CHAPTER TWO: LEUKEMIA

SAVANNAH'S POV

"I'm afraid that your daughter has leukemia Mrs Andrews" As soon as the doctor relayed this shocking news, my mouth dropped and my eyes widened.

"My daughter has leu...leukemia?" I struggled to speak, it was as if the air had left my lungs. The doctor's words hit me like a force.

My daughter, whom I had to struggle to birth and raise alone, had a terminal illness. It felt like the ground had been pulled from beneath me. This wasn't part of the plan I had made years ago when I decided to have her.

"Mrs Andrews"

My precious baby, I remember the first day she came into this world, a tiny bundle of hope and dreams. I vividly recalled the long hours of labor, the excruciating pain, and the overwhelming relief when the midwife finally placed her delicate body in my arms.

"Mrs Andrews, can you hear me?"

I fought so much and worked so hard to settle the mounting hospital bills, taking on extra jobs just to put food on the table for my daughter despite being postpartum. Every ounce of my being was dedicated to her well-being, yet now she was struck by this cruel illness.

Doubt rained on me, and I couldn't help but wonder where I had gone wrong. "Mrs Andrews, are you okay?" I snapped out of my thoughts and stared at the doctor

"You are sweating profusely," He said and handed me a tissue. I wiped my face and then stared at him. "What can I do? how much am I going to spend on drugs for her?" I asked

He sighed as he stared at me with such sad eyes. "I'm sorry but there's not much drugs can do at this moment"

"Then what do I do?" I asked

"Your daughter needs to have two emergency surgeries Mrs Andrews" He finally said

"Two?" I asked and he nodded again.

"Her case is a little different from the ones I have seen so I would need to call in other medical experts, after checking your daughter's chart, the necessary calculations will be made and you will be called upon but now, you need to start getting ready to play your part to save her life" The doctor explained

"I understand, thank you". I left the hospital dumbfounded as the doctor's words played in my head over and over again. How was I going to play my part when I didn't even have a source of income at the moment? That was the question I asked myself repeatedly till I got home.

*****

A few days later after the doctor's appointment, I landed an interview at a prestigious bank. The salary offered for the job was very attractive so I decided to apply for the post of a personal assistant.

As I rushed through the bustling city streets of New York. With each hurried step, I could not shake off the weight of struggle that had defined my life for the past three years.

I have to get this job, only then would I finally escape the memories of the hospital visits, sleepless nights, and the unyielding fear of losing my precious baby.

Whilst I made my way to the place of the interview, my chest felt tight and constricted but I told myself that everything would be fine. When I finally arrived, I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. I walked over to one of the chairs and sat down.

The sound of traffic outside was muffled by the thick glass. Despite my initial nerves, I was brimming with excitement at the prospect of being assessed for a potentially life-changing opportunity. I took another deep breath, feeling my heart rate slow down a bit, and waited for my name to be called.

Just then, a friendly voice broke the silence beside me. It was a woman with a warm smile who seemed to be in her early thirties. Her eyes sparkled with delight like she was happy to be here. "Hey, young lady! Are you here for the interview?" She asked with enthusiasm, trying to strike up a conversation with me.

I sheepishly nodded "Yes…yes, I am." She extended her hand for a handshake and I took it. "I’m Sarah." She said and I smiled at her. Maybe it was because she had the same name as my daughter but I warmed up to her.

"Nice to meet you, Sarah. I’m Savannah"

"Are you also here for the position of a secretary?" Sarah asked to confirm and I nodded my head in refusal. "I am here for the position of a personal assistant" At least we weren't interviewing for the same position so I didn't need to make her an enemy.

She nodded, "I heard that the CEO of Elysian Bank is not only a powerful and influential figure, but also possesses a captivating physique,"

"I don't know anything about him" I sincerely said, I was too occupied with getting a job than doing a background check on the CEO.

"He is a young man with a well-toned and mature body that makes him even more attractive. With his buzzed platinum-blonde hair and mesmerizing black eyes, he exudes an irresistible charm," another lady chimed in, It was as if everyone here wanted this job so they could spend all day staring at this so-called handsome CEO.

"Whenever he wears a suit, he exudes confidence and poise effortlessly. I remember applying for the position of personal assistant and never expected that such a young man would be the owner of such a prestigious financial institution," yet another lady added, her face turning red.

"He's a sight to behold," Sarah finally finished with a smile before she beckoned for me to move closer to her and I did, "They say the CEO is not only attractive but also quite strict. It's going to be an interesting interview, that's for sure." She whispered

"I guess we’ll find out soon enough." As we waited for one of us to be called in, Sarah and I engaged in a friendly conversation that helped to distract me from my worries.

Her buoyant personality and infectious optimism brought a temporary sense of levity to the atmosphere. We shared stories and bonded over our discussion. Just then, my name echoed through the room, indicating that it was my turn, I swiftly rose from my seat and straightened my outfit, which had a few creases.

With a hopeful smile, I glanced at Sarah and uttered, "Wish me good luck!" before making my way towards the office.

I entered the room, and my eyes scanned the space, taking in the details of the environment. My heart dropped and my smile disappeared when my gaze landed on the figure behind the desk.

There he was...Levi Carson