Hours passed.
I sat in the chair beside her bed, jacket off, sleeves rolled. They had brought up a plate ofentrecôte steak and friteswith a small glass of cognac, something my house staff knew I usually ate when I was in Monaco. The steak had gone cold on the tray. I barely touched it.
The nurse checked her vitals every hour.
Her breathing stayed shallow but steady.
Once she stirred slightly, a soft sound escaped her throat before she sank back into sleep.
My eyes stayed on her.
Hawking her.
Watching every movement.
She looked smaller without all that anger standing up in her body.
I leaned back in the chair, rubbing my jaw.
I had five girlfriends who loved my money, my power, my life.
Not one of them ever made me sit in a chair for six hours watching them breathe.
I finally stood and stepped out onto the balcony.
Night had fallen over Monaco. The sea stretched dark and endless beyond the hills.
I lit a blunt and leaned against the railing.
The smoke curled up into the cold air.
“She’s crazy,” I muttered to myself.
Arguing with me while she could barely stand.
Crazy.
And still… something about her made me stay until she was stable.
The balcony door slid open quietly.
The nurse stepped out.
“Her blood pressure is stabilizing,” she said.
“Good.”
“She will likely sleep through the night.”
I nodded once and flicked ash over the railing.
“You can head to sleep, and we will call you if anything changes.”
“I’m up watching. I’ll sleep in here.”
She studied me for a moment but didn’t comment.
Inside the room, the monitors continued their quiet rhythm.
