Contracted Heart: The Billionaire Dilemma

OLIVIA'S P.O.V

I woke up to the sound of my alarm. It was a Monday morning and my first day at work as the personal secretary to the CEO of Stone Construction Enterprise, Cade Stone.

I was so lucky to get this job. It means a lot to me, being the eldest of two kids and currently the breadwinner of the family. My younger sister Lyra and I lost our parents in a car accident.

I got out of bed and went to have my bath because I couldn't be late for my first day at work. I decided to wear a white shirt and pants and paired them with coffee-brown heels and a bag. I did my makeup minimal and left my shoulder-length auburn hair open with a clip at the back.

"Are you ready? Natasha, my best friend, asked me from outside. Natasha and I lived together alongside my sister, Lyra.

"Yes, " I answered after coming out of my room. Natasha was all dressed up in a black pencil skirt and red shirt with her blonde hair cascading down her shoulders. You look so beautiful Nat, I told her with a heart smile on my face.

I could see all her cheeks get red, replying with so much joy in her voice, "Thank you best friend".

Natasha and I have been best friends since high school. She was that elder sister I never had. When my parents died, Nat went all out of her way to make sure Lyra and I were okay. She took us in to live with her since the only house we had was used to pay for mummy and daddy's mortgage. Nat got me my position at Stone Enterprise and also works as the Human resource manager.

"Come on, let's leave," I said

"Wait guys, I woke up early to make breakfast since it's your first day at your new job," Lyra said with a bit of uncertainty and fear of rejection laced in her voice.

I walked to her with a smile "That's so sweet of you Lyra," I said as Nat walked out of her room in a bit of a hurry.

"Come and have breakfast first Nat, Lyra cooked."

Within 10 minutes we were both in Natasha's car heading to Stone Enterprise. I was nervous and anxious at the same time. I asked myself different questions, wondering if I was going to meet up to standard. Stone Enterprise is much higher than my former workplace. It was a small company compared with Stone Enterprise.

"Hey Nat, I was going to ask, how does Mr Stone like his coffee? Any specific?

"He prefers his coffee from the company's kitchen. He loves his coffee strongly, so two shots of espresso would do the magic and then the normal process."

"That's all? Does he prefer black or creamy coffee?" I asked Nat.

"Black most of the time but if it's gonna be creamy, just a bit."

"Alright".

" Don't worry, Mr. Stone can be rude, demanding, strict, but at the same time kind. I know you will adapt. You will work it out."

" Hopefully." I smiled.

...............

I went to Mr. Stone's office as I didn't know what to do. But I kept my bag in my office. Nat showed me the small office where the last assistant used to stay.

I arranged the table so that each file was on one side. I filled his glass with water. I kept some business newspapers on the table as Nat told me he likes to read them first thing in the morning. After arranging everything, I checked the time, seeing that he would arrive in 15 minutes, I hurriedly made my way to the company's kitchen.

I made my way to the kitchen. I took a cup and poured two shots of espresso. Then I added milk and water. I thought for a moment and added cinnamon to his coffee. My mum used to make it because it was Dad's and my favorite.

I entered his office and placed the mug on the coaster. I took one more glance around the office when a deep voice startled me.

" Early aren't we Ms. Dawen?"

I turned around, "God you scared me" I replied placing a hand on my chest.

" I didn't mean to." Mr. Stone replied, walking towards me.

As he walked towards me, my mouth opened in Ajar. He is tall and impeccably dressed, and Cade exudes an air of authority. His shaped steely gaze and well-groomed appearance mask the ruthlessness that lies beneath the surface. His tailored suit and designer accessories reflect both his wealth and his attention to detail.

" Why don't you take a picture? It lasts longer."

I could feel the rush of heat that went to my face. I'm very sure I looked like tomatoes. With embarrassment in my voice, I said " I'm sorry sir, promise it will never happen again. "

"Good morning, Mr. Stone." I greeted in a low voice

"Morning."

He took a look around the office, he was pleased with what he was seeing. The table was already set for the day, and his coffee was ready, seeing it, he smirked.

"I presume Natasha did a good job briefing you about everything." he sat in his chair

"Yes sir, she did. Here is your coffee and here are all the business newspapers you would like to have a look at."

He took one newspaper while taking a sip from his coffee. His facial expression changed immediately.

Holy Mary, Olivia what have you done? Why in God's name would you add cinnamon to his coffee on the first day of work? I was shaking and scared internally, waiting for him to lash out.

"Who made this coffee?" he asked with no form of emotion in his voice making it hard to know what was going on in his mind.

