LOVE BEGUILED

Ava Lawson stood frozen, her hands were vibrating, and her heart raced fast. as the brown envelope containing her job termination letter, was handed to her by Mathew Taylor, the company HR. She couldn't utter a word, her mouth grew heavy and her teeth were gummed together. She read it in complete silence, not skipping a single word, as her heart sank into her stomach, and Instantly she felt hot, despite the chilling air conditioner. She stood there motionless, trying to figure out what went wrong. Wondering how she hadn't seen this blow coming.

She had put every bit of her strength into this Job trying to make ends meet, she was perfect in her field, despite all the challenges and many competitions. Aside from that, Ava has given herself a specific working period. Her working days had just been numbered by her, but being terminated from work untimely was totally out of concept. But how could this have happened, she wondered inwardly. Just a few weeks ago, she was given the "Best Staff Award. Yet there she was, standing with the same job termination letter. She couldn't believe her eyes, it seemed like it was a kind of joke. However, she realized it was her reality when HR's masculine voice thundered.

"You are advised to return any of the company's property in your possession". The HR officer said with a straight face. The authenticity in his voice snapped Ava back to reality.

"Okay, sir," she responded mindlessly.

Still, In a shocked and confused state, she desperately wanted to understand why she had been terminated. Talking to the HR officer might give her the answers she sought, or so she thought.

"But sir, what happened?" Ava asked with a shaky voice, as she hurriedly walked behind him.

"Ava, I think the General Manager will have a better answer to your question," he replied, without glancing back as she followed him. Ava was not ready to back down, if that meant confronting the General manager Mr Jason Hills who was known for his supremacy, no one dares confront him when it comes to matters of such. But Ava was determined to ask him, not just to know why, but if there would be any chance for her to retain her job, she was ready to take it.

Ava, a young lady in her late twenties, was the most beautiful, young, and promising woman in the company. She stands out in every aspect concerning her, her personality was top-notch. Ava worked as an inventory manager at Skyward Airlines. Her dedication, sincerity, and intelligence in her job made it almost impossible to believe she had been dismissed without a clear explanation.

She was heartbroken and disoriented when the news was passed to her. Her throat felt dry, and her legs grew so heavy that she struggled to walk properly. Her face, which was beaming with a smile a few minutes ago, turned pale and she sweats profusely, making her makeup shrug. Despite this, she was determined to confront the general manager. As she headed toward the elevator, she couldn't help but wonder what had gone wrong. Her mind raced, her heartbeat quickening. She silently hoped for a miracle as the elevator stopped at the 8th floor. Stepping out, she hurried toward the general manager's office, trying to compose herself and avoid looking too frustrated, even though she felt overwhelmed. When Ava reached the door, she adjusted her shirt collar, brushed her fingers through her hair, and knocked gently.

"Come in!" a familiar voice ushered her in.

The manager sat with an upright and dominating posture, his back leaning on the seat with his round fat belly almost dropping, his composure telling of his age and authority, and his aura signaled his power over the situation. His gaze was steady but cold, a mix of old age, power, and fulfillment, as he stared at her over the top of his glasses. His hands were across his fat chest, and his legs closed to each other. His expression remained calm, yet there was a firm look on his face, that seemed he was carefully choosing his words to avoid repetition. As soon as Ava entered, he tilted his head slightly, maintaining eye contact, though his body remained still, almost rigid, to maintain an air of authority. Ava took a while to compose herself before she said a word. There was no immediate rush as she was there only to ask about her offense, allowing the tension in the room to build slightly before she finally spoke, she was measured, steady, and confident

"Sir, I want to know why I was terminated," she said boldly, her gaze fixed on him.

He glanced at her, avoiding direct eye contact. "Ava I'm sorry, we know of your sincere dedication, and smart work you put into your job. he paused, and this time he wasn't avoiding her gaze, both eyes were clocked to each other. Then he continued," I wish there is something I could do, to salvage this situation but it's the board's decision". The company is going through a financial crisis, and they've decided to let go of a few staff members," he explained, choosing his words carefully.

At that point there was nothing Ava could say, his tone told it was truly out of his control, Mr. Hills might be known for his supremacy and authority over everything around the company, but honesty and kindness were some of his best attributes, if they were anything he could have done truly to help Ava he would have been glad to do it,

Ava shook her head in despair,

"Oh, financial crisis," she murmured. If only the company knew that the financial crisis she was about to face was far worse than theirs. She reflected inwardly, feeling the weight of the looming challenge. Prolonging the conversation wouldn't yield any positive outcome, she had realized that from his body language the moment she stepped into his office

"Thanks," she said with a faint smile before walking out, Her fist clenched

As Ava stood in the office, reluctantly packing her belongings. She felt so overwhelmed. Her hands got cold and weakened. Her head was so heavy as if a brick had Been placed on it. The thought of losing her job twisted in her stomach like a coiled snake, tightening with every passing second. A wave of nausea crept up her throat, and for a moment, she wasn't sure if she could keep it down

