Page 205 of Off Limits Mogul

Dr. Cuthbert nods. “She is.”

“Can I see her?”

“We need to talk first.” Her expression is unreadable.

I’ve never before felt such dread, the ache in my heart unbearable.

Chapter 40

Keira

Three months later

As I stroll across the executive floor at SCORE, I smile, wave, and return thumbs-ups. I’m soaking up the love from the staff members.

During my convalescence, so many of them reached out via Rhys’s executive assistant with heart-warming messages of support. The last time most of these people saw me, I was on crutches. Thank God, I can now walk unassisted.

“Look who’s here,” Cecilia says when I park myself in front of her desk.

I return her warm smile.

We’ve grown close over the last few months. She was kind enough to come by Rhys’s place every night to drop off the flowers and stuffed animals fans left at SCORE’s security gate. She’s an absolute sweetheart. I’ve also grown much closer to Rhys’s mom.

When she wasn’t working, Dawn spent all her free timemothering me. She didn’t care that her son had hired topnotch help to assist me, she forced herself into the mother role, and I was more than happy to let her.

Mikki flew in as well. In fact, she came back not long ago. Having her around is super fun. We might be new friends, but we have a great bond.

The second time around, she just showed up at Rhys’s door, unannounced. She planned on staying a couple of weeks, but she’s still in LA. My life may be drama-filled, but it pales in comparison to what she’s been dealing with. Jaw-dropping stuff.

“You’re finally one hundred percent,” Cecilia says.

“I’d say I’m ninety percent. My left leg isn’t quite there yet.” My eyes lower to my ballet flats. “I won’t be able to wear heels for a while.”

“You’re still standing strong—pun intended—that’s all that matters,” she says.

Amen to that.

The advanced motorcycle training saved my life. The helmet, heavy motorcycle riding pants, and armored leather jacket are close seconds. Since I had lost weight since leaving LA, my boyfriend bought me new gear that fits properly. I balked at the eye-popping price tag at the time, but he wouldn’t hear of it. Thank God he ignored my protests. Although, I’ll end up having to replace all my riding gear, they were instrumental in keeping me alive.

I had to wear a neck brace for a while, but I didn’t sustain a spinal injury or trauma. I can’t thank my lucky stars enough. I was badly bruised, suffered from severe road rash, and I broke a bone in my lower left leg. It took the doctor an hour to reposition it. I was in a cast for weeks. The recovery was difficult and frustrating. It was also agonizing at times. I promised myself I wouldn’t rely on painkillers, but I had to cave in. Rhyswas watching over me like a hawk. He wouldn’t say it, but we both knew he was worried. People get hooked on painkillers all the time.

Noah was by my side, doting all over me for two weeks. When he went back to New Zealand, he took a little piece of my heart with him. The accident opened my eyes. I begged my brother to come back to LA. There are six months of production left for the series he’s working on. This is the last season. After that, he’s coming back home for good. There’s no shortage of work in Tinsel Town for his skill set.

“You look like you mean business today.” Cecilia gives me a onceover. “Anything I should know about?”

“Maybe,” I say, brushing my fingers through my hair. My whole life, I’ve had a curtain of hair, extending down to my waist. After shaving it off in Nepal, I knew it would grow back. After the accident, cut and color were the last things on my mind. Once I was back on my feet, I couldn’t wait to get it cut short and colored blonde again.

“Come on, spill the beans,” Cecilia says.

I shake my head. “I can’t yet. I haven’t even told my boyfriend yet.”

She smiles wide. “You’re in luck. He got in twenty minutes ago. Fair warning, he’s a little grouchy.”

“Yeah, even when you get some shuteye, a red eye flight is always brutal,” I say. Rhys was at a conference in Chicago and another in Detroit.

“It’s more than that.” She leans into her desk. “If I could figure out how to get Margaret Camden to shut her mouth, I’m sure Rhys would give me a big fat raise. I fear only a miracle of God would make that happen.” The bitterness in Cecilia’s voice doesn’t go unnoticed. “This morning’s interview was laughable. The things that came flying out of her mouth were farfetched.” Sherolls her eyes.

I sigh. “She’s exhausting.”