Chapter Eighteen

Aurora’s Pov

I stood before Ryan's desk, my mind racing to process his unexpected announcement about the upcoming trip. The thought of traveling out of town so soon was overwhelming; I had envisioned settling into my new life here, eventually bringing my mother over to start afresh together. But now, plans were shifting rapidly.

It's just for the weekend, nothing is going to change, Aurora, I scolded myself quietly.

Just as I was about to respond, a knock interrupted us. Pamela entered, her expression professional yet subtly strained. “Sir," she began, "the CEO of Titan Enterprises has arrived unexpectedly. He's waiting for you in the boardroom."

Ryan nodded, acknowledging the information. As Pamela turned to leave, her gaze briefly met mine, a flicker of something unreadable passing over her features before she exited.

"Aurora," Ryan said, drawing my attention back to him, "I want you to join me in this meeting. As my personal assistant, it's important for you to observe how these discussions are conducted. It will be a valuable experience for you."

I swallowed hard, nerves fluttering in my stomach, but managed a nod. "Of course, Sir."

We made our way to the boardroom, the atmosphere thick with anticipation. Upon entering, Ryan introduced me to Mr. Jonathan Knight, the CEO of Titan Enterprises, a tall man with a commanding presence and piercing blue eyes that seemed to assess every detail.

Throughout the meeting, I diligently took notes, striving to absorb the nuances of the high-level corporate exchange. However, I couldn't ignore the discomfort growing within me. Mr. Knight's gaze lingered on me longer than necessary, his comments occasionally veering into overly familiar territory. A compliment on my appearance here, a suggestive remark there…it was subtle, but unmistakable.

I shifted in my seat, focusing intently on my notepad, willing the meeting to proceed without further incident. The professional environment offered some protection, but the unease was palpable.

After what felt like eternity, the meeting concluded, I followed Ryan back to his office, my mind still reeling from the encounter. He turned to me, his expression softening slightly. "We'll be departing Friday evening," he informed me. "That gives you two days to prepare. Ensure you have everything you need."

I nodded, though internally, panic set in. My wardrobe was limited, hardly suitable for an out-of-town business trip. Financial constraints weighed heavily on my mind; I had little means to acquire appropriate attire.

Returning to my office, I immersed myself in documenting the details from the boardroom, striving to push aside my personal concerns. Sophie brought in lunch, a thoughtful gesture from the boss, but my appetite was diminished by the day's events.

As the workday drew to a close, I gathered my belongings, anxiety gnawing at me about the impending trip and my lack of preparation. Just as I was about to leave, Ryan appeared at my door.

"Come with me," he said, his tone leaving little room for argument.

I hesitated, uncertainty flooding my thoughts. "I... I was just about to head home."

Before I could fully articulate my concerns, Ryan's phone rang. He answered briskly, his demeanor shifting to one of urgency. "I'll be there shortly," he said before ending the call.

Turning back to me, his expression softened slightly. "Go home for now. I'll contact you soon with further instructions."

I nodded, relief and apprehension mingling within me. "Yes, Sir."

As I made my way home, thoughts of the upcoming trip, the unsettling meeting, and my precarious situation swirled in my mind. The path ahead was uncertain, fraught with challenges I had yet to fully comprehend.

I went back to my apartment as soon as possible. As I got in, it didn't take me too long to start looking for suitable outfits for the trip. I rummaged through my meager wardrobe, finding only one passable outfit. Desperation clawed at me; I had no friends to turn to, no resources to draw from. I sank onto my bed, feeling the weight of my isolation.

In an attempt to distract myself, I searched the internet for information about Ryan Blackwood. His professional accolades were numerous, but personal details were scarce. No social media presence, no glimpses into his private life. It was as if he existed solely for his work.

A sudden knock on my door jolted me from my thoughts. Fear gripped me; I had just repaired the door, and now someone was here again. Taking a deep breath, I opened it, bracing for the worst.

Ryan stood there, his expression unreadable.

"May I come in?" he asked.

“May I come in?” Ryan asked again, his voice calm but holding that same authority that always made me feel a mix of unease and… something else.

I stood frozen, words escaping me as I stared at him. What was he doing here? Of all places, why my apartment?

“It seems I came at the wrong time,” he said, his brow lifting slightly as if he was about to step away.

“No, no, please come in,” I finally blurted out, my voice sounding more high-pitched than I intended. I stepped aside, letting him in while my thoughts raced.

As Ryan walked in, I felt a pang of embarrassment. My apartment wasn’t exactly in a presentable state. The clutter from my earlier frantic search for clothes was still scattered across the room, and the overall shabbiness of the place couldn’t be hidden.

“Uh, have a seat,” I said, pointing toward the lone plastic chair in the corner.

Ryan glanced at it briefly before sitting down, his expression unreadable as always.

I began hurriedly tidying up, shoving the clothes back into my tiny wardrobe and stacking a few books that had fallen off the shelf. “Sorry about the mess,” I muttered, avoiding his gaze. “It’s not much, I know.”

“I don’t mind,” he replied simply, leaning back in the chair with a posture that somehow made it look like a throne.

I stopped for a moment, staring at him, before finally asking the question that was burning in my mind. “What brings you here, Mr. Blackwood?”

“I told you I’d get back to you,” he said casually, “but I had an emergency to attend to earlier.”

I folded my arms, trying to mask my nervousness. “And what exactly do you need from me?”

“I came for what I said I’d do,” he said.

I tilted my head, confused. “Do what? I don’t understand, sir.”

“Please,” he interrupted, his tone softer this time. “Stop calling me ‘sir.’ At least when we’re alone, you can call me Ryan. Like you always did before you got the job.”

I bit my lip, unsure of how to respond. “Okay, uh… Ryan.” The name felt strange on my tongue, almost too intimate for the man sitting in front of me.

He gave me a slight nod before continuing. “We need to get you clothes for the trip.”

My eyes widened in shock. “Clothes for the trip? What do you mean?”

“I don’t mean to be rude,” he began carefully, “but I noticed you might need something more comfortable for the meetings we’ll be attending. I thought I could help with that.”

I stared at him, my cheeks burning. “No, I can’t let you do that. You’ve already done so much—offering me this job, getting me a phone—now you want to buy me clothes? I can’t accept that.”

“Aurora,” he said firmly, his eyes locking onto mine. “I insist. It’s not a big deal.”

“It is to me,” I said quickly. “You don’t understand, sir—uh, Ryan. I… I just can’t. I haven’t even been working for two days. How can you say I deserve this?”

“I can see the effort you’re putting in,” he replied, his voice steady but gentle.

I shook my head, pacing slightly as my nerves got the best of me. “I’m sorry, but no. I’ll figure it out myself.”

Ryan stood suddenly, his movements smooth but deliberate. I froze in place as he closed the small distance between us. My heart raced as he reached out and cupped my cheek lightly.

“Come with me, Aurora,” he said softly, his eyes searching mine. “Let me do this for you. Let me help you.”

The warmth of his touch and the intensity in his gaze left me breathless. I didn’t expect him to get this close, and now that he was, I couldn’t find the words to respond.

My heart pounded in my chest as I struggled to steady my breathing. What was happening to me? Why did his touch feel like it was unearthing something I wasn’t ready to confront?