Chapter Seventeen

Aurora’s Pov

I didn’t know when sleep took me, my thoughts tangled in a web of worry and resolve. When my eyes finally fluttered open, the sun was already streaming through the window. My heart sank as I glanced at the clock….7:45 a.m.

I was supposed to be in the office by 8:00 a.m.

Panic surged through me. My second day of work, and I was already leaving a bad impression. Scrambling out of bed, I dressed in record time, barely checking the mirror before rushing out of the door. My stomach churned as I imagined what Ryan would say. He’d probably think I was irresponsible and careless.

I left my house in a haste, got into a cab and almost made him kill us by pressuring him to drive faster.

By the time I arrived at the office, everyone was already settled. My heels clicked against the floor as I rushed to greet Sophia, who gave me a pointed look.

“Why are you late?” she asked, her tone less curious and more accusatory.

“I—I didn’t know when I slept off,” I stammered, feeling the weight of her gaze. “I don’t have an alarm to wake me up.”

Sophia sighed, shaking her head slightly. “The boss doesn’t tolerate lateness, just so you know.”

Her words stung, but I nodded quickly and hurried to drop my bag in my office. I couldn’t waste another second. With my heart pounding, I made my way to Ryan’s office.

Standing outside the door, I took a deep breath and knocked lightly.

“Come in,” his deep voice called.

I stepped inside and froze when I saw him already seated at his desk, his sharp eyes lifting to meet mine.

“You’re late,” he said, his tone neutral, though his gaze felt like a scalpel.

“I’m very sorry, sir,” I began, my words tumbling out before I could stop them. “I didn’t mean to oversleep. It won’t happen again. I swear, I—”

“Enough,” he interrupted, his voice cutting through my rambling.

I snapped my mouth shut, my heart racing.

“Have a seat,” he said, gesturing to the chair in front of his desk. “I have something for you.”

“For me?” I echoed, confused.

“Yes, for you. Sit down.”

I hesitated for a moment before perching on the edge of the chair. My hands fidgeted in my lap as I whispered another apology. Ryan’s sharp gaze flicked up to me, and I instantly silenced myself.

He reached into a drawer and pulled out a package, placing it on the desk between us.

“Take it,” he said simply.

I stared at the package, hesitant to move. Slowly, I reached out and took it from him, the weight of it unfamiliar in my hands. He gestured for me to open it, and I obeyed, carefully peeling back the wrapping.

Inside was a sleek cell phone. My breath hitched.

“This is...a phone?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Something like that,” Ryan replied, leaning back in his chair. “It’s for you.”

For a moment, I couldn’t process what was happening. The phone in my hands felt both heavy and fragile, like a piece of responsibility I wasn’t ready to hold. My emotions swirled, a strange mixture of gratitude, disbelief, and something else I couldn’t quite name.

My chest tightened, and before I could stop myself, I was on my feet. The chair scraped back, its sound barely registering in my ears. I crossed the space between us in two steps and wrapped my arms around Ryan, holding him in a hug so fierce I could feel the warmth of his chest against my cheek.

I froze.

What am I doing?

I pulled back just as quickly as I had leaned in, my face burning with embarrassment. My hands hovered awkwardly at my sides as I stammered, “I…I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean…”

Ryan raised an eyebrow, his expression a mixture of amusement and something softer, something I couldn’t place. “I get the excitement,” he said, his tone teasing.

I swallowed hard, still clutching the phone like it might disappear if I let go. My lips parted to speak, but my voice wavered, and I closed them again. Finally, I found the courage to whisper, “Why?”

Ryan tilted his head slightly, his gaze steady on mine. “Why what?”

“Why are you doing this for me?” I asked, my voice trembling. “I... I can’t accept this.”

His laugh was low and brief, more of a huff than anything. “After all that excitement, you can’t accept it? That’s funny.”

His words brought a small, nervous laugh to my lips, but it quickly faded as tears pricked the corners of my eyes. “I’m serious,” I said, my voice breaking. “This is too much. I don’t know how to thank you enough. I’m just—” My breath hitched, and I looked away, blinking rapidly to keep the tears at bay. “I’m so grateful.”

Without thinking, I hugged him again, this time slower, softer. It wasn’t just gratitude—it was something deeper, something I didn’t have the courage to name.

For a moment, it felt like the world had stilled. His arms hesitated before they came around me, light but steady, like he wasn’t sure he should hold on but didn’t want to let go. There was a tension in the air, an unspoken energy that seemed to hum between us.

It felt like he was holding something back, something heavy and unrelenting. I could feel it in the way his chest rose and fell, in the slight stiffness of his posture. It was like standing at the edge of a storm, waiting for the first clap of thunder.

When I finally stepped back, I searched his face, hoping to find an answer to the questions swirling in my mind. But his expression was unreadable, his eyes dark and guarded.

“Thank you,” I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper.

He nodded once, his jaw tightening as he gestured to the phone. “Just use it.”

And just like that, the moment passed, leaving me with a strange ache in my chest and a thousand questions I couldn’t bring myself to ask.

I retired to my office to start the work for the day.

****

The rest of the morning passed in a blur. I couldn’t stop staring at the phone, its sleek black surface glinting under the light of my desk lamp. It felt surreal having something so new, so personal. It was mine now.

But I couldn’t let it distract me for long. I dove into my tasks, organizing Ryan’s schedules, arranging meetings, and making sure every detail was accounted for. The meticulous work helped quiet my thoughts, at least for a little while.

By lunchtime, I had made decent progress, though my stomach grumbled in protest. I was about to stand when Sophia appeared, balancing two containers of food. She set one down in front of me with a cheerful grin.

“Lunch is on the boss today,” she said, popping the lid off hers. “He said everyone should pick what they want, so I grabbed this for you. Hope it’s okay.”

I blinked, caught off guard. “Oh, thank you, Sophia. I didn’t expect this.”

She shrugged, already halfway through her meal. “Well, enjoy it. Perks of working here, I guess.”

I smiled and murmured another thank-you before digging in. The food was delicious, but my mind wandered as I ate, replaying the moment in Ryan’s office over and over. The way he looked at me, the weight in his eyes I couldn’t shake it.

After lunch, I returned to my tasks, double-checking the week’s schedule. Once I was satisfied everything was in order, I gathered my notes and made my way to Ryan’s office.

I knocked lightly before stepping inside. He was at his desk, his sharp gaze lifting to meet mine as I entered.

“Your schedule for the week,” I began, placing the folder on his desk. “Everything’s in order. However, there’s a business trip scheduled for the weekend. It’s out of town and will last three days. Should I confirm or decline it?”

Ryan leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable as he considered my words. Then, without hesitation, he said, “Accept it.”

I nodded, making a note in my planner. “Okay. Noted.”

Just as I turned to leave, his voice stopped me.

“You’re coming with me.”

I froze, gripping my notepad tightly as I turned back to face him. “I’m... I’m what?”

His gaze was steady, almost challenging. “You’re my personal assistant, Aurora. It’s part of the job. You’ll come with me, and you’ll stay the weekend out of town.”

My heart thudded loudly in my chest as his words sank in. I didn’t know what to say, but the intensity in his eyes left no room for argument.