh, it was nothing. I just did what a normal person would do.".

"Even so, to the children you're a hero!" She praised me one more time. "They also told me that their parents and older brother recently passed away and the man that broke into your home was a stranger. We have reason to believe that he was a pedophile who just happen to see the kids and decided to make them his next victims. But things didn't go as planned when you and Noel got in his way.". I see, he did seem to be more interested in the children than me as I recall, though I felt a little sad about hearing that their loved ones had passed away, which means they don't have anywhere else to go.

"They're orphans now, and seeing first hand the effect you had on them, it was significantly good. What do you think about fostering the children for the time being?". I then quickly looked at her like she grew two freaking heads.

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