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.
Mr. Harold looked up in surprise.
“What? Is everything okay?”
All I could do was give an unconvincing nod and try to not look horrified.
I didn’t want to tell him who had called or why because I didn’t want to worry the old man in the state he was already in.
I was afraid the news might give him a heart attack, and I didn’t need more people in the hospital.
I would let him know what was going on when I had more answers.
“Sorry, Mr. Harold. I’ll be back as soon as I can,” I said before slipping out the door, leaving him with a confused and helpless expression on his face, forced to do this on his own for the time being.
I quickly jogged for the elevator, willing it to speed up as it descended down to the lobby, which was now dimly lit at this hour.
I gave the bored security guard a nod and quickly got into my car, barely looking for oncoming traffic as I peeled away from the curb.
The hospital wasn’t far, but with New York traffic, it felt like it could be in a different state.
I hit my palm against my steering wheel as I hit another red light.
“Damn it,” I said loudly.
Why couldn’t that Juliet woman give me any insight as to why Gabriella was in the hospital?
The worry in my stomach made me nauseous, and then I thought about the baby, which made me want to puke right there in the car.
They had to be okay. Both of them. When the light turned green, I hit the gas and my tires squealed.
Calm down.
I wouldn’t be of any use if I landed myself in the hospital too.
Forty minutes later, I pulled into the parking garage of the hospital.
The night had already settled in the city, the tall building lit up under the moonless sky.
I shuddered looking up at it as I strode quickly for the doors.
I waited impatiently behind the man talking to the nurse at the front desk, tapping my foot against the tile floor.
He was asking where the nearest restaurant was for takeout, as if this was a pressing issue.
“Come on, man,” I said under my breath.
He turned and shot me a look before continuing his conversation with the nurse.
“Isn’t there a cafeteria you can go to?” I asked, stepping forward, nearly shoving him aside.
“It’s closed, asshole,” he said, hostility in his voice.
“Then use your phone and Google it.” I turned to the nurse who looked between us nervously, as if we were about to brawl. I would if it came down to it. “Now, I need you to tell me where a Gabriella Harold is.”
“And you are?” she asked, looking up at me speculatively.
“I’m Chandler White. I need to see her.”
“Sir, what is your relation to the patient?” she asked, clearly not caring what my name was.
“I’m her…her…”
I didn’t know what to call myself. The man still waiting on a stupid restaurant recommendation stood by snickering. I shot him a look, resisting the urge to give him a vulgar gesture.
“Look, I’m the father of her baby. I need to see her right now.”
The nurse looked at her computer and typed on the keyboard.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t see you on here as a list of visitors,” she said. “It’s family only.”
“I told you I’m the father.”
“Are you married?” She raised a brow.
I tried to ignore the judgmental look on her face.
“No.” I sighed frustratedly.
“Then I’m sorry, sir.”
“This is ridiculous,” I said, my voice rising, catching the attention of others in the waiting room.
“Sir, I need you to calm down. This is hospital protocol.”
“What do you think about the Chinese restaurant around the corner? Ling’s?” asked the man, stepping up beside me.
“Are you serious right now?” I asked him, my face turning red.
“I’m hungry. I’ve been waiting here awhile.” He shrugged.
“I’ll pay you $100 to get the hell away from me,” I said, pulling out my wallet.
“Okay. Sure,” he said with a smirk, holding out his hand. I slapped a hundred-dollar bill in his hand and waved him away before turning to the nurse who looked unimpressed.
“I’ll pay you. Anything. Just let me back there,” I said, holding up my wallet.
“That’s not how this works, sir,” she said, shaking her head.
“Then I’ll sue you. I’ll sue the entire hospital!” I yelled, throwing my hand up in the air exasperatedly.
“I’m going to have to call security,” she said, reaching for the phone.
“That won’t be necessary,” said a blonde woman who had appeared beside me. “Please, ma’am. He’s clearly distressed. I can confirm this is the father, and technically he is family to that unborn baby,” she said firmly, crossing her arms.
The nurse looked thoughtful for a moment, pursing her lips. She picked up the phone and to my relief didn’t call security. “Let me check with my supervisor,” she said, shooting me a look.
I turned to the woman beside me. “You must be Juliet?” I asked.
“And you must be Chandler.” The way she said it and the iciness in her blue eyes made me think she wasn’t a big fan of mine.
I nodded and rubbed the back of my head sheepishly over the scene I had just caused.
“Thanks for that,” I said, nodding to the nurse who was still on the phone.
“They’re really strict. I’m not allowed back there either.” I could see the worry etched on her face.
“What happened?” I asked. “Is she okay?”
“We were on a walk talking about…things…” The way she paused before she said it, I could only assume it was about me. I winced slightly. “And then she got lightheaded and had to sit down. She couldn’t even stand up. I hailed a cab and brought her here.”
“What did the doctor say? Have there been any updates?” I asked, worriedly looking toward the double doors that stood between me and Gabriella, along with the nurses who were intent on not letting anyone through.
“I don’t know,” she said. “They haven’t told me anything yet.”
“Sir,” called the nurse, hanging up the phone. “You may go back now.”
She hit a button and the double doors opened.
“Thank you,” I said, breathing a sigh of relief. “I’ll let you know what I find out,” I told Juliet, who looked only slightly relieved.
“Room 412,” the nurse called after me as I strode through the doors.
I hurried down the hallway, reading the room numbers as I went, desperate to get to Gabriella and see if she was okay. See if the baby was okay.
I stopped at room 412 and took a deep breath, bracing myself for whatever was on the other side, before opening the door.
I stepped inside the dimly lit room and saw Gabriella lying in the hospital bed.
She was on her side, her eyes closed with an IV in her arm.
She looked exhausted and drained of color.
She looked so small and weak. My heart lurched for her.
“Gabriella,” I whispered to see if she was awake.
Her eyes opened slowly, adjusting to the light. As soon as they realized it was me who stood in the doorway, she started sobbing. I rushed to her side and knelt beside the bed, wrapping my arms around her.
“I’m here. I’m right here,” I whispered into her long brown hair, kissing her head over and over again.