Aurora was halfway through reviewing the Ravencrest project estimates when Amaya walked into her office with a folder tucked beneath her arm.
"I've received the updated supplier quotations," Amaya said, placing the folder on the desk. "Most of them are within the budget we discussed, but two suppliers have increased their prices."
Aurora looked up from her laptop. "By how much?"
"Six per cent for the imported materials and almost nine per cent for the specialised fittings."
Aurora leaned back in her chair, considering the figures. "Nine per cent is too much. Contact the supplier and ask whether they can honour the original quotation. If they refuse, find out whether another supplier can provide the same quality at a better rate."
"I've already contacted two alternatives. They're reviewing the specifications."
"Good. Send me their quotations as soon as they arrive."
Amaya nodded before glancing at the documents spread across Aurora's desk. "You've been working on this since you arrived."
"And I intend to finish before the end of the day."
"You said that yesterday."
"Yesterday was different."
"How?"
Aurora gave her a look. "Do you want me to explain, or do you want to get back to work?"
Amaya smiled. "I'll get back to work."
She turned towards the door, but Aurora called her back.
"Amaya?"
"Yes?"
"Has Mr Voss's office sent anything else regarding the project?"
"Not yet. They confirmed that the revised schedule will be reviewed tomorrow."
Aurora nodded. "All right. Keep an eye on your inbox."
"I will."
Once Amaya left, Aurora returned to the estimates. Mr Voss had made it clear that he expected the project to proceed without unnecessary delays. His requests were demanding, but she couldn't deny that they were reasonable. He wanted accurate figures, a realistic timeline and a team capable of delivering what they promised.
That was fair enough.
What she found slightly irritating was how little room he seemed willing to leave for mistakes.
Not like she was going to allow any mistakes under her watch even if he hadn't explicitly made that clear.
She was stopped mid paragraph in her reading by a little buzz of her phone which was right beside her laptop.
Felix: Are you working, or have you finally decided to take a break?
Aurora smiled at the message.
Aurora: Some of us have actual responsibilities, Felix.
His reply came almost immediately.
Felix: I mean not all of us are "Miss Aura's" but we have responsibilities too.
Aurora: Such as?
Felix: Skating...Training. Surviving Coach Vance.
Aurora: That last one sounds particularly difficult.
Felix: You have no idea.
Aurora laughed quietly before typing another message.
Aurora: Should I send you a sympathy card?
Felix: I'd prefer food.
Aurora: How convenient.
Felix: I thought you'd understand my needs.
Aurora: Your needs appear to be endless.
Felix: And yet, you could never hate me nonetheless.
Aurora stared at the screen for a moment, a smile lingering on her face.
He had a fair point. But was she going to admit it? Certainly not at least not now.
Aurora: Don't you have training to get back to?
Felix: Unfortunately.
Aurora: Then go and survive Coach Vance.
Felix: Only because you asked, Rora.
She shook her head, set the phone aside and returned to her work. Even so, the conversation stayed with her longer than it should have.
It was becoming a habit, these little exchanges between meetings and deadlines, they always made her days much lighter.
By lunchtime, Aurora had reviewed the estimates, approved the materials that met her requirements and sent the questionable quotations back for further negotiation. She gathered her team for a short meeting to discuss the next stage of the Ravencrest project.
"The schedule needs to account for possible delays in material delivery," she explained, pointing to the figures on the screen. "I don't want us promising a completion date that depends on everything going perfectly. Build in a reasonable allowance for unforeseen issues, but don't use that as an excuse to waste time."
One of the senior architects nodded. "Understood. We'll revise the timeline accordingly."
"And I want the cost projections checked again before they're sent to Mr Voss. Every figure needs to be justified."
"We'll have them ready this afternoon."
"Good."
The meeting continued for another twenty minutes before everyone returned to their respective tasks. Aurora remained behind to review the notes, making a few adjustments before sending the updated requirements to Amaya.
She had barely finished when an email arrived from Ravencrest Holdings.
The message was brief. Mr Voss's office had acknowledged the latest updates and requested the revised schedule for the following morning. There were no unnecessary comments, no additional demands and no indication that anything was wrong.
Aurora read it twice before closing the email.
"Reasonable," she murmured to herself.
She wasn't sure why she had expected something else.
Perhaps because Mr Voss had a way of making even ordinary requests feel like tests.
Whatever his reasons, she intended to give him no cause to question her work.
...
Across Eldlyria, in a private office far removed from the noise of the city's business districts, Martin stood before the man he had served for years.
A folder rested on the desk between them.
"The Ravencrest project is progressing as expected, Sir," Martin reported. "Miss King's team has been reviewing the supplier quotations and adjusting the construction schedule. There have been no significant delays."
The man glanced at the folder but did not open it immediately.
"And the arrangements around her residence?"
"Still in place. The men assigned to her have reported nothing unusual. Her movements have remained consistent, and there have been no incidents requiring intervention."
The man was silent for a moment.
"Continue as instructed. Keep the arrangements discreet. I don't want anyone approaching her or interfering with her daily life unless there is a genuine reason to do so."
"Understood, Sir."
"And the project?"
"Everything appears to be proceeding normally."
"Good. Let it proceed on its own merits. Her work is to be judged by its quality, not by anything else."
Martin inclined his head. "Of course."
The man finally opened the folder, scanning the brief report inside. There was nothing unexpected in it. Aurora had always been determined to handle her own affairs, and the last thing he wanted was for her to feel that someone was standing over her shoulder.
He had made certain she was protected, but protection did not give him the right to control her life.
Not after everything that had happened.
He remembered a promise that had never truly left him, even as the years passed and the world moved on. Edward had made his choice without asking for anything in return. The consequences had followed them both, though in very different ways.
Aurora had grown into a woman who knew how to stand on her own. She had built her firm through her own effort, earned the respect of her colleagues and secured a major project without needing anyone to clear the path for her.
He would not take that achievement away from her.
"Is there anything else?" he asked.
"Nothing urgent, Sir."
"Then you may go."
Martin collected the remaining documents and left the office, closing the door quietly behind him.
The man remained seated, his attention returning to the report.
For now, there was no reason to change the arrangements. Aurora was safe, her project was moving forward, and she remained unaware of how carefully certain things had been arranged around her.
He intended to keep it that way.
...
By the time Aurora finally left her office, the day's work had taken longer than she expected. She had approved the revised estimates, delegated the remaining tasks and sent Amaya a list of things to follow up on the next morning.
Her phone buzzed as she reached her car.
Felix: I SURVIVED!!
Aurora laughed.
Aurora: Congrats. Should I arrange a celebration?
Felix: I was thinking dinner.
Aurora: You seem to think about food quite often.
Felix: It's one of my many talents.
Aurora: I thought skating was your talent.
Felix: That too.
She slipped into the driver's seat, still smiling at the screen.
Aurora: I'll consider your request.
Felix: That's not a yes.
Aurora: It's not a no either.
Felix: I'll take it.
Aurora shook her head before putting the phone away and starting the car.
There were still plenty of things demanding her attention. The Ravencrest project would be waiting for her tomorrow, and Mr Voss would undoubtedly expect the revised schedule to be ready.
Tonight, she was willingly thinking about dinner, a certain figure skater and the possibility of spending a little more time with him.
It was an unexpected distraction.
And, she was beginning to realise, not an entirely unwelcome one.