"It's not your job to protect me like that…"
That sentence struck a chord in Siera. She turned her face away, pretending to wince from the pain, though behind that gesture was a subtle, hidden smile. "Then…" she whispered, "let's just say I wanted to be selfish. Just once. I wanted to matter, even a little, in your eyes."
She leaned back against the pillow. The words she said in her mind felt strange to hear out loud. Thankfully, she hadn't said everything. Alaric would probably start suspecting she had an ulterior motive.
For now, she figured that this small step was enough to catch his attention. She didn't want to rush things. All she needed to do was plant a bit of sympathy—something that, over time, could grow into closeness. And maybe, into something more than just a boss-assistant relationship.
The hospital room fell quiet again. Alaric pulled a chair over and sat beside her, maintaining a respectful distance, but not leaving.
