Ethan was abruptly pulled from his sleep by the insistent ringing of his phone. Groggily, he reached for it, blinking to adjust to the dim light of the room. The caller ID flashed *Alex*. His heart sank—Alex wouldn't call him at this hour unless something was seriously wrong.
"Alex, what's going on?" Ethan answered, his voice still thick with sleep.
"Ethan, one of our factories is on fire," Alex said, his voice tense. "The damage is extensive. Most of the materials are already destroyed, and the authorities are trying to contain the fire, but they need you there."
The gravity of the situation hit Ethan like a punch to the gut. He swung his legs over the side of the bed, immediately alert. "How bad is it?" he asked, already reaching for his clothes.
"It's bad, man. The damage will set us back. They need someone from the top there, and you know it can only be you."
Ethan cursed under his breath as he pulled on his shirt, the weight of the situation settling in. Olivia stirred beside him, her eyes fluttering open. She watched him dress, confusion quickly turning to concern.
"What's happening?" she asked, her voice laced with worry.
Ethan paused and leaned down, gently brushing a strand of hair from her face. "One of our factories is on fire. Alex says it's bad. I need to go."
Olivia sat up, her heart racing. "But Ethan, it's raining hard outside. And what if it's dangerous? Can't Alex handle it?"
Ethan kissed her forehead softly, his lips lingering there. "I know, but the authorities are asking for me personally. Alex is already on-site, but I need to be there. I'll be back tomorrow to pick you up, I promise."
Olivia bit her lip, something in her gut telling her this wasn't just a small matter. The look in Ethan's eyes spoke volumes—there was more at stake than he was letting on. She grabbed his hand, her grip tight. "Please be careful," she whispered.
He squeezed her hand, offering a reassuring smile despite the storm brewing both outside and in their lives. "I will. I'll be back before you know it."
With that, Ethan finished getting dressed and walked over to Linda's room. He knocked softly and waited until she opened the door, her eyes squinting in the dim light of the hallway.
"Ethan, is everything alright?" Linda asked, sensing the tension.
"I'm sorry to wake you, Aunt Linda. There's an emergency at one of the factories. I need to head back to town. I'll pick up Olivia tomorrow, but I wanted to let you know."
Linda's face softened with concern, but she nodded. "Be careful, Ethan. And don't worry, I'll take care of Olivia."
Ethan thanked her and kissed Olivia one last time before grabbing his keys. The rain was coming down in sheets now, pounding against the windows with a fury. As he stepped outside, the wind howled, making it difficult to see more than a few feet ahead.
He took a deep breath and hurried to his car, the storm raging around him as he started the engine. He glanced back at the house one more time, knowing Olivia was watching from the window, her face pressed against the glass.
The road was slick with rain, and the visibility was almost nonexistent, but Ethan powered through, his mind racing with thoughts of the fire, the damage, and the potential fallout. He couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't just a random accident—that something more sinister might be at play. But right now, his priority was getting there, assessing the situation, and figuring out how to minimize the damage.
As he drove through the storm, his thoughts kept circling back to Olivia. He hated leaving her like this, especially in her condition. But he had no choice—he was needed, and time was of the essence.
Whatever awaited him at the factory, Ethan knew one thing for certain: this storm, both literal and figurative, was far from over.