Chapter 04

Anna's POV

The stark white walls of the Planned Parenthood waiting room seemed to close in with each passing minute.

The past forty-eight hours replayed in my mind: the confrontation with Zack, drowning my sorrows at the bar, and then... Adrian. The memory of his intense blue eyes, his gentle touch, the way he made me feel both safe and wild.

Even now, I couldn't quite regret it, despite Faith's concerns and that mysterious pill bottle I'd glimpsed in his bathroom.

"Ms. Rose?" A nurse appeared with a tablet. "The doctor will see you now."

A woman in her forties with kind eyes behind stylish glasses, reviewed my forms. "So, you're here for a general check-up and preventive care?" Her tone was professional but warm.

"Yes," I straightened in my chair, determined to handle this like the confident professional I was. "I had an... unexpected encounter. Protection was used, but I'd rather be safe than sorry."

She nodded approvingly. "That's very responsible. While it's too early for comprehensive testing, I can prescribe preventive medication as a precaution. Better safe than sorry, right?"

"Exactly." I felt some tension leave my shoulders.

After a quick examination and some routine questions, she tapped on her tablet. "I've sent a prescription to your pharmacy. Start it today if possible—it's most effective when taken early."

My phone buzzed with another text from Faith.

"Someone checking up on you?" The doctor smiled.

"My best friend," I smiled, thinking of Faith's panic. "She's a bit overprotective."

"Those are the best kind," she said as her eyes crinkled.

After scheduling my follow-up appointment, I stepped out into the San Francisco morning and called Faith.

"Finally!" Her voice crackled through the speaker. "I'm five minutes away—stay right there!"

"Faith, you don't have to—"

"Girl, don't even try. I'm already on my way with breakfast from your mom's restaurant. The tests?"

"I need to do follow-ups." I leaned against the building's cool stone exterior. "They gave me a prescription."

"We'll pick it up on the way to work." Her tone brooked no argument. "You shouldn't be alone right now."

"I'm fine, really."

"Sure you are. But humor me anyway?"

Five minutes later, I slid into Faith's luxury SUV, immediately enveloped by the comforting aroma of my mom's signature Italian pastries.

"Did my mom sense anything?" I asked, picking up one of the still-warm cornetti. "She'll be worried."

"No, she didn't," Faith said as she pulled away from the curb. "She just made my favorite foods and asked me to bring them to you."

The rest of the drive passed in comfortable silence as we made our way to the Neural Labs office, a subsidiary of Next Robotics, The sprawling complex of glass and steel buildings gleamed in the morning sun, a testament to the company's meteoric rise in the tech world.

"Text me if you need anything," Faith said as she dropped me off. "And I mean anything."

I was early enough that the office was still quiet, most employees taking advantage of the company's flexible hours. As I settled at my desk, a message popped up on my screen: Meeting with James Smith - 9:00 AM.

James Smith, the Neural Labs CEO, wasn't known for early morning meetings. My stomach twisted as I remembered the office rumors about upcoming restructuring. Had my position been affected?

At precisely 9:00 AM, I knocked on James's door.

"Anna!" He looked up from his monitors with a warm smile. "Please, come in."

The wall of screens behind him displayed various project timelines and performance metrics. I took the offered seat, noting how he turned to give me his full attention.

"How long have you been with us now, Anna?"

"Thirteen months, sir."

He nodded, consulting something on his tablet. "And in that time, you've shown exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail. Your work with the AI testing protocols has been particularly impressive."

"Thank you, sir."

"Which is why," he set down his tablet, "we'd like to offer you a new position."

My breath caught. "Sir?"

"The CEO's Executive Assistant position has opened up. Again." He gave me a meaningful look. "We believe you'd be perfect for the role."

The implications hit me like a wave. The CEO's Executive Assistant position was notorious within Next Robotics—ten people had cycled through it in the past three months alone. The compensation was legendary, but so was the turnover rate.

"This would mean working directly with Adrian Salvatore," James continued. "The compensation package includes a base salary of twice your current rate, plus performance bonuses and expanded stock options."

My heart stuttered slightly at the name. Adrian. It couldn't be the same Adrian from the bar, could it? The coincidence seemed unlikely, but something about the name made me feel kind of expectant.

"Your current position would be held for three months," James added, misinterpreting my silence. "In case the new role isn't a good fit."

I forced myself to breathe normally. "May I have some time to consider the offer?"

"Of course." He smiled. "HR will send over the details. Take the day to think it over—we'll need your decision by tomorrow morning."

In a daze, I made my way to HR to complete the preliminary paperwork. The HR director, a kindly woman named Patricia, walked me through the basics.

"Mr. Salvatore is brilliant," she said, "a true visionary in the tech world. But he's... demanding. Perfectionistic. The hours can be challenging."

I nodded mechanically, signing where indicated while my mind raced. Could Mr. Salvatore really be the Adrian from the bar? What if he was? The questions multiplied with each passing moment.

My phone buzzed with Faith's text: How are you feeling now?

I quickly replied: Better. And I have something else to tell you. Big news.

Almost immediately, my phone rang. Faith's name flashed on the screen. I answered, her voice crackling with curiosity.

"What's the big news?" she asked, skipping the pleasantries.

"I got a job offer," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "It's incredible. Double the salary, bonuses, stock options. It could change everything for Mom and me."

"Wow," Faith breathed. "That sounds amazing, Anna. But there's a catch, isn't there?"

"Yeah," I admitted. "The CEO, Mr. Salvatore, is known for being demanding. I'm not sure if I can handle it."

"Anna, you've faced so much already. This could be your chance. Do you think you can handle the pressure?"

I sighed, glancing at the pharmacy bag again. "That's the thing, Faith. I'm already dealing with so much. I don't know if I can take on something this big right now."

Suddenly, a work message popped up, notifying me of an upcoming meeting. I glanced at the time and said, "Faith, I gotta go. A meeting is up. I think I know what I need to do."