A HECTIC DAY

OLIVIA'S POV

I woke up to the soft, familiar sound of the city. The distant hum of traffic, the muffled chatter of pedestrians below, and a faint beeping of my alarm clock, my constant reminder that another day was starting, and I had to face it, whether I was ready or not.

I pushed the covers aside and rubbed the sleep from my eyes. The room. dimly lit by the early morning light, seeping in through the curtain. I turned my head to see Lily, my five Years daughter still asleep On the side of the bed, her delicate face was partially hidden under the blanket, her breathing shallow but steady, seeing her look this way always tugged at my heart, She looked So Peaceful, yet I knew the battle she fought daily.

Quietly, I slipped Out of bed and Padded to the kitchenette. I started making breakfast, Oatmeal, the same every morning. As I stirred the pot. I couldn't help but d think of how different our lives had become since Lily's diagnosis.

I glanced at the clock. I had to hurry if I was going to get to work on time. Dawson Pierce, my boss, Wasn't exactly the forgiving type when it came to tardiness, and I couldn't afford to lose this job. Not when such was at stake.

I walked over to Lily and gently nudged her shoulder. "Hey, Sleepyhead,” I Whispered. "Time to wake up my love,”

She stirred, her eyes fluttering Open, a sleepy Smile Spreading across her face when she saw me. "Morning Mommy,” she mumbled, her voice thick with sleep.

“Good morning, sweetie,” I said, brushing a strand of hair from her face, “time to get up; you need to eat your breakfast and get ready for school.”

She nodded slowly sitting up. I handed her a small bowl of oatmeal, and she ate quietly while I prepared her clothes, watching her I felt a familiar pang of guilt; I wished I could give her more than oatmeal for breakfast, more than a life where she had to see her mother struggling every day.

Once she was dressed, I hurried to get ready myself. I pulled my hair back into a neat bun and checked my reflection in the mirror, professional and composed. I took a deep breath, grabbed my bag, and turned to Lily. “Ready to go, honey?”

She nodded, her little hand slipping into mine. “Ready, Mommy.”

The Pierce Enterprises building loomed over me as I approached, its sleek glass exterior reflecting the morning sun. I walked through the revolving doors and into the bustling lobby, where people moved with purpose, their footsteps echoing off the marble floors. Everyone here had a place to be, something to prove. Including me.

I led Lily to the small daycare on the second floor, where she would spend the day while I worked. I knelt to her level, smoothing out a wrinkle in her dress. “Be good, okay? I’ll be back before you know it.”

She nodded, her big blue eyes looking up at me with trust and innocence. “I’ll be good, Mommy. I promise.”

I kissed her forehead, feeling the familiar ache in my chest as I left her there. I hated leaving her, but what choice did I have? I had to work, had to keep this job for her sake.

I made my way into the elevation, offering polite smiles to the Familiar faces I passed. The door slid open, and I stepped inside, Pressing the button for the top floor. The ride Felt longer than usual, my mind racing with the thought of Lily and the ever-mounting medical bills. I pushed these thoughts aside as the door opened. I had to focus.

My desk was Just outside my boss's office. I settled in quickly, booting up my Computer and Sorting through the stack of files that had appeared overnight. There was always so much to do, but I thrived on the Chaos; it kept my mind occupied and kept me from thinking too much about everything else.

As I worked, I couldn't help but overhear Snippets of Conversations around me, “The boss is in one of his moods today!" One colleague whispered to another. "Betta Steer clear”

I sighed inwardly. Dawson Pierce was always in a mood, it was a matter of how bad it would be.

The sound of heavy Footsteps approached, and I looked up to see Dawson himself Striding toward me. Tall, with a commanding Presence, he looked every bit the powerful billionaire he was rumored to be. His dark hair was perfectly styled, his Sharp blue eyes Scanning the office with a critical gaze. Today, his expression was more severe than usual.

"Morning Mr. Pierce", I said, Standing up from my desk “I have your schedule for the day ready,”

"Good" he replied curtly. "I need a rundown Olivia"

I nodded, flipping through my notepad, “You have a meeting with the board at 10, a call With the New York office at 11:30, and lunch with Mr. Reynolds from the Lanning Group at 1. The afternoon is reserved for the contract review with...”

