Page 217 of The Rebel Billionaire

“Now get to a doctor. I don’t mean to be rude, but you look terrible.”

Kat comes back onto the screen, her fingers reaching towards me.

“Feel better. I’ll stream you in when I’m getting ready. Make sure you don’t miss a second.”

“Love you, sis,” I say.

“Love you more. Now do what Pen says.”

I disconnect, dropping back on the bed. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this pathetic or weak in my life. The constant vomiting and diarrhoea have left me with bruised ribs and a tender stomach. Even on a private jet, I’d struggle. The mere thought is more than I can take.

Alex returns with another rehydration drink in hand and some dry toast.

“How are you feeling?”

“Terrible.” I groan.

“If it makes you feel any better, it looks like a number of staff members have come down with norovirus.”

“Noro-what?”

“Norovirus, a highly contagious stomach bug.”

I drop back against the pillow.

“I’m sorry,” I say.

“What are you sorry about?”

“I’ve probably given it to you.”

“If you have, you have. No point worrying about it.”

He places the plate and the drink on the table next to the bed.

“Try to eat something. On the bright side, if it is norovirus, it usually lasts one to three days.”

“Great, a positive,” I say with a groan.

“Rest up and shout if you need me. I’m going to work in my office,” he says, dropping a kiss on my forehead.

“Thanks,” I say.

My chest constricts at his thoughtfulness. No one apart from Mum has cared for me the way this man has in the past forty-eight hours.

He smiles. “Rest up.”

CHAPTER 65

ALEX

Brooke attends her friend’s wedding remotely, and I give her space.

She offered to leave the apartment and return to her own, but she’s in no fit state to move, and I’d rather have her where I can check she’s okay.

It turns out that about twenty members of staff went down with norovirus over the weekend. They had all been in the same meeting room. Brooke had gone in afterwards to collect some papers I’d requested, which is presumably where she contracted it.

That space has now been deep cleaned.