Send My Love To The Chef (Gordon Ramsay)

Sixteen Hours

Chapter 3 Sixteen Hours

Nickie's POV

As we walk back in Jaye looks up concerned. Gordon notices and has Jean Philippe seat us next to them. I scoot into the booth, hitting my head on the back of it. Bad day, very bad day. Gordon gives me a concerned look.

"Careful. You hit your head pretty hard. Would you like some ice? I'll go get you some, and maybe some ibuprofen?" I nod.

"Thanks that would be lovely." I turn to see Jaye's eyes wide with concern.

"What the hell happened?"

"Nothing. The paparazzi got a little out of hand. I fell and hit my head. I'm okay though. I've had worse." Jaye still looks concerned.

"Maybe you should cancel your date and go home."

"First thing. It's not a date. Second, I'm discussing business, or trying to. And even if I wanted to leave there's no way I could drive right now."

"God you're stubborn. Fine. You need to be more aggressive with your paparazzi though. They can't knock you down for their pictures. You need to be mean." Gordon walks back over.

"You know I'm not like that."

"Like what?" Gordon slides in across me, handing me a bottle of ibuprofen and a pack of ice.

"Thanks. Jaye says I need to be mean with the paparazzi, but I'm not a mean person."

"Well, you do need to be tougher. Or at least hire a bodyguard." I look at him in shock. A bodyguard? Why would I need a bodyguard?

"A bodyguard? No, this doesn't happen a lot. They were just excited about Brad being involved in my movie. I don't have paparazzi. I don't want paparazzi." I always just wanted to do me without a ton of people following me around.

"Well, then you entered the wrong career. Honey, you are growing in popularity. All your movies are hits so people are going to want your picture. Get over it." Jaye says. That reminds me of what Brad told me. I sigh. I look at my scrape. It seems to be bleeding through my bandage.

"I'm going to go rinse this off again." I try to scoot out of the booth. Gordon looks at me concerned.

"Here let me help you." He gets out and helps me up. I suddenly feel really dizzy.

"Thanks," I say in a shaky voice. I take a step and start to fall. Gordon catches me and sits me down again.

"Nickie! Nickie, are you okay? What happened?" Trey gets up and comes over. He shoos Gordon away.

"I'm a doctor." He bends down next to me. "Hello, Nickie. Can you hear me?" I nod slightly. "Okay, I'm going to shine this light in your eye. Try not to blink." He looks at my eyes for a few minutes, telling me to look here and there. "Nickie, you have a concussion. You know what that is right?" I nod again. "Okay, you aren't driving anywhere tonight. Do you have anyone to take care of you until the morning?" I start to answer but Gordon interrupts me.

"I will take care of her."

"No Gordon, you don't have to. I'm sure you have important things to do." I shake my head, which makes me dizzier.

"I will take care of her." He repeats. At this point, I'm too dizzy to protest.

"Okay. She needs to stay awake for the next 16 hours. No sleep at all." Trey turns toward me. "The fuzziness should subside soon. If it doesn't within 24 hours you need to go to the emergency room. Don't operate any type of heavy machinery. And DO NOT SLEEP. I can't stress that enough." He looks at my elbow. "Slight abrasion. Bleeding should stop in a few minutes."

"Thank you, Trey." I look up at Jaye, slightly lightheaded. "He knows his shit." Everyone laughs at my unusual language.

"Why don't we get you home," Gordon says.

"But we didn't talk business." I frown. I just ruined the night.

"We have 16 hours my dear. We'll get to it." He helps me up then swings my arm over his shoulders.

"Is this okay? I can carry you if you can't walk." I internally smile, then cringe at the idea of everyone staring at me in Gordon's arms with looks of concern. I add when strangers look like they worry about me.

"No, I can walk thank you." I wave at Jaye and Trey then let Gordon lead me away. The paparazzi are gone somehow, so I give the valet my keys and they bring around my car without another incident. Gordon opens my door for me and helps me in then runs around to the driver's side.

"Your address?" I tell him and he drives off. It's a short drive to my house filled with a comfortable silence, and then we pull into my driveway. I give him the gate code and open the garage with my remote. Once inside he stops the engine and then jumps out to help me. He opens my door, scoops me up, and walks into my house.

"Which way to the living room?" I gesture to a set of stairs.

"Just go past the stairs." He carries me into my living room/adjoining kitchen area. My chandelier sparkles when he turns on the light, making me giggle in my dizzy state.

"What's so funny?"

"Nothing, I just love my chandelier." He gently sits me on my couch, then bends down and takes off my heels.

"Good god woman. How do you wear these?" I laugh.

"You should try them on, they are really comfortable." He examines the shoe closely, laughing the whole time.

"I don't think it would go with my outfit so I'm going to have to pass." We both laugh. "Why don't you change? You need to be comfortable."

"Sure. I miss my yoga pants." He helps me scramble upstairs. I sit on the bed as he enters my walk-in.

"Bloody hell! How many clothes do you own?" I smile brightly.

"Not enough. The drawers are marked. Just grab me some yoga pants and a tee." He comes out with my best yoga pants and my favorite Fall Out Boy "Boys Of Zummer Tour" T-shirt. The exact outfit I was picturing in my mind. "Perfect. How'd you know?"

"I've seen pictures in magazines with you in this tee. I just assumed you love these pants because they were sticking out of the drawer slightly."

"Thank you yet again. Now go so I can change." He walks out and closes the door. I change slowly, not wanting to fall over. Then I throw my dress in the hamper. I stumble to the door and open it quickly, surprising Gordon. He smiles.

"What?"

"You look absolutely stunning. Come on, let's get you some food." With that, he scoops me up bridal style and heads back downstairs.