Chapter 15 Winston
WINSTON
It’s been a few days of being holed up in the penthouse, enjoying time with my son and my future wife.
I hate that her mind and heart are conflicted by Hanson.
I’ve never met him and I’d be fine if I never met him, but he’s clearly very important Dove.
I know she doesn’t want to believe he’s in love with her, but he is.
The man is hurt, and nursing a broken heart over the fact that the best friend he fell in love with is with another man.
And I don’t plan to ever give her up.
He will never have her like I get to. He will never feel her like I do. He won’t be able to feel her lips against his or her body tensing as she orgasms on his cock.
I had to go without her for eight months. I know how devastating it is to miss a woman you think will never be yours. I understand how much that hurts, but if he wants to continue to be in her life, he better get used to it.
My phone vibrates with Olivia’s name flashing across the screen. “Olivia,” I answer. “Did you make it?”
“I did. I got here late last night. A few things, Dr. Warrick, outside your door is a baby sling for you. Please read the instructions.”
“I’m not an idiot. I know. What else?”
She sighs, crackling the connection with her breath. “There’s a lot of buzz about you and that Landon asshole. You need to make sure you show up because a lot of people here are talking about not coming back next year. You’re going to lose a lot of donors if you don’t do something about this.”
“I’ll take care of it.” I check my watch to see we only have about thirty minutes before we need to leave. “I don’t want Landon giving any of his lectures. Please revoke his privileges. I want him escorted off the premises.”
“No. I do not recommend you do that. You need to pretend you and he can exist in the same space and be professional. After this conference, fine, don’t welcome him back.
The only damage control you need to do is pretend that he doesn’t bother you.
If you revoke his clearance now, the people that are here for him will leave, and you can’t afford to allow that to happen. ”
I scoff confidently as I sip my coffee while I watch Dove get ready for the day. She’s putting on a little makeup, “to look alive” she said. I think she looks beautiful, but it isn’t about what I think. It’s about Dove and how she feels.
“I can afford it, but my reputation means more than money.”
“That’s what I mean, Winston. This isn’t just your reputation.
It’s your family’s. That is more important.
I say, we push through it. Act as if you’re fine with Landon.
Then, when all of this is said and done, we can take him down, and we can have the press ready.
If you do it now, all anyone will remember is your loud argument over Dove in the lobby.
You also don’t want anything to come back on her, right? ”
I growl, not liking the thought of anyone using anything against her. “Of course, I don’t. I’ll take care of it. I’ll be the perfect Warrick today, Olivia. I promise.”
“Good. Now, do you two need anything before the show starts? Bottles? Breast pumps? Diapers?”
“Everything.” I yawn. “Definitely breast pumps. She mentioned something about it last night. Also, I want the private jet set up for us to return, Olivia. I don’t want my recovering fiancée or my newborn on a plane with hundreds of people.”
“How do you think I got here? I scheduled a private ride. The jet is here. It’s ready whenever you are.”
“How are you always a step ahead of me?”
“After working for you for so long, it’s easy to predict what you’ll need. I need to go. I’m serious, Winston. Play nice today.”
“I will. I will.” I end the call and finish packing the diaper bag, hang it on the handle of the wheelchair, then run down the steps to get the sling Olivia dropped off before sprinting back up the steps.
I take two at a time. I don’t like being away from Dove just in case she needs help. Taking a few deep breaths, I’m relieved to see she’s still finishing her makeup, so I begin to read the instructions for the sling.
It doesn’t take long until I have the sling wrapped around me. I pick up baby Winston, slipping him into the sling, and he yawns again before falling right back to sleep. I pat his back, swaying side to side to help him fall asleep quicker as I watch Dove slip an emerald-green dress over her head.
Even though she’s done getting ready, I can already see how tired she’s becoming. “Come on, Love Dove. Sit down in the wheelchair and let’s go. I’ll do my speech that I have scheduled today and then we can come back here, then prepare to go home.”
“But the event lasts for a few days. Don’t you need to be here?” She sits down, perching her elbow on the armrest.
“Nope. Only today, and then I’m all yours for as long as you want me.” We ride the elevator down to the main floor and I bring us out the front door, doing my best to hurry or we might be late.
