CEO's Expectant Secretary(6)

Elle’s throat clenched and she shook her head. “You’re not going to die,” she said. “You just need to get your strength back.”

Athos’s mouth lifted in a sad smile. “I’ve faced this. You must face it, too,” he said as he took a deep breath and closed his eyes. “I’m sorry for getting you involved in my scheme. Brock was right. I shouldn’t have asked you to take care of my dirty work.”

“Excuse me,” the nurse said from behind her. “We’ll be moving Mr. Koteas to the Cardiac Care Unit. We need you to return to the waiting room.”

Elle quickly kissed her grandfather’s cheek and walked to the waiting room. Brock was standing across the room. She was surprised he was still there. A rush of contradictory feelings surged through her. He had become so many things to her—boss, lover, enemy. Father of her child.

Her mind raced back to what her grandfather had told her. He was going to die soon, and her mother’s future was uncertain. Was she going to lose the two most important people in her life? Sheer panic squeezed the breath from her lungs. She tried to force herself to breathe, but she couldn’t. Her head suddenly felt light and Brock’s image swam before her eyes.

“Elle,” he said, moving toward her, his face tight with concern. “Elle,” he said again and everything went black.





Two




Alarm slammed through Brock as he caught Elle. “Elle,” he said, and swore under his breath.

Her eyelids fluttered and she moved her head as if she were trying to shake off her weakness. “Brock,” she murmured and shook her head.

“I’m taking you home with me,” he said firmly.

“No,” she said, shaking her head again. “I shouldn’t. I—”

“I won’t take no for an answer. You’ve been hit with too much today. You need to rest without interruption. My home is the best place for that.”

Elle sighed and bit her lip, her eyes darkening with flashes of different emotions. “Okay,” she said, reluctance in her voice.

Brock tucked Elle into his car and drove to his family home in Nob Hill. He ushered her up the steps to the home of his youth. He spent most of his time in the apartment he’d built at Maddox Communications, but that didn’t seem like the right place for Elle, especially in her fragile state.

“You never brought me here before,” she said. “It’s beautiful.”

“I wanted things to stay private with you.”

She stopped. “And now?”

He lifted his hand to push a strand of hair from her face. “Now it’s different.”

“Because of the baby,” she said.

“More responsibility is required when a child is involved,” he told her. “We can talk more later. Come on in. You need to rest.”

He pushed open the door and Anna, his head housekeeper, quickly rushed to the foyer. “Mr. Maddox. How can I help you?”

“Anna, this is Elle Linton. She’s had a difficult day. I’d like her to have a chance to rest,” he said.

“The blue bedroom?” she suggested. “It’s on this floor.”

He nodded. “Perfect. Is Mrs. Maddox here today?”

Anna shook her head. “No, sir. I believe your mother is in Paris at the moment.”

Thank God, he thought. He wished she would stay there, although he knew she wouldn’t. He’d learned long ago that his mother was a heartless woman who’d married his father for money and given him two sons because it was expected of her. Since his father had died, she’d tried to find ways to extract money from Brock and his brother Flynn.

He guided Elle toward the blue bedroom at the back of the house. “I think you’ll be comfortable here,” he said as Anna drew the shades and pulled down the covers.

“You know I can’t stay,” she said, sinking onto the bed. “I’m only here because it’s been such a difficult, crazy day.”

“I know,” he said, but his intentions were entirely different. “Anna, can you please get Miss Linton some water? Perhaps juice,” he added.

Elle shook her head. “Water will be just fine.” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, then opened them again as if she were fighting her weariness.

“Kick off your shoes and rest,” he said after Anna left. “It will be best for you and the baby.”

She took off her shoes and lay down on the mattress. “This is just for a little while,” she warned him, her eyelids growing heavier with each second.

“Put your feet under the covers,” he told her. “Your water will be on the nightstand. You need to rest, Elle. Close your eyes.”