Ada Vance felt the air in the conference room growing thicker by the minute. She sat at the long, dark oak table, her tablet in front of her, diligently recording every word Silas Kincaid said.
The CEO spoke in a measured tone, placing clear emphasis on every phrase, as if planning how his words would look in the meeting minutes beforehand.
«Shipments must be approved by the 15th,» he announced, looking around at those present. «No delays. Ada, make a note of that as a separate item.»
She nodded, but her fingers suddenly felt heavy. The keys on her tablet seemed to drift away, and the letters swam before her eyes. Ada tried to focus, but the sensation only intensified.
A pounding started in her temples, and a strange pressure appeared in her chest. It felt as if someone had placed a heavy stone on her ribs and was slowly pressing down.
This will pass, she thought. I just haven’t slept enough.
The last two weeks had been exhausting. The quarterly report, negotiations with new partners, endless calls, and approvals had taken their toll. Ada was used to the workload, however.
Working as the executive assistant to the director of a major logistics company required total dedication. Silas Kincaid was a demanding leader, but fair. He valued her punctuality, her ability to anticipate his needs, and her capacity to keep dozens of processes under control simultaneously.
In three years at the company, Ada had become an irreplaceable link. She knew all the intricacies of the document flow, remembered the names of key clients, and managed to coordinate the work of several departments at once. Colleagues respected her for her professionalism and the calm with which she resolved even the most tangled situations.
But today, something was wrong. She looked up at Silas. He continued speaking, gesturing with his hand.
«Iris, you need to get Human Resources involved in the staffing expansion,» Silas said. «We will need two additional client relations managers, preferably with experience in international logistics.»
Iris Kincaid, the HR director and Silas’s sister, was writing something in her notebook. Her face remained impassive and businesslike. Ada had always admired her composure; Iris knew how to keep her distance even in the most tense situations.
Fifty years old, with a spotless reputation, a sharp suit, and a neat hairstyle, she was the embodiment of order and discipline.
Suddenly, the room tilted.
Ada pressed herself sharply against the back of her chair, trying to keep her balance. Her heart began to beat in a frenzied rhythm. Her breathing quickened, becoming shallow, as if there wasn’t enough air in her lungs.
Her forehead was covered in a cold sweat against her dark skin, and dark circles swam before her eyes.
«Ada, can you hear me?» Silas’s voice sounded as if it were coming from far away.
She raised her head, forcing herself to smile. «Yes, of course. I apologize. It is just a little hot.»
«Maybe open a window?»
«No, thank you,» Ada said. «I had better step out for a minute and get some fresh air. I will be right back.»
Ada rose from the table, trying to move confidently, but her legs treacherously buckled. She felt the gazes of her colleagues on her—concerned, curious, sympathetic. Stepping out of the conference room, she closed the door behind her and leaned against the corridor wall.
The cold surface was soothing, but not for long. Her vision darkened, and her hands trembled even more violently.
I need to go outside, she decided. The air will make it better.
Ada walked past her workspace, a neat corner desk with two monitors, stacks of folders, and a pot of violets she diligently watered on schedule. She grabbed her phone and purse from the desk, threw a light cardigan over her shoulders, and headed for the elevator.
The receptionist, a young woman named Sierra, called out to her. «Miss Vance, are you okay? Should I get you some water?»
«Thanks, Sierra, no need. Just stepping out for five minutes.»
She pressed the elevator button, and a few seconds later, the doors slid open soundlessly. The mirrored walls of the cabin reflected her pale face with beads of sweat on her forehead. Ada did not recognize herself.
Usually, she looked pulled together and groomed, but now she looked sick and exhausted. Descending to the first floor, Ada walked out of the business center.
The April air hit her face with a light breeze, bringing with it the scent of blooming buds, but this brought no relief. On the contrary, the weakness intensified.
Her legs stopped obeying her, everything swam before her eyes, and she barely made it to the nearest bench situated at the entrance to a small plaza next to the building. Ada sank onto the wooden seat, closing her eyes.
Her heart continued to pound as if it wanted to burst out of her chest. She tried to breathe deeper, but every inhale came with effort. Her ears rang, and the world spun before her eyes.
Somewhere in the distance, she could hear the voices of passersby, the noise of cars, and someone’s laughter, but all of this seemed unreal, as if it were happening in another dimension.
What is happening to me?
She opened her eyelids slightly and saw the blurry outline of a person leaning over her. It was an elderly man, seventy-something, in a simple gray jacket and a knit cap. His wrinkled face expressed concern, and his hands, strong despite his age, were reaching for her wrist.
«What are you doing?» Ada jerked her hand back sharply, frightened. «That is a gift from my husband.»
The man did not back away. He looked at her intently, almost studying her, and spoke quietly. «Are you feeling sick because of this bracelet? Look here.»
Ada looked down at her wrist in confusion. There gleamed a thin metal bracelet that Victor had given her three months ago—an elegant chain with small magnetic inserts which, as he explained, were supposed to improve blood circulation and support heart function.
