Unexpected Reunion

Rain start falling heavily outside the supermarket, pouring against the glass walls and turning the evening sky dark long before nightfall.

Inside the supermarket , there was cold air conditioning mixed with the smell of fresh bread and cleaning chemicals use to clean the tiles. Customers rushed through the walkway trying to finish shopping before the storm of the rain became worse.

Naomi stood behind the counter again with her tired face, weak and exhausted But today was harder. Much harder.

The humiliation from yesterday still clung to her like a stain she could not wash away from her body.

Mr. Benson had barely spoken to her since morning except to assign extra tasks. Her salary deduction for the broken wine bottles had already been processed on the system.

Almost her entire salary for that month was gone And the hospital kept calling her for the treatment and medication bill.

Naomi scanned another customer groceries slowly, blinking several times to clear her blurry vision.

She had not eaten since morning. Not because she forgot but Because she was trying to save every penny left. In order to clear the bill she is owing.

“You look weak and tired,” Lydia whispered while arranging the items beside her.

Naomi forced a fake smile.

“Thank you for the compliment.”

“I am serious.”Lydia frowned. “Have you even rested at all?”

“I’m okay.”

“That means no.”

Naomi avoided eye contact. Her body felt unusually weak today. Even standing upright required effort.

The supermarket doors slide open suddenly. A tall figure stepped inside, bringing in a dust of cold wind.

Several women near the entrance glanced up immediately. Kelly Lawson. Dark grey suit. Expensive wristwatch. Sharp jawline.

The kind of man who looked completely out of place in an ordinary supermarket.

Naomi looked up briefly and froze. Him. The same man from weeks ago.

The CEO who had walked into her life unexpectedly. Kelly noticed her almost instantly But this time, something was wrong. Very wrong.

She looked pale. Her cheeks had lost colour, and the dark spot beneath her eyes was impossible to ignore.

Even from a distance, exhaustion surrounded her. Kelly frowned slightly. He remembered her differently. Strong. Calm. Quietly stubborn.

Now she looked like someone carrying the weight of the whole world alone.

His personal assistant, Daniel, stepped beside him.

“Sir, should I help you get the usual items?”

Kelly eyes remained on Naomi.

“No. I will do it myself.”

Daniel looked surprised but nodded her head. Kelly walked through the walkway slowly, though his attention kept drifting back toward Naomi standing at the counter.

Naomi tried to focus on her work But her hands were shaking again. Every sound around her felt distant.

“Miss?”

The customer in front of her repeated impatiently.

Naomi blinked.

“I am so sorry?”

“My change.”

“Oh. Right.”

She handed over the money carefully. The customer left with an annoyed expression face. Lydia leaned closer immediately.

“You need to sit down.”

“I can’t.”

“You are literally shaking.”

“I said I am fine.”

But even Naomi no longer believed those words. Her vision blurred again. She grabbed the edge of the counter quietly.

Breathe. Just breathe. Don’t collapse here. Not again. Not in front of everyone.

At the other side of the supermarket, Kelly watched her carefully. Something about the way she held herself bothered him.

Like she was forcing her body to remain standing Then Naomi suddenly falls slightly.

Kelly's expression changed instantly. He walked toward her direction Faster.

“Naomi,” Lydia said softly. “Sit down before you fall down ”

“I said I am ”

She couldn’t finished the sentence before Everything around her spun violently.

The bright supermarket lights became blurry streaks. Voices echoed strangely inside her head.

Her knees gave out beneath her. Gasps filled the supermarket But before her body could hit the floor

Strong arms caught her. Naomi eyes fluttered open weakly. Kelly. For a moment, she thought she was imagining him.

His hand supported her waist firmly while the other held her shoulders.

“Easy,” he said quietly.

The deep sound of his voice cut through her dizziness. Customers had already stopped to stare again.

“She fainted!”

“Should someone call a doctor for her?”

“Oh my God.”

Naomi tried pulling away immediately, embarrassed beyond words.

“I am fine,” she whispered weakly.

Kelly looked down at her with disbelief.

“You nearly collapsed.”

“I said I am okay.”

“You can barely stand.”

His tone was calm but firm. Naomi hated that he was right. Mr. Benson rushed over at once.

