Chapter 5: The Unexpected Rescue
253 Words
The publishing company was preparing for its biggest project of the year.
Everyone was under pressure.
Especially Ava.
Between work and caring for her mother, she barely slept.
One night she stayed in the office long after everyone else had gone home.
Her computer screen blurred before her eyes.
She rubbed her forehead.
Then her phone rang.
It was the hospital.
Her mother's condition had worsened.
Panic flooded through her.
Without thinking, Ava grabbed her belongings and rushed out.
In her hurry, she forgot about the important report due the next morning.
The next day she arrived at work expecting disaster.
Instead, her manager smiled.
"Excellent report, Ava."
She blinked.
"What report?"
"The one submitted last night."
Confused, she opened her email.
There it was.
The completed report.
Perfectly finished.
Her eyes widened.
Only one person could have done it.
Ethan.
She found him later in the conference room.
"You completed my report."
He looked up.
"You needed help."
"You should have let me fail."
"No."
Ava stared at him.
"Why?"
Ethan stood and walked closer.
"Because you spend all your time saving everyone else."
His voice became softer.
"Sometimes someone should save you too."
For several seconds, neither of them spoke.
Ava felt her chest tighten.
No one had ever cared enough to say something like that.
No one except Ethan.
As she looked into his eyes, she realized something that frightened her.
She was beginning to fall for him.
And for the first time, she wasn't sure she wanted to stop.
- Writer
