Page 40 of Heart of The Night

He relaxed a bit under my gaze, sinking back into his chair with a sigh. ‘Yeah. Just couldn’t sleep last night, so I ended up leaving for work a bit ahead of schedule.’

‘Right, I figured you might’ve had trouble sleeping, given the timestamp on your text,’ I said, studying him as he nodded. I was hoping for more of an explanation, but he offered none. ‘Any reason in particular, or…?’

His gaze shifted away as he shook his head. ‘Jian called. Got caught up with work and found it hard to switch off.’

‘I see.’ My eyes roved over his black desk. Two steaming coffee cups stood there – one of them, I guessed, was for me, unless he had broken the habit of bringing me coffee.

‘Anyway,’ he said, ‘I’ve been considering a slight change in our setup.’

I met his gaze squarely, curiosity piqued. ‘Oh?’

‘Yes, I’ve noticed you’re finding your stride here,’ he said, gesturing subtly toward the open-plan office space just beyond the doorway. ‘Perhaps it’s time you rejoined Ellie out there.’

His words landed on me like a sudden gust of wind. We had been sharing his office the last few weeks – I hadn’t anticipated being relocated back to the open-plan area just yet.

‘Oh, okay. Sure.’ I hesitated. ‘Any specific reason?’ I asked, observing him closely. He was acting slightly out of sorts today – somewhat aloof. But perhaps that was down to lack of sleep.

‘I thought it might be best – you know, to maintain our…’ He tilted his head as if to find the right word. ‘Secret.’

He rose from his chair, drawing nearer, his gaze skittering around before finally meeting mine. Reaching around me, he shut the door. ‘And it’s a vote of confidence, really. You’ve shown how capable you are. I’m sure you’ll shine even brighter without me looking over your shoulder.’ He bent slightly, pressing a perfunctory kiss to my lips.

A knot formed in my stomach. There was definitely something different about him. His demeanour was more guarded, more reserved. And I found it hard to convince myself it was simply due to fatigue.

A silence settled between us as we stood there, locked in a gaze.

‘Have I done something wrong?’ I asked, opting to be direct.

His expression revealed surprise. ‘What? No. Why?’

‘You just seem a bit… off today.’

He pulled his hand from his pocket, gently cradling my cheek. ‘I’m just tired,’ he said, his thumb lightly stroking my skin.

I gave a nod. ‘Well, is there any way I can help?’

He turned back toward his desk, lifting a folder from its surface. Then he swivelled back to face me, casually leaning against the edge of the desk, the folder idly held in his hands. ‘There is something, actually. As you know, we’re overseeing the merger between Elixerion Pharmaceuticals and Porter BioScience. It’s a complex task that requires a meticulous eye, particularly around regulatory compliance.’

His intent was clear. ‘You’d like me to investigate and compare their compliance?’

A small, approving smile crept onto his lips. ‘Yes. Start with reviewing all relevant regulations. I’m talking about everything – drug approvals, clinical trials, intellectual property, data privacy. Anything that might impact the pharmaceutical and biotech industries.’

‘Got it,’ I said, my mind already whirring with the enormity of the task.

He continued, ‘Then, we’ll analyse the compliance frameworks of both companies. Violet will be working on regulatory reporting aspects, while you focus on how they approach key compliance areas, such as data protection and quality assurance.’

I was furiously taking mental notes. ‘Okay, and then?’

‘Then, we identify gaps and risks. If there’s anything that doesn’t comply, if there are any issues like inadequate documentation, lack of internal controls, or non-adherence to industry guidelines, we need to flag it.’

I took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. ‘And after that?’

‘After that,’ he paused, leaning a bit closer, ‘we come up with recommendations together. How can both companies align their compliance practices during this merger? We’ll need to suggest harmonising policies, conducting training programmes, and even establishing standard operating procedures for the future entity.’

I swallowed, a knot of nerves and excitement tangling in my chest. ‘It sounds like a challenge.’

‘It is,’ he said. ‘But it’s one I believe you’re capable of handling. It will enhance your research skills, familiarise you with the regulatory landscape of the industry, and make you an integral part of the transaction. Plus, I’m always here if you need me.’ He gave me a wink.

‘All right,’ I said, feeling a renewed sense of determination. ‘I’ll get started right away.’

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