Chapter Fifty-Seven: A Private Conversation with Aurora

Abboud sat in his office, focused on one of the projects assigned to him by the company. Since starting his job there, he felt his life was taking a new direction, but there was always a lingering sense of mystery surrounding him. Suddenly, he heard a gentle knock on his office door. He looked up to see Aurora standing there, with her usual smile, but there was something different in her eyes this time.

Aurora (in a calm but serious voice): "Do you have a moment, Abboud? I’d like to talk to you."

Abboud (surprised): "Of course, please come in."

Aurora walked into the office and sat in front of him. Abboud noticed that some of the employees were watching from a distance, curious about the special attention Aurora was giving him. Abboud wasn’t sure if he should feel comforted or concerned.

Aurora (after a brief silence): "I know you've noticed that I treat you differently than the other employees. The reason is because of my father… Grigor. He talked about you a lot. I’m sorry about what happened to you that day, it was all because of my father and his past actions."

Abboud (surprised): "Grigor?… Your father talked about me?"

Aurora (smiling bitterly): "Yes. He trusted you and saw you as someone special. When he spoke about you, he would say that you were capable of great things. After his death, John helped me start this company. He was my father’s right-hand man, and he's one of the closest people to me."

Abboud (curious): "And John? How do you see your relationship with him?"

Aurora looked down for a moment, as if trying to gather her thoughts. Then she raised her head to answer Abboud, but there was a hint of tension in her eyes.

Aurora (hesitantly): "John… is a very important person in my life. He’s the one who supported this company and helped me get it off the ground. He’s the person who can protect me after my father’s death. My father trusted him a lot, and so do I."

Abboud (calmly but directly): "Do you love him?"

Aurora was taken aback by the question. She hadn’t expected Abboud to ask something so personal. For a moment, she felt flustered, then tried to control her emotions.

Aurora (in a hesitant voice): "Love... I’ve never truly felt love, Abboud. I don’t know what real love is. But John… he’s a strong man. He makes me feel safe. No one else can protect me like he does."

Abboud noticed the confusion in Aurora’s voice. He felt that she wasn’t entirely comfortable discussing her feelings. Despite the strength she projected at work, there was a side of her filled with hesitation and fear about the future.

Abboud (gently): "Aurora, life isn’t just about protection or security. Love is something deeper. You need to feel that the person you spend your life with understands and supports you in every way."

Aurora (with a sad smile): "Maybe... but I never learned how to feel that way. My father was everything to me, and after his death, John became the person I rely on."

Abboud (calmly): "Life gives us all opportunities. Maybe one day you’ll understand what true love is."

After their conversation, Aurora felt like she had opened her heart in a way she hadn’t before. She knew Abboud was different, not just because of his connection to her father, but because he understood the pain and challenges that people go through.

Aurora (standing up): "Thank you, Abboud. Maybe I needed this talk more than I realized."

Abboud (with a gentle smile): "I'm here if you need anything."

Aurora left the office, leaving Abboud to reflect on their conversation. He knew that Aurora was living a life full of challenges, just as he had, but there was something they shared in common: both were searching for real meaning in love and safety in this chaotic world.

After Aurora left the office, Abboud noticed the curious glances from some of the employees. He knew that the special relationship between him, Aurora, and John might raise some eyebrows, but he didn’t care. He knew he had a bigger role to play in the company, and that his connection with Aurora and John might take new twists in the near future.