Page 56 of The Executive Assistant

I hurried to my office, putting Cameron’s interaction with the pretty intern at the very back of my mind. There were plenty of things to work on, so I’d be busy today.

While I worked, Cameron popped in a few times to check in with me, relaying emails and confirming appointments. We spoke in short sentences, not making small talk the way we usually did. At noon, he said he was taking his lunch break, and asked if I’d like him to grab me anything.

“No,” I said, keeping my eyes on my computer.

He hesitated, but then left without another word. He’d probably learned there was no point telling me to takebetter care of myself. I’d just ignore the advice like I always did.

At the end of the workday, Cameron came into my office again, to drop off some paperwork. “I have an update about the Power Corp campaign,” he said.

I sat up and took my fingers off my keyboard. “Yes?”

As he launched into his update, my mind strayed, remembering the time he got on his knees and worshiped me, kissing and caressing me like he couldn’t get enough.

Don’t think about him like that. It’s over. Forget those memories.

“And that’s about it,” Cameron finished, snapping me out of my heated thoughts.

I swallowed hard. “Great. Thank you,” I told him. We weren’t together. We weren’t friends. We were nothing but boss and employee. “You can go home for the day.”

But he didn’t leave. He stood there with an unreadable expression on his face. “Will you be going home too?”

“Soon.” That was a lie. “I just have a little bit more work to do.” That was another lie. I planned to work until I was tired to my bones. That way, I could go home and fall asleep immediately without having to think about anything.

Cameron opened his mouth, but then thought better of it and shut his mouth. He nodded before turning and leaving, looking tenser than he did when he entered myoffice.

I released a slow exhale once he was gone, then glanced at my reflection in the office window. My stomach dropped at the sight of myself. My ponytail was disheveled and limp, my face was pale and thin, and there were dark circles under my eyes.

I lifted my hand and pressed my fingers against my cheek, frowning when it didn’t feel as plump and round as it used to. I’d been having trouble sleeping lately and was eating less frequently.

Was I really surprised? The breakup killed me inside, stripping me of happiness and motivation to take care of myself. I knew that I probably worked too much, but at least it felt normal.

Speaking of work, I needed to get back to it. There were documents to look over, progress reports to review, and a whole list of other things that I could get a head start on.

A yawn broke from me, my entire body feeling heavy. My eyes strayed to the couch where I had been taking my power naps. A nap sounded so good right now, but I knew it would turn into sleeping through the entire night.

I couldn’t risk that. I needed to stay awake and finish up at least a few more things before going home.

That meant drinking yet another cup of coffee. I was starting to get sick of the taste at this point.

I stood up from my desk, pausing for a second when my head spun for a second. I reached out to steady myself asmy stomach churned with nausea. After closing my eyes for a second, I regained my balance.

That was weird.

I walked out of my office, exhaling shakily as it felt like I was leaning to the side while I moved. I must’ve been really tired.

The office’s kitchen was only just ahead, but black dots suddenly popped up in my vision, my head going from heavy to light. Incredibly light.

The hallway spun, and my legs gave out. I hit the ground, darkness taking hold of me.

CHAPTER TWENTY

White light slowly seeped into my vision and a ringing sound filled my ears. I grimaced as I fully opened my eyes, all of the bright, blurry shapes slowly forming actual objects. A heart rate monitor. A small television. A hospital room.

“She’s awake!” It was Brooke’s voice.

“Alison? Are you okay?” Emilia asked, appearing in my vision as she leaned over me with a creased brow.

I blinked, feeling disoriented as my eyes swept around the room and over my body as I lay in a hospital bed. How the hell did I even get here? My mind was a shattered mess of memories that I couldn’t quite put together yet.

---