Ethan slowly opened his eyes, the sterile brightness of the hospital room hitting him like a wave. His head throbbed, and the memories of the attack flooded back, but as he shifted slightly, he noticed Olivia sleeping in the chair beside his bed. A sense of calm washed over him.
He turned his head, careful not to disturb her, and scanned the room. The beeping of the heart monitor and the faint scent of antiseptic surrounded him, but his focus remained on Olivia. She looked peaceful, her face relaxed, a stark contrast to the chaos they had faced just hours earlier.
Ethan's heart swelled with gratitude as he remembered how she had fought off those attackers to protect him. He shifted again, his gaze falling on her hair, which spilled like a dark waterfall over her shoulders. Unable to resist, he gently reached out, his fingers brushing against her soft strands.
At the light touch, Olivia stirred, her eyelids fluttering open. When she saw him awake, a bright smile broke across her face. "Good morning, Sleeping Beauty," she teased, her voice still thick with sleep.
Ethan chuckled softly, despite the ache in his jaw. "You know, I was trying to be a hero, but I think I just got myself knocked out instead. Not exactly the most graceful move I've ever made."
"Yeah, I guess that big guy underestimated you," she said, laughter dancing in her eyes. "He was so eager to attack, he forgot to defend himself. It's almost embarrassing."
"Just think of it as a lesson in humility for him," Ethan replied, his heart warming at her lightheartedness. But as the laughter faded, his expression turned serious. "What about you? Did you get hurt at all?"
Olivia shook her head, but there was a shadow in her eyes. "No, I'm fine. Just a little shaken up, I guess."
Ethan's heart ached at the thought of her being in danger. He reached for her hand, squeezing it gently. "You're incredible, you know that? The way you handled everything. I—I don't know what I would have done without you."
Her gaze softened, and for a moment, they simply sat together in silence, connected by their shared experience. But then, the weight of the situation returned. "Ethan, I need to tell you something," she said, her tone shifting. "There's a mole in the office. Someone's been leaking information to Alexander."
Ethan frowned, the realization hitting him hard. "A mole? How did you find out?"
Before Olivia could respond, the door swung open with a loud bang, startling both of them. In walked a young woman in her late twenties, her makeup flawlessly applied and her demeanor overly confident. It was Jenna Thompson, Ethan's high school admirer.
"Ethan!" Jenna exclaimed, her voice dripping with enthusiasm as she took a step inside. "I heard you were here, and I just had to come see you!"
Olivia stiffened in her chair, confusion flashing across her face as she glanced between Ethan and the unexpected intruder. Ethan's stomach sank. This was the last thing he needed right now.
"Jenna," he said, attempting to keep his tone neutral, "what are you doing here?"
"Oh, come on, don't be like that!" she said, waving her hand dismissively as she stepped closer, her high heels clicking on the linoleum floor. "You look like you could use some company. Your mom said you were in a bit of a situation, and I thought I'd stop by and cheer you up!"
Ethan glanced at Olivia, whose expression had turned from confusion to irritation. The smile that had graced her face moments ago had faded, replaced by a tightness around her lips.
"I'm glad to see you're okay, but I think you should give him some space," Olivia interjected, her tone firm. "He's just been through a lot."
Jenna blinked, taken aback by Olivia's assertiveness. "Oh, I didn't mean to intrude! But we go way back, don't we, Ethan?" She turned to him, a bright smile plastered on her face, her eyes sparkling with a familiarity that Ethan didn't share.
"Yeah, we do," he said slowly, trying to defuse the tension. "But right now, I really just want to focus on recovering."
Jenna pouted slightly, crossing her arms. "You're such a downer, Ethan. You need to lighten up! I came all this way to see you."
"Jenna, now isn't the best time," Ethan said, his patience wearing thin. "I really just want to be with Olivia right now."
The comment hung in the air, heavy with unspoken feelings. Jenna's expression shifted, the confusion evident on her face. "Olivia?" she repeated, her voice tinged with disbelief. "Oh, I see how it is. The two of you are still together, huh?"
"Yeah, we are," Olivia replied, her chin lifting defiantly. "And I think it's best if you leave us alone for now."
Jenna's bright demeanor faded slightly, replaced by a huff of annoyance. "Fine. I just thought you'd appreciate some support from someone who actually cares."
With that, Jenna turned on her heel and strode out of the room, leaving an awkward silence in her wake. Ethan let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, his eyes darting to Olivia.
"I'm sorry about that," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I didn't expect her to just waltz in here like that."
Olivia shrugged, her expression a mix of annoyance and amusement. "It's fine. I just didn't want you to feel uncomfortable."
"Honestly," Ethan said, his tone sincere, "I'd much rather be here with you, talking about the mole and how we're going to handle this. You're the only person I want by my side right now."
Her eyes softened, and for a brief moment, the world outside the hospital faded away. But as they settled back into the conversation, the seriousness of the situation loomed over them once more.
"So, about that mole…" Ethan began, ready to dive into the details of the betrayal that had put them both at risk.
But for now, they could only focus on the storm brewing ahead.