Daniel's POV
I wake to harsh fluorescent lights and the smell of hospital disinfectant.
My head pounds. My mouth tastes bitter. An IV pulls at my arm when I try to move.
"Easy." A nurse appears. Middle-aged. Efficient. "You're at Mercy General. You collapsed. Do you remember?"
Collapsed. The word filters through fog.
Conference room. Board meeting. Standing to present. Then—nothing.
"How long?" My voice is raspy.
"Six hours. You were severely dehydrated. Exhausted. When's the last time you ate a full meal, Mr. Sterling?"
I don't remember.
"That's what I thought." She checks my IV. "Doctor wants you here overnight for observation. Then strict orders: rest, regular meals, reduced stress."
Reduced stress. Like that's possible when my company's imploding.
"I need to…" I try to sit u
