Andrei stood still, his eyes closed, even trying to control his breathing so as not to give himself away. Inside him, however, the tension was growing, like a dull noise that could no longer be ignored. He heard the door closing, then Ioana's voice in the corridor. She spoke almost in a whisper, but in the silence of the office every word was heard clearly.
— Hello… is that you? Yes… it's me… — her voice trembled for a moment, then she controlled herself. — She doesn't feel well. She's not responding… yes, I checked her pulse… it's there, but it's very weak…
Andrei's body tensed. He expected panic, maybe a call for an ambulance. But what he heard next made him clench his jaw.
— No… I can’t call the doctors now… you said that if something happens, I should call you first…
Something inside him seemed to break. “Who — you?..” flashed through his mind, as a cold shiver ran down his spine.
— Yes, I understand… — Ioana continued even more slowly. — I just didn’t think it would happen so quickly…
Andrei could barely keep his eyes open. His thoughts were spinning chaotically. Had someone given him instructions? Had someone prepared everything in advance? Does that mean that all this time… she hadn’t just been a simple secretary?
— Okay… I’ll do as you said…” her voice became even more controlled. — But what if he recovers faster?..
A short, charged pause.
— I understand.
The call ended. Andrei felt his heart start to beat faster. It wasn’t just a game anymore—the adrenaline was real. After a few seconds, the door opened again, and Ioana’s light footsteps approached. They were almost imperceptible, but he felt her presence as if it were something concrete.
A second passed, then another, and Ioana sighed softly.
— So… it happened… — there was no panic in her voice, but a heavy, restrained fatigue.
She leaned closer, and Andrei felt her breathing.
— I’m sorry… — she whispered barely audibly.
That very word made his eyes open suddenly. Ioana took a step back, her eyes wide with surprise.
— You… are you conscious?!
Andrei sat up in his chair and stared at her, coldly.
— Who did you call?
Silence fell between them immediately. Ioana didn't answer right away, she seemed to be choosing her words.
— I heard everything — he continued. — Who gave you instructions? Who told you not to call the doctors?
She slowly lowered her gaze. At that moment, Andrei understood that he hadn't been wrong.
— Answer. Now.
Ioana took a deep breath, then looked at him again. There was no fear in her eyes, but a tired silence.
— Your mother — she said slowly.
The world seemed to stop for a moment.
— What?
— I called your mother — she repeated calmly.
Andrei stood up suddenly.
— I don't have a mother.
— You do — Ioana answered just as calmly. — It's just that you haven't spoken for years.
These words hit him harder than he expected.
— You’re lying.
— No. I don’t work here by chance.
Tension and something older, deeper mixed inside him.
— Then explain. In detail.
Ioana nodded and took a step back.
— A few months ago, an elderly woman contacted me, very determined. She knew everything about you — where you work, how you live, what your habits are.
Andrei clenched his fists.
— Continue.
— She told me that you’ve lost your trust in people. That you don’t believe in anyone anymore and that this… is slowly destroying you — Ioana said calmly but firmly.
Andrei smiled bitterly.
— Very touching.
— She didn’t ask me to spy on you — Ioana added. — She asked me for something else.
— What exactly?
Ioana looked him straight in the eye.
— To find out if you’re still capable of trusting someone.
Andrei remained still. Those words hit exactly where they should have.
— Is that why she made me hire you?
— Yes.
— Was it a test?
— In a way.
Andrei began to pace nervously around the office.
— And what were you supposed to do? Wait for me to give in?
— No. She just told me to work honestly and, if you find yourself in a vulnerable situation, to do what’s right.
Andrei stopped.
— And for you, was it right not to call an ambulance?
Ioana sighed.
— I wanted to. Right away. But she told me that sometimes you get in a bad mood because of stress and that the most important thing is not to panic.
Andrei frowned.
— Bad moods?
— Yes. He's worried about you.
Silence fell again. Andrei slowly sank into his chair. Years of memories came flooding back to his mind: arguments, harsh words, the moment when he broke off all contact.
— Why didn't she call me herself? — he asked softly.
Ioana smiled sadly.
— Because you wouldn't have answered.
Andrei lowered his gaze. It was true.
— He told me one thing before I accepted this job — Ioana continued.
— What?
— "He's not a bad man. He just stopped believing that there are people who won't betray him."
Andrei closed his eyes. Something different stirred inside him — not anger, but a heavy, warm feeling in a
the same time.
— I thought everyone just wanted to take advantage of me… — she said slowly.
— Sometimes it happens. But not always — Ioana answered calmly.
Andrei looked at her.
— You didn’t take advantage.
— No.
— Why?
Ioana shrugged slightly.
— Because I’m not like that.
Andrei gave a weak smile.
— Or because my mother was behind you?
Ioana nodded.
— If I were the way you think, no mother would have stopped me.
Her words were too sincere to be a lie. Andrei looked at her for a long time, then asked slowly:
— Is she alive?
— Yes.
Andrei took a deep breath.
— Give me her number.
Ioana wrote the number on a piece of paper and held it out in front of him. He looked at it for a long time, then picked up the phone and dialed.
The signals seemed endless.
— Hello?.. — a weak and trembling voice came out.
Andrei closed his eyes.
— Mom… it's me.
There was silence on the other end, then a sigh. Andrei hung up the phone and at that moment he understood a simple thing, which he had ignored for too long: not all people come into our lives to betray us. Some come to bring us back to ourselves.
This work is inspired by real events and people, but has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters and details have been changed to protect privacy and to enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to real people, living or deceased, or to real events is purely coincidental and not intentional by the author.
The author and publisher assume no responsibility for the accuracy of the events or the portrayal of the characters, and are not liable for any misinterpretations. This story is provided "as is" and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
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