My phone rang, Interrupting my flow. I glanced at the Caller ID and Saw it was the hospital. My heart skipped a beat. "Excuse me for a moment,” ai said to Dawson, and he gave a curt nod.

"Hello?" I answered, keeping my voice low

"Ms. Cadell, This is Nurse Carter from St. Mary's; we need to discuss your slaughter treatment Options…"

I listened intently, my heart Sinking with each Word: more tests, more treatment, more expenses. I felt a lump form in my throat, but I stayed Calm. "I understand!" I said softly. "Thank You for letting me know"

Lily was diagnosed with a condition called aplastic anemia, which required a lot of money to be treated, I've been applying for an advance that kept being rejected.

I hunged up and turned back to Dawson, who was watching me with an inscrutable expression. “Is everything alright?" he asked, his tone surprisingly gentle.

"Yes Sir," I replied quickly “Just a personal matter,”

He studied me for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly. "If You need to take care of something, make sure it doesn't interfere with your work!" he said,

finally turning on his heel and heading into his office.

"Of course, Mr. Pierce,” I murmured, watching him go. There was a Flicker of something In his eyes just now, Concern, maybe? But Just as quickly it was gone, replaced by his usual aloofness.

The rest of the morning passed into a blur. A crisis erupted with one of our major clients threatening to pull out of a deal. The office was thrown into a Frenzy; I moved quickly, navigating the chaos, making Calls, and Coordinating with the legal team to find a solution. Dawson was in and out of Meetings, barking orders and demanding updates, I could see the tension in his posture, the frustration Simmering beneath the Surface. He was a man used to control and this Situation was slipping from his grasp.

The Clocks Struck 1 pm, and I watched Dawson leave for his Lunch meeting with Mr. Reynolds; I took the opportunity to step away from my desk, heading to the break room to grab a quick bite. My Stomach growled in protest, I forced myself to swallow a few bites of granola bar, my mind racing with the thought Of what I could do to get the money needed for Lily's treatment.

Just as the afternoon began to wind down, the tension in the office remained palpable. The crisis with the client seemed to be under control, but everyone still moved with an air of caution, their voices hushed as they worked. I returned to my desk, trying to focus on my tasks, but my thoughts kept drifting back to Lily and the phone call from the hospital. I needed to find a way to cover her medical expenses, but how? My salary as a secretary barely stretched far enough as it was. I knew Lily needed more than I could Currently provide, and the thought was like a knife twisting in my chest. I had to find a way to get the money, There was no Other Option.

Just as I was about to start drafting an email, I noticed two of my colleagues, Jenna and Mark, huddled near the water cooler. Their heads were bent close together, and they were speaking in low, excited tones. Normally, I wouldn’t pay much attention to office gossip, but something about their conversation caught my ear.

“...I heard it’s with that tech firm, you know, the one that just got a massive round of funding,” Jenna was saying, her eyes wide with excitement.

Mark nodded, glancing around to make sure no one else was listening. “Yeah, if Dawson pulls this off, it could mean millions—maybe even billions. The company’s stock would skyrocket..”

I felt a jolt of interest. Millions? Billions? That was more money than I could ever dream of. A deal like that would not only cement Dawson’s reputation as a top CEO but also secure the future of Pierce Enterprises for years to come.

Jenna continued, her voice a whisper. “But it’s risky. The board isn’t fully on board yet, and there’s a lot of competition. Dawson’s going to have to pull out all the stops.”

Mark chuckled softly. “When has Dawson Pierce ever backed down from a challenge? If anyone can close a deal like this, it’s him. But I heard he’s bringing in some heavy hitters for the negotiations. He’s not taking any chances.”

I pretended to be engrossed in my computer screen, but my mind was racing. If this deal was as big as they were making it sound, it could change everything. Not just for the company, but for me as well. Maybe..just maybe..if I could somehow prove myself and show Dawson that I was more than just a secretary, I could secure a better position. A raise. Something to help with Lily’s bills.

Tomorrow will be a new day, with new opportunities. And I was ready.