The CEO's Match

Unexpected Realizations

Alexander's pov

The following day, I returned to the office, still concerned about Nova's condition. As I walked through the halls, Rebecca met me with an update.

"Nova's home resting," she said, her tone laced with a mix of sympathy and frustration. "She insisted on working from home, even though I told her to take it easy."

I frowned, unable to shake the worry gnawing at me. It was clear that Nova's stubbornness had carried over even in her sick state. I knew she was dedicated, but pushing herself while ill wasn't something I could ignore. I had to find a way to help her see that she needed to prioritize her health.

Settling into my office, I tried to focus on the tasks at hand, but my thoughts kept drifting back to Nova. Her refusal to take proper time off, combined with her previous dedication and the recent changes, made me realize how much I had taken her commitment for granted. I had been so focused on the business and my own issues that I hadn't fully appreciated the impact of my decisions on her.

As I sifted through my emails, I noticed a few flagged messages related to the work I had been handling before. My mind kept circling back to the night I had waited outside her apartment, and the thought of her there, working despite her illness, troubled me deeply.

I decided to take a break and walked to the small coffee station in the office. The smell of fresh coffee was a small comfort, but it did little to ease the unease I felt. I needed to do more than just think about helping Nova; I had to act on it.

I picked up my phone and dialed her number. It rang for a few moments before she answered, her voice still faintly raspy from the sickness.

"Hello?"

"Nova, it's Alexander," I said, trying to keep my tone neutral but firm. "I'm calling to check on you. How are you feeling?"

There was a pause on the other end before she replied. "I'm managing. Still not great, but I'm getting by."

"You're pushing yourself too hard," I said, concern evident in my voice. "You need to rest properly. I'll arrange for everything to be taken care of while you recover. No more working from home. It's important you get better."

There was a brief silence before she responded, a hint of frustration in her tone. "I appreciate the concern, but I've got things under control."

I sighed, feeling a mixture of frustration and helplessness. "You don't have to do this alone, Nova. I want you to focus on getting well. I'll handle things here."

"I'll think about it," she said, her voice softening slightly. "Thanks for checking in."

I ended the call with a sense of resolve. It was clear that Nova's stubbornness was something I would need to work around, but I was determined to ensure she took the time she needed to recover.

Back in the office, I made arrangements for her workload to be managed more effectively and ensured that she would have no further distractions or pressures. I realized that I had underestimated the toll that work and my decisions had taken on her. It was time for me to show that I could be a better boss and support her as she had always supported me.

As I sat back at my desk, I felt a newfound sense of responsibility. The business would continue to run, but more importantly, I needed to be there for the people who mattered most. And right now, that meant making sure Nova got the rest she so clearly needed.

Nova's pov

The day had blurred into a chaotic whirlwind of deadlines, calls, and endless paperwork. My eyes ached from staring at the screen, and my fingers moved almost mechanically over the keyboard. Medication bottles were strewn across my desk, their labels a distant memory as I lost track of how many I had taken. Each pill was meant to keep the stress and exhaustion at bay, but today, it felt like the edge of a precipice.

As the hours passed, a wave of nausea hit me with increasing intensity. My vision started to wobble, the edges of my sight growing blurry. The room spun, and my legs felt like lead. I grabbed onto the edge of my desk, trying to steady myself, but the weakness took over. My hearing began to dull, the sounds around me becoming a distant hum.

I knew I had to stop, to rest, but my body wasn't responding. I reached for my phone to call for help, but the effort was too much. I slumped into my chair, the darkness encroaching. I lost consciousness, sinking into an unsettling void where time ceased to matter.

My phone lay beside me, vibrating and ringing intermittently. Alexander's name flashed on the screen repeatedly, each call more urgent than the last. He left several voicemails, but the relentless ringing remained unanswered. I could hear none of it, lost in the depths of my unconscious state.

The office lights eventually dimmed, leaving me in a cold, dark silence. The once-bustling room was now empty, the quiet only broken by the occasional ring of my phone. I remained motionless, with no one there to notice my absence or check on me. The exhaustion had finally claimed me, and I stayed in that lifeless limbo.

Hours passed, then night fell. My phone's screen eventually went dark from lack of response, the calls from Alexander ceasing as the night wore on. I was alone in the stillness, the pain of my condition a distant echo as I remained trapped in my unconscious state. The weight of the day had taken its toll, and I was left to face the consequences of pushing myself beyond the limits.

The room stayed silent and cold, save for the faint hum of the office machinery that continued its tireless operation, oblivious to the person who had fallen prey to its relentless demands.