Unsteady Ground

Sophia dragged herself out of bed early, feeling groggy and off-balance, her whole body aching. The dizziness hit again a little harder this time as she gripped the dresser, steadying herself until it eased up. It did, but not without leaving a little lingering wave of nausea. She took a shaky breath, brushing it off like before—just work stress piling up, wearing her out. Nothing serious.

She made her way downstairs, taking it slow, and found Bobby already in the kitchen. The smell of coffee brewing mixed with whatever he was cooking on the stove, filling the air with something warm and familiar.

"Morning," Bobby greeted gently, giving her a quick glance before his expression quickly shifted into concern. "You look even worse today."

Sophia forced a weak smile. "Thanks, that's what every girl wants to hear when she wakes up."

Bobby ignored the joke, moving quickly to her side and pressing the back of his hand against her forehead. "You're a little warm."

She shrugged him off lightly, heading for the coffee pot. "I'm fine. It's just stress catching up to me."

He studied her carefully, unconvinced, but knew better than to push. "Maybe you should take today off. Just rest."

She shook her head. "I have that big presentation this afternoon. My dad's counting on me."

He hesitated, then sighed softly. "Alright. But promise you'll come home early if it gets worse."

"I will," she said gently, reaching out and squeezing his hand softly. "Thank you for worrying."

He kissed the top of her head, still not fully reassured. "Always."

After breakfast, they split off —Bobby heading off to Knight Industries, his mind still stuck on how off Sophia seemed, while Sophia drove slowly to Lancaster Developments, trying to steady herself mentally for the long day ahead.

The morning crawled by, every minute dragging. her head started to throb a bit, her stomach slightly churned, and her usual coffee wasn't providing any relief. As she prepared her presentation, Clara knocked gently and stepped in, worry written all over her face.

"Sophia, are you sure you're alright?" Clara asked gently, placing a stack of documents carefully on the desk. "You really don't look well."

Sophia smiled tiredly, brushing it off. "I'll manage. I have to."

Clara hesitated before bitting her lip, clearly debating whether or not to press further, but simply nodded. "Alright. But call me if you need anything, ok."

After Clara left, Sophia rested her head briefly on the desk, breathing slowly to steady herself. She had just started feeling better when there was another knock on the door—this time less welcome.

Daniel strolled in without waiting for an invite, a look of concern carefully masking something else she couldn't quite place. "Sophia, you're pushing yourself too hard. You look terrible."

She exhaled, sitting up straighter. "Is there something you need, Daniel?"

He stepped closer, setting down a folder. "Just thought I'd check on you. If you're not up to the presentation later, I can take over. I've got your notes, I know your plans."

Sophia stiffened, a flicker of defensiveness kicking in over her project. "Thanks, but I've got it under control. I'm good."

Daniel gave her a long, careful look, then shrugged. "Alright. Just throwing it out there. Look after yourself, Sophia."

As he walked out, Sophia she let out a sharp breath, irritated with herself for even half-entertaining his help. No way was she letting Daniel, or anyone else take credit for her hard work.

By the time afternoon rolled around, Sophia was in the conference room, facing her dad and the senior execs. She started her presentation, hands trembling just enough to notice, her voice wavering just a bit at first. She took a breath, steadying herself, and continued.

Henry's eyes were locked on her, his face a blank slate and she felt a spike of anxiety. When she finished, the room was silent for a long moment before Henry spoke, his tone measured.

"The proposal is good, Sophia. But you lacked your usual energy today. Are you alright?"

Sophia felt frustration build. "I'm fine, Dad. Just tired."

Henry frowned slightly, his voice softening but firm. "I appreciate your dedication, but don't neglect your health. Take the afternoon off and get some rest."

Sophia felt defeated, nodding in quiet acceptance. "Alright."

On her way out, she nearly ran into Daniel again. He smiled sympathetically. "Let me guess, he told you to rest?"

She sighed, irritated. "I don't want to hear it."

Daniel raised his hands defensively. "Hey, I'm on your side. I respect your commitment—but even you have limits. Take care, Sophia."

She nodded slightly, walking away without another word, conflicted and frustrated by the day.

Meanwhile, Bobby was in another meeting, laser-focused as always, finalizing details for Knight Industries' next venture. The meeting had just adjourned when Lena lingered behind, watching him gather his things.

"Hey," Lena said softly, approaching him. "Got a second?"

He glanced up, offering her a tired smile. "For you? Always."

She smiled back, leaning against the table comfortably. "How's Sophia doing? She didn't seem too great last time we spoke."

Bobby exhaled, running his hand through his hair. "Not good. She's exhausted, pushing herself way too hard. I'm worried."

Lena nodded sympathetically. "Sounds like she's feeling the pressure from her dad. You might need to intervene."

He shook his head slightly. "I offered. She won't accept help. She insists she can handle it alone."

Lena sighed gently. "Then just keep being there for her. Eventually, she'll understand it's okay to lean on someone else."

Bobby smiled appreciatively, feeling comforted by Lena's supportive presence. "Thanks, Lena. You're the best."

She rolled her eyes playfully. "Obviously. Now go home early tonight—make sure Sophia gets some rest."

Sophia arrived home earlier than expected, drained and pale. Bobby quickly stood from the living room couch, worry clouding his eyes as he moved to her.

"You're home early. What happened?"

She shook her head softly, sighing deeply. "Dad sent me home. He could see I wasn't feeling well. It's just exhaustion."

Bobby hesitated, concern deepening. "Sophia, please slow down. You're not invincible—you have to take care of yourself."

She met his gaze, seeing nothing but genuine love and worry reflected back. Her defenses softened instantly. "I know. I promise I'll rest."

He took her hand gently, guiding her upstairs to their bedroom. "Let me take care of you tonight. No work, no stress. Just us."

She smiled weakly, surrendering gratefully. "Sounds perfect."

As they lay in bed that night, Bobby ran his fingers gently through her hair, pulling her close like he could protect her from whatever was wearing her down. Sophia melted into him, the safety of his arms lulling her toward sleep. But even as her eyes fluttered shut, a quiet unease nagged at her deep inside. This exhaustion didn't feel right, not like the usual burnout. Still, she shoved the thought away, telling herself a good night's rest would fix it all by morning.

Bobby didn't drift off right away something kept him up. He was troubled by a feeling that something wasn't right. He knew Sophia better than anyone; there was more to this than just work. He tightened his hold determined to protect her.

They both drifted off eventually, entwined together, clinging to the reassurance of each other's presence.