The next morning, I almost didn't go.
My body still felt weak.
Heavy.
Like it hadn't fully recovered from the day before.
But staying in bed wasn't an option.
Not for me.
Not anymore.
"Are you sure you should go?" Melyne asked, watching me carefully.
"I have to," I replied, adjusting my bag.
Starlet shook her head. "You collapsed, Jessy."
"I got back up."
Riley sighed. "That doesn't mean you're okay."
I paused for a second.
They were right.
I wasn't okay.
But I was trying to be.
And right now…
That was enough.
"I'll be careful," I said softly.
They didn't look convinced.
But they let me go.
Walking into Kingston Group felt different today.
Heavier.
Like I was being watched.
Judged.
Measured.
And I wasn't wrong.
"Jessy."
I turned immediately.
It was the supervisor.
Her expression was serious.
Too serious.
"Come with me."
My stomach tightened.
The office felt colder than usual.
More formal.
More distant.
"Sit," she said.
I did.
Carefully.
She leaned back slightly, studying me.
"You collapsed yesterday."
"Yes."
"You're new."
"Yes."
"And already causing disruption."
The words stung.
Sharp.
Professional.
But still… painful.
"I'm sorry," I said quietly.
"This is not a place for instability," she continued. "We need people who can handle pressure."
I swallowed hard.
"I can," I said.
"You didn't yesterday."
Silence.
Heavy silence.
Then—
"We may have to reconsider your position."
For a moment…
Everything inside me froze.
Not again.
Not this.
Not when I had just started building something.
"I won't let it happen again," I said quickly.
Too quickly.
Desperation almost slipped through.
Almost.
"I need this job," I added, softer now.
Real.
Honest.
Before she could respond—
A knock came at the door.
Then it opened.
And everything changed.
Elias walked in.
Calm.
Composed.
Unreadable.
But his presence alone shifted the air.
"Sir," the supervisor said, standing immediately.
He nodded slightly.
Then his gaze moved.
To me.
Just like that.
Everything felt focused again.
Sharp.
Intentional.
"What's the issue?" he asked.
Simple.
Direct.
"She collapsed yesterday," the supervisor explained. "We're reviewing whether she's fit to continue."
Silence.
Then—
"She is."
His answer came instantly.
No hesitation.
No doubt.
The supervisor blinked slightly.
"Sir?"
"She continues," he repeated calmly.
That was it.
No explanation.
No debate.
Just a decision.
Final.
My chest tightened slightly.
Not from fear.
But something else.
Relief.
Confusion.
Gratitude.
All at once.
Elias turned to me.
"Can you work?" he asked.
Not harsh.
Not soft.
Just real.
I held his gaze.
"Yes."
"Then work," he said.
And just like that…
The moment ended.
He turned and walked out.
Leaving behind silence.
And a decision that changed everything.
Back at my station, my hands were still slightly unsteady.
Not from weakness.
But from what had just happened.
He didn't have to step in.
He didn't have to say anything.
But he did.
And that meant something.
Even if I didn't fully understand what yet.
The day moved slowly.
Carefully.
I worked.
Focused.
Measured.
No mistakes.
No signs of weakness.
Because now…
I had something to prove.
Not just to them.
But to myself.
That evening, my phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Jessy…"
My mother's voice.
Soft.
Familiar.
Safe.
My chest tightened immediately.
"Hi, Mom."
"We heard you weren't feeling well."
Melyne.
Of course.
"I'm okay," I said.
"You don't sound okay."
I smiled slightly.
Even though she couldn't see it.
"I'm trying."
There was a pause.
Then—
"We're proud of you."
My throat tightened.
Hard.
"You're going through a lot," my father's voice added in the background. "But you're still standing."
I closed my eyes briefly.
Letting that sink in.
"Thank you," I whispered.
"You're not alone, Jessy," my mother said. "Never."
And for the first time that day…
I felt it.
Not the pressure.
Not the fear.
But the support.
Real.
Unshakable.
Later that night, I sat quietly on my bed.
Thinking.
Replaying everything.
The collapse.
The warning.
Him.
The way he stepped in.
The way he didn't ask questions.
Didn't judge.
Didn't expose me.
He just…
Chose.
To let me stay.
And somewhere in that tall building…
Elias sat behind his desk.
Silent.
Focused.
But not on work.
Not completely.
Because something about this situation didn't sit right with him.
A girl who looked like she was carrying too much.
A girl who refused to break.
A girl who said "I need this job" like it was more than just money.
He leaned back slightly.
Eyes thoughtful.
Curious.
But controlled.
Because one thing was clear—
He had crossed a line today.
A small one.
But still a line.
And something told him…
That wouldn't be the last time.
Meanwhile…
Across the city…
Vanessa sat beside Cypher.
Watching him.
Carefully.
"You've been quiet," she said.
"I'm just tired," he replied.
But his mind wasn't there.
It was somewhere else.
Somewhere he didn't want to admit.
Because for the first time…
He wasn't sure he had walked away clean.