THE RICH ALPHA

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Maggie sat in the waiting room. Her head was bent so she stared at the floor. Around her were the anxieties of half a dozen other people, but she couldn't focus on anything other than her thoughts. The gurney, the ambulance ride, all were fresh in her mind.

She glanced at her watch. Two hours ago. That's how long it'd been since she'd seen her father. He'd tried to smile for her, but his strength was waning when the doctors took him into the emergency room. She was relegated to await news, good or bad, and stew in her panicked thoughts.

"Miss O'Hara?"

Maggie jerked her head up. Before her stood a young man in an operating gown. A blue bandanna covered his head above his eyebrows.

He smiled down at her. "You are Miss O'Hara, aren't you?"

She jumped to her feet and nodded. "Yes, I am. How's my father? Is he okay? When can I-" The doctor held up his hand.

"He's fine. I came out here to get you and bring you to the room," he explained.

Maggie felt her heart slow. A wave of relief and exhaustion came over her. Her legs shook and she fell back into her seat. "Thank god. . ." she whispered.

The man chuckled and offered her his hand. "Don't thank him yet. Your dad's had quite a shock, but why don't we go see him?"

Maggie smiled and accepted his help in standing. "That would be wonderful."

The doctor led her into the white depths of the hospital. The smell of cleaning formulas hit her nostrils. Open doors revealed empty beds or people in white gowns. Nurses walked the halls. Some of them gave the doctor a quizzical expression, but continued on.