"Where's Hadley? Has anyone seen Hadley?"

Emir Holmes was swiftly moving through the office when Eloise Cunningham mentioned, "Wasn't she supposed to pick someone up at the airport?"

Unfazed by the chaos around, Emir instructed the nearby assistant, Ding, "Ding, try to reach Hadley and ask her to get back to the office immediately. Eloise, grab the TY design plans and come with me to the Ritz-Carlton."

Eloise sensed the urgency and hurried after him, choosing to stay silent. Emir, with critical members of the design team in tow, exited the office in a hurry.

Meanwhile, Hadley anxiously scanned the crowds at Heathrow Airport, prominently holding a noticeable sign, yet no one approached her. The 3:30 PM flight's boarding gate had already closed.

Frustrated, Hadley glanced at her watch. It was past four o'clock, and the supposed client from Manchester was nowhere in sight. In anger, she tossed the sign into a trash bin and left the airport, heels clicking as she walked.

Back at the company, colleagues whispered among themselves. Some speculated that the new secretary might have decided to leave on her own. Just then, a visibly irritated Hadley entered the office.

Eloise, arms crossed and appearing formidable, approached Hadley first. "Hadley, do you think you're here to slack off every day? The company pays you to work, not to mess things up. Even the janitor does a better job than you!"

"Could you at least get your facts straight before blaming someone, Eloise?" Hadley retorted, her own frustration rising. She had never received a friendly greeting from Eloise, and now this unwarranted scolding was too much.

"You messed up and still have the nerve to shout? Do you realize the trouble you've caused the company by not picking up the Manchester client? Where's your sense of responsibility as the manager's secretary?"

"I lack responsibility?" Hadley shot back indignantly. "I waited at Heathrow from 1 PM to 4 PM, even for the second flight from Manchester. Yet, I never saw this so-called client. You tell me, how's that irresponsible?"

Eloise's voice turned icy, "The client arrived at Gatwick, not Heathrow. Who told you to be so 'clever' and go to the wrong airport? Did you even engage your brain at work today?"

Hadley was momentarily taken aback, her sharp gaze fixed on Eloise as the truth dawned on her. Reining in her anger, she walked to her desk and opened the file Eloise had given her. Indeed, the destination clearly stated 'Gatwick,' but Hadley knew the handwriting wasn’t the same for that particular entry.

Eloise seemed satisfied with Hadley's expression, "So, Secretary Marshall, do you have anything else to say?"

"I don't want to argue with you. I'm going to speak with Emir," Hadley said, realizing a verbal spat with Eloise was futile, and headed toward the manager's office. Eloise attempted to block her, "Emir is busy cleaning up your mess. You'd better not disturb him."

"Let go, Eloise!" Hadley demanded, breaking free from her grip, and stormed into the manager's office without knocking, slamming the door shut behind her.

Emir was on the phone, speaking quietly, "Yes, I'll address the project issues. We'll discuss the timeline with the relevant departments. Please, as a long-time client, don’t let this incident affect our relationship. We aim for a pleasant collaboration."

Hadley, surprisingly composed, faced Emir as he hung up and looked at her intently, waiting for her to speak.

"Emir, I want to know how much loss this failure to meet the Manchester client has caused the company."

Emir replied coolly, "Are you planning to resign over this?"

Taking a deep breath, Hadley stepped forward, "When I received the notice from Eloise, the document clearly stated that the pickup was at 'Heathrow.' I can't offer proof to back my story, but if it’s my mistake, I'll own it. However, if I’m not at fault, I won’t resign quietly."

"Are you finished?" Emir leaned back in his chair, hands interlaced. "Let me say this: I can’t take your word for it, but I won’t fire you either. The incident has occurred; I’ll handle it. If you wish to make amends, focus on doing your job well."

With Emir's firm stance, what more could Hadley say? She lowered her head slightly, "Yes, Manager."

"When colleagues tried calling you in the afternoon, why was your phone unreachable?"

Hadley answered honestly, "I lost my phone, got a new one, and forgot to update everyone about the number."

Emir extended his hand, "Let me have a look at your phone."

As Emir dialed his number from Hadley's phone, his previously amiable expression darkened upon seeing Coleson Reynolds' name listed prominently as the first contact. The simplicity of the name sparked a hint of annoyance in Emir.

"Here you go," Emir handed the phone back, dispelling further thoughts, "There's nothing else. It's about time; you can leave for the day."

"Yes," Hadley nodded, exhaled, and left the manager’s office.

Gathering her things, Hadley was making her way out of the building when a confident Eloise bumped shoulders with her, casting a disdainful glance before striding away in her heels as if she’d just handled something unpleasant.

