The next day, when I woke up on the couch with a blanket on top of me, I vaguely remembered hearing Elian saying something before I fell asleep, but I assumed it was my imagination and went to get ready to go to the gym.

Just then, I realized I got my periods. Shit.

And I had no tampons. Double shit.

But thankfully, there was no stain on the couch. If there had been, Lance would have surely poisoned me next time.

I quickly made my way to my temporary room and grabbed a ton of tissues to make do for now. For some strange reason, I felt stubborn not to take help from Elian. I could have easily asked him to buy some tampons for me, but I didn't want to.

He would do it for me, no doubt, but it felt inappropriate to ask my boss to buy my tampons for me. I was taking advantage of him, but obviously, there was a limit to it.

Plus, I had dealt with this situation a few times before since I lived alone in my apartment and I sometimes forgot to stock up on tampons.

I got ready in black leggings, a white undershirt, and an oversized black hoodie. There was a convenience store right across the street, so it should be easy.

I took the spare key and went out.

I was just about to enter the store when suddenly someone forcefully turned me around and asked, "What the hell are you doing here?"

I stared at the familiar angry green eyes in surprise and said, "I came to shop."

"Shop for what? And why didn't you just ask me?" Elian asked. He was dressed in his gym outfit, so it seemed like he saw me get out of the apartment complex when he was on his way back to the penthouse.

"I needed to buy tampons, and it was awkward to ask you," I told him honestly.

He gaped at me for a moment as if he couldn't believe how silly I was. "What's there to feel awkward about?"

I blushed, also feeling silly. Seriously, what was wrong with me? It was me who has always thought women should be comfortable asking men to buy tampons or pads. How could periods make me so crazy?

"So shall we go in?" he asked, and I nodded.

Just as I was looking around to find the women's section, Elian waved me over to the third aisle where there were all types of tampons. He already had a small basket in his hand.

I was about to say which brand I wanted, but he was already picking some out of that same brand.

"Did you used to get tampons for your kinda-girlfriend? I couldn't help but ask.

He rolled his eyes and didn't bother responding.

"Let's go get some—" I started to say after we got the tampons, but Elian was already walking towards the snacks section.

He grabbed packets of candies, chocolates, and several other kinds of sweet products. I stared in awe because I didn't even have to say what I wanted.

It was really like he could read my mind or he was familiar with my habits. It had to be the first one. This guy was a real psychic.

"Do you need something else?" he asked once he had the whole basket filled.

"No, nothing." I smiled at him.

He gave me a weird look and walked over to the bill counter. The cashier woman was giving us a strange look, as if she recognized us, but didn't say anything. Maybe she saw us on the news or something.

"Is there any update on the military assignment case?" I asked once we were out of the convenience store.

"No, we are trying. Jace is trying his best to retrieve the deleted files, and Ash is trying to find out who is behind all the conspiracy," Elian replied.

Something occurred to me. "Wait, if Jace is so busy, how come he spent the entire day watching movies with me?"

"Because it was more important to make sure you were safe in the penthouse," he simply said as if that was the most normal thing ever.

"Why would you go that far to ensure that I was safe?" I asked in astonishment while we were crossing the road.

Elian took a sharp breath and instead asked me back, "So what do you have planned for today?"

I decided to let him off the hook once again and replied, "Reading novels, I guess."

"I see."

"What about you? What do you have planned?" I inquired.

"I have no idea. I'm used to always working, so I don't know what else to do on a weekday. I guess I will read some novels too," he said while we got into the elevator.

"You read novels?" I asked in surprise.

"Yeah, but I haven't for a while."

I grinned excitedly and asked, "What sort of novels?"

Elian and I chatted for a long while about books. Turns out we were both book nerds. Although Elian hasn't had the time to read for years now.

But as we were having that conversation, I felt like it was a repeat, as if I had the same conversation with someone else before. It was obviously a delusion. I hadn't met a lot of guys in my life who read actual books, not just porn magazines.

After our long conversation, it was already time for lunch, so we ordered takeout and ate it. Then, we both sat on the couch in the living room and started reading our respective novels.

I had found a few very nice novels in the bookshelf of Elian's ex-bedroom—just the type of books I liked to read. He said it belonged to his kinda-girlfriend, and I had to admit she had great choices.

As we were both engrossed in reading, we didn't realize when we got so close to each other. I felt goosebumps every time when our shoulders brushed against each other, but it didn't make me want to move away, rather I wanted to get closer.

We both sat close comfortably like that until painful cramps started making their appearance in my lower abdomen.

"Cramps?" Elian asked, seeing my pained expression.

I barely managed to nod when he got up from my side. He went into the room he was staying in and came out with a rubber heating pad. I watched as he went into the kitchen and heated some water before pouring it into the heating pad.

"Lie down," he instructed, and I followed. He was about to pull up my t-shirt but stopped as if he remembered something. "Take it," he said, handing me the heating pad. "Place it on your lower abdomen or lower back, whichever gives you more comfort."

I smiled, taking the warm pad. "Thanks." He was about to walk away when I said, "Please don't leave."

"I'm not leaving. I'm just going to grab a blanket for you."

I couldn't help but feel butterflies at the way I was being taken care of. I had thought that if I ever got a boyfriend, I would have to train him to do stuff like this, but already there was a person with those built-in functions.

Wait a minute, was I comparing my boss to my dream boyfriend?

No way in hell, Alena. Get a hold of your racing thoughts. He's just your boss who is still hung up on his kinda-girlfriend and who also happens to be a mafia leader.

My subconscious was right. I had no right feeling like that about him—

"Raise your hands a little," Elian said as he covered me with a comfortable blanket, then he handed me the book I was reading and settled down on the single couch to continue reading his own book. "Let me know if you need something."

How could I not feel anything when my heart was fluttering at all of his actions?

Would my heart flutter even if he just smiled?

"I need you to smile," I mumbled.

"Huh?"

"Just do it."

He shook his head hopelessly, his lips curving up slightly before they turned into a real smile, and my heart skipped a beat. At that moment, I couldn't care about the wrenching pain in my lower abdomen. As if it was only his gorgeous smile that existed and it made everything a thousand times better.

Oh, God, was I starting to like my boss?