Boss Is Sick

"Little bunny, can you help me put my lunch box in my bag?" Noreen asked, half-shouting, from inside the room. "My earring's caught on my dress, I'm trying to get it out."

"Yes, Mom, I'll put it in your bag," Jonathan replied, walking to the kitchen and grabbing Noreen's lunch box.

Noreen emerged from the room, dressed neatly, but her left ear was very red.

"Mom? Your ear?" Jonathan asked, pointing at Noreen's ear. "Does it hurt?"

Noreen pouted and nodded. "Hmm, it hurts. I'm never wearing long earrings like that again. They don't suit me."

Jonathan approached Noreen and asked her to lower herself to his level.

Noreen knelt in front of Jonathan, and the boy touched Noreen's red ear and rubbed it gently, then leaned in and kissed the red mark.

"You're better now, Mom," Jonathan said with a smile.

Noreen rubbed her ear and stared wide-eyed.  "Wow! You're right. My ear doesn't hurt anymore. You're my little healer!"

Noreen hugged her son tightly and kissed his little face, making Jonathan giggle.

When they got in the car after dropping Jonathan off at school, Noreen didn't start the engine right away. She sat behind the wheel, thinking.

She had only meant to cheer Jonathan up by saying her ear didn't hurt anymore, but she realizes it really didn't hurt at all.

Noreen looked in the rearview mirror. Her ear was still red and should have hurt.

"It's the power of suggestion, I bet!" Noreen muttered. "Because Jonathan loves me."

Noreen reached for the key to start the engine, but someone knocked on the window, startling Noreen.

She was even more shocked when a man suddenly appeared in the window.

"Ah!" Noreen cried, moving away from the window.

The man knocked lightly. "Ms. Winchester, can we talk for a moment?"

Noreen recognized the man.  It was a man named Beta Sander, who had come to take her boss away.

Noreen opened the car door and got out, feeling apprehensive. Beta Sander was a burly man with a very serious, unsmiling face, like a movie villain. She felt goosebumps rise up her spine.

"Mr. Beta Sander," Noreen greeted him formally.

"My name is Sander Dent, but you can just call me Beta Sander," Sander said flatly. "Mr. Thiery asked me to pick you up."

Noreen was surprised. "Is he still sick? Has he been to the doctor?"

Sander frowned for a moment, before realizing something. "Yes, he's still sick, and that's why—"

"Can he take some herbal medicine? I have a prescription that works well for gerd," Noreen said enthusiastically. "It's a pleasant-tasting, non-medicated drink, a mixture of ginger—"

"Ms. Winchester," Sander interrupted quickly.  "Mr. Thiery is waiting for you. There's something he needs to discuss, and since Mr. Thiery can't come to the office, he asked you to come to his house."

Noreen realized the situation. "Ah, I'm sorry, I just feel bad for our boss."

Sander's brows furrowed, but he said nothing and simply guided Noreen to his car. It was the Ferrari that had brought Noreen back to the office that day.

"I must have stressed the boss out quite a bit with my somewhat rebellious attitude," Noreen said while in the car. "It's causing his gerd to flare up."

Sander looked in the rearview mirror. "Please put on your seatbelt, Ms. Winchester."

"Uh, Beta Sander, can I sit up front? I don't feel comfortable here. I'm just a regular employee and—"

"Put on your seatbelt, Ms. Winchester," Sander interrupted. "We have to go."

Noreen nodded and quickly buckled her seatbelt. As soon as she heard the click of her seatbelt, the car sped off.

Wow, could Beta Sander be a former F1 driver, Noreen thought.

In less than twenty minutes, the car slowed down. Noreen looked out the window. It seemed they were entering the hilly area on the outskirts of town, as most of the road was covered with shady trees.

The car then stopped in front of a large, sturdy, black gate, towering above it, with the words "Golden Moonlight Mansion" written on it.

The gate opened automatically, and beyond it stretched a smooth, wide, and long asphalt road. On either side of the road were green grassy fields that stretched as far as the eye could see.

The car sped along in the road, and Noreen couldn't help but gasp at the beautiful scenery around her. It looked like a soccer field transformed into a beautiful garden, with shady trees and clumps of flowers of various types and colors.

Noreen's eyes widened even more when she saw what lay at the end of the road.

A very large and beautiful building, bone white color with variations of dark and light brown on its large pillars, windows, and doors, stood majestically.

The building was much prettier and larger than most Noreen had seen or visited before. The concept also seemed unusual.

A modern minimalist concept was applied to the paint color and door and window designs, combined with a classic concept characterized by abstract carvings on the large supporting pillars.

"We're here," said Sander. He got out of the car and opened the door for Noreen.

Noreen got out awkwardly. She wasn't much for formalities, and having Sander open the door made her feel uncomfortable.

She meant that, professionally, Sander was clearly her senior, especially in age, but he was treating her as if she were someone superior.

"Come with me," Sander said. He walked quickly into the mansion. "The boss is in his office."

Noreen followed Sander's brisk pace, sneaking glances inside the mansion. She was excited to be inside such a beautiful mansion.

"Is this the boss's mansion?" Noreen asked. "Does he live here?"

"Yes," Sander nodded.  "This is a mansion that has been passed down through the Bradley family for 180 years. When a Bradley is elected as the new leader, he or she will occupy this mansion until retirement, after which it will be passed on to the next leader, and so on."

"This mansion is 180 years old? Wow!" Noreen said in amazement. "But it looks new and modern."

Sander nodded. "Alpha T made some renovations after he moved into this mansion, and—"

"Alpha T?" Noreen asked, confused.

Sander realized his mistake, but he felt a little relieved to have reached Thiery's office door. Hoping Noreen would forget what he'd just said, he knocked.

"Mr. Thiery, I'm with Ms. Winchester," Sander said.

Thierry's voice came from inside, telling him to come in.

Sander opened the door and ushered Noreen in. He followed behind her and closed the door.

Noreen looked at Thiery sitting on the sofa in the middle of the book-filled room, and she was shocked.

Thiery's face was extremely pale, almost grayish white, and he was wrapped in several thick blankets.

"Oh my God, sir, are you really sick?" Noreen asked, walking quickly toward Thiery. She forgot her awkwardness and automatically reached out to touch Thiery's forehead. "Gosh, you're cold as a penguin at the South Pole!"

Noreen's hand pressed against Thiery's forehead, making his entire body feel like it had been doused with warm water.

"By the Moon Goddess," Dash murmured.  "Just her hand makes me feel better."

Thiery looked at Noreen, worried. "I'm fine. It's just—"

"Sir, you're sick!" Noreen interrupted firmly. "I don't want to be blamed for causing you to be like this, so let me take care of you back to health first, and then you can punish me or talk about work."

Thiery looked at Noreen with a raised eyebrow. "I thought you didn't want to work with me anymore?"

Noreen grimaced. "No, I just said something carelessly. Don't take it personally. I am sorry for my rudeness before. Now, can I warm you up? I'm worried I'll get arrested for turning my boss into an ice cube."

Seeing the scene before him, Sander knew his Alpha would be fine now. He left the room, his steps silent and a smile on his lips.