Gillian awaited Richard's arrival while surveying the machinery she had repaired. Behind her tired expression, a faint smile appeared on her full lips. A sense of satisfaction filled her heart, hoping the machine would perform optimally at the project site. Her greater hope was that Mr. Reynolds would appreciate her efforts.
As she took the last sip of her drink, Gillian's blue eyes spotted Richard's familiar black open-back truck approaching the warehouse. She quickly waved and walked briskly towards the vehicle. Richard grinned widely as he stepped out of the truck.
Two workers swiftly loaded the machinery and materials onto the truck. Soon, they were driving out the gate, heading towards the project site.
"Hey, Gill! Ready to go?" Richard asked in a friendly tone.
"Yep, Rich! Let's get going!" Gillian replied with enthusiasm.
During the journey, they discussed work while occasionally joking around. Richard, who had come to think of Gillian as his own niece, felt sympathy reflecting on what the girl had endured in her past. He knew well what Greg Fellow was truly like and how grim Gillian's situation had been. If only he could have done something to help her back then.
Suddenly, Richard's cell phone rang loudly, interrupting their conversation. "Sorry, Gill. It's Mr. Reynolds," he said. Without hesitation, he pulled over and answered the call.
"Hello, Mr. Reynolds. This is Richard," Richard greeted respectfully.
"Hello, Richard. How's the machine you repaired?" Reynolds's voice was firm.
"It's functioning well, Sir. Gillian took care of it. She's quite talented," Richard replied with a smile towards Gillian.
"That's good to hear. I'm glad. Gillian is indeed impressive!" Reynolds said with admiration, which then turned serious. "Are you aware that Mr. Anderson will be doing a site visit, along with Mr. Alexius?"
Gillian, who had been listening to their conversation through the speaker, smiled slightly but tensed up when Mr. Reynolds mentioned the sudden site visit by Mr. Anderson and Geoffrey Alexius.
"I wasn't aware of this. The team hasn't even had time to do housekeeping, Sir! Why is Mr. Alexius making an unexpected visit? Is there something specific he's coming for, or is there a serious issue?" Richard asked seriously.
"Mr. Anderson hasn't shared any details, Rich! Just be prepared!" Reynolds said curtly.
Richard was dissatisfied with Mr. Reynolds's response, assuming that Geoffrey Alexius was coming to directly evaluate the project's performance. He tried to stay as positive as possible.
After the call ended, Richard turned to Gillian. "Do you know who Mr. Alexius is that we just talked about?" he asked while putting his phone into his coverall pocket.
"I know who he is, Rich. From the internet and TV. The youngest son of Lord Victor Alexius. A wealthy businessman who isn't friendly with women. He seems to dislike women. But, who knows? I don't want to judge him too quickly before getting to know him. Besides, he would never waste his precious time just to get to know someone insignificant like me. Our levels are like night and day. I'm beneath him. While he? He comes from nobility," Gillian replied, understanding her own position and status.
Richard frowned. "Why do I get the feeling that Mr. Reynolds might have mentioned you to Mr. Alexius? Could he be coming to see your talents?"
Gillian laughed softly. "Come on, Rich. Hurry up! We don't want to be late!"
Upon arriving at the project site, two helpers immediately began unloading the items. The previously calm atmosphere turned tense when the electricity and lighting on the upper floor suddenly went out. Richard, with a worried tone, instructed his team to halt work temporarily until the lights came back on.
"Is this some sort of test to check our readiness, Richard?" Gillian asked, glancing at the foreman, who shook his head in response.
"No, Gill. It's an electrical issue that needs to be fixed right away," he said seriously.
"Seriously, Rich! At a time like this!" Gillian murmured as she walked off with a tired-looking electrician, signaling for a break. It was almost time for a break anyway.
Meanwhile, Geoffrey, Sebastian, and Mr. Anderson arrived at the site, intensifying the tension. Darkness enveloped them completely. Relying only on flashlights, Gillian and an electrician headed upstairs.
Amid the roar of the generator and the noise of working tools, Geoffrey's footsteps were heard approaching and then suddenly stopped. "What's going on here?" his authoritative voice echoed, scanning the area sharply.
"Hey! We need lighting ASAP for overtime!" Sebastian added urgently, increasing the pressure of the situation.
"One of the lights is out, Sir. We're looking for the cause," Gillian answered briefly, keeping her focus on the equipment in front of her. Sebastian's words only irritated her, adding to the rising tension.
"I've found the problem!" the electrician said, "There's a disconnected wire. I'll fix it now."
Gillian nodded, taking a deep breath to stay calm. Promptly, she checked the surrounding area while trying not to let anxiety disrupt her concentration. Every second felt crucial as the lights remained out.
As they focused on the repair, the roar of the large generator and the noise of working tools filled the air. Suddenly, Geoffrey's footsteps were heard sliding, followed by a loud scream. Gillian turned, directing her flashlight towards the commotion, seeing Geoffrey swinging at the edge, his body dangling at a height.