We take the main elevators to the third floor, following the signs to the correct room.
“Wow, there are a lot of people here,” Dove says, staring at the crowd just ahead of us. “They’re all doctors?”
“Either doctors or medical students. Coming to this conference is great networking. There were a few med students that impressed me last year and during their interview processes, I made sure they had my card to give to the people interviewing them.”
“So they were basically a shoo-in?” Dove looks up at me.
“Pretty much. I only want the best of the best. It doesn’t happen every year, but every now and then, a few catch my eye and I refuse for them to be anywhere else.
Our future relies on good medicine.” I stop in front of one room that’s full of medical inventions where researchers and doctors try to pitch their ideas to people with money.
Like me.
“We’ll have to go in that room when the speech is over. You’ll be amazed at the ideas people have for medicine. Some of them work. Some of them don’t. It’s my favorite part of the convention.”
“You love medical devices. Why don’t you just do that?” Dove asks, peering into the room the best she can.
“Because as much as I love devices, I love surgery more. I love implanting the device to save their life. There’s nothing that could top that.” I bend down and kiss her cheek. “Except you and Winston, of course.”
Dove’s cheeks turn red, and she reaches behind her shoulder to place her hand on mine, giving it a reassuring squeeze. Our conversation is cut short when we get too close to the main crowd. Dove’s loving hold on my hand turns to a desperate grip, nervous as the crowd parts.
“Dr. Livingston.” I nod to the older gentleman who should have retired ten years ago.
I hope I don’t become one of those doctors that refuses to know when it’s time to quit.
All the years we pour into this career, I can imagine it’s hard to leave, but I’m not oblivious to Dr. Livingston’s statistics these past few years.
He’s had more patient deaths than the average doctor. If he worked for any of the Warrick Hospitals, he would be forced to retire. Having too much pride is dangerous, especially in the medical field. I refuse to have my pride get in the way of saving lives.
“Dr. Warrick. I heard about your incident on the plane. Is this the lovely lady you rescued?” Dr. Livingston’s voice shakes from his old age.
“This is my fiancée, Dove Blair. And this is my son, Winston Warrick III.” I point to my son who is sleeping peacefully. I’m too nervous to touch him, afraid he’ll wake up.”
“You’re getting married? I had no idea.” Dr. Livingston lifts Dove’s hand, analyzing her empty finger. “I don’t see a ring. Young lady, I hope you give him a hard time for that.” He chuckles, which turns into a wet cough that he covers with the inside of his elbow.
Good. The last thing I need is for Dove or Winston to get sick. Dove is more susceptible to illness right now since she’s healing, and if she got sick due to someone being irresponsible at a damn medical conference, I would ban that person for life.
“My grandson could put a ring on your finger if Dr. Warrick isn’t going to,” Livingston says, officially wearing out his welcome.
“Okay, Livingston, why don’t you—”
Dove interrupts me. “As flattering as that is, Dr. Livingston, I am engaged to Dr. Warrick and just had his baby. I hope your grandson finds happiness. I hope you enjoy the conference.”
I take that as my cue to push her into the auditorium where thousands of chairs are going to be filled in just a few minutes.
The ceilings are painted to match the lobby as soon as you walk into the hotel.
Bright lights are turned on, illuminating the beautiful canvas of the hand-painted sky.
The stage has lights shining down on it too for the crowd to be able to see the presenter.
When my parents first bought this hotel, they wanted to keep as much of the original wood as possible. The stage was in very poor condition and the contractors kept warning my parents how much it would be to renovate.
They didn’t care. Mom wanted history to remain intact while they salvaged the hotel.
And now this hotel and resort is considered one of the prettiest historical landmarks.
“Dove.”
Landon’s slithering voice almost has me stop in my tracks.
He would love for us to stop.
I’m not going to. I ignore him, hoping it pisses him off even more.
“Dove! I need to talk to you!” Landon’s voice follows us to backstage. “I’ll offer you more than he could ever give you if you come back to work for me. You know you’re the best assistant I’ve ever had. I need to know you’re going to be coming back. Enough of the games.”
“No games, Landon. Let’s face it. I have more money than you. I can give her more than you could ever dream.” I step closer to him, and the security guard stands from his stool to come over to us, but I raise my hand to stop him.