Maintaining her composure and muttering to herself, Hadley said, "Don't stoop to her level. It's like being bitten by a dog; you don’t bite back."

Still seething, she walked briskly until her heel got caught in a storm drain.

"Ouch!" The snap of her heel sent her tumbling to the ground. With her patience exhausted, she yanked off the broken heel and cursed at it, "Stupid storm drain! Stupid shoe! Are you both just trying to make me miserable today? Think I'm easy to bully, do you? See how you like this!" And with that, she flung the shoe behind her in frustration.

"Ouch—" came a voice from behind.

Startled, Hadley spun around to see who she'd hit, her eyes widening in surprise.

Coleson was rubbing his head, the culprit—a high heel—lying at his feet. Bending down to pick it up, he approached Hadley, "Really, Hadley? Littering like this isn’t very eco-friendly," he teased.

Hadley snatched the shoe back, countering firmly, "Give it back. Who said it was trash?"

Hadley Marshall slipped on her shoes and immediately noticed that one heel was higher than the other, causing her to stumble sideways right into Coleson Reynolds' shoulder. Coleson remained calm and reached out to steady her.

Flustered by his touch, Hadley quickly regained her footing and pushed him away. "Can you just stay away from me? It's like bad luck follows you everywhere."

Coleson, confused, replied, "But I was the one who got hit earlier. Seems like I'm the unlucky one to have bumped into you."

"Then maybe keeping your distance would be wise," Hadley retorted, grabbing her bag from the ground and heading for the bus.

Coleson watched her hobble down the street, her broken heel making her walk awkwardly. Feeling a pang of sympathy, he quickly caught up with her, gently reaching for her hand.

"What are you doing?" Hadley asked, surprised.

"You look miserable trying to walk like that. I can't just stand by and watch, regardless of what anyone thinks," Coleson stated firmly.

Without waiting for her to argue, he led her to his car. Before she knew it, Hadley was settled into the passenger seat. As they drove, she kept a cautious eye on Coleson, remembering his penchant for speed. "You know, if you weren't breaking the speed limit, we'd get to the hospital a lot quicker," she mumbled.

As they sped down the highway, weaving through traffic, Hadley's heart pounded with anxiety.

"I don't need a hospital! Just drop me off at a nearby drugstore," she insisted, struggling with the overwhelming tension.

"It's too late to turn back now; the hospital is the nearest stop," Coleson replied.

With her head swirling and the wind buffeting her hair through the open window, Hadley felt nauseous. "Pull over! Now!" she cried, covering her mouth.

Sensing urgency, Coleson swiftly maneuvered to the side of the road. Hadley rushed out, bending over the barrier as nausea overtook her.

Coleson fetched some tissues from the car, feeling a pang of guilt. He hadn't considered that Hadley might not be well.

After she was finished, Hadley accepted the tissues, her voice filled with irritation. "I must be crazy to get into a car with you."

"It wasn't intentional," Coleson explained.

"Sure, that's what they all say," Hadley muttered.

Before he could respond further, a traffic officer approached, having seen the car pulled over illegally. He gave Coleson a stern look before starting to write a ticket. "You can't stop on the highway like this."

Coleson took the ticket with a smirk. "Think of this as a minor inconvenience. Now, let's get back in the car. I'll take you to the hospital."

Seeing Hadley shiver slightly, Coleson rolled his eyes and added, "I'll drive slower, I promise."

Once back in the car, Hadley's discomfort grew, her head heavy and her energy waning. Coleson slowed down, allowing Hadley to drift into sleep.

When Hadley woke, she felt a cool damp sensation on her hand, followed by a sharp sting that made her flinch. She opened her eyes to see a nurse inserting an IV into her arm. Her pupils widened with panic. "I don't want an injection!"

The nurse secured the IV with tape and smiled reassuringly, "It's already done. You'll feel much better after this."

Only then did Hadley realize she was lying in a hospital recliner. She glared at Coleson, who stood by with his arms crossed. "Coleson, I told you I only needed some medication."

Coleson was unperturbed. "Look at yourself. We're here, you might as well make use of it. Plus, the IV works quicker."

The nurse chimed in gently, "You've got more than just a fever; your blood sugar is low. You really need the IV."

After the nurse tidied up the medical equipment and left, Hadley Marshall glared at Coleson Reynolds. “Why didn’t you wake me up when we got to the hospital? How did I end up here?”

Coleson shrugged, “I tried waking you, but you wouldn’t budge. Honestly, I thought you were out cold. It wasn't until we got here that I found out you had low blood sugar.”

“Just my luck. I haven’t had any symptoms in months, and since meeting you, everything’s been going downhill.”

Acknowledging his part in the situation, Coleson nodded, “Alright, alright, it's my fault. I owe you a meal to make it up.”

