The CEO's Match

Awakening

Nova's pov

I woke slowly, my mind foggy and disoriented. The first thing I noticed was the beeping-steady, rhythmic sounds that seemed to echo through the haze of my consciousness. My body felt heavy, and as I tried to move, I realized I was restrained by the cold, unyielding hold of hospital equipment.

Blinking slowly, I tried to make sense of my surroundings. White walls, the sterile smell of antiseptic, and a tangle of IV lines and heart monitors attached to me. I was in a hospital room, that much was clear. I turned my head slightly and saw the steady drip of an IV bag hanging beside me.

Panic began to rise, my heart pounding in my chest. I tried to sit up, but the dizziness and weakness made it impossible. My head throbbed with a dull ache, and my mouth felt dry.

"Where am I?" I croaked, my voice barely more than a whisper.

A nurse appeared beside me, her face a mask of professional concern. She gently placed a hand on my arm, trying to reassure me. "You're in the hospital, Nova. You've been here for two weeks. You had a severe reaction to the medication you were taking, but you're stable now."

I stared at her, trying to process her words. Two weeks? How had so much time passed without me knowing? "What happened?" I asked, my voice trembling.

"You were found unconscious in your apartment," she explained gently. "You had overdosed on medication. We've been monitoring you closely since then."

A surge of memories hit me-overworking, the medication, and the exhaustion. I felt a pang of guilt and frustration, realizing how close I'd come to a far worse outcome. "Alexander," I murmured, barely aware I was speaking aloud.

The nurse's expression shifted, her gaze sympathetic. "He's been here a lot. He's been very concerned about you."

My heart skipped a beat. Alexander? Why would he care? After everything that had happened, why would he be here for me? I couldn't deny a part of me was curious, even though another part was still hurt and angry.

As I lay there, struggling to reconcile my feelings, I could hear the distant sounds of footsteps and muffled conversations in the corridor. I closed my eyes, trying to gather my thoughts. The room felt strangely empty despite the presence of the nurse and the medical equipment.

I wanted to see Alexander, to confront him about everything that had happened, but I wasn't sure if I was ready. I wasn't even sure if I wanted to see him at all, given the circumstances. But the thought of him being concerned, of him waiting and worrying, lingered in my mind.

The nurse adjusted my IV and offered a reassuring smile. "You're going to be okay. Just focus on getting better. We'll have you out of here in no time."

I nodded, though my mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. I had to figure out what to do next, how to process everything that had happened. For now, I tried to rest, my body feeling the weight of exhaustion and recovery.

As I lay there, the beeping of the monitors and the steady rhythm of my breathing became my focus. I was alive, and despite everything, that was something to hold onto. What came next was uncertain, but for now, I had to heal and find a way to move forward from all of this.

"Wait," I called out, my voice soft but firm. Alexander turned back, looking at me with a mix of surprise and hope. I managed a gentle smile, trying to convey my sincerity. "Alexander, I was just kidding. I'll still work for you. I only overworked myself-that's all. This isn't your fault. It's mine. I should've listened to you when you told me to rest. Come here."

I saw him hesitate for a moment before walking back to my bedside. With a careful, deliberate movement, I began to lift myself up on the bed, wincing slightly at the effort. As he approached, I reached out and pulled him into a hug, my heart pounding with the raw emotion of the moment.

"It's not your fault, Alexander," I whispered against his shoulder. "It's mine."

He hesitated for a second before wrapping his arms around me, holding me tightly but gently. I could feel the warmth of his body and the steadiness of his breath as he exhaled a shaky sigh of relief.

"I'm sorry for everything," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "I just didn't know how much you were pushing yourself. I should've been more attentive, more supportive."

I shook my head slightly, resting my cheek against his shoulder. "We both made mistakes. But we're here now, and that's what matters. I'm just glad you're here. It's been a rough few weeks, and I needed this."

He pulled back slightly, his eyes meeting mine with a mixture of gratitude and vulnerability. "Thank you for saying that. I promise to do better-both for you and for the company. I've learned a lot from this experience."

I nodded, giving him a small, encouraging smile. "Let's focus on moving forward, okay? One step at a time."

As he released me from the hug, I felt a sense of relief and renewed hope. The road to recovery and rebuilding trust would still be long, but having Alexander's support meant a lot. I knew that we both had work to do, but for now, I was content to take things one day at a time.

Alexander gave me one last reassuring look before he left the room, promising to check in on me regularly. As I settled back into my bed, the weight of the past few weeks felt a little lighter. There was still a lot to figure out, but I was ready to face it with a renewed sense of determination.

For now, I focused on resting and recovering, knowing that with time, I'd be able to return to work and tackle whatever came next with a clearer perspective. The future was uncertain, but I felt a sense of cautious optimism as I looked ahead.