The desks that once used to be her most important place. Suddenly became vulnerable as she picked the last of her pieces. As fluorescent light shone brightly on the office exposing its emptiness, she felt the heaviness of her predicament, and she felt sick instantly

She rushed into the washroom, tightening her stomach with her palms to avoid messing up the office. Her thoughts raced with the weight of her worries, her apartment rent that would soon expire, and her mounting medical bills that seemed to grow heavier with every passing day. She stared at her reflection in the mirror that hung on the sidewall of the washroom and wondered if she had made the wrong choice in moving into the city of Chicago because ever since she had moved in, it's been from one difficulty to another. Or was fate just dealing with her. she wiped off her makeup which was already a mess, and laggardly stepped out of the washroom, her colleague or rather ex-colleague walked In with a frown on her face, Ava glanced at her and tiredly sat on the stool behind her. Without saying a word

"Ava I'm sorry about what happened", her ex-colleague said with a low voice. She moved to stand where Ava was seated ."I heard it was the CEO's decision." She continued. This time her voice grew lower.

Ava wasn't in the mood for long talks, she knew her colleague was genuinely sorry about her job termination but that wasn't the case, she wasn't just ready for pity talks.

"I'm fine " Ava responded reluctantly. Avoiding eye contact, while trying to hold back the tears that had formed in her eyes, emotions wailed her down and hot tears dropped down her cheeks.

Her colleagues rolled out a piece of tissue and extended it to her, she wiped her tears immediately.

"Thanks, I will be alright," she muttered soberly

The absorbing fragrance of office air mixed with the faint whiff of lavender from the hand lotion she'd used in the washroom. It clung to her hands now as she wiped her eyes, her chest tight with agony. This wasn't just a job she was losing, it was stability, a lifeline, a chance to breathe. And this, of all times, was the worst time to lose it. Not now. She was just diagnosed.

A month ago, Ava was diagnosed with cancer of the uterus. That was the day her whole world shattered. She felt everything she had lived for or was living for crumble. She could still feel the sharp pain in her heart when the gynecologist broke the news. His voice was gentle, full of compassion and calm, yet plain and clear. He tried his best not to instill fear in her, carefully choosing his words like a professional.

Ava sat opposite him, her face full of anxiety as she waited for the results to be announced.

"Ava," the doctor called, waiting for her response, then he continued when she blinked. "I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I have some bad news."

Immediately, Ava became alert. Her eyes were locked on his as she shifted her body uncomfortably. The gynecologist waited for a few seconds, letting the words settle before continuing.

"The result showed you have a type of cancer called endometrial cancer," he spoke keenly, not mixing words. His voice carried pure emotion.

Ava felt a lump in her throat immediately. She swallowed hard, the sound almost audible. She wasn't familiar with the word "endometrial," so she asked the gynecologist calmly, trying to stay composed.

"What does that mean, Doctor?"

"It's a situation where the lining of the uterus is affected. I know this might feel overwhelming and a lot to process at the moment." He paused and looked at Ava, checking if she was following his explanation, then continued. "But I assure you, we have treatment options, and we will work together to find the best course of action for you. You don't have to panic, because it's curable. If you're still confused about anything, you can let me know, Ava," he added.

Ava nodded. She still felt the lump in her throat growing larger and her body instantly got cold, and she shivered. Her legs became weak and frozen as if blood was no longer circulating through them. And she could hear her heart racing faster.

When she finally gathered the courage to talk, she asked with a shallow voice, forcing her voice to be audible "What are my chances, Doctor

"From now on, we will work to determine the stage of the cancer, and treatments may commence immediately. The gynecologist replied, This time, his tone was louder and carried an air of relief.

Ava managed to drag herself home without saying a word to anyone she came in contact with. She looked like she had seen a ghost. When she got home, Sophie was the only person she could call. The phone rang twice before Sophie answered

"Hello, Ava, hun! Are you back?"

"Yes," she replied in a weary voice, trying hard not to burst into tears.

"Listen, hun, stay right where you are. I'm coming over now, okay?"

"Alright," she responded, willing herself to hold her emotions down until Sophie arrived. She tossed her phone onto the bed and lay on her back, mindlessly staring at the ceiling.

Sophie arrived 45 minutes later and hurriedly rushed into her friend's room. She found Ava wailing in agony, her face soaked with tears and reddened from long sobbing. Sophie went over to the bed, gently pulled her up, and sat beside her.

"Ava hun, what does the result say?" she asked, wiping away Ava's tears with her fingers.

Ava glanced at her and weakly fell into her arms.

"The doctor said I have endometrial cancer," Ava replied amidst sobbing.

"Oh my, Ava!" Sophie exclaimed in shock. She felt Ava's pain, and her face turned pale. She looked at her, who had already soaked her shoulder with tears. "I'm so sorry," Sophie said. "Listen, we're going to get through this. You are strong, and I trust you, okay?" Sophie consoled her, trying hard not to cry.

