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No, my eyes aren’t spotty and the room isn’t spinning. This must be something else.
“Mr. Cullen? Are you okay? You look really pale all of a sudden. Do you need to sit down? Do you need me to call Sara?”
“Sara’s with Dr. Ko.” I wave her off. “I’m fine.”
“Let me help you to your office.”
I shake my head, unwilling to accept the offer. The entire company knows about my health struggle but, even if they’re all aware I’m on my way out, I refuse to appear weak. I want them to believe in and trust me. Limping around, looking like death warmed over, isn’t going to aid that cause.
“Are you sure?” The receptionist still has her arm extended as if prepared to catch me in the middle of a fall.
I ignore her and struggle down the hallway. It’s slow going. My hand presses into the wall to keep me upright and balanced.
The pain withdraws.
And then slices into me with a deeper force.
Would it be better if I crawled?
I can make it.
But with every step I take, the pain in my chest intensifies. The pangs of discomfort come closer and closer together, leaving little relief in between.
“Cullen?” Jenna’s voice resounds behind me. The urgent cadence of her heels against the carpet feels like nails slamming into my skull. “Cullen, oh my gosh. What’s wrong? Do I need to call the ambulance?”
Her voice sounds like it’s coming out of a tin can.
I shake my head. “I’m…”
My knees give out and I lurch forward. It’s only my hand on the wall and Jenna’s grip on my arm that keeps me upright.
“Cullen, it’s either I call the ambulance or I drive you to the hospital. You’re going to collapse at this rate.”
The pain isn’t letting up and I give in to the wisdom of her words.
Jenna wraps her arm around my waist in support and with the little energy I have left, I pry her hand away and limp forward on my own.
“Cullen, let me help you,” Jenna sputters, standing behind me.
“Let’s go,” I whisper.
Jenna glares. “Is it Nardi? Is that why you won’t let me help? Are you going to let her control you like that?”
I keep moving, pretending not to have heard the question.
Jenna storms after me. “Cullen?—”
Agony claws into my chest. My knees hit the carpet, my teeth lock up in my mouth and all I feel is gravity pulling me to the ground as the entire world fades to black.
Fourteen
NARDI
Josiah won’t shut up about Dr. Ko and his presentation and, while I’m thrilled to see him this happy, it’s also difficult to give him my full attention.
My eyes continuously stray to the door.
“Harnessing nuclear energy will transform the way we fly, the way we produce electricity.Everything.”