Page 152 of The Rebel Billionaire

Shit!

“Brooke,” I say gently. “What’s happened? Are you hurt? Has someone done or said something?”

Pressure builds in my chest at the thought that someone may have done something to her.

I scan her body for marks or injuries.

She shakes her head.

“Want to tell me why you’re upset? Why were you hiding in my bathroom?”

It’s clear that whatever it is, she doesn’t want to be seen in the communal bathrooms. She wanted to cry in private.

A breakup with a boyfriend?

The thought makes my chest tighten even more.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have…”

“Brooke, stop. I’m not cross. Just tell me what’s upset you.”

“It’s my sister,” she whispers, her breath catching.

“Kat?”

She nods.

“What about your sister?”

“I just got a call to say she’s been rushed to hospital. She was found in her apartment… she’s sick, really sick. They’re taking her into surgery.”

Fresh tears spill down her cheeks, and I turn and grab the box of tissues from the table next to the couch. I don’t usually have people break down in my office. I’m not sure I give off the warm-and-fuzzy vibes to my employees, but with Brooke it’s different. Even so, I doubt she intended me to see her like this.

“Do you need to leave? I can book you a flight,” I say, knowing if it were Gabbi or Enzo in hospital, I’d want to be by their side.

She shakes her head, more tears tracking down her cheeks.

“They’ve told me to stay here. There’s nothing I can do.”

“Who has?”

“My family. They said they’d call as soon as there’s any news.”

Her words sting. Family sticks together. How can her family tell a twenty-four-year-old she shouldn’t come home to see her critically ill sister after calling to let her know?

Brooke is clearly devastated.

I place a hand over hers and gently squeeze before getting up and moving to my desk.

“I’m sorry,” she whispers, and I turn to face her.

“For what?”

“All this… You’ve got enough on, what with fashion week. I told you after last week there would be no more issues.”

I shake my head. “Some things are out of our control. You’re allowed to have feelings, Brooke.”

Her phone rings, and we both jump.