It turned out that getting this cold, distant man to change wasn't so difficult after all.
Alexander also set down his utensils and handed her a napkin. "Wipe your mouth."
Danielle took it and dabbed her lips. "I've left the file here. Don't forget to sign it," she said, standing up.
"Alright," Alexander nodded, his gaze fixed on her. "I'll have Nash see you out."
"No need, I can find my own way," she said with a wave, turning and leaving the office.
The moment she was gone, Alexander let out a slow breath and sank back onto the sofa, rubbing his brow. Just then, Nash came in and noticed his boss's demeanor, frowning slightly.
"What's wrong? You don't look well."
Alexander didn't answer.
"Was it Chief Engineer Crawford? Did she..." Nash began.
Alexander shook his head. "She seems to know a lot of things."
His feelings were a mess, uncertain and adrift. If she was determined to do something, he knew he couldn't refuse her. If she used hurting herself as leverage, he'd have no choice but to give in.
"That might not be a bad thing," Nash offered. He had been a bystander to their tangled relationship for years. Why did two people who clearly loved each other have to create so many obstacles? They could have had a good life together. And now, Danielle was the one taking the first step.
"She doesn't seem to care about many of those things anymore, Mr. Davidson. There's no need for you to keep holding onto them. If she herself has let it go, your insistence on dwelling on the past will only hurt her in a different way."
But lately, the episodes had become more frequent. It was as if they were no longer controlled by the medication or even his emotions. Previously, the normal dosage had been enough to keep him stable, at least enough to function like a normal person during work.
Seeing his pale, exhausted face, Nash felt a knot of anxiety tighten in his chest. "This frequency isn't normal. We should schedule another appointment with Dr. Rebecca and come up with a new treatment plan. I think it's because you've been self-medicating without any regimen, and you've probably developed a tolerance."
He was always so inconsistent with his treatment. But without someone there to watch over him, it was hard to maintain a routine. Alexander was strict about everything except his own health.
Alexander took a deep breath. "Schedule a meeting with Rebecca for tonight."
---
That evening.

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