Maria appeared by Lilly's desk just before the work hour finished, her expression unusually careful, lips pressed into a thin line as though weighing every word before it left her. Lilly straightened, heart already pounding at the sight of her.
"Mr. Bergen wants to speak with you himself," Maria said quietly, but firmly.
The words struck harder than they should have. Lilly had known this moment might come, but hearing it aloud set her stomach into knots. She managed a small nod, whispering, "Alright," though her voice quivered.
The walk to his office felt endless. The sound of her own heels against the polished floor echoed louder than she remembered. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, wishing she had the time or the energy to make herself look less broken. But she hadn't slept, hadn't eaten, hadn't been anything except terrified for Nathan. She knew she looked a mess. And now she would face Mark Bergen like this.
Maria opened the door for her, and Lilly stepped inside.
Mark was at his desk, his tall frame bent slightly over a spread of papers, but the moment she entered, his eyes rose. They locked onto her instantly, sharp and unreadable, scanning her as though he could see everything she was hiding.
"Ms. Levine," he said simply, his voice low, commanding, "Sit."
Lilly obeyed, folding herself into the chair across from him. Her hands tangled in her lap, twisting against each other as if she could wring her fear out through her fingers.
He leaned back, watching her for a long moment before he spoke, "Maria told me your brother was in the hospital."
Her throat tightened, "Yes," she said softly, eyes fixed on the edge of his desk, afraid to meet his gaze, "He's stable now… but he's still under observation. They're keeping him a few more days."
Mark gave a slow nod, his expression unreadable, "And Maria also told me you asked for a loan. For the medical bills."
Her cheeks burned. Shame pressed down on her chest, but she forced herself to lift her head, "Yes, sir. I… I wouldn't ask if it weren't urgent. But the hospital—" her voice broke slightly, "—they said I need to pay half of it within a week. I don't have that kind of money."
Her words tumbled out, rushed, and desperate. She swallowed and steadied herself, "I was hoping… if it's possible… to get an advance payment or some kind of loan from the company. Just until I can find a way to cover the rest."
Silence followed, heavy and suffocating. Mark rose slowly from his chair, the sound of the leather creaking breaking the quiet. Lilly's heart stuttered as he circled the desk, every step measured, his presence filling the space until he stood just before her.
The weight of his gaze pinned her in place, "The company doesn't do that," he said flatly.
The words sliced through her. She blinked hard, a tear spilling down her cheek before she could stop it. Her chest constricted, breath catching as the reality pressed against her like a wall she couldn't climb.
But then, his voice shifted, softer yet steady, "But you already have an allowance."
Her brows furrowed in confusion, tears still clinging to her lashes.
"Ten times your salary," Mark reminded her, his eyes never leaving hers, "The agreement you signed days ago. It's already secured. You can cash it today, if you want."
The words stunned her. She froze, lips parting but no sound escaping, until finally she whispered, trembling, "Can I?"
Mark's expression barely changed, but he nodded once, "You can."
He reached into the inside pocket of his jacket and drew out a checkbook. With slow precision, he clicked his pen and began to write. Lilly's breath caught as she watched the numbers form beneath his hand, black ink filling the space with more than she could ever imagine holding in her life.
$70,000.
When he finished, he tore the check from the book and held it out to her.
Her hand trembled as she reached for it, fingertips brushing his before she pulled it into her grip. She stared at the numbers, disbelief crashing over her in waves. Tears blurred her vision until the paper swam before her eyes.
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice breaking. She pressed the check against her chest like it was the only thing keeping her from falling apart, "Thank you so much, Mr. Bergen… thank you so much."
Her knees wobbled as she stood, the weight of gratitude and relief too much to contain. Before she could think better of it, before her mind caught up with her heart, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him.
Mark stiffened for a moment, the shock clear in his stillness, but then, slowly, his arms came around her. He returned the embrace, his hand firm against her back, steadying her as she sobbed softly into his chest.