As Aurora got home, she immediately kicked off her heels and, without a second thought, flung herself face-first onto the bed. She let out a long, muffled scream into her pillow, arms splayed and legs flailing against the mattress in frustration. After a few seconds of thrashing around like a frustrated child, she rolled over onto her back and stared up at the ceiling, her chest rising and falling with heavy breaths. The tension of the day clung to her like static.
She hadn't even unpacked the groceries she'd bought earlier. Her shoes were still lying near the front door, her purse half-spilled on the carpet. She was still in her work clothes, and her face—caked with makeup—was pressed into her once-clean pillowcase. Aurora blinked slowly, and that's when the realization hit her.
"Oh, great," she muttered, sitting up. She glanced at the pillow to see a faint imprint of her face—foundation, mascara, lipstick—all smeared together in a blotchy mess. "Perfect. Now I've stained my pillowcase."
She groaned, rubbing her temples. What is wrong with me? I'm usually not this off. Is it the fact that Greyson's going to be my boss in a couple of days? Or is it the guilt…?
The thought echoed around in her head. Greyson. The boy they used to mock and push around in high school. She had said some horrible things to him back then—things that would've crushed anyone's spirit. And yet, despite all of that, he had chosen to hire her.
"He put the past behind him," she murmured. "So I should just try to forget about it too… Right?"
Aurora got up from the bed and changed out of her wrinkled clothes, slipping into her soft panda bear pajamas—her favorite comfort wear. Then, she headed to the bathroom to scrub off all the leftover makeup. She stared at her reflection for a moment. Beneath the foundation and lipstick was the same girl from high school, but older. Wiser. Maybe even a little regretful.
After washing up, she returned to the kitchen to unpack her groceries, placing everything neatly in the fridge and cupboards. She threw together a quick dinner—some grilled chicken and a small salad—and ate it quietly at the counter. Once she finished, she brushed her teeth and got back into bed.
But sleep didn't come.
She tossed and turned beneath the covers, her mind too busy spiraling in a thousand directions. Her thoughts drifted from Greyson to Hazel, to the responsibilities she'd soon face in a workplace full of strangers. Just as she started to settle down, her phone buzzed beside her on the nightstand.
She squinted at the screen. An unknown number.
"Nope," she whispered, declining the call immediately.
Who calls someone this late at night—especially on an unknown number? Some people have no shame, she thought irritably as she rolled onto her side and tried again to fall asleep.
Two days later, Aurora was up at the crack of dawn. She got dressed with precision and care—black slacks, a pale blue blouse, and modest flats. Her hair was neatly styled, and she double-checked everything in her purse before locking the door behind her.
She stood in front of Greyson's accounting firm a full fifteen minutes before her scheduled start time. The building looked more intimidating than she remembered. She could feel the anxiety creep up her spine, tightening her chest.
What if they all hate me? What if Greyson really hasn't forgiven me and this is some kind of elaborate setup to humiliate me?
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Come on… calm down. Let's just get this over with," she whispered.
Walking through the front doors, she passed a row of rooms with signs on each door. She scanned quickly until her eyes landed on "Morning Briefing Room." This was it.
"Here goes nothing," she said under her breath as she reached for the door handle and stepped inside.
The room was already occupied. People sat around a long table, folders in hand, coffee cups steaming. At the head of the table stood Greyson. His tone was firm but measured.
"Amelia, there's been a complaint from Benson's Car Wash about a decline in profits due to miscalculations in our audit. When we agreed to audit their records, we promised accurate reporting. So why am I hearing that their numbers were off?"
Amelia looked flustered but composed. "I understand, boss. I oversee all auditing staff, but I wasn't the one who handled the Benson account directly. I'm not sure where the error came from."
"I told you, every report from our staff needs to be reviewed by you. No exceptions," Greyson said. Though his voice was calm, there was an edge to it that made the entire room still.
"I apologize, sir. It won't happen again. I'll make sure everyone's work is thoroughly checked."
"Good. I'm counting on you, Amelia. Don't mess up next time," Greyson replied. He gave her a brief pat on the head—a strange gesture that somehow softened the moment.
Then his eyes landed on Aurora.
Her breath hitched. That stare—it felt like ice water pouring down her back. She couldn't read his expression at all.
"As for the person who made that error," he said, eyes not leaving hers, "I will deal with you properly later. So don't think you're off the hook."
Aurora swallowed hard. Wow. He's terrifying when he's serious. We never saw this side of him back in high school. I guess he really has grown up.
She took a cautious step forward. "Good morning, everyone," she said.
"Come on in. Have a seat," Greyson said, his voice now neutral again.
"Thank you," she replied, sliding into a chair.
Greyson addressed the room. "This is Aurora Allen. Today is her first day with us. She proved her potential during the interview, and I believe she could be a valuable addition to our team. However, I won't be the only judge of that."
He glanced around the room. "You'll all work with her today, observe her, and at the end, we'll vote on whether she stays."
Aurora stiffened. So this is a trial run. Great. No pressure or anything.
"Let me introduce you to the team," Greyson continued. "This is Percy, our head of security."
Percy gave her a friendly smile. "Pleasure to meet you, Aurora. Looking forward to working with you."
"And this is Agatha," Greyson said, nodding toward a quiet woman standing near the wall. "Also security. She doesn't talk much, so don't take it personally if she doesn't respond the way you expect."
Aurora nodded. "Understood."
"You already know Amelia," Greyson added. "She's in charge of reviewing staff work and interviews."
"It's good to see you again, Aurora," Amelia said warmly. "I'm looking forward to today."
"Likewise. Thank you," Aurora replied.
Greyson continued. "These are Darren, Ivy, and Nova. They handle the daily accounting operations for the company. We're expanding our reach to serve other businesses, so we need more staff with accounting expertise."
He turned his attention back to Aurora. "That's where you come in. Are you suitable for this job? We'll find out soon enough."
He smiled, but it wasn't the same boyish grin she remembered from high school. This was the smile of someone confident, accomplished, and in control.
Aurora straightened in her seat, her resolve hardening.
He's not the same boy we tormented back then. He's something more now. And I'm not that girl anymore either. I'm going to prove that I belong here.