I tearfully clutched my stomach, thinking the absolute worst. I couldn’t lose the baby. Not after I had fallen so in love with it andthe idea of being a mother. It felt like it was some cruel reminder that I had ever thought I wanted a different life.
“You’re okay,” said Juliet over and over again, as she clung to my hand, trying to keep up with the nurse’s speed.
“You’ll have to stay here, miss,” said the nurse. I looked at her pleadingly.
“Please. No. I need her.”
“I’m sorry, but it’s just family beyond this point,” said the nurse regretfully.
Juliet reluctantly let go of my hand and stayed behind as the nurse pushed through the two doors, leading me into a long hallway with fluorescent lights. Panic began to set in as I realized how alone I was. Chandler’s face popped in my head and I wished more than anything that he was here with me now.
Chapter 44
Chandler
The glow of the laptop warped in and out as my eyes tried to focus on the strings of numbers that were starting to look like a bunch of gibberish. Mr. Harold was hunched over his own computer. I wondered if his eyesight was so poor and that was why his face was practically pressed against the screen. I bit back a chuckle, feeling my delirium set in.
We had been at this for hours. Poring over the business accounts we still had access to through our computers, since all the paper files had been seized by the SEC for investigation. We were in the middle of our own investigation, trying to figure out who was stealing from the company and where the money was going. But with little experience in accounting, and no one wanting to get involved in a fraudulent investigation, Mr. Harold and I were on our own.
He sighed, pulling his head back from the computer and rubbing his eyes.
“Jesus. It’s already seven o’clock?” he asked in surprised dismay as he glanced at the clock overhead.
I groaned as I stretched out, my back cracking in several places. I needed that after sitting in this chair for the past several hours. We hadn’t left this room since Gabriella stormed out the door early that afternoon. My stomach grumbled in protest at the lack of food I had consumed.
“And we haven’t found anything,” I said dully with a shake of my head.
“Whoever is doing this knew how to cover their tracks. Bastard.” He slammed his fist down on the table in frustration.
“And you have no idea who would want to do this to you?”
“No. My employees have been with me for years. I considered them family. Gabriella did too. That’s what is so damn irritating about this whole thing.”
I nodded, knowing just a little about the company culture since being the head of it for a short time. While no one seemed to be a fan of me, they were a close-knit group. As an outsider, I felt the occasional jealousy of feeling like I was intruding on their family unit.
“You really created something special here, Mr. Harold. I hate to think someone would tarnish everything you’ve built.”
“Money makes people do strange things…” he said thoughtfully.
“We will figure it out,” I said, feigning confidence.
I had to. For Gabriella. I was determined to do it for her. I had made some poor choices in the time I knew her, hurting her more than I would like to admit. Even if I didn’t get another chance of her opening back up to me, the least I could do was save the company. It wouldn’t heal the deep hole in my heart, but it might help.
I forced my eyes to look back at the screen, squinting slightly as I scrolled through the page in front of me for what felt like the hundredth time, hoping something would pop out at me this time. My phone buzzed on the table, distracting me from my mission. I glanced at it quickly. It was a number I didn’t recognize. I clicked the side button and ignored it, turning my attention back to the laptop.
To my annoyance, it buzzed again. The same number. I clicked the side button again, ignoring the call.
“You going to get that?” asked Mr. Harold, raising his brow and glancing at my phone.
“Nah. It’s probably a wrong number.” I shrugged.
I was relieved to see they had gotten the hint and had left a voicemail. Curious, I picked up the phone and entered my passcode. A woman’s voice was on the other end, one I didn’t recognize.
“Hello. I’m hoping this is Chandler White. I looked your number up. I’m Juliet. I’m a friend of Gabriella’s. She’s in the emergency room and I thought you should know. She doesn’t know I’m calling, but you should be here.”
My heart sunk, my mind going to all these awful places about why Gabriella was in the hospital. Unfortunately, her friend didn’t give me any piece of mind as to why, but she did give me the hospital name and address. Feeling sick to my stomach, I hung up the phone and shakily placed it on the desk.
“I have to go,” I said, standing quickly.
