Beep… Beep…… Beep…..

The steady pulse of the heart monitor drew her out of unconsciousness, one breath at a time.

Her eyes opened slowly to a soft wash of sunlight spilling across polished floors and pale walls.

The room was too quiet and clean.

She tried to sit up, groaning slightly. A nurse moved to her side almost immediately. “Easy”, she said gently, helping her with the bed controls. Just small movements for now.”

Where… am I? Aria asked.

“Saint Francis Medical. You’ve been unconscious for three days, the nurse replied. “You collapsed down town right in front of Rivera Tech’s group holdings Group.” One of the executives found and he’s been visiting. Actually he’s…..

The door clicked open and a man stepped inside and for a brief moment Aria forgot the pain.

He was striking. Tall, broad shouldered, effortlessly put together.

He wore a tailored navy shirt, dark slacks neatly trimmed stubble. His dark eyes met hers, and something about his presence filled the room without trying.

The nurse smiled.”There he is”.

He stroked closer, but slowly so he doesn’t startle her. “Glad to see you are awake.” He said, voice smooth and calm.

“You are the one who….”

He nodded. Lucas Rivera.

Rivera.. it clicked. The building. The company she had collapsed on the side walk right outside the company.

“I didn’t mean to cause trouble,” she said quickly, her voice fragile.”I.. I don’t even know how I ended up here.”

“You didn’t cause trouble”, Lucas replied. You needed help.

The nurse gave her one last look, then quietly skilled out of the room closing the door behind her.

Lucas remained standing, keeping a respectful distance.

“Do you have anyone I can call for you?” He asked gently. Family? Friends?

“I don’t have anyone to call.” She said quietly

Lucas didn’t flinch. He simply nodded as if he suspected that already.

“I don’t even know how I’m going to pay for this.” She added glancing around the room. This looks like… VIP

Don’t worry about it. Lucas replied.

What do you mean? She asked in confusion.

“I cleared the bill, he said, voice calm. “All of it.”

Aria stared at him. She had been walking on the streets of silver crest city, desperate, exhausted, searching for work and then everything went dark. She had passed out from the stress, and now someone was offering a second chance. This man didn’t know her and didn’t owe her anything. Yet here he was shouldering a hospital bill, giving her vip treatment and standing there like some kind guardian she never asked for.

“I don’t know how to repay you.” She said with teary eyes.

“You can, but just focus on getting better” Lucas told her.

How the hell is she going to pay him back? She doesn’t have a home or even a job. How the hell would she pay back.

Lucas saw the worry on her face.” You could pay back by staying with me since you don’t have anywhere to stay for now.”

Her head lifted slowly. “What?

I mean…… just until you are back on your feet. He said quickly, sensing her alarm. You could stay in my guest room.

Aria couldn’t believe her ears. He was also offering her a home. I don’t have many options. Aria whispered to herself.

Then let me be one of them, Lucas said.

After a long moment, she nodded once.

“Okay, she said, just for a little while.”

****

Aria moved into Luvas’s penthouse. He arranged for her prenatal care, made sure she had what was she needed. Food and clothes. Weeks turned into months and finally Aria gave birth to a bouncing baby boy.

She’d always dreamed of law school, and now with Lucas’s support. She enrolled in a part time program.

Two years passed in a jiffy. Then the call came.

“Wait… what did you say? Aria stood in the living room, phone clutched in one hand, Irvin on the other hand.

“Yes,” the voice on the other end confirmed.” The position is yours. Full time associate. Corporate law division. Manhattan Office. We’d love for you to start as soon as possible.

She couldn’t believe her ears. She wasn’t just going back home but with a job as one of the biggest law firms in New York. It was time to set things straight. She wasn’t only going to go back to New York for the job but reclaim her properties that were taken by her ex-husband.