"Uh... umm. Huh?" I stuttered

"You very well heard me, Olivia." if there is one thing I hate is repeating myself, he said with his face showing no emotion.

"I made it." my hands trembling and anxiety taking over my entire being.

"There is something different."

"Yes sir. I added a pinch of cinnamon. It was the kind of coffee my mother used to make for me when I was little. It's my favorite. However, I apologize for altering your morning coffee Mr. Cade, I will go prepare another one." I replied to him with my voice filled with embarrassment and turned to leave his office.

"Olivia!!." he called in a raised tone.

" yes." I turn around.

"I like it. From now on, I want my coffee like this," he said in a very commanding but low tone.

"Really? Thank you, sir." I shrugged

"Um. Is there anything you would want me to do for you?" I asked in the most formal tone.

"Examine every file about our rivals, debtors, and creditors. You can't mug up all that, I know but keep in mind the primary ones. Secondly, Ms.Isabella Reynold a bunch of yellow roses with the note," Don't try to reach me at this, I am unavailable." The effect would be worse if this doesn't happen. Third, I'm the chief guest at the NYU post-graduation celebration. Please examine my speech again for it. It must have already been emailed by my PR. For now, that's all he said in one breath."

"Alright Mr.Stone." and I left his office to get to work.

Halfway into the task, my boss gave me, my phone started to ring. I picked up my phone and it was an unsaved number calling me. Who could this be? I asked rhetorically with worry laced in my voice.

"Hello, this is Olivia Dawson. Who am I speaking to?

"Good afternoon Ms. Olivia we are calling you from New York Presbyterian Hospital and it is regarding your sister Lyra Dawson.

At the mention of Lyra's name, I became very nervous, curious, and scared. The last time I got a call from the hospital was when my parents were involved in a car accident. My heart pounded so hard in my chest, that I didn't know what to think.

"Hello, ma'am. Hello Ms. Olivia, can you hear me?

" Yes, I can hear you. Please how is Lyra? What is Lyra doing in the hospital?." I said with mixed feelings.

I felt my hands trembling as I held the phone. I could feel the tears from my eyes threatening to escape. Lyra wasn't sick when I left her at home this morning. I couldn't find my voice as memories from the last scene I saw in the hospital of my parents coming back.

"What is wrong with Lyra?" I asked with a very heavy voice and fear filled me.

What is wrong with Lyra?" I asked with a very heavy voice and fear filled me.

"Ma'am, Lyra was brought in by her Co-worker who said she passed out while working. Lyra has been stabilized but is still unconscious......

"Unconscious?" I asked, interrupting the lady on the other side of the phone. How in the heavens is this happening? Lyra was fine this morning when I left her.

"Yes ma'am, she is still unconscious but we suppose that she will be awake soon. Please we would need you to be at the hospital as soon as possible."

"Okay, I will be down there as soon as I can," I said in a low voice.

"Okay ma'am, we will be expecting you," she said and hung up the call.

I was so shocked that I didn't even know how to feel. I felt so numb, I couldn't lift a pin. God, my world felt like it was about to crumble the second time.

This time, I couldn't hold the tears that came running down my cheek. I know I can't leave the office right now as it's my first day at work, a day I am meant to be happy, I thought sarcastically.

"Olivia! Olivia!" Nat called me while jolting me to bring me out of the world I was in.

"Yes! Yes! " I answered while realizing I was actually crying, I cleaned my face but it was so late because she saw me already.

"Olivia, what is the problem?" she asked as worried filled her voice.

"Why are you crying?" she asked again when I refused to speak to her.

I couldn't figure out what to say to my best friend whom I stared at with a blank and emotionless face as many thoughts were going through my head. I was so scared and at the time asking myself different questions.

"I got a call from the New York Presbyterian Hospital, that Lyra was brought into the hospital unconscious and that my attention is needed as soon as possible," I said with a feeble trembling voice."

Nat didn't know what to say to me, she brought me up and gave me a hug I desperately needed. We stayed like that for about three minutes. She pushed me away slowly from her and looked at me with a gaze full of empathy, affection, and hope.

"Come on Olivia, you were only informed that she was brought in unconscious and you are already panicking. Calm down, don't forget it's your first day at work so please relax, when you're done with work for the day,then you can go to the hospital to hear from the doctor." Nat said to me as she took me to my seat.

Casting a quick glance at my best friend, I lowered my shoulder in a gesture of vulnerability, acknowledging the need to rely on the expertise of the doctor before jumping into conclusion.

