Mia had barely slept the night before. S Every step she took toward the company felt heavy, and her vision blurred a few times as though she might faint. Her tummy hurt like fire, and she pressed her hand against it as she climbed the last flight of stairs to her office.
When she finally reached her desk, she wanted nothing more than to rest her head for a few minutes. But before she could settle, her phone buzzed.
It was her boss.
"Mia, come in," Ryan's deep voice commanded through the intercom.
Mia groaned softly under her breath. The timing couldn't have been worse. Still, she gathered her documents and walked to his office, trying her best to look professional even though her body was begging her to lie down.
Inside, Ryan sat behind his large desk, flipping through files. His sharp eyes lifted as soon as she entered.
"Mia, tell me my schedule for today," he said in his usual firm tone.
Mia adjusted the papers in her hand and began reciting. "You have a meeting at two, then a lunch with the CEO of M Company. After that, you're free until four, and then you have an appointment with the governor."
Ryan's brow furrowed as he studied her face. "Mia… are you okay?"
She froze for a second. Her instinct was to hide her pain. "I'm fine, sir. I'm just… fine," she replied, forcing a small smile.
"Of course you're not fine," Ryan muttered, standing up slowly.
Mia looked down, embarrassed. She didn't want her boss to think she was weak. But Ryan's sharp gaze didn't miss a thing. Her face was pale, her lips pressed tightly together as if she was trying to endure something silently.
Then he caught a faint scent in the air. His senses, sharper than most because of the wolf inside him, immediately recognized it. Blood. Pain. He realized what was happening.
She was suffering through her cycle.
His expression softened. "Mia, come sit."
"Huh?" she asked, startled.
"Sit," he repeated, more gently this time.
Confused, she obeyed and sat in the chair opposite his desk. Ryan circled around and crouched slightly so that he could meet her eyes.
"You don't need to pretend in front of me," he said calmly. "You're not well."
Mia looked away, biting her lip. She wanted to argue, but deep down she knew he was right. Still, she couldn't let herself break down at work. "I… I can manage," she whispered.
Ryan sighed, resisting the urge to reach out. His wolf stirred within him, wanting to comfort her more than anything, but he held himself back. He couldn't cross boundaries, no matter how much he cared.
"Stay here for a moment," he said. Then he stood and pressed a button on the intercom. "Send some green tea to my office immediately," he instructed a worker.
Mia blinked. "Green tea?"
"It will help," Ryan replied simply.
There was silence between them for a moment. Ryan returned to his desk, watching her carefully while pretending to sort through paperwork. He noticed the way she curled slightly in her chair, her hand pressing against her stomach. His chest tightened at the sight. She always worked so hard, never complained, and yet here she was, suffering silently.
When the tea arrived, Ryan gestured for the worker to hand it to Mia. She accepted it with both hands, surprised.
"T-thank you," she murmured.
"Drink," he ordered gently.
She obeyed, sipping slowly. The warmth spread through her body, easing the sharp cramps little by little. She felt her muscles relax and let out a quiet sigh of relief. For the first time that day, she felt a little better.
Ryan noticed the color returning to her cheeks and allowed himself a small smile. He quickly looked back at his papers before she could catch him staring.
After a few minutes, Mia stood up. "Sir, I… I just wanted to thank you for the tea. It really helped."
Ryan leaned back in his chair, watching her closely. "If you're still not feeling well, you can go home and rest."
Mia blinked in surprise. He never dismissed her work so easily. "But sir—"
"It's not a request, Mia. It's an order," Ryan said firmly. Then his tone softened. "You're more important than the paperwork."
Mia's heart skipped. She didn't know how to respond, so she lowered her head. "Yes, sir," she whispered.
Just then, the office door opened.
Suzan walked in.
The sight of her made Mia freeze in place. She quickly stepped back, as though she had been caught doing something wrong. Suzan's eyes narrowed immediately, landing on Mia like a predator spotting prey.
Ryan's voice cut through the tension. "Mia, don't leave."
She froze mid-step, biting her lip nervously.
"What brings you here, Suzan?" Ryan asked, his tone cool.
Suzan tossed her hair over her shoulder. "Ryan, I missed you. I thought we could have lunch together. And…" Her gaze flickered toward Mia with thinly veiled hostility. "…I see you already have company."
Ryan's jaw tightened. "Suzan, how many times have I told you? We are not together."
Her eyes widened, hurt flashing across her face. "But Ryan, I love you—"
"Get out," he said sharply, his patience snapping. "And stop acting as if we're dating when we're not. If you don't leave, I'll call security."
The room went silent. Suzan turned red with anger and humiliation. She glared at Mia, her eyes burning with jealousy, before storming out and slamming the door behind her.
Mia stood frozen, unsure of what to say.
Ryan turned back to her, his tone softening again. "Now you believe me? I don't have a girlfriend. I only have you."
Her eyes widened. Heat rushed to her cheeks. She stammered, "Um… I—yes. I understand now."
Before he could say more, she quickly excused herself. "I should… I should get back to work." And she hurried out of the office, her heart racing.
Behind her, Ryan chuckled softly. She was so innocent, so shy. The way she ran away from her feelings only made him want to protect her more. His wolf growled in satisfaction, urging him to claim her, but Ryan held it back. He would wait. He would always wait for her to be ready.
The rest of the day passed in a blur. Mia kept busy with small tasks, but her mind kept wandering back to her boss. His words echoed in her ears. I only have you.
She shook her head at her desk. No, I can't think like that. He's my boss. This is dangerous.
But no matter how hard she tried, her heart refused to listen.
When the workday finally ended, Mia packed her things and headed outside. To her surprise, Ryan's car was waiting by the entrance. He rolled down the window as she approached.
"Get in," he said simply.
Mia blinked. "Sir, I can go home on my own—"
Ryan gave her a look that brooked no argument. "I wasn't asking, Mia. From now on, I'll drive you to and from work."
"But sir…"
"It's not up for discussion. Consider it an order," he said, though his tone carried a touch of warmth.
Mia hesitated, then finally gave in. "…Okay."
She slipped into the passenger seat, clutching her bag nervously. The car smelled faintly of leather and pine, just like him. The ride was quiet, but not uncomfortable. Ryan kept his eyes on the road, occasionally glancing at her.
When they reached her home, she quickly unbuckled her seatbelt. "Thank you, sir," she said, bowing her head slightly.
Ryan studied her for a moment before nodding. "Rest well, Mia. I'll see you tomorrow."
She hurried out of the car and into her house, her heart pounding.
Ryan leaned back in his seat, watching her disappear inside. A faint smile tugged at his lips. His wolf stirred again, restless, but he silenced it with a deep breath.
"She'll come around," he murmured to himself. "She's mine. And I'll wait for her."
With that, he started the car and drove away into the night.