Stressed

Ivan looked up from his file and froze, a page slipped off his finger tips. For a second, it looked like he was waiting for her to move.

To push herself up like she always did, but she didn’t.

“Sofia,” he called quietly, dropping the file on the table. “Get up.”

She didn't move.

“If this is a prank," he continued, striding towards her slowly. “It's going to earn you a suspension." 

When she still did not move, that was when he knew she wasn't joking around.

In three steps he crossed the room and stopped beside her and looked down.

She was completely still, not the kind of stillness that came with rest.

This was different.

He crouched, his hand reached out and tapped her shoulder once.

“Mrs Ravelle." 

She still did not move, not a bit.

His fingers moved to her wrist, he felt her pulse and discovered it was weak. Too weak.

His expression did not change much, but panic blazed in his eyes.

He straightened immediately.

“Hannah,” he called out, his deep voice echoed through the silence of the mansion.

Before the echo of his voice could fade out, a staff member appeared at the door.

“Sir?” Hannah responded, but her jaw fell open when her eyes darted to Valeria on the floor.

“She’s unconscious,” Ivan said. “Call the doctor.”

“Ye…yes, sir.”

“And get the car ready.”

Hannah nodded and rushed off.

Ivan looked back down at Valeria, who still hadn’t moved.

For a brief second, he remained where he was, then bent down again and lifted her carefully.

Her body was limp in his arms, her head fell slightly against his shoulder. He adjusted his hold without thinking, making sure she didn’t slip, then he walked out of the room.

His footsteps echoed in the quiet hallway, staff members moved out of his way immediately as he passed.

No one spoke, no one asked questions.

They could see enough.

Outside, the car was already waiting, with the door open before he got there.

He placed her inside, supporting her head briefly before letting her rest against the seat.  A staff member got in beside her.

“Watch her,” Ivan said.

“Yes, sir.”

He stepped into the front seat.

“Drive,” he ordered.

The car moved immediately.

The drive to the hospital was fast, but not reckless. It was urgent.

Inside the car, Valeria didn’t move.

Her breathing was uneven, and shallow.

The staff member beside her kept watching closely, adjusting her position slightly.

“Sir…” he said carefully after a moment.

Ivan didn’t turn. “What?”

“She’s not responding.”

There was a brief silence, Ivan’s gaze remained fixed ahead.

“Keep watching her.”

“Yes, sir.”

By the time they arrived, hospital staff were already at the entrance.

A stretcher was brought out quickly, and they transferred her without delay.

“Step aside, sir,” one of the nurses said.

Ivan stepped back, barely.

His eyes followed her as they wheeled her inside, the doors opened, then closed. And she was gone from sight.

The waiting area was bright, but quiet and cold.

Ivan stood still for a moment, then moved slightly to the side.

His hands slipped into his pockets, his posture was composed like always, but his gaze remained fixed on the closed doors.

Time passed, and no one said anything, no one approached him, the staff around him only kept their distance.

The doors opened briefly and a nurse walked out, spoke quietly to someone at the desk, then went back in.

She didn't give Ivan any information, not even a glance. Ivan’s jaw tightened slightly.

More time passed, and he still didn’t sit, didn’t check his phone, ddn’t move much.  He just stood and watched

Eventually, the doors opened again.

This time, the doctor stepped out.

Ivan turned immediately.

“What’s her condition?” he asked.

“She’s still unconscious,” the doctor replied.

Ivan’s expression remained unchanged.

“What caused it?”

The doctor exhaled slightly.

“Severe exhaustion,” he said. “But that’s not all.”

Ivan said nothing, he waited and allowed the doctor to continue.

“She hasn’t eaten properly,” the doctor continued. “Her blood sugar level is very low, combined with stress and overexertion, her body couldn’t keep up.”

Silence fell between them,  Ivan’s gaze hardened slightly.

“She should have taken a break,” the doctor added. “Or at least eaten something.”

Ivan still didn't respond, then…

“She didn’t say anything,” Ivan said.

The doctor looked at him.

“That doesn’t mean the signs weren’t there.”

There was another brief silence.

From inside, a machine let out a sharp sound. Not so loud, but enough for it to echoed into the waiting area where Ivan stood with the doctor.

The doctor turned immediately.

“Excuse me.”

He walked back in, and the doors closed again.

Something changed after the doctor walked away, the silence didn’t feel the same anymore.

The hospital staff began to move around now, faster, and more focused.

A nurse passed by quickly, then another, short instructions were given in low voices. Ivan’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Minutes passed, then the doors opened again and the doctor stepped out.

This time, his expression was different, he wore a more serious look.

Ivan straightened slightly.

“What is it?” he asked.

The doctor removed his gloves slowly.

“Her condition isn’t stabilizing,” he said.

Ivan’s heart dropped. “What do you mean?”

“She’s reacting,” the doctor replied. “Her body is under more stress than we initially assessed.”

Ivan paused, his brows furrowed in confusion as he tried to mentally assess the doctor's words.

“She’s entering an emergency state,” the doctor announced.

The silence that followed was heavy, as the doctor's words settled heavily in Ivan's chest.

He didn’t move, didn’t speak, his eyes remained fixed on the doctor.

“What does that mean?” he finally asked.

“It means we need to stabilize her immediately,” the doctor said. “Before it leads to further complications.”

Ivan shut his eyes briefly, when he opened them again, it was red with fear.

“We’re doing everything we can.”

Before he could say anything else, the doctor walked away in hurried steps, followed by nurses who were carrying medical tools he couldn't count or name.