Chapter Twenty-One

Aurora’s Pov

I lay on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, my mind swirling with unanswered questions. The nausea that had been threatening to overwhelm me all day hadn’t fully subsided, but that wasn’t what kept me awake. It was the thought of Ryan, sitting just a few feet away, his piercing gaze watching over me.

“Can I ask you something?” I finally blurted out, breaking the silence that hung heavily between us.

Ryan’s voice was calm as he responded, “Of course.”

“Were you born rich?” The question tumbled out before I could second-guess myself.

Ryan leaned back slightly, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “Yes, I was born into wealth.”

I nodded slowly, unsure what I expected him to say. “I’ve always dreamt of having my own company one day,” I admitted, the words spilling out in a quiet confession. “But… that’s by the way.”

Ryan smiles, and I caught the amusement in his expression.

“What’s funny?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at him.

“Nothing,” he said, though his smile lingered. “Your question just caught me off guard.”

Before I could press further, a sharp pain shot through my head. I winced, clutching my temples as the throbbing intensified.

“You need to rest,” Ryan said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

I shook my head, pushing myself to sit up despite the dizziness. “I should go back to my apartment. It’s getting late, and it’s… inappropriate for me to stay here.”

“Inappropriate for whom?” he asked, his tone light but with a hint of curiosity.

“For people,” I mumbled, avoiding his gaze.

“What people?” he countered, raising an eyebrow. “You told me you’re new in town. Who exactly would be talking?”

His words caught me off guard, and my cheeks burned with embarrassment. “Okay, fine,” I admitted. “You’ve got me. But it’s still not right. I’m staying at my boss’s place.”

Ryan’s expression softened, but his voice remained steady. “I can’t let you leave, Aurora. Not when you’re feeling like this. I’m just being nice, nothing else.”

There was something in his tone that made me doubt his words, but I didn’t have the strength to argue. I nodded reluctantly, sinking back into the bed.

“Good,” he said quietly. “Now rest.”

I closed my eyes, willing myself to fall asleep, but when the darkness came, it brought with it nightmares I couldn’t escape. Images of Marcos and Greg filled my mind, their cruel laughter echoing in my ears as they loomed over me.

“Stop,” I whimpered, twisting in the sheets. “Stop. Stop!”

A firm grip on my shoulders jolted me awake. Ryan’s voice was sharp yet steady as he repeated, “Wake up, Arara. Wake up.”

My eyes flew open, and I gasped for air, my chest heaving as though I’d been running. Sweat clung to my skin, and the room felt suffocatingly warm.

“Calm down,” Ryan said softly, his hands still on my shoulders. “It was just a nightmare. You’re safe.”

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I nodded weakly. “I… I’m sorry,” I whispered, my voice trembling.

“Don’t apologize,” he said firmly. “You’ve been through a lot. It’s okay.”

I didn’t trust myself to speak, so I simply nodded again.

“I’ll stay here tonight,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Just in case.”

I blinked up at him, startled. “You don’t have to—”

“I’ll stay on the couch,” he interrupted, gesturing to the small sofa beside the bed. “It’s not a problem. I just want to make sure you’re okay.”

His words eased the knot of anxiety in my chest. Knowing he wouldn’t be sharing the bed with me made it easier to accept his presence. “Okay,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper.

Ryan settled onto the couch, his long frame somehow fitting into the small space. “Now try to get some rest,” he said gently.

I nodded, closing my eyes once more. Though fear lingered at the edges of my mind, the sound of Ryan’s steady breathing grounded me. For the first time in what felt like forever, I didn’t feel completely alone.

*****

When I woke up, the first thing I noticed was the soft morning light streaming through the curtains. The events of the previous night felt like a hazy dream, but the faint ache in my body reminded me that it was all too real. I blinked a few times, trying to gather my thoughts.

Ryan.

I glanced toward the couch, expecting to see him there, but it was empty. A small pang of disappointment hit me, though I didn’t understand why. It’s not like I needed him hovering over me, right? Shaking off the strange feeling, I sat up, my head still heavy with sleep.

Looking around, I realized I was in the same room Ryan had brought me to when I fainted. My cheeks warmed at the memory of him carrying me inside. With a deep breath, I swung my legs off the bed, steadying myself before standing.

Retracing my steps from the day before, I made my way down the hallway, following the faint scent of something… delicious. My stomach growled loudly, betraying me, and I placed a hand over it, hoping it would quiet down.

As I entered the kitchen, the sight before me stopped me in my tracks. Ryan stood at the stove, dressed in a casual t-shirt and sweatpants, looking impossibly relaxed and out of place in a kitchen. He turned as if sensing my presence and offered a small smile.

“Good morning,” he said, his voice warm.

“Good morning,” I replied softly, still trying to process the fact that he was cooking.

“Feeling better?” he asked, setting a plate of something down on the counter.

“Yes, much better,” I said, though my stomach betrayed me again with a loud grumble.

Ryan raised an eyebrow, his lips twitching into an amused smirk. “You sure you don’t want some?”

“No, thank you,” I said quickly, but my stomach had other plans.

“Your stomach says otherwise,” he teased, pulling out a chair for me. “Come on, sit and eat.”

I hesitated but eventually gave in, sitting down as he placed a plate of pancakes and fruit in front of me. “Thank you,” I mumbled, my cheeks heating up as I took a bite. It was delicious, and I couldn’t stop myself from devouring the meal.

Ryan watched me, a strange expression on his face, as though he found the sight amusing, or maybe endearing.

After breakfast, I leaned back in my chair, feeling a little more like myself. “I should head home now,” I said, breaking the comfortable silence. “I can’t stay here.”

Ryan leaned against the counter, crossing his arms. “Okay,” he said simply. “But you’re not coming to work today. Rest up. We’ll meet tomorrow for the trip.”

I opened my mouth to argue but stopped myself. He was right, I wasn't in any condition to work.

Just as I was about to excuse myself to gather my things, my phone buzzed. It was Sufi.

“Hello?” I answered, holding the phone to my ear.

“Are you coming in today?” Sophie’s voice was bright and cheerful, as always.

“No, I’m not feeling well,” I admitted.

“Oh no! Should I come over?” she asked, her concern evident.

“No, no,” I said quickly. “I’m not at home anyway.”

“Where are you?” she asked, her curiosity piqued.

I hesitated, glancing at Ryan, who was watching me with an amused expression. “I’m… at a friend’s place.”

Ryan raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything until I hung up. “You could’ve just told her you were with me,” he said casually.

“No, that’s weird,” I said quickly. “It’s not like we’re… something.”

Ryan smirked but didn’t press the matter.

Later, as he drove me back to my apartment, I couldn’t help but notice the way he looked at my building, with a mix of disdain and concern. I chose not to comment, pretending not to notice as I stepped out of the car.

“Before we leave tomorrow, come by a little earlier,” Ryan said. “We’ll get your account opened before the trip.”

“Okay,” I said, grateful that he was taking care of that for me.

Once inside my apartment, I couldn’t stop myself from smiling as I unpacked the bags of clothes Ryan had bought for me. Everything was perfect, almost too perfect. Why was he doing this? Was he this generous with all his employees, or was I reading too much into it?

I shook my head, pushing the thoughts aside. It felt nice to have someone care, even if it was temporary.

As I started packing for the trip, I couldn’t help but feel a flutter of excitement. I carefully picked out the best outfits, determined to make a good impression.

Before I could overthink it, I added a few extra items to my bag, telling myself it was just another part of the job.