Avery sat at the head of the long mahogany conference table, her tablet open in front of her as she led a meeting with the Kane Enterprises board members. The room was abuzz with discussions about their latest project, a major expansion into European markets.
“Gentlemen, the numbers clearly show this is the right time to move forward,” Avery said confidently, pointing to the data displayed on the large screen behind her. “Our competitors are holding back, which gives us the perfect window to establish a foothold.”
One of the senior board members, Mr. Ellis, leaned forward. “But how do we mitigate the risks associated with launching in multiple countries simultaneously? The logistics alone could be a nightmare.”
Avery nodded, anticipating the concern. “That’s why I propose a staggered approach. We’ll launch in three key markets first—Germany, France, and Spain. Once we’ve streamlined operations there, we’ll move into secondary markets. This way, we minimize risk while maximizing impact.”
The room murmured in agreement, and Avery felt a flicker of satisfaction. She thrived in moments like this, where her hard work and meticulous planning paid off.
“Let’s put it to a vote,” she said, leaning back in her chair. “All in favor of moving forward with this strategy?”
Hands went up around the table, and Avery smiled. “Excellent. Let’s make this happen.”
As the meeting wrapped up, Avery’s assistant, Clara, knocked softly on the glass door and stepped inside. Her usually calm demeanor was replaced with an edge of urgency.
“Ms. Deveraux,” Clara said, her voice low but insistent. “May I speak with you for a moment?”
Avery frowned, sensing something was wrong. “Excuse me, everyone,” she said to the board members before following Clara into the hallway.
“What’s going on, Clara?” Avery asked, her tone steady but concerned.
Clara hesitated, then said, “I just got a call from the hospital. Ryan was admitted a little while ago.”
The words hit Avery like a freight train. “What? Why? What happened?”
“They didn’t give me all the details,” Clara said quickly. “But they mentioned fever and difficulty breathing. He’s stable, but they want to run some tests.”
Avery’s heart began to race, her earlier composure crumbling. “Which hospital?”
“St. Francis,” Clara replied.
Without another word, Avery turned on her heel and headed toward her office to grab her things.
The drive to St. Francis Hospital felt like the longest of Avery’s life. Her mind raced with questions and worst-case scenarios. Ryan had been perfectly fine that morning when he kissed her goodbye before work. How had things gone so wrong so quickly?
Her phone buzzed, and she glanced at the screen to see Janice’s name.
“Aves, what’s going on?” Janice’s voice was filled with concern.
“It’s Ryan,” Avery said, her voice trembling. “He’s in the hospital. I don’t know much yet, but I’m on my way.”
“I’m coming,” Janice said firmly. “You shouldn’t be alone right now.”
“Thanks, Jan,” Avery said, tears pricking her eyes. “I’ll text you when I know more.”