The Uncanny Archer Williams: New Money Era

CHAPTER SEVEN

Archer remained calm even though he was surrounded by four angry guards, Tangie’s disappointed face made him smile slightly. He was relieved at least that his treatment had worked.

“Don’t you have anything to say?” She continued, staring at him quizzically.

Archer was surprised, he had become so used to suppressing his defenses and emotions that even in situations where he could have explained himself he remained quiet, thinking that no one would care about his feelings anyway.

Unlike his past altercations with the Austins family, this was the first time he was asked his own side of the argument, the first time he was given a chance to defend himself.

“I don’t want to believe that you are a bad person” Tangie said, “at least say something”

Archer exhaled softly, and a look of relief appeared on his face.

“I’m sure it seemed like harassment, but that is far from my intention. I would never do that to an ailing woman.” He said.

 

“Ailing?!” She retorted, frowning.

 

“Yes, you almost dropped on the floor and I quickly came to your aid…”

 

Tangie raised an eyebrow, looking at him in disbelief.

“That was an aid? She asked, and Archer only nodded in response.

“What kind of aid?” She asked,

 

“First aid…” Archer replied.

 

Tangie wanted him to prove himself, so she asked,

“First aid for what exactly?”

 

Archer smiled wryly, he knew Tangie was testing his intelligence.

“Asthma, Tangie” he replied.

“You had an asthma attack,” “can you breathe better now?”

“You suddenly fell on the floor and I caught you. What I did on your chest is called a massage therapy, it helps to loosen the breathing mechanisms in your body, and ease your breathing.”

Archer took a step forward and the bodyguards gave way, he was now standing in front of her.

 

“Try taking deep breaths, Tangie. Is it easier to breathe now?”

The way Archer called her name as he spoke was exactly the same way her doctor used to speak to her.

“Don’t drink cold water, Tangie, can you exhale, Tangie?”

 

But her grandfather never told her that he was a doctor. But was he really a doctor? She wondered, staring deeply into his eyes with confusion and a frown on her face.

 

“Inhale…” Archer said gently. Instinctively, Tangie obeyed, she breathed in and out, deeply and slowly, measuring how deep her breath could go.

Her eyes widened in surprise as she took easy deep breaths.

Before now, she used to have difficulty, not only in breathing but breathing deeply too.

Hence, she avoided strenuous activities, or anything that raises her heart rate.

Her asthma began when she was a baby and she always had trouble breathing, but today was different. She could breathe comfortably, easily than ever.

Tangie’s face turned red, she was filled with regret for being that rude to someone who was only trying to save her.

“I’m sorry…” she said shyly, shifting her gaze to floor to hide her embarrassment.

“I’m sorry I misunderstood you and thought you were trying to take advantage of me…” she continued, “I’m just too careful”

 

Archer smiled softly, knowing that she was feeling guilty.

“Don’t worry about it… it is easy to misunderstand things.” He said calmly.

Tangie felt relieved and relaxed, she slowly lifted her head and their eyes met again.

“So have you cured my asthma?” She asked curiously, staring at him with hopeful eyes. Asthma attacks were severely uncomfortable for her, they happened to her in the most unexpected places, embarrassing her in front of her body guards. In fact, they were life threatening, and if Archer wasn’t there to help her today, who knows if she’d have survived it. She had long given up carrying an inhaler around, it made her feel like a terminally ill person, reminding her that she had an incurable condition.

 

She had gone through several medications and treatments from the best Doctors in Utah, her grandfather made sure of it, but none of them seemed to make her feel as good as she felt now, and she hoped that Archer had finally given her a permanent solution.

“Is it cured now?” She asked curiously.

“No, I haven’t cured it…” Archer replied, “I only just slowed your symptoms.”

 

The light of hope in Tangie’s eyes began to dim slowly and her face turned sad.

Archer observed her sad expression and decided to offer her a solution.

“Well…” he said,

“If you want to cure it completely, you’ll have to massage your chest consistently for a month.”

 

“Massage?” Tangie repeated, her hope returning again.

When she finally realized the kind of massage he was talking about, her face turned pink and she darted her gaze away.

 

“Is it the same as the type you just did to me?” Tangie asked shyly.

The atmosphere between them suddenly turned awkward. Maybe it was the way she said it, or maybe it was her pinking face that put thoughts in Archer’s head, he became shy too, but he concealed it, “yes, that same type” he answered, smiling slightly.

 

“You’re saying it as if I can do it on my own” Tangie muttered to herself.

 

By this time, she went closer to Archer, she was just a feet away, and Archer could perceive her expensive perfume in the air, enchanting him.

“I can’t do it on my own” she whispered.

 

Archer nodded in response, watching her fiddle her hair shyly.

He gently removed her hand from her hair, brushing some of it behind her ear,

 

“What is it?” He asked, sensing her nervousness.

Tangie remained quiet, not knowing how to make the request she had in mind. Seeing her quiver slightly, Archer asked,

“Did I make you uncomfortable?”

 

“No no!” Tangie said,

She raised her head up and he glowing blue eyes met with Archer,

“I want you to treat me…” her cheeks were colored immediately she spoke.

Archer was stunned that she was giving him permission to touch her sensitive body like that. But he smiled and said,

“Okay, I’ll do my best”