Page 14 of The Boss’s Obsession
Once again, I couldn’t recognize myself Sienna was awakening a whole part of me that I hadn’t known was there.
“Rest, I’ll order dinner and make you some tea.” I forced myself to my feet and turned to meet her eyes. Her face was flushed, but she didn’t seem embarrassed, which was a relief. I wasn’t either. I was damn proud. This lovely woman had embraced me, and come from my touch. She wanted me. I could have beat my chest like a barbarian, for the kind of smug, male pride and possessiveness I felt right then.
“Shouldn’t I go home?” she asked, biting her lip.
I shook my head firmly. “You’re not going anywhere, Sienna. Get used to that fact.”
CHAPTER11
Sienna
When I woke again, light filled the room. I blinked at the clock, unable to understand the time. 10 am? Pushing myself up, I cast my groggy mind to the night before. Heat rose in me immediately as I remembered being touched by Ronan and coming hard under him. Clapping my hands over my hot cheeks, I shivered. Wow, that really happened. I couldn’t believe it.
Afterward, he’d had Vietnamese food brought in, and the chicken pho had made me sleepy. I barely remembered getting back to bed. I cast about for the memory. I recalled the fragrant broth and the hard kitchen chair under my overheated body and then… the slither of a memory nudged me. Ronan’s strong arms sliding under me and carrying me back to bed.
“Oh my god,” I muttered, my throat scratchy and dry, as I fell back in bed. I had to be going for a record as being the worst employee to ever serve their two-week’s notice. Getting sick and forcing the boss to tend you wasn’t the best end to a year of hard work.
A knock sounded efficiently at the door and I sat back up. I should get dressed and get out of here. I was feeling better, after all. All the rest and soup seemed to have helped.
The door opened and I braced myself to see Ronan for the first time in the harsh morning light, after everything that had passed between us.
Instead of my boss’s handsome face, an older lady poked her head into the room and smiled at me.
“Oh good, you’re up.” She bustled in and approached me with a no-nonsense air.
“Hello?” I asked dumbly, as she reached me and pressed a hand to my head, before taking a thermometer out of her pocket.
“Hello, dear. I’m nurse Debbie, nice to meet you. Mr. Turner called me last night to come and stay with you since you’re not feeling well,” Debbie checked my temperature and then went over to the dresser where an array of bottles were lined up.
“I only have a cold!” I protested mildly. Ronan had engaged a private nurse to watch me. I didn’t know whether to be flattered or embarrassed. Was I that much of an inconvenience to take care of?
“Exactly and you probably know how Mr. Turner doesn’t like to leave things to chance. He wanted me to make sure you are comfortable. Your fever is down, which is great news. Now, I’m going to put some drops in this steamer to help with that congestion,” Debbie continued, and my brain wandered from her words to thoughts of Ronan. He had wanted me to be comfortable. My heart beat strangely as I considered those words. Since my father had died, I’d been on my own. Sure, I’d had my job to go to, and it really had helped me to heal faster, but other than that, nobody had taken care of me. Of course, at twenty-three, I didn’t need anyone to, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t nice to be considered by someone else.
“Is Mr. Turner here?” I asked Debbie, craning my neck to peer at the hallway, only just visible.
“He’s gone to the office, he said there was something important that couldn’t wait.”
Right. Of course, he’d gone to the office. My shoulders deflated. I was being silly. Of course, he had to get back to the real world and I already knew well enough that nothing and no one would ever come between Ronan and work. Still, a part of me had felt like what had happened between us yesterday existed in this small, intimate bubble, and now he had left, it had pricked the rainbow sides, and the real world had pushed back in. That kind of line-crossing could surely only exist in a bubble. There had been little sign of reality in there, and I could admit, I hadn’t wanted to leave it.
Letting out a resigned sigh, I tried to pull myself together. Nothing had really changed, after all. I was still leaving Turner Tech, and my notice clock was still counting down. In a week, I wouldn’t have to see Ronan again, so our little slip yesterday wouldn’t be too embarrassing. I should feel great. The gorgeous, driven hunk of billionaire that I’d been crushing on for a year had noticed me, and now I had a brand-new shiny memory to treasure.
“Nurse Debbie, do you think it’d be ok for me to go home in a little bit? I’m feeling much better,” I asked my nurse. She considered it a moment and then nodded.
“I don’t see why not when you’re on the mend. Everyone feels better in their own home,” she said and gave me a warm smile. “Make sure to take a cab, though. I’ll let Mr. Turner know when he calls for an update.”
“Thank you, and thank you for last night, I’m sorry you had to come over here just for a little cold.”
Debbie laughed. “I should thank you! This bonus doubled my wage this month.” Debbie smiled breezily at me. The knowledge alleviated my guilt somewhat.
I forced my legs out of bed and stood. It was time to go back to the real world.
* * *
My apartment felt comforting,if not a little cold and empty when I got home. I charged my phone and stared at the blank screen. Ronan hadn’t called or texted me. He clearly didn’t expect me to go to work today, and I didn’t really feel up to it. Instead, I changed into comfy clothes and went to bed. I hauled my laptop to me, and opened it, bracing myself to see the mess of emails needing organizing. I’d only been out of the office since yesterday afternoon and still, the sheer number of people who needed something from Ronan was crazy. I worked my way through them, including an urgent one with a scheduling change from an important investor and another from HR. It was an attachment with the first round of résumés for my position.
My heart beat strangely, as I opened the file and started to look through them. It was an impressive array. Every single one was Ivy-league educated and had a hell of a lot more experience than I did. If Ronan hadn’t been looking after me at my father’s request, I never would have had this job. Sure, I’d sacrificed sleep and sanity for nearly a year, but it was a position that so many people would kill for. A springboard to great things. I should be excited, instead, I couldn’t look too closely at the feeling in my gut whenever I thought about not going into the office every morning. I would never sit on my pale pink velvet chair, or get frequent peeks at Ronan when the door to his office opened.
At that moment, it felt like an unbearable loss and one I’d brought on myself. Still, I could hardly continue working there, my crush getting worse and worse, as he plowed through the business world with his laser-like focus, never noticing me.
