20 I am fine

Azriel stared at the woman as she hugged his secretary. He immediately ordered his employees to go to their departments and leave them alone. He walked a few feet away from the two to give them privacy, looking at them awkwardly, not wanting to interrupt what was clearly an emotional reunion between them.

From what he remembered and what his secretary said, the last time she saw her family was, when she was given a week-long vacation and that was it, since then she was never able to see her family, who lives a couple cities away from them.

Azriel watched as the two broke up their hug and sat down, facing each other, on one of the couches available in the company's lobby "What are you doing here mama?"

"I came to check on you, I was worried about how you were doing. I saw what the news said about you and your boss a month ago. I was supposed to visit earlier but your papa was sent to the hospital again when he started having an attack"

"Is papa alright?! Why didn't I know about this? I could have been there"

"It was too sudden and your brother, Mikhael was there so we were able to take him to the hospital immediately"

"What about now? Is papa okay now?"

"Yes love, your papa is fine now and resting back at the house. I am sorry it took me too long to visit you"

"It's nothing mama, please don't apologize.

"I am just sad that I can't see my one and only daughter regularly, I am worried about you"

"Mom please, don't worry about me here, I am fine"

"You say that but look at how pale you are! No matter how much makeup you put on, I can still see through it Nesryn, I am your mother."

"This is nothing mama, I am fine, really"

"You're not fine Nesryn and we both know that! Have you been drinking your medicine?!"

Nesryn immediately covered her mother's mouth with her hand and took a glance on Azriel's direction. Her mother's eyes widened, realizing what her daughter wanted to say. She grabbed her hand and took it away from her mouth as she glared at her daughter.

"You didn't tell him?!" she hissed at her angrily. Nesryn lowered her head and slowly nodded closing her eyes, waiting for her mother to yell at her.

"Nesryn Aelin Lorcan!" her mother yelled. Her sudden yell shocked Azriel and he immediately had his eyes on their direction, Nesryn's mother noticed his gaze and lowered her tone to what only her daughter could hear.

"I told you a couple of times to tell him" she reprimanded, holding both of her daughter's arms and shaking her lightly. Azriel watched all of this unfold, he dug his nails on his palm to stop himself from rushing beside Nesryn and pry her mother's hand off his secretary.

Nesryn lifted her head and stared straight to her mother's eyes "I know mama but as I said last time we met, I won't stop working here till Mikhael isn't finished in college" she protested, holding her ground against her mother.

Her mother let out a loud sigh at her daughter's words "Papa is still undergoing treatment and from what you said earlier, he's still not fully cured, you have to work at the daycare in morning and take care of papa after lunch and not to mention Mikhael is still studying.

If I stop now, no one will support our family financially, your salary at the daycare won't even compensate for what we need for a week! You know what we're going through mama, we're not rich that's why I studied hard and got a job, this job pays me well and I could send that to you guys, we've been through this every year mama"

Her voice cracked during her long monologue but she didn't care, she wanted her mother to realize that if she sacrificed her job in return of her health then they would just die in hunger.

"But your health is important Nesryn, I thank you for everything you're giving our family but you need to remember yourself, your condition! Your killi-"

"I am fine mama, I know my limits and my body condition. Please don't worry about me and just focus on papa and Mikhael back home"

The tears on her mother's eyes finally flowed on her cheeks, Nesryn's eyes softened and searched her bag for tissue. A light tap on her shoulder made her turn around, just to see Azriel offering her a handkerchief.

She sent him a grateful smile and wiped her mother's tears away. She pulled her into a tight hug and whispered soothing and reassuring words in her mother's ears.

"I am really fine mom, I'll check with my doctor again and let you know" she whispered to her and her mother nodded.

After a few minutes, her mother finally calmed down and was able to face the two of them with a sad smile on her face. Nesryn quickly decided to distract her mother from the issue and gestured at her boss.

"Mama this is my boss, Azriel Evanders"

The two shook hands "Hello Mr. Evanders, my name is Kathleen Lorcan. Thank you for taking care of my daughter"

"Please ma'am call me Azriel and I am the one supposed to be thanking you for giving birth to a wonderful lady" Nesryn blushed at his words, as Azriel stared at her. Kathleen watched the two in front of her, she watched as Azriel kept his eyes on her daughter. A sad smile appeared on her face.

The three talked for a few minutes and Nesryn was able to convince her to go back home. Azriel offered to let one of his drivers drive her back home but Kathleen politely refused his offer and hailed a taxi after kissing her daughter goodbye.

Nesryn and Azriel walked back inside and rode the elevator, neither talked and just let the elevator music fill in the silence between them. Once on their floor, they got out and started doing their work in their respective offices.

Luckily, her mother's sudden visit didn't take up any appointments Azriel had that morning. Nesryn opened her computer, after reading some files placed on her desk. She separated those that are for signing and for reconsideration.

Since the company's personal network system took too long to load, she took the files to Azriel's office first. She briefed Azriel on what each of the six folders were about, she bowed her head and left then walked back to her desk.

She read through the folders that were labeled 'for reconsideration' while also checking different datas on her computer, a skill she honed in her 3-year stay in the company, working beside Azriel.

Before focusing too much on the tasks she was set to do, she set an alarm for her boss's first meeting of the day. After making sure, she could hear her alarm, she got focused on the file on hand.

Nesryn would flashe her million-dollar smile whenever an employee gave her more folders to be checked or when the cleaning staff came to take her trash.

She was so immersed in what she was reading, tapping the red-ink pen she uses to correct some of the things in the file.

It took her a couple of seconds to realize her phone was vibrating beside her.

Nesryn cleaned her desk, snooze the alarm and went inside Azriel's office. 'Sir, you're 9:30 meeting starts in 10 minutes" she calmly said, staring at her boss, who's focus was on writing something down on the paper, his head bowed slightly and his long hair slung over his left shoulder.

Azriel grunted and closed the file, putting the cap back on the pen. Nesryn walked closer with his coat on her hand. He took off his reading glasses and wore his coat with her help. She fixed his tie, as he handed her his phone. She smiled at him and took it.

The two left his office and used the elevator to go down to the floor below them. Nesryn led him to the meeting hall they'll be using, she opened the door for him before he could and followed after him.

She watched as 15 people stood up and bowed their head to their direction, in respect for Azriel. He sat down and gestured for them to do the same. Nesryn sat by his right side, she would always pace herself by his dominant side so she could immediately hand him what he needed.

Azriel told them to start the meeting once everyone was comfortable, he was mostly looking at Nesryn though, waiting for her to finish setting up for taking down notes.

Nesryn received the folder regarding what the meeting was about, she checked and read it over first before handing it to Azriel with a hesitant smile, her eyes clearly showing reluctance.

Azriel would usually base his decision from how she reacted but her hesitant smile made him think twice and read the proposal thoroughly.

They were 15 minutes in when he noticed Nesryn trembling slightly, he took off his coat, catching the attention of some people excluding Nesryn.

He stood up and draped it on her shoulder, she looked at him in surprise but he kept his eyes on the presentation in front of them.

She silently thanked him and he returned back to his seat, a satisfied smile on his face as he turned his attention to Nesryn and just watched her write whatever the presenter said.