Chapter 24

Aurora’s POV

I wince as the nurse removes the IV needle from my arm. The doctor said I was slightly dehydrated and had a strange drug floating in my system that he said is a lot like a muscle relaxant, but it wasn’t quite the same thing. He said it could have caused nausea and dizziness.

When he asked if I had been out to a bar or club where someone could have tampered with my food or drink, I told him no. I wasn’t sure what to say about the club from the other night. I didn’t eat or drink anything, so how could they drug me?

Maybe it was in the air?

I make a mental note to tell Thorne about the drug before collecting my paperwork, my new medicine, and thanking the nurse and doctor.

“Come back if you are still feeling side effects after two days,” the nurse says kindly. The experience is completely different than what I’m used to, but I guess that’s the power of money and status. The moment they saw Thorne’s name on the credit card, they began treating me like royalty.

“I will. Thank you,” I tell them. The IV and medicine they administered already have me feeling better. In fact, I feel well enough that instead of going home, I go back to the office.

Returning so soon, even if I’m an hour late, will hopefully calm Thorne’s anger.

When I get to my desk, I look in the usual spot for my task list only to find it empty. I quickly put my medicine in my purse and stash both in my lower desk drawer, jumping when I hear my name.

“Aurora, come to my office.”

He doesn’t sound angry, but his tone isn’t soft either.

“Coming,” I call, shuffling into Thorne’s office.

He’s sitting behind his desk like always, but when I enter, his eyes are on me. They scan my body, making me feel like I should spin so he can get a good look. I don’t. I stand still, shifting when his gaze lasts a little longer than necessary.

It’s a bit uncomfortable, being assessed so openly, but a slight warmth replaces the discomfort when he nods and says, “You look better.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

“What did the doctor say?” His question catches me off guard, but I answer anyway.

“He said I was dehydrated, and that there was… a small amount of a relaxation drug in my system,” I tell him, wanting to be fully truthful.

Thorne’s eyes jump to mine, hardening, “Drugs?”

“I-I don’t take drugs, I swear. He said I probably got it from somewhere without realizing it.”

“The other night,” Thorne mutters, his mouth thinning to a line. I nod in confirmation, even though I don’t know how they drugged me.

When he doesn’t say anything else, I continue, “I’m okay, though. I got some medicine, and they gave me an IV, so everything is fine. He said there wasn’t much in my system, so it should be gone in a few days.”

Again, he stays silent, so I keep talking, “I noticed there isn’t a task list on my desk.”

“I didn’t expect you back this soon,” he mutters, pulling out a yellow notepad and writing on it. When he passes it to me, I notice it’s shorter than usual. He did apologize last night for not taking her sickness into account so this must be another way of apologizing. I bite back the smile that tries to pull at my lips, silently forgiving him for being angry before.

“I promise I won’t make any more stupid mistakes,” I tell him, which makes him look up at me.

Thorne’s steady gaze stays on me for a moment. He doesn’t say anything, almost like he’s waiting for me to continue. The longer he watches me, the more nervous I get. What is he expecting me to say?

“And?” He raises a brow with his curt question.

“And…” I try to think of something else to say. What am I missing? Does he want another apology?

“And you’ll tell me if you’re not feeling well again,” he says, surprising me. “I can’t have my… assistant getting sick.”

The thought and a knock at the door are like a cold bucket of water falling over my head, and I step back.

Nodding, I try not to read into his words and the kindness that he’s shown. He’s probably just worried about our deal. He’s not worried about me, just worried that I can’t fulfill our contract.

“Brother!” Ivy calls out, and I cringe.

“Come in,” Thorne calls out, and when she enters, I don’t know what to do. Leave? Stay here?

I don’t miss the narrow-eyed glare she sends my way, but I try to ignore it.

“What’s going on in here, Big Brother?” Ivy asks, her tone full of that sickly sweet innocence she uses with Thorne. There’s an undertone of suspicion in her words as she looks between the two of us and says, “I’ve noticed you two are getting close. Is there something going on between the two of you?”

Thorne says nothing, just looks at his sister as she stops in front of his desk. It gives her the chance to continue talking, “I checked Aurora’s employee file and found that she doesn’t have a probationary period like everyone else. Why is that? Every employee who is hired officially should have the sixty-day probationary period, so why doesn’t the little human?”

Ivy looks at me, her lip curling up in disgust, “Did she get this job some other way?”

Anyone would know what she meant by her question. It’s irritating, how she looks at me like I’m something slimy she stepped on.

“No, Ivy,” I say. The anger and suspicion in her eyes don’t go away as she fully turns to me. “There’s nothing going on. I just had a quick hiring process because your brother said he needed someone immediately.”

If Thorne isn’t going to answer, I might as well tell her something, even if it is a lie.

“There is nothing unprofessional going on here,” I add.

Ivy eyes me, then she looks at Thorne, who is still silent. He doesn’t contradict me, and I wonder why. We agreed to keep this between us, but staying completely silent is going to make Ivy more suspicious than she already is.

I try to read Thorne’s expression, but he’s closed off. I can’t tell if he’s angry or bored. Doesn’t he have anything to add to the conversation? He could say something or anything to change Ivy’s mind, but he remains quiet. Is he thinking? Does he want her to find out about our contract?

He agreed with me when I said it needed to be kept a secret, so what is he thinking?

Irritated, I take a breath. I want to yell at him to say something, but that would be ridiculous.

“Alpha Thorne is my boss, Ivy. I would never try anything with him,” I tell her, hoping she can’t see through the lies.

Ivy scoffs and flicks her long hair over her shoulder as she pins her glare on me again while hissing, “I’ve got my eye on you, human.”