Late! In three minutes she dashes to the bathroom, applies makeup, throws on her coat and boots, then steps into the elevator.
Emilie jolted awake, already behind schedule. In a blur of speed she managed to get ready: she did her makeup while heading for the front door, glanced at the mirror, slipped into a trench coat and ankle boots. Just three minutes after waking, she was already inside the lift.
Stepping onto the street she noticed a light September drizzle, but there was no time to fetch an umbrella. The alarm had betrayed her. Emilie sprinted to catch the bus, terrified at the thought of missing work. Her boss was unforgivingany tardiness meant a lost day and the threat of dismissal.
She ran through every possible nightmare scenario for the day, already saying goodbye in her mind to her favorite clients, her bonus, and the one remaining day off. The hurried pedestrians around her seemed lost in their own thoughts, indifferent to each other. Everything looked grey and gloomy, and the rain only made it worse.
A few hundred meters from the bus stop Emilie froze when she spotted a tiny, drenched kitten by a worn bench. It tried to meow, but only faint sighs escaped.
She hesitated: keep running or help the helpless creature? She listened to her heart, knowing shed have to face her bosss anger regardless.
Getting closer, she saw one of the kittens paws twisted.
My God! Who did this to you? she whispered.
With doubt gone, she couldnt abandon it. The kitten shivered, soaked to the bone. She cradled it gently in her white scarf and raced even faster toward the stop, deciding to bring it to the office and deal with the paperwork later. Her generous heart wouldnt leave the orphan behind.
Her attempt to slip into work unnoticed failed. Just as she reached door12, her boss appeared around a corner.
Dupont! An hour late! Where have you been? Whos supposed to do your job? Whats wrong with you? he barked.
Questions rained down, deepening her guilt. Trembling and mute, tears welled up and bitterness surged.
Look! she managed, unbuttoning her coat slightly. The kitten peeked out, its sad little head visible. Warmed a bit, it let out a plaintive meow.
Its paw is injured; I couldnt leave it in the rain It was alone she sobbed, her words tangled, hands shaking.
Still shaken, she was about to gather her things and leave quietly when a warm hand stopped her. Her boss pulled out his phone, jotted an address on a scrap of paper, and ordered her to go there immediately to save the tiny injured paw.
Surprised by his sudden change of tone, Emilie took the note, tucked her coldred hands into her pocket, and hurried toward the exit.
And dont come back, he added.
Her heart tightened, but before despair could settle, he continued:
Today is your day off. Tomorrow as well. I commend your kindness and youll receive a bonus for your love of animals.
Everyone knew the boss as Sébastien Leclerc, infamous for his legendary harshness. Yet at the veterinary clinic the case was quickly resolved: the kittens paw wasnt broken, just a severe sprain. While the vet bandaged it, Emilie explained how shed found the little animal and the unexpected intervention of her boss.
Laughing, the vet revealed hed known Sébastien since childhood. Hed always been a hero to animals, rescuing puppies from water and defending kittens from bullies. As an adult he funded shelters with his earnings, a generosity that began with his very first scholarship.
With people, however, Sébastien had always kept his distance, a change that came after the tragic loss of his family. This revelation moved Emilie deeply; she thought of Sébastien for the rest of the day, feeling compelled to encourage him.
That evening, as the kitten curled up comfortably on her bed, Emilie set up a little haven for her new companion. Shed named him Minou, a perfect name in her mind. Her tender moment was interrupted by a phone callit was Sébastien.
Hows our little patient? he asked.
Blushing, Emilie animatedly reported on the kittens condition and expressed her gratitude. Sébastien invited her to dinner and they talked through the night.
What brought them together was mutual understanding and a shared love for animals. Together they cared for Minou and soon turned their passion into a joint mission to rescue distressed animals. Emilies loneliness faded, replaced by the joy and comfort of her new fourlegged friend.
Running Late! In just three minutes, she rushes into the bathroom, applies her make-up, slips on her coat and boots, and then hops into the lift.