Ava nodded, her head peacefully resting on her friend's shoulder.

"Here! Sophie handed her a glass of water."I'm here for you, please, hun."

Ava sniffed her running nose, She closed her eyes and let out a heavy breath.

"Thank you," she whispered.

After Ava lost her job, she decided to stay home and figure out what to do with her life. But she couldn't stay idly, so she continued searching the internet and submitting her CV for any kind of job, as long as it paid well, and it was within her capabilities. Each day fell into the same pattern and gradually the year came to an end. She was left with no money for her medical bills or even minor expenses. Everything she had left had gone into her health.

"Seated at her dressing table, her gaze was fixed steadily on the mirror, where her reflection stared back, dull and weary. At the edge of the table lay a neat pile of white envelopes, their presence a silent accusation. She knew too well what they contained both paid and unpaid bills, the reality of her struggles and pains. The weight of everything she had lost over the past months pressed down on her, making the room feel oppressively hot. Sweat beaded on her brow, and with a shaky breath, she pushed herself up and walked to the bathroom, desperate for the relief of a cold bath.

As soon as she peeled off her clothes and reached for the shower faucet, her phone rang, shattering the brief silence. "Oh, my goodness," she muttered in exhaustion, grabbing a towel and hastily wrapping it around her wet body. With a sigh, she padded back into the room, the cold tiles of the bathroom floor chilling her feet. She picked up the phone, pressing it against her ear.

"Hello, Miss Ava," a deep male voice quivered through the speaker. "I just want to remind you that your...

"I know, sir," Ava interrupted, her tone sharper than she intended. "I will give you feedback before the due date."

There was a pause, the silence heavy with unspoken tension. "Okay. Bye," the caller replied briefly before the line went dead.

Ava tossed the phone onto the bed with a frustrated sigh and returned to the shower. As the cold water rushed over her head down to her feet, washing away the sweat and weariness, she felt a spark of strength return. For a few moments, the burdens weighing on her shoulders seemed lighter, the noise in her head quieter.

"I will be fine," she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible over the rushing water.

The next morning, As Ava applied her lip gloss, preparing to go for a medical consultation. She knew the deadline to renew her rent was just a few weeks away. Already overwhelmed with unpaid bills, she had decided to find a flatmate to share expenses. Though she valued her privacy and peace of mind, it was a necessary compromise to avoid packing out.

Her phone rang again. This time, it was Mr. Mark King, the real estate agent she had hired to find a flatmate.

"Good morning, Mr. Mark," she answered gently.

"Good morning, ma'am. I found someone, a gentleman named Clinton," he informed her.

Mr Mark was direct to the point, Ava had turned down many offers he had presented previously, Mark wasn't sure she would pick this one, but he was just doing his job.

"He?" Ava asked, her tone suddenly intense.

"Yes, madam," he replied.

Ava hesitated before responding. "Okay. I'll meet him at 4 PM after my appointment," she said quickly, ending the call as she realized she was running late.

On her way to the hospital, Ava's thoughts were a storm of anxiety. While she urgently needed a flatmate, she had never imagined sharing her space with a man. Should she decline again and wait for someone else? But time was not on her side, and she needed this arrangement urgently.

The cab driver's voice brought her back to the present. "We're here, ma'am," he announced.

Ava reached into her designer handbag, pulled out her wallet, and paid for the ride. "Thanks," she said with a faint smile as she unclipped the seat belt

As she walked down the hospital gates, she pondered how everything in her life had spiraled to this point. It had all started that morning when she woke up feeling unusually unwell...:

Ava had woken earlier than usual, feeling far from herself. The persistent headache from the previous night had yanked her from restless sleep, and now, as she sat up, the heaviness in her chest was impossible to ignore. Her waistline burned out, the pain she felt in her pelvis was far from pleasure, and her body was trembling in pain. It was unbearable, she couldn't stand Norwalk, and her head was heavy. Her eyes fluttered open, as she stood at her window and the pale morning light seeped through her tiny bedroom window, highlighting the dirt that had been there for days, which she hadn't found the energy to tidy. Her throat burned as she swallowed, and her head throbbed in a rhythm that made even the thought of moving unbearable. She dragged her body back to the couch. For a moment, she sat still, massaging her ankle, as her waistline vibrated in pain, hoping the weight in her body would be relieved. But her swollen dull legs ache spreading through her limbs and the dampness of her blood-soaked sheets made it clear that this wasn't just a bad dream.

Ava swung her legs over the side of the couch, dragging herself upright. The room was filtered with blood stains, which wasn't the first time it'd happened, even when it was not her monthly flow. She reached out the chair to steady herself. Her reflection caught her eye in the mirror on the closet door. A pale, disheveled version of herself stared back. She barely recognized the woman she saw.

That was the day it all began. From then on, it was a relentless cycle of tests, checkups, and consultations. This sickness wasn't just attacking her body, it was creeping into every corner of her life.