“What is happening here?”

Lydia folded her arms together.

“She almost fainted sir .”

Mr. Benson looked irritated instead of concerned.

“Naomi, if this is another attempt to avoid work you failed”

Kelly’s cold voice interrupted him instantly.

“She needs medical attention.”

The manager finally noticed who was speaking. His attitude changed immediately.

“Sir! I didn’t realize”

“Clearly.”

The single word silenced him. Kelly’s expression hardened.

“She looks tired and exhausted. Why is she still working?”

Mr. Benson forced an awkward laugh.

“She insisted she was fine.”

Naomi looked away Because resting was a luxury she could not afford. Kelly noticed the silence And understood more than she realized.

“Get her a chair,” he said sharply.

Lydia quickly brought one chair and handed it over to Kelly gently. Kelly placed the chair down quietly, Naomi sat down reluctantly while trying to ignore the attention from customers whispering nearby.

Humiliation burned through her chest again.

“Why did she always look weak in front of him?”

Kelly crouched slightly in front of her.

“When was the last time you ate?”

Naomi hesitated.

“I am not hungry.”

“That wasn’t my question.”

She stayed quiet for few moments.

Kelly sighed softly.

“Naomi.”

“This morning.”

Lydia immediately frowned.

“You told me you had lunch!”

Naomi avoided her eyes.

“I lied.”

Kelly stared at her for a few seconds. Not with pity With concern. Real concern And somehow that felt worse.

“You are working with an empty stomach?”

“I have bills to pay sir.”

The words slipped out before she could stop them. Kelly’s gaze sharpened slightly. Bills.

He remembered the desperation in her eyes the first day they met. This was bigger than simple exhaustion.

“Go home,” he said calmly.

Naomi shook her head immediately.

“I can’t.”

“You can barely sit upright.”

“If I leave early, they will deduct my salary again.”

Kelly looked toward Mr. Benson. The manager straightened nervously.

“No deduction,” Kelly said gently. “She is unwell.”

“Of course, sir. Absolutely.”

Naomi clenched her jaw slightly. She hated this. The sudden respect. The fake kindness.

Only because a wealthy man was standing there with them. Without Kelly, nobody would care whether she collapsed or not.

Kelly noticed the bitterness in her expression.

“You don’t like accepting help,” he observed quietly.

Naomi gave a humorless smile.

“Help usually comes with conditions.”

Something flickered briefly in Kelly’s eyes. Pain perhaps Or understanding.

Before he could reply, Naomi suddenly stood up too quickly. The dizziness returned immediately.

Her body tilted sideways Kelly caught her again effortlessly. This time, his grip tightened.

“That is enough,” he said firmly.

Naomi looked up at him, frustrated tears burning behind her eyes.

“I cannot afford to lose this job.”

The raw fear in her voice hit him unexpectedly hard. For a second, Kelly saw beyond stubbornness. Beyond the pride. She was terrified. Not of embarrassment. Not of exhaustion But of survival.

“What is happening?” he asked quietly.

Naomi looked away instantly.

“Nothing.”

“That is clearly not true.”

“It’s personal to me.”

Kelly studied her silently. Most people around him lied for advantage But Naomi lied to protect herself.

There was a difference. A very big difference. Finally, he removed his suit jacket and placed it gently over her shoulders.

“You are freezing.”

Naomi blinked in surprise. The warmth of the fabric wrapped around her immediately.

“I can’t take this.”

“You are borrowing it.”

His tone left little room for argument.

Daniel approached carefully.

“The car is ready, sir.”

Kelly nodded once before turning back to Naomi.

“I am taking you home.”

Her eyes widened immediately.

“No.”

“That wasn’t a request.”

“I don’t even know you.”

A faint smile touched his lips for the first time.

“You fainted in my arms twice within five minutes. We are past being strangers.”

Lydia nearly laughed. Naomi looked mortified. Kelly extended his hand calmly.

“Come on.”

For a moment, Naomi hesitated. Every instinct told her not to trust a wealthy man.

Men like Kelly belonged to a different world entirely. A dangerous world But her body was too exhausted to fight anymore. Slowly, she placed her hand in his.

The moment their fingers touched each other the atmosphere shifted.