Chapter 19
926 Words
Mara’s POV
A soft groan escaped me as I blinked into the dim stillness of my room.
My head throbbed.
I pushed myself upright, the air thick and quiet around me. Reaching for my phone with trembling fingers, I blinked at the screen.
*12:43 a.m.*
My breath hitched.
Midnight?
And then, like a wave everything came rushing back.
The accident.
Elias.
I shot to my feet, dizziness swirling but ignored.
“Oh God,” I whispered, breath shaky.
I didn’t care about the pounding in my head. I had to see him.
I needed to know he was alive.
The hallway was dead silent as I stepped out. Everyone else must have been asleep.
But I wasn’t.
My heart slammed against my ribs as I reached his door.
Please be here.
Please be breathing.
Please…
I turned the handle slowly and pushed it open.
His room was dark, the curtains drawn. A sliver of moonlight cut across the bed, just enough to see the figure lying there.
Elias.
Flat on his back, eyes closed, one arm bandaged, another wrapped near his temple.
My breath caught.
He looked pale, quiet… too still.
I stepped closer, careful… almost afraid to make a sound.
His hair was tousled, falling slightly over his forehead, so unlike the composed man who stood tall on stage just hours ago.
I swallowed hard and slowly reached out a trembling hand, needing to feel him. To know he was really there. Alive.
But before I could touch him
His hand shot up and grabbed mine.
My breath caught.
His eyes flew open, those stormy grey eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that froze me in place.
For a moment, neither of us moved.
His grip softened, but he didn’t let go. He looked at me like he wasn’t sure if I was real… or just another dream.
Seconds stretched between us.
Then his lashes fluttered once… twice… and his eyes slowly closed again.
His hand remained on mine, loose now… but warm.
I couldn’t move.
Relief hit me like a wave, leaving my legs weak and my chest heavy.
He was alive.
God… he was alive.
I let the moment wrap around me like a blanket, before carefully slipping my hand from his and stepping back.
I walked out quietly, closing the door tightly.
THE NEXT NOON
The office was unusually quiet.
Sunlight streamed through the glass walls, too bright for my tired eyes. I blinked at my screen, but my gaze kept drifting… across the glass wall… to his office.
Empty.
He wasn’t coming in today.
And he shouldn’t.
Not with how broken he looked last night.
But still… worry tangled in my chest like vines I couldn’t tear off.
The door to my office clicked open.
David stepped in without knocking, like he could sense my thoughts were miles away.
“You okay?” he asked gently, shutting the door behind him. “You scared me yesterday. Passing out like that…”
“I’m fine,” I said, forcing a small smile. “Just overwhelmed.”
He nodded, relieved, then reached into the small paper bag he was holding.
“I brought you something. You didn’t eat yesterday and probably skipped breakfast too.”
He placed a sandwich, an energy drink, and a shiny little pack of sweets on my desk.
I blinked at the last one.
*NY RushBurst – Manhattan Mint Edition.*
The sleek blue wrapper shimmered under the light. I'd seen the ads, it was the new trend in the city. Supposed to keep people awake for 24 hours straight.
David smiled at my expression.
“They say RushBurst keeps you alive through long shifts. Figured you might need the help.”
A laugh almost escaped my lips, small and unexpected.
“Thank you,” I murmured, voice low but sincere.
“Anytime,” he said, his tone softer now… lingering.
And then, without another word, he turned and left.
I stared at the small pile of care he left behind on my desk.
The moment David left, my phone buzzed.
I snatched it up. “Clara?”
“Oh my God, Mara—are you okay?” Her voice tumbled through the line, panicked. “I saw everything on the news. The chandelier,people thought…”
“I’m fine,” I cut in quickly. “I…just… I’m fine.”
I didn’t wait for her to say more. I ended the call, my fingers trembling as I opened my browser.
And there it was.
Everywhere.
*‘Lawsons Anniversary Turns Chaotic.’*
*‘CEO Elias Lawson Narrowly Escapes Death.’*
*‘Security Breach at Billionaire Gala Shocks City.’*
My stomach dropped.
This wasn’t just news, it was a PR disaster.
I pushed my chair back sharply and stood. I needed to get to the PR team. Now.
But the moment I stepped into the hallway
I stopped cold.
From the opposite end…
He was coming.
Elias.
Dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, unbothered by the white bandage wrapped across his forehead.
His expression? Icy. Controlled. Distant.
But his eyes—
They locked on mine as he approached, unreadable.
My breath caught in my throat.
I tried to smile, just a little. Just to show I was glad he was okay.
I even took a step forward, meaning to speak.
But he didn’t stop.
He walked right past me.
His shoulder grazed mine.
Not a glance back.
As if I were invisible. As if last night had never happened.
I turned, watching him enter his office without looking my way.
- Writer
