“Olívia, talk to me,” I hear him ask.
I try to answer, but to my own ears, the words are nothing but incoherent murmurs, while my eyelids flutter. I strain to open my eyes, but nothing happens.
“Call the doctor.”
“I don’t think it’s anything serious.”
“Now, Kathleen.”
Guillermo’s raised voice makes my head feels like it’s going to explode. Then, more people are heard in the room, and I’m almost certain one of them is Melissa.
“What happened, Mr. Guillermo? Is she okay?” Now I know it’s my friend speaking.
“I think she slipped. Did you call the doctor?”
“Yes, I did. Where did she slip? There was a wet floor sign when I came in.”
“It wasn’t there,” I try to say, but my voice doesn’t come out.
“I’m not sure, but what matters to me now is making sure she’s okay.”
“Mr. Guillermo, she left your office without looking where she was stepping. You can’t blame anyone but her,” says Kathleen in her shrill voice.
I’m sure the wet floor sign wasn’t there. Could she have done this? Does the woman hate me so much that she’d hurt me like this?
The idea of being vulnerable while that crazy woman is in the same room as me makes me groan in protest.
“Miss Taylor, what are you still doing here? Your new boss must be waiting for you.”
“I just want to help.”
“It’s not necessary. I can ask for whatever I need from Melissa. Now, please leave your office.” He sounds harsh as I hear the sound of shoes walking away.
The noise makes me feel like there’s an alternative rock band performing in my brain, and I groan again.
“I know it must be hurting, but the doctor is coming. You’re going to be okay.” He changes when he speaks to me, and I feel his fingers on my face.
The pain doesn’t ease with his caresses, but at least, as long as he’s around, I’ll be safe.
“We can’t let her sleep until she’s properly examined. Although there are no broken bones, we’ll have to take her to the hospital.”
Voices come and go as I hear Guillermo calling my name—I think trying to keep me awake. I know he’s walking with me in his arms because I realize we’re moving.
“Do you want me to go with her?” I hear Melissa ask.
“No. I’ll go, but I’d like you to make sure Kathleen cleared out her office. I made an appointment with you for a conversation today, to let you know that you would be replacing her, but we won’t have time to talk calmly now, so you can start moving your things to my floor right away.”
I finally manage to open my eyes and realize we’re in an ambulance.
The first thing I see is his face above me, and even with the pain in my head, I manage to smile. “Hey. I’m so sorry about this.”
“Sorry? You don’t have to apologize for getting hurt, although you almost scared me to death.”
“I slipped.”
“I imagine you did, but how? Melissa said there was a sign warning that the floor was wet.”
I can’t argue, so I just shake my head from side to side.
