Six Years Later, He's My Boss

Chapter 19

Chapter 19

"Or it's a CEO protecting his company's interests," Ambelyn countered, gathering her purse and the gift bag she'd prepared for Iniko.

"Keep telling yourself that," Wednesday laughed. "So what are you doing now? Headed into the hospital?"

"Yeah, I'm here to get Iniko discharged. Bring him home—well, to your place. I need to tell him about the divorce, about us not going back to the Blackwood estate." Ambelyn's voice wavered slightly. "He's going to have questions I don't know how to answer."

"You'll figure it out. You always do. And Ambelyn? He's five. Kids are resilient. He'll be okay as long as he has you."

"I hope you're right." Ambelyn locked the car, marveling again at the sleek beauty of the vehicle. "Thank you for the car, by the way. Even if I feel completely ridiculous driving it."

"You deserve nice things. Get used to it." Wednesday's voice turned distant. "Oh, hold on, someone's at my door. Probably the cabana boy bringing more towels. This one's cute but dumb as a box of rocks."

"What happened to the marine biologist you were meeting?"

"Too serious. Kept trying to talk about ocean conservation while I was trying to get him naked. Where's the fun in that?" Wednesday sighed dramatically. "Honestly, I'm beginning to think I should just give up on finding someone who checks all my boxes and accept the arranged marriage my father set up. At least that way I'd know what I'm getting into."

"You don't even know who it is," Ambelyn pointed out.

"Exactly! It's like a terrible mystery novel. My father says he's 'suitable' and 'accomplished' and 'from a good family,' which probably means he's boring and old and has terrible breath." Wednesday groaned. "Maybe I'll just come home early and get it over with. Rip off the band-aid."

"Don't cut your vacation short because of me," Ambelyn protested. "I'm fine, really. Rosa will be wonderful with Iniko, and I can manage for two weeks."

"We'll see. I might get bored of beach boys and mojitos sooner than expected. But go—go get your son. Call me later with updates. And Ambelyn?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm proud of you. For leaving Thomas, for standing up for yourself, for taking this job. You're finally living for yourself instead of for everyone else's expectations."

Ambelyn's eyes stung with tears. "Thanks, Wed. I'll call you tonight."

She ended the call and made her way across the parking lot toward the hospital entrance, the gift bag swinging from her hand. She'd bought Iniko a new stuffed dinosaur—a blue T-Rex to add to his collection. It wasn't much, but his face would light up when he saw it.

The hospital corridor seemed longer than usual, or maybe that was just her anxiety making time stretch. She'd practiced what she'd say to Iniko about the divorce, about their new living situation. She'd keep it simple, age-appropriate. "Mommy and Thomas aren't married anymore, but that's okay because we're going to have an adventure at Aunt Wednesday's house, just you and me."

She was so focused on her planned speech that she almost didn't register the commotion coming from Iniko's ward.

Then she heard her son's voice, high and frightened, and her blood went cold.

Ambelyn broke into a run.

The scene that greeted her was chaos. Iniko sat on his hospital bed, his small body rigid with fear, tears streaming down his face. A woman Ambelyn recognized—Cassandra Winters, one of Veronica's friends—stood over him, her finger pointed accusingly. Two nurses hovered nearby, clearly uncertain how to intervene. Dr. Martinez was trying to calm the situation, his professional demeanor strained.

"—under his bed!" Cassandra was shrieking. "My son's game pad, the expensive one, was found right there under his bed! This little thief took it!"

"I didn't!" Iniko sobbed. "Mama, I didn't take it! I was at my scan, I don't even know what she's talking about!"

Ambelyn dropped the gift bag and was at her son's side in three strides, pulling him into her arms. He buried his face against her shoulder, his small body shaking with sobs.

"What the hell is going on here?" Ambelyn's voice cut through the noise like a blade.

Cassandra whirled to face her, her expression twisted with vindictive satisfaction. She was dressed entirely inappropriately for a hospital—tight designer dress, sky-high heels, makeup applied with a heavy hand. She looked like she was headed to a club, not visiting a children's ward.

"Your son is a thief," Cassandra spat. "My Lucas's new game pad went missing this morning, and we found it hidden under this little brat's bed. I always knew there was something off about him—"

"Stop talking." Ambelyn's voice was quiet but deadly. She carefully disentangled herself from Iniko, making sure he was secure on the bed before standing to her full height. "Stop talking right now before you say something you'll regret even more than you already should."

"Excuse me?" Cassandra's eyes narrowed. "Don't you dare speak to me that way. I'm a victim here. Your son stole from my Lucas—"

"Your son," Ambelyn interrupted, her voice rising now, "who you had through an affair with your father-in-law. Your son, whose existence is the result of you sleeping with your husband's father. That Lucas?"

The color drained from Cassandra's face. Around them, the nurses had gone very still. Dr. Martinez's eyebrows had climbed toward his hairline.

"How dare you—" Cassandra started.

"No, how dare YOU." Ambelyn took a step forward, and something in her expression made Cassandra step back. "How dare you come into this ward and terrorize a five-year-old child. How dare you accuse him of theft without a shred of evidence. How dare you stand there in your ridiculous outfit, shrieking like a harpy, and traumatize sick children."

"The game pad was found under his bed!" Cassandra protested, but her voice had lost its certainty.

"My son," Ambelyn said clearly, "has been in the hospital for weeks. He barely has the energy to walk to the bathroom, let alone sneak around stealing electronics. He was at his scheduled scan this morning—which I'm sure the nurses can confirm—and wouldn't have any opportunity to take anything even if he wanted to."

She turned to the nearest nurse. "What time was Iniko's scan?"