ra was feeling better too, but then he asked, "Is there really something between you and your boss, Dn?"


    "No way, we''re just too different. I don''t have feelings for him, though I do respect his business skills."


    After the recent incident, she realized her ce more clearly. She used to think she might be a bit different from other women, but that $500,000 check was like a wake-up call, snapping her back to reality.


    "Z, my thing with him is strictly business. If you''ve heard any rumors, they''re not true. I''m just focused on making the Bradford Group seed; otherwise, I wouldn''t bother with Mr. Dn."


    The arm around her waist tightened a bit, almost squeezing the air out of her.


    She sighed, thinking it was his insecurity ring up again, feeling like he couldn''tpete with Dn.


    She gave his hand a reassuring pat.


    That night, they didn''t do anything but just held each other and drifted off to sleep.


    When ra woke up, she noticed some snacks on the bedside table and a note he left.


    - Until next time.


    She smiled, noticing her phone was back too.


    With a sigh, she sent him a text.


    [Until next time.]


    Her recovery was really impressive. Despite how bad her injuries were, she was almost healed after just a few days, with only some fading scars left.


    She wondered about Ryan, now that Greysen''s shares were transferred to him. He must be swamped at work.


    She tried calling Ryan, but he didn''t answer.


    Earlier, she''d brought back some senior staff who were let go. They hadn''t expected her to outsmart Greysen and now stood firmly by her side.


    She gave them a call.


    "Has Ryan been at the office?"


    They quickly chimed in, "He hasn''t shown up in two days, and he doesn''t look well. We don''t know if he''s been burning the midnight oil or got something else going on. Ms. ra, maybe you should swing by?"


    ra frowned, a bad feeling creeping in.


    She called Ryan again, but after ten tries, still nothing.


    So, ra headed to his ce, knowing the door code. She let herself in and waited on the couch.


    Ryan came home around two in the morning, startled to see her, and took a few steps back.


    "ra."


    She looked him over, not spotting anything off.


    "The team said you haven''t been to work in two days. What''s going on? I mentioned we need to be quick about bringing in new projects."


    "I was at school. I had to catch up on some coursework. Couldn''t miss it, so I spent the past couple of days there."


    ra let out a breath of relief and asked, "Greysen hasn''t reached out, has he?"


    Greysen had acted weird when he handed over the shares, and ra was worried he might be plotting something, but he''d been too quiettely.


    "No, he hasn''t."


    ra lowered her eyes, trying to figure out what might''ve gone wrong. She was


    sure Greysen wouldn''t give up that easily.


    Just then, she heard Ryan coughing a few times.


    "Do you have a cold?"


    "No, just a tickle in my throat."


    ra moved closer, but he nervously stepped back.


    She caught a strong whiff of smoke on him.


    Her expression darkened, "Have you been smoking?"


    Ryan used to smoke a bit to look cool but quit after ra pped him a few times


    for it. He knew she hated the smell, so he''d kept his distance since he got in.


    "I ran into some guys on the way back. They were smoking, and I must''ve picked up the smell from them."