The week following the business trip began with a barrage of expectations, as if the success of the Kelridge merger had only emboldened the pressures weighing on Lila. Each new demand from her father came like the crack of a whip: concise, impersonal, and merciless. By Thursday evening, she found herself sitting alone in her office, the city lights casting long shadows across her desk.
The skyline, once a source of inspiration, now felt like a taunt. Her reflection in the window bore the weight of her choices—the sleepless nights, the sacrifices, the endless race for perfection. In the stillness, her father's voice echoed in her memory: "If you falter, someone else will take your place."
A sharp knock at the door pulled her back to the present.
"Come in," she said, her tone sharper than intended.
The door creaked open, and Ethan stepped inside, holding a file. His presence was both a relief and an irritation—a reminder of the stability she craved but refused to acknowledge.
"You're still here," he said, his gaze sweeping the cluttered desk.
"Where else would I be?" she replied, leaning back in her chair and massaging her temples.
Ethan placed the file in front of her but didn't leave. Instead, he took the chair across from her, leaning forward with a familiar mix of curiosity and concern.
"This is the finalized agreement for Kelridge's next phase," he began. "But I didn't come here just for that."
Lila's brows furrowed as she picked up the file. "What's on your mind?"
He hesitated, the words clearly weighing on him. "You've been running yourself ragged, Lila. Even for you, this is too much."
She bristled, setting the file down with a sharp thud. "Ethan, we've been over this. I'm fine."
His jaw tightened, but he didn't back down. "You're not fine," he said, his voice low but firm. "You're exhausted. I see it in the way you work, the way you barely eat during meetings, the way you push everyone—including yourself—past the breaking point."
Lila's eyes narrowed. "I don't have time for this conversation. If you've forgotten, there's an entire company depending on me."
"And who's going to run it when you collapse?" he shot back, his frustration bleeding into his tone.
Her lips pressed into a thin line, her composure slipping. "You don't understand what it's like to carry this much responsibility."
"Don't I?" Ethan countered, leaning closer. "You think I don't see the weight on your shoulders? I see it every day, Lila. But what I don't see is why you insist on carrying it alone."
The room fell silent, the tension between them crackling like static. For a moment, Lila considered brushing him off, retreating into the safety of professionalism. But something in Ethan's expression stopped her—the sincerity in his eyes, the unspoken plea for her to let him in.
"It's not that simple," she said finally, her voice softer now.
"Then explain it to me," Ethan said, his tone gentler.
Lila's gaze dropped to her hands, which were clenched tightly in her lap. "My father built this company from nothing," she began, her words measured. "He sacrificed everything to make it successful. And now it's on me to make sure his legacy doesn't fall apart. If I fail…" She trailed off, unable to finish the thought.
Ethan leaned back, his expression thoughtful. "I get that," he said after a moment. "I really do. But at what point does his legacy become more important than your own life?"
She looked up sharply, his question striking a nerve. "This isn't about me. It's about the company."
"It's about both," Ethan insisted. "And the way you're going, you're going to lose yourself in the process."
Lila's chest tightened, the truth of his words cutting deeper than she wanted to admit. "I don't have the luxury of thinking about myself right now," she said, her voice laced with bitterness.
Ethan's expression softened. "You deserve to, Lila. And you don't have to carry all of this alone. Let me help you."
Her breath caught, the vulnerability in his voice disarming her. For a fleeting moment, she considered the possibility of leaning on him—of sharing the burden that had consumed her for so long.
But then her father's voice echoed in her mind again: "Weakness has no place in business."
Lila shook her head, her resolve hardening. "I appreciate your concern, Ethan, but this is my path. I have to walk it alone."
Ethan studied her, disappointment flickering in his eyes. "Alright," he said finally, standing. "But you're not as alone as you think."
He left without another word, and the silence that followed was deafening.
---
The next day, Ethan's words lingered in Lila's mind as she navigated back-to-back meetings. Each interaction felt hollow, the weight of her responsibilities pressing heavier with every passing hour.
By the time she returned to her office that evening, she was emotionally and physically drained. She dropped into her chair, staring blankly at the stack of paperwork on her desk.
Her phone buzzed, pulling her from her stupor. She glanced at the screen, expecting another email from her father. Instead, it was a message from Ethan.
Ethan: "Just checking in. You good?"
Lila hesitated before replying.
Lila: "I'm fine. Thanks for asking."
The three dots indicating his reply appeared almost immediately.
Ethan: "You know, 'fine' is code for 'I'm falling apart but don't want to admit it.'"
Lila's lips curved into a faint smile despite herself.
Lila: "Is that so?"
Ethan: "Definitely. And for what it's worth, you don't have to pretend with me."
Her smile faded, his words striking a chord. She set the phone down without replying, unsure of how to respond.
---
That night, as she lay in bed, sleep eluded her. Her father's expectations and Ethan's words warred in her mind, leaving her restless.
For years, she had defined herself by her ability to rise above every challenge, to succeed despite the odds. But now, for the first time, she wondered if her relentless pursuit of perfection was worth the cost.
As she stared at the ceiling, a single thought surfaced: What if Ethan is right?
The idea terrified her.
But it also gave her hope.