Quickly, Gillian grabbed the webbing sling, strapped it around her small frame, and threw it towards Geoffrey while shouting loudly, "MR. ALEXIUS, CATCH THIS!"
Geoffrey, still shocked and in a state of panic, heard Gillian's shout. He grabbed the webbing sling reflexively and held on tightly, while his other hand clung to the metal structure.
"HELP! PULL HIM UP!" she commanded the others in a prone position, her eyes never leaving Geoffrey.
Together with Sebastian and two other workers, they pulled the webbing sling and Geoffrey's body with all their might. Slowly, they managed to pull Geoffrey back up to the upper floor, just as the lights came back on.
"Mr. Alexius, are you alright?" Gillian asked, patting his shoulder while holding her breath.
Geoffrey stared at Gillian with a blank expression, still in disbelief over what had just happened. His body trembled, and his heart raced. He looked so shaken, unable to speak.
Sebastian, seeing Geoffrey pale and Gillian looking relieved, asked anxiously, "Mr. Alexius, are you okay? How did you slip just now? Is anyone hurt?"
"Gillian saved me. She threw the webbing sling to me and pulled me back up," Geoffrey said hoarsely, his eyes still fixed on Gillian. Gillian's bravery and resilience shone in his eyes.
Richard, Mr. Anderson, and the electrician, who had heard the commotion, immediately approached them. Geoffrey appeared shaken, while Gillian seemed calm. She appeared to be accustomed to such situations. It was quite a contrasting sight before them.
"Thank you, Gillian. You saved Mr. Alexius's life. You're a hero," Sebastian said sincerely.
"What's going on? What happened?" Richard asked, running upstairs and immediately meeting Geoffrey and Gillian to check their condition.
"Mr. Alexius almost fell from the upper floor. Gillian saved him using the webbing sling," Sebastian explained, feeling relieved.
"Oh my God, thank goodness no one was hurt. Gillian, you're amazing. You saved Mr. Alexius's life. I'm very proud of you," praised Anderson.
"Thank you, Mr. Anderson. I'm glad I could help," Gillian said modestly, despite her disheveled appearance—messy hair, dirty uniform, and darkened fingers.
"Aren't you also a part of this, Mr. Foster? I just did what I was supposed to do," Gillian said, glancing at the other worker who had helped her.
"But your quick action was truly impressive. You bravely took the risk to save Mr. Alexius," Sebastian praised.
"I just hoped the webbing sling was strong enough to hold Mr. Alexius's weight. I'm grateful he's safe," Gillian replied, offering a faint smile.
"You didn't just save Mr. Alexius's life but also the company's reputation. If there had been a fatality, this project could have failed and the company could have faced a blacklist," Anderson said with a sigh of relief.
"I wasn't aware of that, Mr. Anderson. This is my first time working on such a large project. I just saw someone in need of help. I didn't care who they were," Gillian said simply.
"Maybe that's what makes you special, Gillian. You don't judge people by their status or position. You just see them as human beings," Sebastian said.
"I'm not as special as you think, Mr. Foster!" Gillian said with a humble smile.
Richard, noticing Gillian's discomfort with Sebastian's praise, quickly shifted the conversation. "What about the electricity and lighting? Do we have any information on the cause?"
"Yes, Mr. Richard! I've fixed the disconnected wire. The lights are now working normally," the electrician replied.
Geoffrey, still in shock, gazed at Gillian with admiration. In the earlier darkness, he had only heard Gillian's voice guiding him; now, with the lights back on, he saw her radiating courage and strength. Gillian's focused expression and swift movements captivated Geoffrey, momentarily making him forget the pain spreading through his body and hands.
Sebastian, observing his friend's reaction, realized the profound effect Gillian had on Geoffrey. The usually composed and controlled businessman seemed enchanted and touched by the bravery of a young woman eleven years his junior. Geoffrey's eyes conveyed something unusual—falling in love at first sight. Sebastian could clearly see how his friend was captivated by Gillian's strength and resilience, something he never expected to happen.
Meanwhile, Gillian, still trying to cope with her embarrassment, felt Geoffrey's gaze fixed on her. Though she tried to remain professional and focused on her work, Geoffrey's admiration felt pressuring, almost an unbearable burden. His attention made Gillian feel awkward, but her heart remained calm, without the same emotional turmoil.
In the midst of the crowd, full of admiration and gratitude, Richard tried to redirect the focus from the emotional moment, "Thank you, Gill. You did a great job."
"It's no problem, Rich! It's just part of my responsibility," Gillian replied, trying to stay composed despite the wealthy businessman's intense gaze.
However, before Geoffrey could dwell too long on his thoughts about Gillian, Sebastian interjected, giving him a light pat on the shoulder. "Geoff, you need to go to the clinic now. I've called Dr. Sullivan to check your hand and body injuries," he said in a serious yet friendly tone.
Geoffrey, who was beginning to look more composed, finally diverted his gaze from Gillian. Though he felt a slight reluctance in his heart, he nodded at Sebastian. "Alright," he replied with a faint smile, realizing he indeed needed to be checked.
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