Page 21 of My CEO Neighbor
"It's not a choice when the survival of your company depends on it."
"Isn't it?"
Before Ted could answer, he felt Monica shift beside him, turning to face him more directly.Her hand found his arm in the darkness, warm fingers wrapping around his wrist.
"Can I tell you a secret?"she said.
"Okay."
"Before I met you—actually met you, not just heard you through the wall—I had this whole story about who you were.Rich corporate guy who bought expensive toys to compensate for having no soul.Someone who probably had never experienced genuine human connection because you were too busy calculating profit margins."
"And now?"
"Now I think you're terrified."
"Of what?"
"Of stopping.Of sitting still long enough to realize that you're not actually happy."
The words stole the breath from Ted's lungs.His chest seized, heart rate spiking so fast that black spots danced behind his closed eyelids.
"Ted?You okay?"
He wasn't okay.His breathing had gone shallow and rapid, his hands were shaking, and the elevator suddenly felt like it was shrinking around him.The darkness pressed against his skin, suffocating and absolute.
"I can't—" Ted gasped, clawing at his tie."I can't breathe."
"Hey."Monica's voice was calm, steady, cutting through the panic that was rapidly consuming his ability to think."Look at me."
"I can't see you."
"Then listen to me.You're having a panic attack, but you're okay.You're safe."
Safe.The word felt foreign, impossible.Ted hadn't felt safe in years, maybe decades.Safety was stagnation, safety was losing ground to hungrier competitors, safety was the luxury of people who didn't have thirty employees depending on them to not screw up.
"I need to get out of here."Ted struggled to his feet, immediately bumping his head on the low ceiling."I need—"
"Ted."Monica's hands found his face in the darkness, cool palms framing his jaw."Breathe with me.In for four, hold for four, out for four."
"I can't—"
"Yes, you can.We practiced this.In through your nose."
Ted tried to follow her instructions, but his lungs felt like they were filled with concrete.His heart was beating so hard he could hear it echoing in his ears.
"I'm going to have a heart attack."
"You're not going to have a heart attack.Your body is just responding to stress.This will pass."Monica's thumbs stroked across his cheekbones."Breathe with me.Feel my breath."
Monica leaned closer, close enough that Ted could feel the warm exhalation against his lips as she demonstrated the rhythm she wanted him to follow.In for four, hold for four, out for four.
Gradually, incrementally, Ted's breathing began to match hers.His heart rate slowed from frantic to merely rapid.The black spots receded, and the crushing weight on his chest lightened to mere tightness.
"Better?"Monica asked, her hands still cupping his face.
"Better," Ted managed, his voice hoarse.
"Good.Keep breathing."
