Ellie."
I knew something was wrong by the way my sister said my name.
I turned away from the hospital window. "What?"
She was sitting upright on the bed, arms folded over the thin blanket, eyes fixed on the door like it might betray her.
"The nurse said the deposit still isn't complete."
"I know."
"They won't schedule the surgery without it."
"I said I know."
She sighed. "I hate this."
"So do I."
She looked at me then. "You didn't sleep."
"I did."
"That's a lie."
I didn't answer.
A nurse walked in, clipboard pressed to her chest. "Miss Carter?"
"Yes."
"The doctor needs to speak with you."
I followed her into the hallway.
"How much more time do we have?" I asked.
She glanced at the clipboard. "Not much."
"How much is not much?"
She stopped walking. Looked at me carefully.
"A week. Maybe less."
I nodded. "Okay."
She hesitated. "Ellie—"
"Thank you," I said.
I went back into the room and forced a smile.
"They'll call me," I told my sister. "Everything's fine."
She didn't believe me.
Neither did I.
I arrived at the office late.
Not five minutes late.
Thirty.
The second I stepped off the elevator, I knew.
The air felt sharp. Still.
My desk phone was blinking.
Before I could sit—
"Miss Carter."
His voice cut through the silence.
I straightened. "Yes, sir?"
"Come in."
I walked into his office and closed the door behind me.
He stood by his desk, jacket off, sleeves rolled up, tie loosened. He looked annoyed. No—worse. Focused.
"You were supposed to be here at seven."
"I know."
"And it's now eight thirty."
"Yes."
"Explain."
"My sister is in the hospital."
He didn't respond.
"She's scheduled for surgery," I continued. "There was an issue with—"
"This is not personal hours."
I stopped talking.
"You are my assistant," he said. "When you're late, my day is late."
"I understand."
"Do you?"
"Yes."
He studied me. His eyes were sharp, searching.
"Sit."
I sat.
"Has this happened before?"
"No."
"Will it happen again?"
"No."
Silence.
"Your performance has been consistent," he said finally. "But consistency doesn't excuse absence."
"I won't be late again."
He leaned back slightly.
"See that you aren't."
"Yes, sir."
"Dismissed."
I stood and walked out without another word.
My hands were shaking when I sat back down.
That afternoon, my phone buzzed.
HOSPITAL ADMIN
I stared at it.
Then answered.
"Miss Carter," the voice said. "We still haven't received confirmation of the deposit."
"I'm working on it."
"You said that yesterday."
"I know."
"If we don't receive payment by Friday—"
"I'll have it," I said.
Silence.
"…Friday," the voice repeated.
The line went dead.
"Miss Carter."
I looked up.
Alexander Kane stood at my desk.
"Yes, sir?"
"Cancel my four."
"You have—"
"Cancel it."
"Yes."
He didn't move.
"You're distracted again," he said.
"I'm handling it."
"That's not an answer."
I stood. "May I speak freely?"
His eyebrow lifted slightly.
"You may try."
"I can do my job," I said. "I am doing my job. Whatever is happening outside this office won't interfere."
"And yet it already has."
I met his gaze.
"It won't happen again."
A long pause.
"Come in," he said, turning back to his office.
I followed.
He shut the door.
"You're close to crossing a line," he said.
"I'm aware."
"You don't ask for leniency here."
"I'm not asking."
"Then what are you doing?"
I took a breath. "Working."
He studied my face.
"You're exhausted."
"I'm fine."
"You're lying."
My jaw tightened.
"You don't know me well enough to say that."
Something shifted.
"You're right," he said calmly. "I don't."
He walked to his desk and picked up a folder.
"Sit."
I did.
"Your contract includes an emergency clause," he said.
I frowned. "It does?"
"Yes."
"I didn't—"
"You should read what you sign."
"I did."
"Then you missed it."
He slid the folder toward me.
"What is this?" I asked.
"A discretionary advance."
I stared at the number.
My breath caught.
"This is… a lot."
"It's recoverable," he said. "Deducted from your salary over time."
I looked up. "Why?"
"Because your distraction is affecting my work."
"That's not—"
"And because," he added, "I don't tolerate inefficiency."
I stood. "I can't accept this."
"You already did," he said.
"I haven't signed anything."
"You will."
Silence filled the room.
"You don't do favors," I said.
"No."
"So what's this?"
"A solution."
I shook my head. "There are strings."
"There are always strings."
I swallowed. "What do you want?"
He looked at me steadily.
"Focus."
"That's it?"
"That's everything."
I hesitated.
"Friday," I said. "The hospital needs it by Friday."
"It'll be done today."
My chest tightened.
"Thank you," I said quietly.
He nodded once.
"Miss Carter."
"Yes?"
"This changes nothing."
"I understand."
"Good."
I turned to leave.
"And Ellie," he added.
I stopped.
"Don't let it happen again."
I walked out.
At the hospital that evening, my sister was watching TV.
"They called," she said.
I froze. "Who?"
"The billing office."
"…What did they say?"
"That the deposit was cleared."
My knees almost gave out.
"You okay?" she asked.
I sat beside her bed.
"Yeah," I said. "I am."
She smiled weakly. "You look tired."
"I'll sleep after Friday."
She squeezed my hand.
"You don't have to carry everything alone," she said.
I didn't answer.
Because I already had.
The next morning, Alexander Kane didn't say a word to me.
He drank his coffee. Reviewed his schedule.
But when he passed my desk—
"You did well yesterday," he said quietly.
I looked up, startled.
He was already walking away.