Chapter 776: Where is Granna? She is still there, right?
Zenith was taken aback. Drawing her brows together, she responded, "Sir, Michael joined us as your secretary from today. I was just explaining the file. You asked me to help him get adapted here asap, and I sent him to you only after I explained every detail to him."
Ryan’s fingers curled into a tight fist as he heard her. His jaws locked as he noted how every time their eyes met, she looked away as though she couldn’t bear to look him in the eye. "When I asked you to teach him, I didn’t mean you to delegate to him the jobs that have been appointed to you, or the ones that you are working on."
"Sir, I am sorry, but you are making it sound like I am shrugging off my responsibilities." Zenith didn’t like the sound of it.
However, Ryan did not like her changed attitude towards him. It was pinching him, making him uncomfortable. "Aren’t you?" he asked, getting up from his chair and stepping out to walk towards her.
When Zenith saw him approaching her, she stepped back in an attempt to avoid him. However, just when she could have succeeded, Ryan held her hand, pulling her towards him.
"Sir —"
"We were discussing something, and you haven’t answered," Ryan cut in. "Or, are you going to avoid it just as you are trying to avoid me."
Zenith’s brows creased, and she stared at him as though she couldn’t believe he would question her professionalism. "No, sir. I am not trying to shrug off my duties or responsibilities. I would never do that because I know why and for what I am working here. I would never betray my work ethics and professionalism."
Ryan never saw her gaze burning with fury before, but today, when he saw it, he didn’t dislike it at all. Instead, he liked it. He liked it when she finally stared back in his eyes, matching his gaze.
But just when he thought she was back to how she was with him before, she yanked off her arm from his hold and stepped back to create the distance between them.
"Now that I have answered you, Sir, could you tell me what needs to be adjust in this project report. I will covey it to the needed departs as soon as possible. The deadlines for this one are close and we cannot delay it."
Ryan couldn’t understand what was happening to him. Why her tone like that was affecting him so much? Why her avoiding him was affecting him so much? But he knew that it was affecting him, making his mood go worse from worst.
"Brief it to me again," he said, stepping a step back and then turning back to walk to his chair.
Zenith nodded and began briefing the details. Ryan watched her, noting every small twist of her expression. This wasn’t her first project briefing, but something felt different to him.
He heard her until the end and when she asked him again, he looked away and shook his head saying, "There is no need of further improvement, this report is good enough. Pass it forward and also share it with the client."
Zenith’s brows furrowed a little, but she didn’t question. She nodded and leaned in to take the file from his desk. "Okay, sir. I will get on it right away. Is there anything else that you need?" her tone was strictly professions as though she was just adhering to her secretarial duty.
Ryan didn’t like it, but he kept her calm. He wasn’t liking the way he was reacting around her. "No that was it. You can go."
She nodded and turned to leave. But just as she was about to walk away, she paused at a thought and turned to look back at him. "Sir ..." she began, "I am sorry for what happened last night. I am willing to take the blame of the loss the company has incurred."
"You think I blame you for what happened last night?" Ryan’s words were laced with an edge.
Zenith shook her head. "No, sir. I know to you it was mere an accident where you arrived in time to save me. But I know the reality. Those three partners were important to the company. Losing them like that would bring certain losses to the company and for that I am responsible."
"Zenith," her name came in a deep tone, one that made her glance up. "I will say this for the last time so hear this very carefully. Last night whatever happened it wasn’t your fault. Those jerks were responsible for it. So, stop blaming yourself. As for the losses that we incur, you don’t have to worry for them because I know well how to recover such small losses."
Small losses!
Zenith wasn’t naive. But she didn’t argue. Her boss put it like that so she chose to accept it just as an employee should. Nodding, she inclined her head a little and then turned to leave again.
"Also, one thing, Zenith," Ryan stopped her. "From the next time, don’t send Michael forward until and unless I ask you to. With him around, your position hadn’t changed. You are still my secretary —one that I am used to."
"Understood, Sir," Zenith nodded again. "I will be careful." And with that, she turned and finally exited his office.
Ryan’s expression didn’t ease. Instead, it etched with frustration.
————
Meanwhile in the evening —
Arwen was sleeping in her room when in her sleep her expression shifted. Her brows drew together and sweat beaded her forehead. Her fingers clutched the sheets and she twisted them as though she was trying to hold something or someone.
"No, Granna!" she screamed, twisting and shaking her head, refusing to something. "Don’t leave me. Please ... please don’t leave me. Granna —" her eyes shot open and she stared around the darkness in the room. She panicked for a moment forgetting where she was.
But just then Aiden rushed in, with worry-stricken face. "Moon!"
"Aiden, where is Granna? She is still there, right?" she asked, but she was so panicked that she didn’t pause to hear him respond. "Please tell me, she is still with us. That she hasn’t left us. She is there, right. Tell me ... tell me please."
Aiden cupped her cheeks trying to calm her down. "Shh ... calm down. Granna is still there. You met her in the morning, didn’t you? She is still with us and I have called Jason. He would be coming soon. Once he is here, we will discuss Granna’s condition with him. Don’t worry."
Arwen stared at him, fear clear in her gaze. "Yes, let’s talk with Dr. Clark. I want my Granna to get fine. She can’t leave us."
Aiden nodded to her, his fingers moving to brush away her strands of hair that were coming over her face. His movement and touch as gentle as ever.
Just as he felt Arwen calming, he heard his phone vibrate in his pocket. He frowned at it, but pulled it out to check. His frown only deepening, reading the name flashing on the screen.