I woke up with a start, my heart still racing from the remnants of my dream. I blinked a few times, trying to shake the lingering fog from my mind, and then it hit me I was late. Really late.
The kind of late that makes your stomach drop like you're on the edge of a cliff, looking down.
My eyes darted to the clock on my bedside table, and my heart lurched again. "Oh, no… no, no, no!" I practically leapt out of bed, the sheets tangled around my legs as I fought to free myself from their grasp.
I scrambled to my feet, fumbling to grab the first pieces of clothing I could find. My room was a mess, clothes and papers scattered everywhere.
I grabbed a blouse from the chair it was crumpled, but there was no time to find something else. I pulled it over my head, hopping on one foot while trying to find a matching pair of shoes.
"Why didn't my alarm go off?!" I muttered to myself, running a brush through my hair at lightning speed, barely glancing in the mirror. I must have looked like a hot mess, but there was no helping it now.
The minutes ticked by, every second feeling like a mocking taunt. I was supposed to be at the office half an hour ago.
I finally managed to find my shoes—two different ones, but close enough and bolted out of my room. I dashed down the stairs, nearly colliding with Lily, who gave me a knowing grin.
"Late start?" she teased, leaning casually against the banister.
"Not now, Lily!" I shot back, grabbing my bag and keys from the table.
"Did you have another dream about—"
"Shut up!" I cut her off, my cheeks flushing. I didn't have time for her teasing right now.
I flew out the door and practically jumped down the steps. My car was parked at the curb, and I fumbled with the keys in my hand, nearly dropping them twice.
Finally, I managed to unlock the door and throw myself inside. I jammed the key into the ignition, turning it hard, and the engine roared to life with a loud, sputtering sound.
"Come on, come on…" I muttered, tapping the steering wheel impatiently as if that would somehow make the car go faster.
The drive to the office felt like an obstacle course. Every red light was a personal affront, every slow driver a mortal enemy. I weaved through traffic, my heart pounding in my chest, praying to every deity I could think of that I'd make it there without getting pulled over.
By the time I pulled into the parking lot, I was sweating, my hair a wild mess around my face. I glanced at the clock on the dashboard and let out a frustrated sigh. Fifteen minutes late. It could have been worse… but not by much.
I slammed the car door shut and sprinted towards the building, my heels clicking loudly against the pavement. I could feel my face burning with embarrassment and exertion, my mind racing with excuses I might use when I walked in.
As soon as I stepped into the office, I could feel every eye turn toward me. I felt the stares boring into me, the whispers following my every step.
I kept my head down, trying to make a beeline for my desk, but of course, that was when I heard Leora's voice loud, clear, and full of amusement.
"Well, well, well, look who finally decided to grace us with her presence," she called out from her office doorway, her tone dripping with mockery.
I stopped dead in my tracks, forcing a smile as I turned to face her. "Good morning, Leora. Sorry, I got held up…" I trailed off, not sure how to finish that sentence without sounding ridiculous.
"Held up by what, exactly?" she asked, her eyebrows raised in amusement. "An epic battle with your alarm clock, perhaps?"
There were a few chuckles from the other side of the room, and I could feel my face turning an even deeper shade of red.
"Something like that," I muttered, trying to keep my voice light.
Leora stepped closer, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Or maybe you were too busy dreaming about someone… important?" She said it with a knowing smirk, and I felt my stomach twist.
I blinked, struggling to keep my composure. "I don't know what you're talking about," I replied, a bit too quickly, and I could tell she wasn't buying it for a second.
"Of course you don't," she laughed, and I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks again. "But next time, maybe try setting two alarms."
I rolled my eyes, trying to brush off her teasing. "I'll keep that in mind, thanks," I said, moving past her toward my desk.
The rest of the morning was a blur of half-hearted work and relentless teasing. Leora seemed to find every opportunity to drop little hints, her smile growing wider with every passing hour.
At one point, she leaned over my desk, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "So, how was it?"
I blinked, confused. "How was what?"
"The dream, Aeliana," she replied, exasperated. "You've been blushing all morning like a lovesick teenager. It must have been good."
I sputtered, my face growing even hotter. "I… it was nothing. Just a dream."
"Mhm, sure," she said, winking at me. "Nothing at all."
I groaned, burying my face in my hands. This was going to be a long day.
By the time lunch rolled around, I felt like I'd run a marathon. Leora had not let up, her teasing relentless. She seemed to take particular delight in my discomfort, her grin widening every time I blushed or stammered.
Finally, the clock struck noon, and I let out a sigh of relief. "Lunch break," I muttered to myself, pushing back my chair and standing up. I needed a break from Leora's relentless teasing.
As I made my way to the break room, I could hear Leora's voice trailing behind me, still laughing softly. "Don't think you're off the hook yet, Aeliana. We've got a whole afternoon ahead of us."
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't help the small smile that tugged at my lips. Despite everything, there was a part of me that enjoyed the teasing, the banter. It was almost… fun.
Almost.
But as I grabbed my lunch and sat down, I couldn't shake the feeling that today was far from over. And knowing Leora, she wasn't about to let me forget that anytime soon.
I unwrapped my lunch, trying to focus on the simple act of eating. My stomach growled, reminding me that I had barely had anything to eat all morning.
As I took a bite, my mind drifted back to the mess of thoughts that had kept me up half the night Nathaniel's words, Ciara's unexpected aggression, and everything in between. I was almost grateful for the mundane distraction of lunch, even if Leora's teasing still echoed in my ears.
I glanced around the break room, eyes scanning the scattered groups of coworkers chatting and laughing. And that's when I saw him Nathaniel.
His face still bore the marks of his encounter with Ciara, a dark bruise forming along his jawline and his lip slightly swollen. I froze, my breath catching in my throat.
Damn it. Not him, not now.
He hadn't spotted me yet, thankfully. He was too busy talking to some other knights, laughing like he didn't have a care in the world, like he hadn't been the reason I found myself standing outside Ciara's door last night, my heart racing with nerves.
I didn't want to deal with his smug face or his endless questions. Not today.
Without thinking, I stood up, clutching my lunch, and slipped out of the break room as quietly as I could. I moved down the hall, ducking into a small alcove near the staircase, trying to catch my breath.
I leaned against the wall, feeling my pulse quicken. "Why do you always do this, Aeliana?" I muttered under my breath, shaking my head. "Hiding like some—"
Suddenly, a familiar voice cut through my thoughts. "Hiding from someone?"
I jumped, nearly dropping my lunch as I turned to see Ciara standing there, a smirk playing on her lips. How had she found me so quickly? I hadn't even heard her approach.
"Gods, Ciara!" I gasped, my heart pounding in my chest. "You scared me!"
She chuckled, leaning against the wall next to me, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Not scared, I hope," she teased. "Just startled… or are you hiding something from me?"
I could feel the heat rise in my cheeks again, my mind racing as I tried to come up with something clever to say. But with Ciara this close, my brain seemed to short-circuit, leaving me speechless.
The situation was going to be a bit more weird now and all I could think was about that dream.