Aurora pov
Sitting down with the box open right in front of me , the weight of the box felt like a stone on my lap. my phone vibrates I took it and my boss name glows on the screen, with a shaky breath I pick the call .
"Good morning,sir.."my voice unsteady and uncertain, thin and shaky.
" aurora…, morning. Listen, I'm calling about the Blake contract, well Mr Blake informed us last night that you are now his sole point of contact" boss's voice was firm .
"S-sole contact,sir?" My finger tightened around the phone. This was it, the feeling of being trap.
" yes. He'll handle his end directly with you., he also mentioned that you have a dinner schedule with him today., please ensure you represent us well"
I didn't even had time on asking about Iris's departure, the line clicked dead ,I stumbled away from the phone , the walk towards my bed felt like traversing a minefield , but the moment I collapsed onto my mattress, my Mind just spun around .
A life Debts? , what was that!?!?, a contract clause? This was beyond business , this was personal, terrifying, and utterly binding, I stand back up and walk in the bathroom I need time to think, like what the hell was going, this man who appears out of nowhere and had saved my life , threatened my career and dismantled my closest friendships, all while agreeing to save the company , he was holding every leash . And the dream...he triggered past dream with that faceless guy...
***
five hours of pacing , staring at the walls and whispering denial , finally ground down my panic , it had to be a coincidence . Blake is just a businessman , a manipulator. He wasn't a ghost , he wasn't the man in my head . It was just a job . I force that lie into the forefront of my mind and held onto it like a railing over a cliff .
I won't wear what he send .
I wouldn't let him dedicate what I wore. The expensive dress in the box sat on the floor, untouched , instead , I pulled out my own armor : an elegant, dark sapphire gown, long enough to feel professional, but cut to remind me that I still got to choose what he saw.
***
Downstairs out of the building I saw a elegant black car , the driver was the package deliver, he stand right near the car door , my heels clicked on the ground, as a soon as I got close he open the door without any word , a simply head nod was enough, I slid into the back seat , the leather was cold , the silence suffocating, and the tinted windows turned the city lights into meaningless smear. I was sealed in , already cut off from the world.
A beat.
I caught my reflection in the dark partition that separated the driver from the back . But the angles was wrong . For a heart stopping moment, it looked less like a partition and more like a two way mirror. I was already under surveillance.
I unclenched my jaw , though my fingers stayed tight on the sapphire fabric of my dress , I kept my face neutral, forcing the mask of the professional to slip into place . The camera might be watching but it wouldn't see my panic . I inhale deeply, forcing the weary sigh back down my throat , I was still aurora Jane smith I wouldn't break . I would endure this and find the opening . I can face whatever comes ., as a long as I don't give him an inch of my fear . my eyes meet the driver's for a second, a weary and exhausted sigh escaped his lips , his tired knowing sigh was more eloquent than any speech. I let go of my dress , I can do it , I can face whatever come .
Soon we arrive at the destination , I took one deep breath then another , trying to steady my pulse, the driver stopped the car right in front of a giant , sprawling luxury mansion , not modern, but built of dark, heavy stone , like ancient , opulent fortress , the driver didn't wait he exit the car first , he walk around and open my door , I stepped out with grace , my heels clicking sharply on the important stone ,I clutch my black hand purse. The air here was silent, still, and strangely heavy . As if the very place was holding its breath . This wasn't a business dinner; it was an audience.
The mansion was quiet , a single butlers stand in front of the mansion house door , he hadn't talk either , he simply nod too , no sound, no music , the only sound was echoed of a water drop , I got a uneasy feeling , he start walking in , I followed him inside, I could hear my heartbeat, their was no staff , no sound nothing, only pieces of art on the wall and antics objects , that made me pause , these eyes, these hand holding onto a flower , made me somehow feel a deep sense of sadness, I shook head I trace small patterns of the art before walking away from it.
That it , these are the final door , the butlers push open the door of Blake's dining room, he was simply reading a book while pouring himself a drink , his sleeve rolled up, I look away and step inside.
He shut the book and eye me up and down, he place both drink and book down , crossing his arms and look me.
"Good , you wore a dark blue, I always favored you in blue or black," he pause " though I did send something finer!"
I clutch my purse forcing a small smile on " I come here because of this" I pull out the debt letter and place on the table. " what this?!, I didn't know about any of this, mind to explain?!" I could feel rage building up inside me .
And he smirk .
" put that down, Aurora, the paper is entirely accurate" he gestured to the table dismissing the contract as irrelevant . " you rage is beautiful, but entirely misplaced . I didn't invite you here to review corporates documents" he simply stated.
Breath .professional. Be the secretary . " then why...Mr Blake? , my company needs me focus on the contract, not on your... personal eccentricity"
He walk forward, his voice dropping low. " you still don't understand, do you?,…., I save your life. You own me a debt . It a simple, undeniable truth" he pick the whine glass and swirl the glass around.
Ah! god that what he mean, I almost sigh out of anger " I try to repay you!, I…I gave you my number, you don't get to ruin my life and my job over a car accident…" I says out almost too loud .
His eye sharpened , his gaze turn cold . " your number?…,that was an insult, you owe me far more than a casual phone call,{ Aurore! }"
I flinched, That name sounds exactly like a whisper in her my dream , my vision blur. The image of a delicate hand holding on the same flower from the portrait , my breath hitch.
" this is it, don't fight the memory, Swan. You've tried that for four years." He slowly walked toward her " now let discuss how your debt will be paid . And!, it will not be with money"