Aurora’s POV
I stayed in the corner of the suite, doing my best to seem unaffected as Ryan walked out of the bathroom. But how could I not notice him? His chest was bare, droplets of water running down his toned body. He didn’t even try to cover himself. Shameless. And yet, I couldn’t deny how flattered I felt.
I wasn’t sure what was happening inside me. It was too early to put a name to these feelings, but one thing was clear-I was attracted to him. Just attraction, though. Nothing more.
As he began dressing, I kept my head down, my face heating up like a furnace. I didn’t dare look up. I didn’t need to. The image of him was already burned into my mind. My cheeks must’ve looked like a tomato, but I couldn’t help it.
His phone suddenly rang, the sound jolting me out of my thoughts. It was on the table right beside me. Without thinking, I reached for it. Before I could even glance at the screen, Ryan’s voice cut through the air.
“Who is it?” he asked, his tone sharp and immediate.
I paused, feeling slightly startled. I glanced at the screen. “Karen,” I said, handing it over to him.
Karen. A female name.
My stomach twisted slightly as I repeated the name in my mind. Who was she? And why was she calling him?
Ryan’s expression shifted for the briefest moment, like he wasn’t expecting the call, but he quickly masked it. Without a word, he moved to the corner of the room to answer it.
I tried not to eavesdrop, but the silence between us only made the unsettling feeling inside me grow. I didn’t know why I felt that way. It wasn’t any of my business.
To distract myself, I grabbed my phone and scrolled aimlessly. Ryan wasn’t on the call for long. When he finished, he walked back and sat on the couch directly across from me.
I looked up, unable to stop myself from asking, “Is everything okay?”
He gave me a small smile and said, “Yeah, nothing to worry about.”
His answer was quick, maybe too quick. I wanted to ask more, but what right did I have? It wasn’t my place. So I swallowed the questions threatening to escape.
Questions like: Who was she?
He was quiet for a moment, just staring at me. I shifted uncomfortably under his gaze and asked, “What is it?”
“Nothing,” he replied with a small smirk, leaning back in his seat.
Before I could respond, he stood up and walked over to a bag in the corner of the room. He picked it up and brought it over to me, holding it out. I looked at him, confused.
“What am I supposed to do with this?” I asked, taking the bag hesitantly.
He didn’t answer right away. “Just open it,” he said, then went back to sit down.
I opened the bag slowly, not sure what to expect. Inside, there was a sleek laptop. I pulled it out and stared at it in confusion.
“It’s a laptop,” I said, looking at him for some kind of explanation.
Ryan leaned forward slightly, his expression calm. “It’s your laptop now. A gift.”
I blinked, not understanding. “What do you mean it’s mine?”
“I bought it for you,” he said simply, his tone as casual as if he were talking about the weather.
“A gift?” I repeated, the words sounding foreign in my mouth.
“Yes, Aurora. It’s yours.”
I didn’t know what to say. The gesture felt too kind, too thoughtful. And for some reason, it made my chest tighten.
I looked at the laptop on my lap, my heart racing as thoughts swirled in my head. This was too much. Too kind. Too… everything. I couldn’t understand why Ryan was doing all this. It didn’t feel normal.
“Ryan,” I said softly, breaking the silence. He looked up from his own laptop, his expression calm but curious.
“You really have to tell me,” I continued, “why you’re doing all this. I mean, we just met, and you’ve gotten me so many things. And you’re saying it’s out of the kindness of your heart?”
I watched as he hesitated, his eyes shifting slightly before settling back on me. “Aurora,” he said slowly, “I’ve told you before. I’m just being nice. Nothing more.”
His words felt like a quiet punch to my chest. I didn’t know why, but they left a bitter taste in my mouth. Nothing more.
I tried to brush it off, shaking my head at myself. No, Aurora, stop overthinking. He’s just being kind.
“Are you okay?” Ryan’s voice pulled me back to reality.
I blinked and realized I had been sitting there, silent and lost in thought. “I’m fine,” I said quickly, forcing a smile.
He didn’t look convinced. His eyes lingered on me, steady and unreadable.
Before I could stop myself, I stood up and walked over to him. My heart pounded as I held out my hand, unsure of what I was doing. He looked at it for a moment before reaching out and taking it. His hand was warm and firm, and the contact made my skin tingle.
When he stood up, I wrapped my arms around him, pulling him into a tight hug. “Thank you,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.
For a moment, he didn’t move. Then, slowly, his arms came around me, holding me gently but firmly. There was something hesitant about the way he hugged me, like he was holding back.
When I pulled away, I avoided his gaze and went back to my seat. I stared down at the laptop, feeling my face heat up. My lips curled into a small smile, and I knew I probably looked like a fool, but I didn’t care.
Ryan’s voice broke the silence again. “Everything’s already set up for you.”
I glanced up at him, startled, then whispered, “Thank you.”
“Do you want to start working now?” he asked, his tone soft.
I nodded quickly, eager to distract myself. I opened the laptop and dove into my work, ignoring the way my heart was still racing.
Ryan picked up his laptop and started working too. For the next few hours, the room was quiet except for the sound of typing.
By the time we were both tired, Ryan broke the silence. “Let’s order food,” he said, stretching slightly.
I nodded, too drained to argue. He made the call, and the meal arrived quicker than I expected.
The smell was heavenly, and as soon as the food was in front of me, I didn’t hold back. The flavors were so rich and delicious that I forgot all about trying to eat delicately.
When I glanced up, I realized Ryan was watching me. His gaze was intense, but his lips held a faint smile.
I froze for a moment, then forced myself to keep eating. Confidence, Aurora, I reminded myself. Don’t let him see how shy you are.
After we finished eating, I decided it was time to get to know him better. “Can I ask you something?” I said, setting my plate aside.
Ryan nodded, leaning back in his chair. “Go ahead.”
“Where are you from?” I asked, my voice soft but curious.
And just like that, his expression shifted, something flickering in his eyes before he answered.