At seven forty the next morning, Elena stood in a hotel security corridor with last night's marked-up Q&A draft in her hand.
Outside the corridor, PR assistants were handing media badges to photographers. In twenty minutes, she would have to answer the question Camila had wrapped in the words graceful separation.
Her phone rang.
The caller ID was not Noah. It was not the hospital front desk.
It was Cross Foundation review line.
Elena's grip tightened. She stepped under the nearest security camera and answered.
"Hayes family contact?" a woman asked, her voice professional and flat. "This is Cross Foundation medical assistance review desk. We are calling regarding Noah Hayes's qualification review."
"This is Elena Hayes. I am Noah's emergency contact. Please go ahead."
The woman turn
