Chapter 8

Michael

I see as the shock leaves her face and she compose herself, closing her mouth and bringing her eyes to meet mine, "Don't you think that is too much money for an assistant?" she asks warily, she's right. It is too much money for a woman who has no experience what so ever, but I saw her house yesterday and every single bone in my body doesn't want to leave her alone in a situation like that. It looked horrible, empty and soulless not like the girl I left behind at all. Besides, I know Aurora, for all the bullshit things she did to me, she has always been a smart girl, a quick learner and a great organizer. It pains me to say that I still care about her wellbeing even after all these years and after all the lies she spewed at me, but this time around, I won't make the same mistake, I will never keep my heart in line for her. "I will be expecting great results from you miss Sinclair, so no, I don't think the money exceeds the amount of workload I'll be putting you through" she purses her bottom lip and the strangest thought occurs in my head, 'do her lips taste as sweet as they did when I kissed her for the very first time?' my mind is so fucked up. She nods again, this time with more conviction than before and speaks, "Okay, when do you want me to sign the NDA and the official papers?" Aurora asks in a soft voice. "Tomorrow, first thing in the morning" she nods, "Is there anything more you would want to know?" I ask, "no, that should be it" she speaks with a fake bravado but I know my beauty like no other person. She might show people she's all brave and mighty but on the inside she's nervous as hell. "Then you should probably leave, miss Sinclair" I say pointing at the door and she winces at my harsh tone, "Right" Aurora picks up her tattered bag and starts to get up, she turns around, her hips and ass swaying in a rhythm that makes my cock jerk, I grit my teeth in annoyance. When she is about to open the door, I speak again, "And make sure you wear something work appropriate tomorrow, miss Sinclair" she pauses by the door and I see the red color seep into her cheeks. Aurora nods frantically and leaves without another word in my direction. This is going to be interesting, even in her tattered cloths and disheveled appearance she managed to put a hard on in my pants. That's the thing about Aurora, she never had to try, she was this enigma of positive energy and innocent smiles, not only me but every single guy in our high school was infatuated with her beauty.

I still remember the first day we met, I was this brooding asshole who kept to myself and she was this social butterfly everyone loved and adored. I was minding my own business when some silly fuck tried to push past me, "hey! Watch it" I said and he sneered at me. The fucking twat was so skinny, all I would have to do was flick a finger in his direction. "What you gonna do about it, huh?" he challenged, I smirked in his direction, he was looking for a fight, an outlet, just like me. "Why don't I show you?" I don't give him time to ponder on it, my fist makes contact with his thin face and he staggers back, he gains his footing almost immediately and throws a series of punches in my direction, I dodged his advances but he manages to hit me on my lip, I spit out the blood and kick him in the gut. That does it, he falls down, clutching his stomach and crying out loud like the pathetic cry baby he is. A crowd forms around us and multiple people lift the little twat and take him to the nurses station. No one's there for my bleeding lip. I sigh and turn around to go and sit in my sacred place, the football stadium, I observe the green patches of grass and the sprinklers going off. It's a peaceful site, the calm in the atmosphere is soothing when a soft hand lands on my shoulder. I look up and come face to face with my red haired, green eyed angel. She smiles down at me and something flutters in my stomach, butterflies? No, that shit is for girls. Then her beautiful face morphs into a frown, "Your lip is bleeding" I shrug but say nothing. She grabs a tissue from her bag pack and gently dabs it on my wound, I don't wince or try to move, her soft hands on my skin feel so good, if I had a choice, I'd never leave the heaven this girl has created. She throws the used tissue in the nearest dustbin and plants herself next to me. Then her eyes find mine and she smiles again, "I've never seen someone as strong as you" she says with clear amusement "and I've never seen someone even remotely as kind as you are" I retort. A blush creeps up her fluffy cheeks and I take pride at the fact that I was one who brought it there. "What's your name?" she asks suddenly, "Michael, and yours?" she smiles, "My name's Aurora", Aurora… suits her. "As in the sleeping beauty?" I ask, her grin widens "you know princesses?" she asks, her excitement palpable. "Yes, I've a little cousin sister, I kind of have to" I shrug. "You are so cool!" she exclaims, I raise my eyebrow in question, "Most guys would be ashamed to admit it, that's why." She then taps her pointer finger on her bottom lip as if she's deep in thought "also, to answer your earlier question, Aurora as in dawn, the first rays of sunlight. That is what my name means." I smile at that, the name fits her so well, she is like this beautiful ray of fresh light and purity, one could never hate her. She gasps and whispers, "Oh my god!" my brows knit together, "what is it? Is something wrong?" I ask and she shakes her head "no, it's your smile, you should smile more" she exaggerates by throwing her hands wide open. I grin at that, "Why is that?" I ask playfully "because it's the most beautiful thing I've seen in my lifetime" Aurora says solemnly.

I shake my head to get rid of this unwanted memory, Aurora Sinclair is nothing like the innocent girl I thought her to be. When I think back to those times, I wonder where I went wrong, what did I ever do to deserve this cruel fate? We were in 9th grade when I first met Aurora, at that time, having someone love me like she did was so rare, it made me feel proud of the fact that I own this beautiful girl's heart. It made me feel invincible, 'she' made me feel invincible. With her by my side, I could conquer every hurdle thrown at me, she was my strength, my everything. But I guess, I meant nothing to her, I think back to the day everything went to hell, one second, she was right beside me and in the next, she was gone. Just like that.