With a nod, I conveyed my agreement to wait for medical insight. Seeing the gravity of the situation, I turn to Natasha and gently asked,

"Do you mind accompanying me to the hospital? Your support would mean a lot to me especially in moments like this.

In the moment of uncertainty, her willingness to assist became a beacon of comfort and I appreciated the understanding in her eyes as she agreed to be there for me during the visit.

................

The remaining hours of the day passed by uneventfully as I tussled with the concern of Lyra still being at the hospital. Despite the weight on my mind, I made a conscious effort to shield my work from its impact. I worked diligently to complete every task assigned by Mr. Stone.

After meticulously organizing my bag and setting it atop of my desk. I hastened towards his office door.

With a sense of urgency, I knocked firmly at his door and patiently awaited a response.

"Come in." I heard him say.

I opened the door and stepped into the room, Mr. Stone was busy running through a file that grabbed all his attention.

"Is there anything you want me to do for you before leaving Sir?" inquired with a voice tinged with urgency, actually aware that Nat awaited my presence in the parking lot.

"No, Olivia." he said as he looked around to be sure he didn't need anything from me.

"You can go." he waved his hands toward me as a sign of dismissal.

I hurriedly left his office, picked my bag along the way and made my way to the elevator. At the top of the elevator on the ground floor, I hastened my steps to meet up with Nat Who was already waiting for me

"I'm sorry I kept you waiting babes" I apologized to Natasha as I sat in the passenger seat. She responded with a nod and immediately started the engine of the car.

In an hour's time, we were in front of the New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center, in Manhattan.

We made our way into the hospital and we directed to Dr. Andrew Peters.

Anxiety clawed at me as I turned to my best friend, a mosaic of worry, fear, and doubt. My voice trembled as I voiced my concern

"Hey, I have been thinking about everything and I can't shake off this sense of worry. Are you sure everything is gonna be alright? There is this gnawing fear in the pit of my stomach. Can you talk me through it? Reassure me that we have this under control? I just need to hear it from you."

The weight of uncertainty hung in the air as I waited for her response, hoping for the assurance that would calm the turbulent storm of emotions within me.

She looked me in the eyes with a reassuring gaze and said

" I understand it's a bit overwhelming right now but trust me everything would be alright." Her tone carrying a mixture of confidence and empathy.

"Life throws challenges our way, but we've faced them together before, and we will do it again." she placed on my shoulder wanting to convey not just words but genuine commitment.

"You're not alone in this. I've got your back, always. We would navigate through whatever comes our way, just like we always do. Lean on Me whenever you need to, we are in this together."

In the moment, her words aim to provide comfort and assurance, solidifying the bind that stood as the foundation of our unwavering friendship.

I was too emotional to talk, so I answered with a nod as she held my hand in anticipation of Dr.

Olivia and Natasha anxiously sat in the sterile waiting room of Dr. Andrew's office, their fingers entwined as they exchanged worried glances. The air hung heavy with tension, and the low hum of the fluorescent seemed to echo their growing apprehensive,

As the door swung open, Dr. Andrew entered with a composed demeanor that offered a stark contrast to the observable anxiety in the room. He greeted them, his eyes reflecting a mixture of sympathy and professionalism.

"Olivia, Natasha thank you for coming and I'm so sorry for keeping you waiting."

"No offense taken Dr," Natasha said while taking a quick look at me. The only response I could give was a nod as I was too anxious to talk.

"I understand this is a tough time for both of you." he began motioning them to take a seat.

After a brief moment, Dr Andrew took a seat behind his desk, carefully choosing his words.

"I have carefully reviewed Lyra's test results, and I'm afraid the need isn't what any of us hoped for. Lyra has leukemia."

A heavy silence engulfed the room as the weight of the diagnosis settled on Olivia and Natasha. Natasha's grip on Olivia's hand tightened and Olivia's eyes welled up with tears.

"Leukemia?" Olivia whispered, her voice fragile and full of disbelief.

"But she is so young. How....how did this happen?"

Dr. Andrew leaned forward explaining,

"Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow. It's characterized by the rapid production of abnormal white blood cells, which crowds out healthy cells. In Lyra's case, it was particularly aggressive.

Natasha's voice trembled as she asked,

"What are our options, doctor? Is there a treatment plan? Chemotherapy, maybe?

Dr. Andrew sighed, his expression showing us the gravity of the situation on the ground.

"I wish it were that simple. Unfortunately, Lyra's leukemia is resistant to standard chemotherapy. We need to explore other options.

