Chapter 72 Rare
ANNA'S POV
The car slowed to a stop in front of the building, and I lifted my gaze to the glass structure towering before me.
My company.
Even after all this time, the feeling still hadn’t faded.
I stepped out of the car, adjusting my bag on my shoulder as my heels hit the pavement. Before I could take more than a few steps, Ryan pulled up right behind mine. He stepped out moments later,
He glanced up at the building, then back at me.
“So this is it,” he said, a smile spreading across his face. “Your medical pharmacy company.”
I nodded. “Yeah. This is it.”
He let out a low whistle, his eyes moving from the entrance up to the top floor. “I’ve seen it in magazines and online, but standing here in person is different. It’s impressive.”
“Thank you,” I replied simply, turning toward the entrance.
He followed beside me as we walked in, the automatic doors sliding open. The familiar scent of disinfectant and fresh paint filled the air. Staff members moved around efficiently, some greeting me with polite bows, others with quiet smiles.
“Good morning, Ms. Quinn,” a few of them said in unison.
“Good morning,” I replied, nodding as we passed.
Ryan noticed everything — the way they greeted me, the respect in their eyes, the smooth way operations ran.
“They really admire you,” he said quietly as we stepped into the elevator.
I pressed the button for my floor. “They work hard. I just make sure they’re given the right environment to do that.”
“That’s not ‘just’ anything,” he replied. “Leadership like that isn’t common.”
The elevator doors closed, and the silence that followed wasn’t awkward, just calm.
As we ascended, Ryan glanced at me again. “You know, I meant what I said earlier. Your formula… it’s brilliant. It’s not just innovative, it’s actually helping people. That’s rare.”
I looked at him briefly, “my family contributed with their support too.”
“But you led it,” he said. “That matters.”
The elevator dinged softly, and the doors slid open.
We stepped out onto my floor, and the atmosphere shifted instantly. This was where decisions were made. Where pressure lived. Where I spent most of my time.
Ryan walked beside me down the hallway, taking everything in.
“You bought and built all this,” he said again, almost as if the thought still amazed him.
I stopped in front of my office door and turned to him. “It wasn’t overnight.”
“I figured,” he said with a small smile. “But still… it takes discipline. And resilience.”
I pushed the door open and stepped inside.
My office was just the way I liked it, clean and organized.
“Have a seat,” I said, placing my bag down.
Ryan did, settling into the chair across from my desk while I moved around to my side.
“So,” I said, sitting down, “I still don’t believe you left everything you're doing just to come sit here with me and just talk?”
He chuckled lightly. “You make it sound suspicious.”
“It is a little,” I said, arching a brow.
“I just wanted to see this side of you,” he replied honestly. “You’re always talking about work, but I’ve never actually seen you in your element.”
“Well, here I am,” I said. “Very exciting, I know.”
He smiled. “You joke, but you’re different here.”
“How?” I asked.
“More… grounded,” he said after a brief pause. “Like this is where you’re most yourself.”
I leaned back slightly in my chair. “This is where I have control.”
“And that’s important to you,” he added.
“Yes,” I replied without hesitation.
Ryan nodded slowly. “I can tell you’ve built a wall around yourself.”
I stiffened slightly, my fingers brushing the edge of my desk.
“But,” he continued, quickly softening his tone, “I don’t think it’s a bad thing. It’s just… high.”
I let out a small breath. “Walls keep things stable.”
“They also keep people out,” he said gently.
I met his gaze, my expression cooling just a bit. “Stability matters more.”
“I’m not trying to break it down,” he said calmly. “Just pointing out that it’s there.”
I didn’t respond immediately.
He noticed and smiled lightly. “See? Even now.”
I shook my head slightly. “You talk too much.”
“And yet you’re still listening,” he replied.
That made me pause.
I glanced away briefly, then back at him. “You said you wanted to keep things light, remember?”
“I am,” he said. “This is light for me.”
Despite myself, a small laugh escaped my lips.
Ryan’s brows lifted. “There it is.”
“What?” I asked.
“That laugh,” he said. “You don’t do it often.”
I straightened slightly, regaining composure. “You’re imagining things.”
“Am I?” he said, smiling.
I ignored the comment and reached for a file on my desk. “So, did you come here just to observe me, or do you actually have something you want to say?”
“I already said it,” he replied. “I admire you.”
I froze for half a second.
He must have noticed because he quickly added, “Professionally. As a person. As a woman who worked hard to be where she is.”
I looked at him again, unsure why my chest felt warm all of a sudden.
“That’s… nice of you,” I said.
“It’s honest,” he corrected.
For a moment, the air between us shifted — subtle, quiet, almost fragile.
I cleared my throat and looked away, pretending to review the file in my hands.
“You’re blushing,” Ryan said.
“I am not,” I replied immediately.
He laughed. “You definitely are.”
I closed the file and placed it back on the desk. “You should stop teasing me.”
“I’m not teasing,” he said. “It’s… cute.”
That did it.
Heat rushed to my face before I could stop it.
I sat up straighter. “Ryan.”
“Yes?” he replied, still smiling.
I took a breath, forcing myself back into composure. “We’re friends.”
“I know,” he said.
“And friends don’t…” I stopped myself. “They don’t make things complicated.”
“I’m not trying to,” he said softly. “I enjoy talking to you. That’s all.”
I studied his expression, searching for something more, but there was nothing forceful there. No pressure. No expectation.
Just sincerity.
And that was what made it dangerous.
I leaned back slightly. “You’re easy to talk to,” I admitted quietly.
His smile softened. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“It is,” I said. “Don’t let it get to your head.”
“Too late,” he replied playfully.
I shook my head, a small smile tugging at my lips despite myself.
For the first time that day, I thought just briefly that maybe today would actually be a good day.
Then my phone buzzed.
Once.
I glanced down casually, expecting it to be work-related.
But when I saw the name on the screen, my mood shifted instantly.
Dan.
I frowned slightly and picked up my phone.
Another message came in almost immediately.
My fingers paused as I read it: ‘Anna, you need to come home.’ Dan message said
My brows pulled together.
Before I could reply, another message appeared.
Dan: ‘Something’s wrong.’
My chest tightened.
I stared at the screen, unease creeping in, the warmth from moments ago fading completely.
Something was wrong.
And suddenly, I wasn’t so sure today was going to be a good day after all.