The next morning, I went through the routine of preparing breakfast for Dennis, though the weight of our conversation the previous night still lingered in my mind. The soft morning light filtered through the windows, casting a warm glow over the kitchen. When Dennis came out of his room, his greeting was colder than usual.
"Good morning, Mom," he said, his voice distant.
A tightness gripped my heart, but I kept my voice calm. "Good morning, sweetheart. Did you sleep well?"
Dennis nodded without saying more. He quietly sat down to eat his breakfast, and the room filled with an awkward silence. Every small sound the clink of his fork on the plate, the spoon stirring the milk felt magnified in the stillness.
After finishing his meal, Dennis stood up, grabbed his backpack, and said, "I'm off to school, Mom."
"Wait, Dennis," I called after him. I handed him a small letter. "Read this when you get to school, okay?"
His eyes showed a flicker of surprise, but he nodded and tucked the letter into his backpack. "Okay, I will."
As I watched him walk away, I felt a slight sense of relief, but it was overshadowed by worry. I stood at the door, watching until his small figure disappeared down the street, before turning back inside to prepare for work.
When I stepped outside to leave for the office, I bumped into Jackie. He stood there, holding a bag of food, his warm smile greeting me as usual.
"Good morning, Elwyn. You don't look well today. I brought you breakfast," Jackie said, offering the bag.
I shook my head immediately. "Thanks, Jackie, but I don't need it."
Jackie's smile didn't falter. "Come on, take it. I promise it's good."
We went back and forth for a moment, with me refusing and Jackie insisting. Just then, some neighbors walked by, glancing at us curiously, and a few children stopped to watch. Embarrassment crept over me, my face flushing red.
Jackie chuckled. "If you don't take it, we'll be standing here long enough for rumors about us dating to spread all over town," he teased playfully.
Feeling cornered, I finally grabbed the bag and placed it in my car. "Thanks," I mumbled, then drove to the office, my mind spinning with thoughts of Dennis and Jackie.
When I arrived at work, I was greeted by my assistant, Sam, who handed me the morning work report.
"Good morning, Elwyn. We've got several important meetings lined up and some urgent projects to tackle. Here's your task list for the day," Sam said, her usual efficiency on full display as she handed me a thick pile of documents.
I nodded, thanked her, and got straight to work. Hours passed in a blur of meetings, documents, and phone calls. By midday, however, I began to feel an alltoofamiliar pain in my stomach, sharper than usual.
I tried to ignore it, but the pain twisted harder with each passing moment. I clutched my stomach, wincing, trying to stay focused on my work. Cold sweat trickled down my forehead. Desperate, I rummaged through my desk drawers, searching for my stomach medicine.
"Where is it? I know I had it somewhere..." I muttered, growing frantic when I couldn't find it. The pain was becoming unbearable. My hands trembled, and I bent down to check under the desk only to accidentally bump into the bag Jackie had given me that morning.
The bag tipped over, revealing its contents: food, a bottle of stomach medicine, and a smoothie meant to ease my stomach. I stared at it in disbelief.
"Jackie… how did he know?" I whispered. Without wasting any time, I opened the bottle and took a pill, washing it down with some water. Then I sipped the smoothie, its coolness soothing my burning stomach.
I leaned back in my chair, closing my eyes, and breathed deeply as the pain slowly subsided. How did Jackie know I had stomach issues? The thought nagged at me, filling me with both gratitude and confusion.
Just then, the door to my office burst open, and Sam rushed in, looking flustered. "Elwyn, are you okay? I saw all the missed calls from you!"
I opened my eyes and smiled weakly. "I'm fine, Sam. Just a stomachache."
Sam looked unconvinced, glancing at the bag beside me. "Are you sure? You didn't look well at all."
"I'm fine now, really. I took some medicine," I reassured her, hoping to ease her worry.
Sam raised an eyebrow, her gaze shifting to the bag again. "Elwyn, do you have a boyfriend?"
Startled, I blinked. "What? Why would you think that?"
With a playful smirk, Sam pointed at the bag. "Who else would prepare breakfast for you and make sure you had your medicine? Seems like someone cares about you."
I felt my cheeks flush. "No, Sam. Jackie is just a friend."
Sam chuckled. "Just a friend? This 'friend' seems pretty thoughtful. Maybe he's more than that."
I sighed, realizing I couldn't convince her otherwise. "Jackie is very considerate, but we're just friends."
Sam studied me for a moment before nodding. "Okay, I'll drop it. But maybe you should think about it. He might be the right person for you."
I quickly changed the subject, desperate to get back to work. "We've got a lot to do. Let's focus on that."
Sam raised her hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. But you know, you've been through a lot alone. Maybe it's time to let someone in."
My frustration flared. "Sam, I don't want to discuss this anymore. If you keep pushing, I'll deduct your pay!"
Sam's eyes widened in surprise, but she finally let it go. "Okay, Elwyn. I'm sorry."
I took a deep breath, trying to calm down. "Thank you. Now, what's next?"
Sam handed me a file. "We've got a new shareholder. He recently bought over 30% of the company's shares and seems eager to invest heavily in our next big project. A real gamechanger."
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Who is this person?"
Sam grinned. "I haven't met him yet, but from what I hear, he's full of ambition and wants to shake things up. Should I arrange a meeting?"
I nodded. "Yes, I want to meet him as soon as possible. Let's see what he's bringing to the table."
Sam left to set up the meeting, and I sat back, feeling a mix of curiosity and excitement. A new shareholder with such a significant investment could bring major changesand opportunitiesto the company.
The rest of the day passed quickly as I prepared for the upcoming meeting, focusing on the documents and plans I needed to review. I pushed thoughts of Jackie and Dennis aside, determined to stay professional.
By the time the clock hit five, I packed up my things, ready to leave the office. The day had been long, but I felt a strange sense of clarity. I was ready to face whatever came next.
As I stepped outside, the cool evening air brushed against my face, refreshing me. I took a deep breath, feeling lighter and more focused. Whatever challenges lay ahead, I knew I could handle them.
The next morning, Sam informed me that the meeting with the new shareholder had been scheduled for the following afternoon. A sense of anticipation bubbled inside me as I prepared to meet this mysterious investor who could change everything.