Chapter 32

Lewis looked exhausted, his usually sharp demeanor dulled by the cold that seemed to be taking hold of him. He was clearly struggling, and it struck Lily that he was just a person like everyone else, dealing with his own challenges. Despite their past interactions, where tension often simmered beneath the surface, she felt a flicker of compassion. She didn’t particularly like him, but she was human, and kindness was a part of her nature.

She hesitated, not wanting to interrupt him, but also feeling compelled to offer some support. As she stood there, she noticed how he rubbed his eyes, his frustration evident as he tried to juggle the demands of his role with the discomfort of his illness.

After a moment, Lewis ended the call, letting out a weary sigh as he set his phone down on the desk. He remained facing the window, his posture tense. Lily stepped closer, not wanting to startle him. “Mr. Evans,” she said softly, her tone more gentle than usual. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

He turned slightly, still facing away from her. “Ms. Everhart,” he replied, his voice hoarse. “I didn’t expect you.”

“I came to talk about what you said in the meeting,” she said, her empathy growing. “It sounds like you could use a break.”

He chuckled lightly, though it quickly turned into a cough. “A break would be nice, but there’s too much at stake right now.”

Lily moved to stand beside him, glancing out at the view he had been staring at. “You’re not going to help anyone if you’re running on empty. Have you eaten today?”

Lewis shook his head, a hint of vulnerability creeping into his posture. “Not really. Just trying to get through the day.”

“Maybe you should take a moment to rest,” she suggested, surprising herself with her concern. “I can grab you something to eat if you’d like.”

He turned slightly to look at her, surprise flickering in his eyes. “You don’t have to do that.”

“I know, but I want to,” she insisted, her voice firm yet gentle. “You can’t lead effectively if you’re not taking care of yourself.”

He paused, the tension in his shoulders tightening even further. “Why do you care, Ms. Everhart? You don’t like me. I once again come back to your life, and here I am, just another burden.”

Lily felt a pang in her chest at his words. She took a breath, considering her response. “It’s not about liking you or not. It’s about being human. We all have our struggles, and I can see you’re going through a tough time. It doesn’t matter what’s happened between us; I can’t just stand by and watch someone suffer.”

Lewis turned fully to face her, his expression a mix of surprise and vulnerability. “You really mean that?”

“Of course,” she replied, her sincerity shining through. “We’re all part of this team, and if you’re not well, it affects everyone. I may not agree with everything you do, but I can still care about your well-being.”

He studied her for a moment, the defenses he usually kept up beginning to crumble. “I appreciate that, Lily. I really do. It’s just hard for me to accept help.”

“Then let me help you this once,” she urged. “It’s okay to take a step back. You deserve it.”

“No, thank you, Ms. Everhart,” he firmly replied, turning again toward the window.

Lily felt a surge of frustration rise within her. She had seen enough of this stubbornness. Determined to break through his walls, she walked toward him and gently but firmly turned him around to face her. “Mr. Lewis Evans, listen to me,” she said, her voice steady and assertive. “We are going for lunch, and that too right now. And you are coming with me.”

Lewis was taken aback, shock flickering across his face as he processed her words. For a moment, he stood there, speechless, his mind racing. Then, a small smile spread across his lips, the corners of his mouth lifting in surprise at her boldness.

“Are you serious?” he asked, a hint of amusement breaking through his initial shock.

“Absolutely,” she replied, her expression softening slightly. “You need this. You can’t keep pushing yourself like this.”

After a brief pause, he chuckled, the tension easing from his shoulders. “Alright, I suppose I can spare an hour for lunch.”

“Good,” she said, relief flooding her voice as she turned to walk away, throwing a glance over her shoulder to ensure he was following. “Let’s go before you change your mind.”

Lewis shook his head, still smiling, and followed her out of the office. As they walked side by side, he felt a warmth in his chest that he hadn’t expected.

As they stepped into the elevator, the doors slid shut, leaving them in the confined space alone. The hum of the machinery filled the silence, and Lily felt a strange mix of anticipation and nervousness. Just as the elevator began to ascend, it stopped on another floor, and a group of people entered, filling the small cabin to capacity.

Lily found herself pressed against the back wall, the crowd surrounding her. She glanced up at Lewis, who was standing just behind her. Being shorter, she barely reached his chest, and now, with people jostling around them, she felt increasingly claustrophobic. The close quarters made it hard to breathe, and she shifted uncomfortably, trying to find her balance.

As the elevator continued to ascend, the warmth of the crowd became stifling. Lily's heart raced, and she felt a sneeze building. She tried to suppress it, but the tickle in her nose grew unbearable. “Oh no,” she thought, panic rising as she realized there was no escaping it.

Before she could react, she let out a loud, unexpected sneeze—“ACHOO!”—and in a comical twist of fate, the force sent a spray of droplets onto Lewis’s crisp white shirt.

Wide-eyed in shock, Lily froze, her face turning crimson. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry!” she exclaimed, mortified. She quickly stepped back, her embarrassment palpable as she tried to wipe away the evidence of her sneeze with her sleeve, only making things worse.

Lewis blinked down at his shirt, then back at her, a mix of surprise and amusement dancing in his eyes. “Well, that’s one way to break the ice,” he said, trying to hide his laughter.

“I didn’t mean to! I swear!” she stammered, her cheeks burning. “This is so embarrassing!”

The people around them shifted uncomfortably, some trying to stifle their laughter, while others exchanged amused glances. The tension in the elevator lightened as a few chuckles broke out.

“Hey, it’s just a shirt,” Lewis said, his smile widening. “I’ve had worse things happen to me. At least you didn’t sneeze on my tie.”

Lily covered her face with her hands, shaking her head in disbelief. “I can’t believe this happened. I’m so sorry!”

“It’s okay,” he replied, his tone playful. “Just think of it as a bonding experience. We’ll always remember our first elevator ride together.”

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