Just then, Coleson's phone rang. As he answered, he glanced over at Hadley. When he hung up, Hadley asked softly, “Are you leaving?”

Coleson, hands in his pockets, replied, “I've got something to take care of, but if you want me to stay, I can.”

Hadley turned her head and scoffed, “No need.”

“You said it, not me. I’ll head out then.” He responded awkwardly, but paused before leaving, “Once your IV is done, give me a call, and I’ll drive you home.”

“Alright, go on.” Hadley adjusted the thin blanket around her and settled into a more comfortable position.

Once Coleson left, a chill settled over Hadley. She disliked hospitals, especially being alone on IV. With half the drip still to go, she fished out her phone and called Eloise.

“Hey, Eloise, what are you up to?”

“Just finished my concert, resting in the dressing room.”

Biting her lip, Hadley hesitated before speaking, “I have something to tell you…”

“Go ahead, I’m listening,” Eloise replied calmly, as if she already anticipated the conversation.

Taking a breath, Hadley continued, “Actually, I know Jay Hunter. We went to the same university. As your friend, I wanted to let you know, he... he might not be as perfect as he seems.”

On the other end, silence lingered briefly before Eloise spoke slowly, “Jay has been honest with me. I know you’re his ex. What I want to say is, everyone has a past, and while I can’t be certain Jay and I are meant to be, I believe in giving it a shot. We can’t control each other’s pasts, but I feel something worth exploring with Jay, so I want to give it a chance.”

Eloise’s words were heartfelt, and they comforted Hadley. “The knot in my chest is finally loosening. Since I met you, I've been burdened by this. If I didn’t tell you, I worried you might get hurt and I’d feel guilty. But I wasn’t sure how to bring it up.”

“Hadley, I appreciate your honesty, truly. It shows how much our friendship means to you.”

Playfully, Hadley added, “Or maybe I just hold a grudge against Jay and wanted to make him squirm.”

Eloise laughed, “You’re not that kind of person, I know. Besides, you were the one who broke up with him. You don’t get to play the victim.”

Surprised, Hadley asked, “He told you that too?”

“Yeah.”

Realizing she had misjudged Jay, Hadley sincerely wished her friend well, “Eloise, I hope everything works out beautifully for you.”

“It’s something I need to work on, just like you do. How’s it going with Emir?”

“Oh, don’t start that now.” Hadley muttered into the phone as a nurse quietly entered, checked the IV, and tapped the line.

With the nurse about to remove the needle, Hadley quickly said goodbye to Eloise, ending the call with a wince of apprehension. It wasn’t as painful as she’d imagined, and even the nurse chuckled at her expression. No wonder Coleson had laughed earlier. Hadley touched her face, wondering if it was really that amusing.

Exiting the hospital with a cotton swab pressed to her hand, she looked around for a cab but saw none. Running a hand through her hair, she couldn’t help but grumble, “Coleson really brought me all the way out here and just left…”

As if sensing her predicament, Coleson’s call came through.

Upon answering, his casual voice filled her ear, “Finished with the IV? Feeling better?”

“It was just a minor thing, but sitting in the hospital made it seem worse. You shouldn’t have brought me here. Now I have to find a cab home, and there’s not a single one in sight.”

“You stubborn woman. Didn’t we agree you’d call me after the IV so I could drive you? Why bother with a cab? Where are you?”

“Where do you think? Standing at the hospital entrance.”

“Hang tight, I’ll be there in two minutes.”

Not even two minutes later, Coleson’s car pulled up beside Hadley.

“Hop in.”

She hesitated, “You drive too fast. I’d rather wait for a cab.”

“Don’t be difficult. Just get in.” Coleson’s authoritative tone softened when he saw Hadley standing firm, “Fine, I’ll drive slower. I don’t want to have to turn around and bring you back here.”

Only then did Hadley step toward the passenger seat.

Coleson, not used to driving at such a leisurely pace, felt the impatience creeping in.

Hadley broke the silence, “It's not just you on these roads; you need to go with the flow. Being reckless isn’t worth it.”

Coleson scoffed, “In my car, it’s perfectly safe. Are you trying to spend more time with me?”

She rolled her eyes at his arrogance and turned to look out the window, ignoring his comment.

Passing by a bustling restaurant area, the aromas hit her hard and her stomach growled. Having only nibbled on breakfast and then been unwell, she hadn’t eaten a proper meal all day.

Noticing her distracted gaze, Coleson abruptly changed lanes.

“Hey, that’s the wrong direction.” Hadley pointed out.

“I know.” He eyed the shopfronts and added, “I owe you a meal, and I don’t want to forget. Let’s fix that now and grab something to eat.”

Her stomach agreeing, Hadley nodded without protest.