Chapter 49

Serena's POV

My smile froze when I spotted his feet. He was wearing those slick hospital slippers, practically skating across the wet floor. Before I could call out a warning, it happened - his foot slipped on the surface.

I moved without thinking. Basic physics would have told me that my slight frame wouldn't do much to stop his fall. Yet there I was, lunging forward to catch him.

We went down together, but even in his unstable state, Lucas managed to curl his body protectively around mine. His hand cradled the back of my head, preventing it from hitting the floor. The impact knocked the breath from my lungs, leaving me acutely aware of his weight pressing against me.

"Are you alright?" His low voice rumbled close to my ear, sending an involuntary shiver down my spine.

"Lucas, I can't breathe," I managed to wheeze out, trying to ignore the burning in my cheeks. He shifted immediately, but in the process, the towel around his waist came loose.

The sight triggered something deep within me. Suddenly, I wasn't in the hospital room anymore. I was eighteen again, trapped in that nightmare of powerlessness and violation. My stomach lurched violently.

I scrambled to my feet and barely made it to the bathroom before emptying my stomach contents. Through the roaring in my ears, I heard his concerned voice calling my name, felt his presence hovering uncertainly at the doorway.

"It's not you," I gasped out between heaves, desperate to erase the hurt I'd glimpsed in his eyes. "I just... remembered something unpleasant from the past."

When I finally emerged, he had properly dressed and was standing by the window, his expression carefully neutral. The tension in his shoulders eased slightly at my appearance.

"Your arm," I said quickly, grasping for a change of subject. "The fall didn't aggravate your injury, did it?"

"No." His response was soft, measured. A pause, then: "I'm being discharged in three days."

I nodded, already backing toward the door. "I'll come pick you up." The hospital room suddenly felt too small, too intimate. "I should go. StarRiver has been keeping me busy lately."

"I know." His voice stopped me at the threshold. "Thank you for coming today, Serena."

"Lucas... could you move? It's getting hard to breathe," I managed to say, trying to keep my voice steady despite the rising panic in my chest. The weight of his body against mine was triggering memories I'd rather forget.

He immediately tried to push himself up, but in doing so, the towel around his waist slipped. My eyes widened before I could look away, and suddenly the room felt too small, too warm. Memories I'd suppressed for years came rushing back - that horrible night when I was eighteen, trapped, helpless...

I barely made it to the bathroom before retching violently. The cool porcelain of the toilet bowl against my forehead provided little comfort as waves of nausea rolled through me. Behind me, I could hear Lucas's concerned voice calling my name.

When I finally emerged, his face was tight with worry. "I'm so sorry," I said quickly, hating how shaky my voice sounded. "It's not... it's not because of you. There are just some memories..."

"I understand," he cut me off gently, now properly covered and keeping a careful distance. The concern in his eyes made my chest ache. "You don't need to explain."

I desperately searched for a way to change the subject. "Your arm - did you hurt it just now?"

"No," he replied simply.

"Good. I should probably head home," I said, glancing at my watch. "Things are pretty hectic at StarRiver right now."

"I'm being discharged in three days," he mentioned casually.

"Already? Hasn't it been less than two weeks? Did the doctor approve?"

"You'll come pick me up?" There was something expectation in his question.

"Of course. I already told Miles about it. Didn't he mention it?"

"Just making sure," he said with studied nonchalance. "You haven't exactly been consistent about visiting."

I pressed my lips together, unable to argue. He was right - I hadn't kept my promise to visit every day.

"Get some rest," he said, surprising me by being the one to suggest I leave. He understood how busy things were for me right now.

"Goodnight then," I said quickly, already heading for the door.

At StarRiver's photography studio. I ran my fingers over the fabric of the signature piece - a navy blue blazer with subtle geometric patterns that I'd designed specifically for Eleanor. This was my first major project since joining StarRiver, and I couldn't help but feel both excited and anxious.

The sound of cheerful laughter broke through my thoughts. Eleanor had arrived, dressed casually in jeans and a white t-shirt, her hair pulled back in a messy bun. She greeted everyone with genuine warmth - quite different from the polished celebrity image I'd expected.

"Good morning, Serena!" she called out, making her way directly to me. "I hope you're ready to make me look fabulous today."

"The clothes are all prepared," I replied professionally, gesturing toward the rack. "Would you like to try on the first outfit?"

Eleanor's eyes lit up as she examined the blazer. Without waiting for her stylist, she slipped it on and walked to the full-length mirror. The tailoring accentuated her figure perfectly, just as I'd envisioned.

"Oh my God," she exclaimed, turning to examine different angles. "This is hands down the best casual wear I've ever worn. Where's the designer? They deserve a bonus!"

I felt my cheeks warm slightly. "I'm glad you like it. I designed it myself."

She whirled around, eyes wide. "You? You're not just the coordinator?" A grin spread across her face. "Well, if this collection doesn't blow up, it's definitely my fault, not the clothes. These are perfect."

Her candid praise eased some of my anxiety about the launch. I'd always believed in my designs, but market reception was unpredictable. As I helped her with the other pieces, I found myself wondering about her relationship with Lucas.

The shoot progressed faster than anyone expected. Eleanor moved through poses with practiced ease, taking direction well and even suggesting angles that might better showcase the clothes. What I'd scheduled as a full day's work was completed three hours early.

"That's a wrap!" the photographer announced, reviewing the final shots with satisfaction.

As the crew began packing up, Eleanor approached me, still wearing the blazer. "Hey, are you free tonight? I actually got the evening off from my drama shoot. Want to grab dinner?"

I hesitated, surprised by the invitation. "Don't you need to rest?"

"Nah," she waved off my concern. "Having drinks with you seems fun. Do you like Nordic cuisine? There's this place called Aurora I've been wanting to try."

Looking at her earnest expression, I found myself nodding. "Aurora sounds perfect."

"Great!" She beamed. "You know, Serena, you're different from what I expected. In a good way."

As I watched her head to the changing room, I realized she was different from what I'd expected too. Behind the glamorous public image was someone refreshingly genuine - a "lovable goofball," as the entertainment blogs called her. Maybe that's why she and Lucas...

I stopped that train of thought. Tonight was about getting to know a potential friend, not analyzing her connection to Lucas Harrington.