Olivia, her emotions a turbulent mix of fear and determination spoke up,

"What can we do, Doctor? we will do whatever it takes to help Lyra."

Dr. Andrew nodded explaining,

"The best choice for Lyra is a bone marrow transplant. It is a procedure where healthy blood-forming cells are infused into the patient to replace the diseased cells. Given the urgency of Lyra's condition, we need to move quickly. Without the transplant, her time is very limited, perhaps months.

Natasha's eyes widened with concern,

"How urgent are we talking about, doctor?"

Dr. Andrew's gaze held a sense of urgency as he replied,

"Lyra's case is deteriorating rapidly. We need to find a suitable donor for her as soon as possible to increase her chance of a successful surgery.

Olivia's mind raced, and a sense of determination filed her voice,

"What do we have to do? Where do we start from."

"We would start by testing family members for compatibility. If none match, we will explore the national registry. Time is of the essence, we need to act fast to give your sister the best possible result."

Dr. Andrew provided information about the bone marrow donor registry and the process of finding a perfect match. He also discussed various factors that could affect the success of the transplant. Olivia and Natasha listened intently, absorbing the details and feeling a newfound sense of hope.

As they left Dr. Andrew's office, Olivia turned to Natasha. Tears glistened in her eyes, but there was also a determination burning within her,

"We have to find a donor for Lyra Nat, we can't lose her."

Natasha nodded, her voice filled with resolve,

"Olivia, we would find that donor, and Lyra would get through this."

............

The search for a donor became their top priority. Olivia and Natasha embarked on a journey to find someone willing to offer the precious gift of life. Days turned into weeks and weeks into months.

Olivia was already having a rough day and her boss, Cade, wasn't making it easy for her. The fact that she can't find a donor for her sister for two months and she doesn't even know how much this surgery will cost is already too much for her.

I got to work on a Monday morning. It's already been two months of working for Cade Stone as his assistant and it hasn't been easy. Today wasn't different as my boss had been on the verge of letting me drop my resignation letter on this desk. As my intercom rang, I picked it up and placed it on my ear,

"Hello," I said with my voice filled with irritation and anger.

"Come to my office immediately," his stern voice echoed throughout the phone,causing Olivia's heart to race.

I stood up from my seat, took a few steps toward his office, knocked on his door, and waited for a response.

"Come in."

"You called for me sir." I said with a voice filled with fear.

"I asked you to send an official response to Summit innovation, right?" He asked as he looked up from this computer and fixed his gaze on me.

I sensed his eyes lingering on my skin, a palpable scrutiny that seemed to intensify as the day unfolded. It became apparent that his mood has taken a downturn ever since he arrived at the office earlier this morning.

"Olivia,I just received a call from Summit innovation. They are upset that we haven't responded to their email regarding the meeting details. This is crucial for our partnership, and they are concerned about our commitment," Mr Cade stated, his disappointment palpable.

Panic surged through Olivia as she frantically searched her inbox, realizing that she hadn't seen a confirmation email from Summit innovation. The weight of the situation bore on her shoulders, as she felt a knot forming in her stomach.

The realization hit Olivia like a tidal wave. The consequences of this oversight could jeopardize significant business patterns. She took a deep breath, trying to maintain composure as she replied,

"Oh, no sir, I'm so so..sorry sir, I totally forgot.i got caught up in the task you assigned to and some meeting I had to take for you."

"I pleaded with you to send that crucial email to them more than two hours ago, and here you are, feeding me excuses."

The atmosphere in the office thickened with frustrating as he sternly instructed,

"Leave my office before I act on impulse we'll both regret." gesturing vehemently towards the door. His eyes, usually clear, now glowed with an unsettle shade of red revealing a level of intensity I have never seen before."

I hurriedly left his office, I berated myself internally for the oversight of not sending the email as instructed. The weight of self-criticism hung over me.

With a sense of urgency, I quickly retrieved my laptop, and with a surge of determination, began crafting the email to Summit innovation. Emotions of remorse and determination intertwined as I type, driven by the desire to rectify the earlier lapses and meet the expectations set before me.

As I delved halfway into composing the email destined for Summit innovation, a sudden jolt interrupted my focus, the insistent ringing of my phone.An ominous sense of foreboding crept over me as I answered, the caller id promptly snapped me back to the reality I was actually in. Fear and worry coursed through my vein, casting shadows over the initial task at hand, as the unforeseen call hinted at a potential shift in the trajectory of my day.

"Hello, Olivia Dawson on the line." waiting to hear the other person on the other side speak.

"I'm calling from Weill Cornell medical center and it's regarding your sister."