Chapter 12: In Which He Wants More

Theo blinked at his lovely enchantress smiling innocently back at him.

“Earlier, after the ceremony, you wanted to tell me something. What is it?”

Neat, he thought as he chuckled over her head. That was some impressive move. She had cleverly avoided his advancements. When he looked back, the corner of his eyes was wrinkled up with crow's feet.

“We’re going on a retreat this weekend.”

“A retreat?”

Theo nodded. “Gill's invitation. I guess he wanted to extend his celebration.”

“I see.” Aurora started to panic. She wouldn't be able to work this weekend.

How will she get enough money to pay for everyone? There's another f*cking ten thousand dollars on her back. What if the pay up is soon? If she couldn't pay up in time, that sicko would spill everything and Theo… what would he think of her?

She had that look again - the vacant expression of a person carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. Theo frowned. What the hell is going on in that sweet little mind? He wanted to know. Hell, he wanted to know everything about her.

"Aurora."

Her eyes snapped back to consciousness. She looked up at him with a rehearsed smile. "Hmm?"

"Something's wrong, isn't it?"

Her voice came out in a wary drawl. "No… why do you think so?"

"Something's wrong. It's all over your face." He gently held her chin to capture her full attention and whispered with concern in his eyes, "Tell me."

"Don't do this."

"I want to help you."

"Why?" The outline of her eyes reddened.

"Because I want to." He sounded determined. His eyes were boring into hers, imploring her to trust him.

Aurora tore her gaze away and replied curtly, "It's none of your business." She unwound her arms and stepped back. For some reason, she was aggrieved at his open concern.

"Aurora," he breathed, his voice took on a pleading tone.

"Look around us, Theo. I don't belong here. We both know why I'm here and how I got here." In a tone-down voice, she concluded, "We're just business partners. Nothing more."

"I want us to be more."

"Theo…" Aurora sighed wearily.

"You're not being fair."

The word triggered her innermost frustrations. Her gaze hardened instantly. "Fair? Look at us." She pointed from the front of his clean shirt to the pink ring in her chest. "We're from two different worlds. How fair can this be?"

With a deep inhale, Theo stalked off the dance floor.

He strode towards the nearest table, grabbed a glass of red wine, raised it over his head and emptied the contents on him. An observing group reacted instantly.

Aurora heard a sharp, shocked intake of breath in the crowd and turned around, just in time to see Theo dripping with red wine.

“What the hell!” Instinctively, she rushed forward, grabbed a napkin on the table and wiped his face. "What the hell are you doing, Theo?” She hissed as she pressed the cloth on his wine-soaked shirt. “Are you crazy?"

The devilish grin was back firmly on his face. Theo gazed through his damped fringe at his little temptress, her pretty features coiled up in shock and worry. He gently took her chin and forced her to look at him.

"I'm going into your world, babe."

He removed the napkin from her and handed it to a baffled waiter standing near them.

"Theo, you idiot! You need to wipe--."

He put a finger to his lips. "Ssh… it's alright. You took it well and so will I."

Aurora felt a growing warmth in her eyes as she stared into his. Give him a chance, a tiny voice in her mind said. Heeding it, she welcomed the fuzzy feeling swelling inside her, and tiptoed to brush his damped fringe away from his adorable forehead.

He was a wet mess, but she thought he looked beautiful.


******


They left hastily to avoid stealing the happy couple’s thunder.

“You ready to tell me what’s wrong?”

Aurora gave a half-serious glare at the sickeningly handsome man in the driver’s seat, then stared ahead again. There was a brief moment of silence as she struggled with what to say. With an exhale, she conceded. “I need to work on weekends.”

His mouth formed a grim line. “And you can’t take leave.”

Aurora nodded.

Perhaps he could tell those debtors to cut her some slack. Then, he slapped himself mentally. Real sweet of you, Theo, she will throw herself at you and call you her knight in shining armor. If she knew that you’ve been snooping around, she wouldn’t let you near her again, you idiot!

“Are you alright? You look like you want to punch someone’s face.”

Theo turned to her. “I’m just thinking about what you just said.”

Aurora looked at the road in front of them. “I’ll keep my end of the deal. You’ve already done a lot for me, actually. I’ll settle this with Madame Zoya.”

The car came to a stop and he faced her directly. “You’ll start work tomorrow.”

Aurora almost jumped out of her seatbelt. “You mean at your company? Tomorrow?” Clearly, she couldn’t hide her relief. Thank God! Her insides did a somersault. This would help a lot!

He nodded quietly. “8 am. Give your name to the receptionist and look for Rose.”

At the sound of a woman’s name, a twinge of jealousy hit her gut. Aurora cleared her throat and repeated, “Rose?”

Theo straightened. A twinkle of amusement flashed across his eyes. “Yes, Rose. Is there a problem?”

Aurora shrugged. “Nope. Everything’s good. Register at the receptionist and ask for Rose. I got it.”

“You’re not going to tell me what you’re thinking, are you.”

She forced a bright smile. “Nope. What will I be doing?”

Theo leaned back and smiled. “You’ll know tomorrow. Don’t be late.”


******


Rose was the CEO’s Executive Assistant -- otherwise known as Theo’s secretary.

When the elderly woman greeted her with a warm smile, Aurora had thought that she was a lawyer. In addition to her black suit and pants, her grey hair was pulled into a tight ponytail without a single loose strand and her thin-almond eyes were framed with stern-looking, red-rimmed specs.

“I’ve read all your particulars and discussed with Mr. Barone. We have found a position for you.”

“Thank you, Rose. I really appreciate the opportunity.” Aurora breathed carefully to steady her frenzy nerves. She was more mindful than usual. It’s always good to start with a good impression in a new workplace.

They stepped into the elevator and Rose pressed the button for the highest floor.

“Are we going to meet the CEO first?”

“No. We’re going to your desk.” Rose tipped the corner of her specs and stared ahead.

“But I thought the highest floor is the CEO’s office.” Strange anxiety stirred inside Aurora. She has heard of CEOs having two secretaries, but what can a college drop out do? Besides, she had stated her conditions clearly!

“Yes, it is,” Rose replied calmly, oblivious to the thunderstorm brewing inside the new staff.

“I don’t understand. Why are we going to the CEO’s office?”

The soft tinkle answered her and the elevator door opened to a familiar setting. Only it was empty now. Aurora swallowed hard at the memory of gifting her new boss a tight slap. Suddenly, she felt awkward. Why didn’t she think it through when she asked for a job?

Because you don’t have a f*cking choice. Aurora nodded mentally. Right. Stay focused, Aurora. You’re here to work.

They strode into a separate room, half the size of the CEO’s office, and stopped in front of a quaint wooden table laid with a dark-silver laptop and a nice grey phone.

“Here is your desk. You will report to me. I’ll be over there.” She pointed to a desk much larger than Aurora’s, topped with thick ring-files and two enormous desktops and surrounded by three high shelves.

Aurora exhaled with respect. “That’s a lot of work you’re doing.”

Rose’s eyes widened briefly as if she never heard that comment, and then she gave a warm smile. “I do my best.”

“What will I be doing?”

Rose blinked and hastily added. “Theo didn’t tell you?”

Aurora shook her head with a sheepish smile.

“You’ll be assisting me.”

Aurora could imagine Theo looking at her with his impish grin.