Badass in Disguise (Shadow) novel Chapter 60

:

Connor returned to the suite in less than thirty minutes, shopping bag in hand and slightly out of

breath.

“Found a pharmacy, sir,” he reported to Ethan. “Though not every store here carries these items.”

“Thank you, Connor,” Ethan said, taking the bag with a satisfied nod. “That was efficient.”

“Everything you requested and some pain medication are in there, sir,” Connor added, glancing briefly toward the closed bathroom door where I was still hiding.

I heard their exchange through the door and felt a wave of embarrassment wash over me. Great. Now both billionaire boss and his assistant knew I was dealing with period cramps. Just another fantastic development in my Venezuela adventure.

A gentle knock pulled me from my thoughts. “Miss Morgan?” Ethan’s voice came through the door. “Connor’s back with what you need.”

I cracked the door open just enough to stick my hand through. “Thanks. That was fast.”

“Looks like Connor knows his way around,” I added with a hint of amusement, taking the bag.

“He’s not usually this efficient,” Ethan replied, his voice carrying a note of humor.

When I finally emerged from the bathroom twenty minutes later, I was still pale but at least standing upright without wanting to curl into a ball. Ethan looked up immediately from his laptop, his eyes quickly assessing my condition.

“Feeling any better?” he asked, closing his computer.

“I’ll live,” I replied, fighting another wave of cramping. “Unfortunately.”

Ethan gestured to the coffee table where a steaming cup of tea sat beside what appeared to be a hot water bottle. “This should help relieve some of your discomfort.”

I blinked at the items, genuinely surprised. “So the billionaire knows how to take care of sick people? That’s unexpected.”

He smiled, the corner of his mouth quirking up slightly. “Our fortune wasn’t made on medical knowledge, I assure you.”

1/4

7:58 Fri, Sep 19

Chapter 60

I sank onto the sofa and pressed the hot water bottle against my abdomen, sighing with relief as the heat penetrated my muscles. The tea was perfectly steeped–not too strong, with just a hint of

honey.

“This helps, but…” I hesitated, then decided to take a chance. “Do you think you could help me find a portable TENS unit? It’s really effective for muscle spasms.”

Ethan raised an eyebrow. “A transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation device? Isn’t that prescription medical equipment?”

I was impressed he knew the full term. “It’s a physical therapy method I learned about in medical class. Works wonders for menstrual cramps.”

“You’ve used one before?” He seemed both curious and skeptical.

“Yes. The electrical pulses disrupt the pain signals to the brain. Much more effective than painkillers for this kind of pain.”

Ethan considered this for a moment, then nodded and reached for his phone. “Connor? I need you to find a portable TENS unit. Yes, the pain relief device… I don’t care how difficult it is to find, just get

it.” He hung up and turned back to me. “It might take a while.”

While we waited, Ethan adjusted the room’s thermostat, raising the temperature slightly. He

returned with a soft throw blanket, draping it over my legs without a word.

“Do you need an actual doctor?” he asked after a moment. “Or stronger medication? Venezuela has very good doctors, contrary to what you might think.”

“I just need that device,” I insisted. “I can handle it myself.”

His gaze was assessing. “Where did you learn all this medical knowledge?”

I shrugged, keeping my answer vague. “I wanted to be a doctor once. I studied a lot on my own.”

Connor returned quicker than I expected, this time with a small case that contained exactly what I needed–a portable TENS unit with multiple settings and electrode pads. I immediately set about adjusting it, my fingers moving confidently over the controls.

“You really do know what you’re doing,” Ethan observed as I placed the electrode patches on specific

points around my ankle.

2/4

7:58 Fri, Sep 19

Chapter 60

“Different frequencies and intensities work for different types of pain,” I explained, adjusting the settings. “This one’s good for acute pain, while this one works better for dull, chronic discomfort.”

93

“Fascinating,” Ethan murmured, watching me with unexpected intensity. “You know more than most

medical students I’ve met.”

I smirked. “I’m a woman of many talents.”

The first wave of electrical stimulation pulsed through the muscle, and I felt the familiar relief as my

nerves responded to the interruption in pain signals.

“There’s one spot I can’t reach,” I admitted reluctantly. “Would you mind helping me?”

Ethan hesitated, and I could see the wariness in his eyes. Still, he nodded. “Of course.”

I turned and lay face–down on the sofa, lifting my shirt just enough to expose my lower back. “I need

an electrode right here.” I reached around awkwardly, trying to touch the spot.

Ethan remained frozen, his hesitation palpable.

I twisted slightly and reached for his hand, guiding it to my lower back. “Just there, next to the

lumbar vertebrae… Feel that muscle indentation?”

His fingers were warm against my skin, and I felt him tense slightly at the contact. But his touch

remained clinical as he carefully placed the electrode patch exactly where I’d indicated. When he

finished, he gently tugged my shirt back down, his movements precise and respectful.

The full effect of the TENS unit was almost immediate. The tight knot of pain in my abdomen began

to loosen, and I felt my entire body relax for the first time in hours.

“Better?” Ethan asked, handing me the control unit.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify