As dawn broke, Ethan was still ensconced behind his desk, papers strewn about like fallen leaves in autumn. Oliver paused in the doorway, concerned, etching his features. "Boss, you haven't left this office for two days straight. You need to rest," he urged, his voice a blend of worry and admonishment.
Ethan lifted weary eyes, the weight of unspoken burdens glimmering there. "Rest is a luxury I can't afford right now," he replied, a tinge of desperation threading his words. "But coffee... coffee I can do. Would you mind?"
Oliver nodded, understanding more than Ethan said. "I'll get your coffee," he promised, leaving Ethan to his fortress of solitude and silent battles.
Meanwhile, Emily stood before the mirror, adjusting her attire with a determination that belied her inner turmoil. She descended the stairs to find her mother in the kitchen, worry creasing her brow. "Emily, do you even remember anything about the office? After your memory loss, you need to reacquaint yourself with everything," her mother cautioned, her voice laced with concern.
"I know, Mom. But I'm just going to gather some information," Emily reassured her, though her heart fluttered with uncertainty.
Stepping out into the crisp morning air, she found Tyler leaning against his car an offer of companionship in his eyes. "Let me come with you," he said gently.
Emily's patience frayed, frustration bubbling up. "I'm not an invalid, Tyler. I don't need constant supervision," she snapped, the sting of her recent hospital stay still fresh.
Tyler held her gaze, his expression softening.
"It's not about that. I'm heading that way too, and thought we could share the ride," he explained, his offer hanging between them like a fragile truce.
After a moment's hesitation, Emily's resolve softened. "Alright," she conceded, allowing a sliver of gratitude to seep through her defenses. Together, they set off towards the office, a silent accord forming with each mile.
Upon arrival, Emily offered Tyler a grateful nod before venturing into the towering edifice of Supreme Enterprise Conglomeration. Inside, Ethan was summoned to an impromptu meeting. "Oliver, hold down the fort. I've got to attend this meeting," Ethan instructed, a note of urgency in his voice.
As Ethan and Oliver made their way to the lobby, Ethan's stride faltered at the sight of Emily. His heart skipped a beat, and time seemed to stand still as he drank in her presence, her beauty rendering him momentarily spellbound.
Emily's gaze drifted towards Ethan, and in a crumbling. Oliver, puzzled by his boss's behavior, whispered urgently, "Boss, what are you doing? Everyone's starting to notice."
Ethan's senses snapped back to reality at Oliver's words. He rose sheepishly to find amused glances and suppressed chuckles directed at him from the staff. Clearing his throat, he stood tall and addressed the room with a sheepish smile.
"My apologies for the... unusual display," he said, his voice tinged with embarrassment but also an underlying warmth that softened the laughter into smiles of understanding.
Ethan, eager to escape the awkwardness, motioned Oliver to quicken their pace. But before they could disappear, Emily's hand gently rested on Ethan's shoulder, halting him in his tracks. He turned, a mix of fear and surprise flashing across his face. "What are you doing here?" he gasped, his breath catching.
"I came to find out about my job, the one I had before my accident," Emily explained, her voice a soft echo of her lost memories.
Ethan's frustration boiled over. "Why here? You could work anywhere else!" he snapped, the words laced with a bitterness he couldn't conceal.
"I want to be here, at this company. Now, can you tell me where I should go for my job?" Emily's resolve was unyielding.
Ethan's gaze faltered. "I'm not an employee director," he retorted, gesturing dismissively towards the inquiry counter.
As Emily turned to leave, Ethan's voice softened, a whisper laden with regret. "I knew you'd never leave this place behind," he murmured before striding away to his meeting.
Emily paused, Ethan's words echoing in her mind. How did he know her so well, better than her own boyfriend? With a heart full of questions, she approached the inquiry counter for answers.
At the inquiry counter, the receptionist peered at Emily curiously. "You're familiar with our new CEO, aren't you?" she inquired.
Emily's confusion surfaced. "What? How would I know?" she stammered, a sense of suspense creeping into her voice.
The receptionist leaned in, a conspiratorial glint in her eye. "Because he never engages with anyone like he did with you," she divulged, sparking curiosity in Emily's eyes.
As Emily processed this, the receptionist's tone shifted to one of concern. "We've been wondering about you. Did something bad happen?"
With urgency tinged with confusion, Emily asked, "Do you know me?"
The receptionist's laughter was light but carried a note of disbelief. "You talk as if you've lost your memory."
A pause hung in the air before Emily admitted softly, "Yes, I have forgotten my memories."
The revelation hung between them, a shared moment of vulnerability that bridged the gap of employee and visitor.
Ana's expression softened. "I'm Ana. Have you really forgotten me?" she asked, her voice a blend of surprise and sadness.
Emily nodded, her gesture conveying the vast emptiness of her lost memories.
With a compassionate grip, Ana took Emily's hand and led her to a secluded corner. "How did this happen?" she whispered, concern etching her features.
"My parents only told me about the accident,"
Emily confessed, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Ana, I need to work here. I have to relearn everything from scratch. And I suspect... someone from this company is behind my accident."
Ana's resolve hardened at Emily's words. "I'll help you," she declared, determination lighting her eyes. She slipped into the security room and returned with camera footage from the days Emily worked there, handing it over with a supportive nod.
"Let's find out the truth together," Ana said, standing firmly by Emily's side.
Grasping the recordings, Emily offered Ana a heartfelt thanks, her mind already racing with possibilities. As she turned to leave, Ana's voice halted her. "Have you thought about your boyfriend in all this?"
The question struck a chord, and Emily paused, a realization dawning. "This might be the perfect time to uncover the whole truth," she mused aloud.
Seizing Ana's hands with earnest intensity, Emily pleaded, "Please, tell me everything you know about my boyfriend."
Ana's eyes held sympathy as she replied, "You always seemed troubled by some family issues in your relationship before the accident. That's all I know."
With a new resolve, Emily left the company premises, the recordings in hand and a determination to piece together her work life and the mystery of her accident.
When Emily arrived home, her mother greeted her with a warm smile, "Welcome back, my dear. Is there anything you need?" Emily offered no reply; her mind was elsewhere, lost in a sea of unanswered questions. She retreated to the sanctuary of her room, where she found solace in the familiar hum of her office recordings. As she listened intently, searching for any hint of malice or discontent among her colleagues, she discovered an odd gap-a period where she had inexplicably left work for an extended time. The recordings revealed nothing more, leaving her with more questions than answers.
Feeling the weight of uncertainty, Emily realized that the only way to piece together the fragmented memories was to return to the place where it all began-the company. With a newfound resolve, she stepped out of her room and announced to her mother, "Mom, I'm ready to face the office again."
Her mother's eyes widened with fear at the declaration. "Can't you just leave it all behind?" she pleaded.
The concern in her mother's voice ignited a spark of frustration in Emily. "I can't," she snapped, pushing away the plate of food that now seemed so trivial. "I need to do this-for me."
The air hung heavy with unspoken words as Emily stormed out, leaving her mother standing in silent worry.
On the other hand, Ethan strode into the opulent lobby of the Pacific Hotel, his steps measured and purposeful. As he navigated through the sea of faces, he spotted his father, Johnathan, and the company chairman seated in a secluded corner With a respectful nod Ethan joined them, unaware of the life-altering conversation that awaited him.
Johnathan's voice was firm, yet there was an undercurrent of excitement as he broke the news. "We're here to discuss your future-your marriage."
The word 'marriage' hung in the air like a verdict. Ethan's heart skipped a beat, but before he could muster a response, his father continued with an authoritative tone that brooked no argument.
"Don't even think about outsmarting us on this. You have no say in the matter."
As Ethan grappled with a mix of shock and resignation, another businessman, Atonoy, approached with his daughter in tow. Johnathan's eyes gleamed with opportunism. "It's time our families united through our children's marriage."
Atonoy cast a glance at Ethan before turning to Johnathan. "Shouldn't we ask your son first?"
Johnathan's reply came swift and certain. "He wouldn't dare refuse. What about your daughter?"
Atonoy's response was laced with pride. "She has been ready since she laid eyes on his photograph."
Ethan sat there, a pawn in their grand plans, feeling a storm of emotions brewing within him-anger, helplessness, and an unexpected glimmer of curiosity about the woman who had agreed to this arrangement without ever meeting him.
The walls of the meeting room seemed to close in on Ethan, each breath becoming shallower than the last. A familiar dread crept up his spine as he stood abruptly, his voice barely concealing the panic. "I must leave now; I have another meeting. Please excuse me."
Without waiting for a response, Ethan hurried out, but the overwhelming pressure of expectations and his racing thoughts proved too much. His legs gave way, and he collapsed outside the room, succumbing to the panic attack that had been lurking in the shadows.
Oliver, ever the vigilant observer, rushed to Ethan's side. With swift action, he lifted Ethan into his arms and whisked him away to the hospital.
As consciousness returned to Ethan, he was greeted by the sterile white of a hospital room. Confusion and urgency collided within him as he exclaimed, "Where am I?" In a desperate bid for escape, he began to pull at the tubes tethered to his veins.
Oliver appeared at his bedside, a somber look etched on his face. "The meeting was postponed," he said gently. "You need to rest."
Ethan's eyes reflected a tumult of emotions-fear, frustration, and a deep-seated
sadness-as he lay back down on the bed, the weight of his world pressing down on him once more.