The bracelet was expensive. Victor had ordered it through some acquaintance, assuring her that it was not just jewelry, but a real medical device.
«You wear this constantly,» the old man continued. «Are you not allowed to take it off?»
«How do you know?» Ada’s voice trembled. «Who are you, anyway? Why did you try to take off my bracelet?»
The man straightened up, pulling a worn identification card in a dark red cover from his pocket.
«Arthur P. Vaughn. I am a doctor. Or rather, I was a doctor before I retired. I worked as a cardiologist for forty years at Mercy General Hospital, and I saw quite a few cases where such trinkets cause more harm than good.»
Ada struggled to focus her gaze on the document. The old physician’s ID, issued back in the nineties, indeed confirmed his words. A photograph of a younger man with a serious gaze, a stamp, and the signature of the chief of staff.
«But my husband said the bracelet helps,» she objected weakly. «He would not—» Her voice wavered and cut off.
Arthur shook his head, sitting down next to her on the bench. «Listen, young lady. I do not know who your husband is, or what he told you, but I see your condition. You can barely breathe. You are pale as a sheet. Your hands are shaking. This is not just fatigue. Take off the bracelet for at least an hour, and feel the difference.»
Ada hesitated. Victor always insisted she wear the bracelet without taking it off. He said the effect was achieved only through constant use. Every morning he checked if she had put it on, and got upset if he noticed she had forgotten.
Once, she took the bracelet off before a shower and forgot to put it back on. Victor noticed only in the evening and got very agitated, spending nearly an hour explaining to her how important it was to wear the bracelet constantly.
«I do not know,» she mumbled. «My husband said I must not take it off.»
The man sighed. «Okay, then let us look at it this way. How long have you been wearing it?»
«Three months, since about the middle of January.»
«And when did the episodes start, like the one right now?»
Ada thought about it. The first time she felt sick was about two weeks after Victor gave her the gift. She had chalked it up to stress at work back then. Preparations for the annual audit were just beginning, and all departments were working in crunch mode.
Then the episodes repeated more often—once a week, then twice, then almost every day. She hadn’t given them much significance, numbing the headaches with pills and continuing to work.
«About two weeks later,» she answered quietly. «Rarely at first, then more often.»
«You see,» Arthur nodded. «Coincidence? I do not think so. These magnetic bracelets are a controversial thing. For some, they are harmless, but for others, they can be contraindicated, especially if a person has a tendency toward arrhythmia or blood pressure spikes. Do you have any heart problems?»
Ada felt everything inside her tighten. She remembered how a year ago she underwent a checkup, and the doctor noted mild tachycardia. Nothing serious, they said then. She just needed to watch her routine and avoid overexertion.
Victor knew about this. He was there at the appointment, holding her hand, calming her down.
«Yes,» she admitted. «I have slight tachycardia.»
The man frowned. «Did you tell your husband about this?»
«Of course. He was with me at the doctor’s.»
«And he still bought you a magnetic bracelet?» Disbelief sounded in Arthur’s voice. «That is strange, to say the least. Any doctor will tell you that with heart rhythm disorders, such things must be used with great caution, or better yet, not used at all.»
Ada fell silent, not knowing what to answer. Her thoughts were tangled, and Victor’s voice rang in her head. I worry about you. This bracelet will help. Trust me.
The phone in her pocket vibrated. Ada took it out with a trembling hand and saw her husband’s name on the screen.
«Victor? Hello?» Her voice sounded alarmed.
«Why aren’t you at work?» Irritation was audible in his tone. «Silas called, said you stepped out and didn’t come back. What happened? Where are you?»
«I felt sick. I went out to breathe. I am sitting on a bench by the office.»
«Again?» Victor sighed with unconcealed dissatisfaction. «Did you take the bracelet off?»
Ada looked at her wrist, where the thin chain still gleamed against her dark skin. «No.»
«Then what is the matter? You know it helps you. You are probably just overworked. Ask to leave work, go home, rest. I will finish early, pick up groceries, and make dinner.»
«Okay, okay,» she answered mechanically and hung up.
Arthur looked at her with sympathy. «That was him?»
Ada nodded.
«Listen to my advice. Go to a clinic. Get a checkup today and find out the truth. And take the bracelet off at least for a while until you get the results. See how you feel without it.»
She slowly undid the clasp and took off the bracelet. The metal was warm from her skin, pleasantly heavy. Strange, but within a minute her breathing became a little more even and the pressure in her chest eased.
Was it a placebo effect or real relief? Ada didn’t know, but the difference was palpable.
«Thank you,» she whispered, hiding the bracelet in her blazer pocket. «Thank you very much.»
The man smiled gently, paternally. «Take care of yourself, young lady. Health is the only thing that truly belongs to you. Do not let anyone manage it for you, even the closest people.»
He got up from the bench, adjusted his cap, and slowly walked away down the path, leaving Ada alone.
She sat for a few more minutes, feeling her strength gradually returning. Her thoughts were racing, but one pushed through the fog with particular persistence.