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I’ve got four legal team members here, and a rep from Home Away from Home Hotel Group is coming in today, as well. A full day, so no sense being waylaid by thoughts and memories of Elianna.
Try telling that to my brain, though. Every little thing reminds me of her, and I’m immediately pulled into the place where I was last night, fear for her safety, and overwhelm for just her in general.
Things have changed for me. Undoubtedly. Wholly. And I need to figure out where to go from here.
The morning’s meetings carry on and things are progressing without a snag. I’m excited with thoughts of how this will affect our financials. In fact, I schedule a meeting with the accountants for tomorrow.
Which, in turn, reminds me that Elianna isn’t here. I’ve had to pull in one of the office staff downstairs to dictate and answer calls and urgent emails. Which is okay.
It’s just that everything reminds me of her. And I’m worried. She was in some pretty dire straits.
I sigh, thinking about seeing that high number on the thermometer, how disoriented she was, how much she needed me.
It’s my default, finding value in being needed. I’ve just never been needed by someone like her before. It’s different. It’s not self-serving like being the founder and CEO of a company . . . everyone needs you then.
No. It’s a reciprocal thing. It’s like we need each other. I need her. I love that she needed me last night, but it’s like being around her, being with her, makes me feel lighter and less burdened than I ever remember feeling. It’s not an obligation to help, to be needed by Elianna.
It’s a privilege. A gift.
At noon, right before Drake brings me and my guests our lunch to the boardroom on the main level, I text Elianna.
Hope you’re resting comfortably. Let me know when you wake up. I’ll have some food and water brought to you.
When Drake clears the meal away and grabs us some last-minute mineral waters from The Summit, I check my phone.
Elianna:I woke up and was feeling well enough to drive myself home. I just got here. Thanks for all your help.
She left? Without me realizing? I’m CEO of this company. I like knowing what’s happening around here. But more than that, I’m worried about if she’s actually okay or not.
Me:How’s your fever? Please don’t say it’s 110 degrees.
Elianna:It’s gotten down to 100. I’m feeling better.
I text a response, but don’t hear from her. I try calling and she doesn’t answer. After an hour passes, and before the afternoon meetings begin, I wave Drake over. “I’m texting you an address. Can you please go by there and see how Elianna is feeling?” If I’m honest with myself, I can acknowledge that I’d rather not have Drake go check on her. I saw how they were with each other, and the memory of that has me irrationally jealous.
But I can’t leave these meetings right now, and I’m worried about her.
Drake agrees and leaves, and that pinch of worry in my chest disappears, only to return with him a half hour later.
I call for a five-minute break when I see him in the doorway. I hurry over to him.
“How is she feeling?”
He shrugs. “I don’t know. She never answered.”
Dread pools in my gut. “How long did you knock for?”
“A while. She’s got a little yappy dog that I could hear in there . . . none too happy I was on the doorstep. I figured that racket would wake her, but she didn’t come to the door.”
“And you just left?”
A fear, maybe an irrational one, claws at my throat. She’s okay, maybe asleep again. She’s probably fine.
But what if she isn’t?
I pull Oliver and Alec aside. “Elianna’s really sick. I need to check on her.”
Alec frowns. “What do you need us to do?”
