CHAPTER 5

RAINORA.

I stepped into the apartment in a daze, my thoughts all jumbled. My hands shook as I locked the door

behind me.

Eunice's cheerful voice floated from the living room. She was sitting on the couch, a jade roller gliding

over her cheek as she chatted animatedly on her phone. She waved, her face lighting up when she saw

me—until she took in my expression.

"Hey, I'll call you back," Eunice murmured, her tone suddenly serious. She ended the call and set her

phone down, studying me. "What happened? You look like you've seen a ghost."

I hesitated, then moved to sit on the couch. I took a deep breath. "I'm quitting my job at Conway Law."

Eunice blinked, clearly caught off guard. "What? Why?"

"I got a new job," I said quietly. "I'm going to be a personal assistant at Woods Enterprises."

Eunice stiffened, her jade roller freezing mid-motion. Her lips parted, but she didn't say anything right

away. After a beat, she managed, "Woods Enterprises? As in... Nikolas Woods?"

I nodded, my eyes trained on the floor. "Yes. He offered me the position tonight. The pay is... it's

incredible, Eunice. It's more than I could have ever hoped for. And there's a new apartment, too."

Eunice placed the roller down slowly, her expression hard to read. "You're going to work for him?"

I glanced up at her, surprised by the edge in her voice. "Yes. I accepted because it's going to help me and

my family. Arin will finally get the treatment he needs."

Eunice opened her mouth as if to say something, then seemed to think better of it. She pressed her lips

into a thin line and nodded curtly. "Okay," she said, though her tone suggested she didn't mean it.

I offered a small, nervous smile. "Thank you, by the way. For helping me get here and letting me stay

with you. I couldn't have done this without you."

Her features softened slightly. "You know you're welcome, Rain. I just—" She paused, frowning. "Are

you in trouble?"

The question hit me like a cold wind, and I froze for a moment too long before shaking my head. "No.

I'm not in trouble."

Eunice studied me intently, her brows knitted. "You can tell me, you know. If something's wrong."

"I know," I said, managing a reassuring smile. "But I'm fine. Really. It's just... a big change." I stood, my

voice light. "Goodnight, Eunice."

Eunice leaned back into the couch, clearly unconvinced. "Goodnight," she murmured, her voice skeptical.

I escaped to my room, closing the door behind me and leaning against it. I sighed, letting the tension

seep from my shoulders. Kicking off my shoes, I began peeling off my clothes and preparing for bed. Once in my pajamas, I grabbed my phone and dialed Mom's number. The screen lit up with a video call,

and a few seconds later, her face appeared, warm and familiar.

"Rain, sweetheart!" Mom greeted. "How are you?"

My lips trembled into a smile. "Hi, Mom. I'm good. How are you and Arin?"

Her eyes sparkled, her smile radiant. "Oh, Rain, I was going to call you! We got a call earlier—Arin's been

added to a premium treatment list. His first appointment is tomorrow!"

My eyes widened, my throat tightening with emotion. "What?"

"They said it's all covered," she continued, her voice trembling with joy. "Rain, I don't know how this

happened, but... it's a miracle."

I blinked rapidly, trying to hold back tears. "It's not a miracle," I whispered. "I... I got a new job. A better

one. And it came with benefits."

Mom's smile faltered slightly. "A new job? So soon? What kind of job is this?"

"I'm a personal assistant now," I said, keeping my voice light. "For someone high up in the business

world. It's nothing crazy, Mom, but it's enough to make things better for all of us."

Mom's expression softened. "Oh, Rain, I'm so proud of you. You're always taking care of us."

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "I just want Arin to have the best shot, you know? And now he can."

The camera shifted slightly, and Arin's face popped into view, his fingers still flying over the keyboard of

his laptop. "Did you get me a new laptop yet?"

I laughed, wiping my eyes. "I'll get you one soon, I promise. A better one than that ancient thing

you're using now."

We talked for a little while longer, our conversation easing some of the weight pressing on my chest.

When we finally ended the call, I lay back in bed, staring at the ceiling.

Curiosity gnawed at me, and before I could stop myself, I opened my phone and typed "Nikolas Woods"

into the search bar.

The results were endless—articles praising his tech empire, photos of him at galas and award

ceremonies, and countless pieces touting his status as one of the most eligible bachelors in the world.

One headline caught my eye: "Nikolas Woods: Ruthless Visionary or Cunning Tyrant?" I clicked on it,

skimming through the text, which detailed his sharp business acumen and the many enemies he'd made

in his rise to the top.

I shook my head, dropping my phone onto the nightstand. "What did I get myself into?" I muttered

under my breath.

The device buzzed just as I was about to turn off the lamp. A text lit up the screen. Unknown Number:

9 am, Adderman.

My stomach fell. Frowning, I typed back: Who is this? The response came quickly.

Unknown Number: You know damn well who it is. Go to bed.

My mouth fell open, both irritated and unnerved. I scoffed, tossing the phone onto the bed. "What a

control freak," I muttered.

Despite my frustration, images of cold, calculating gray eyes and a dangerous smirk filled my mind.

I sighed, turning to my side. It was a long while before I finally drifted to sleep.