The Billionaire's Widowed Assistant

Chapter Three

After walking for a long while, and since she could not see or hear any sign of HIM following her, she stopped by the side of the river.

She sat down on a large stone.

She started to slump forward, but the sharp pain in her left shoulder wouldn’t allow her.

After resting for just a few brief moments, she walked to the water’s edge, dropping the blanket. Carefully, stooping down, she placed the crowbar beside her, and cupped some water into her hands to drink.

Ouch!

That hurt.

She felt sore all over.

Her hair fell limply down around her face. Blood dripping all over her face and body. The only part of that did not hurt was her feet.

Vicki picked up the crowbar and blanket, tried to cover herself again, and resumed walking in the same direction.

Maybe she should look for a road and try to flag someone down.

No!

HE Could still be looking for her. What if HE saw her?

No, the best idea was to continue along the river until she found a house that looked safe and got help that way.

That kind of house would she find?

Snap.

Vicki’s sensible heal broke, so she just kicked them off.

Oh, well.

Better to walk barefoot, than to hobble around in broken heels.

Ouch, the rocks felt like needles on the bottom of her feet as she walked.

So much for her feet not being injured!

Eventually, she thought she say a flicker of light through a break in the trees. She paused at the edge of a clearing a moment later.

There!

A house was just a couple hundred yard away. And what a house. This was a mansion. Under normal circumstance, she would be impressed and intimidated by such a magnificent house. It looked familiar, but she barely took notice of it in the back of her mind, since she was so happy to find any house.

Vicki quickly started walking across the expanse toward the house. This house, if you could call it that was a godsend to her. Still, something nagged at her about the place. It was like she had been here before.

No, that’s crazy!

There was no way that she knew the owner of this house.

As she approached the back door, the pain in her side and shoulder started to hurt worse as the adrenaline faded from her system. She started stumbling.

She literally fell against the door. Bracing herself on the right shoulder, she knocked awkwardly.

And knocked.

And knocked.

She felt herself weakening and began to slide down the door until she plopped down upon her backside, she weakly knocked again.

Oh no!

They had all gone to bed and she would probably die out there before anyone found her.

As she raised the crowbar to knock again, the fringes of her eyesight got blurry and grew dim. The crowbar slipped from her fingers. She thought a light came on under the door. The door was jerked open. She fell into what she vaguely saw was a kitchen. A man stood over her with a small pistol. “What the Hell?” She heard him say.

A familiar man.

Ethan. Thank God!

“Vicki?” His voice sounded so far away.

Before she fainted, she whispered, “Safe. I’m safe.”

*****

Vicki?

What was she doing here?

What in the world had happened to her?

She was barely recognizable. Her hair was dirty, matted, and had what looked like small pebbles in it. Her face was swollen bloody mess.

Barefoot?

Handcuffed?

Ethan lifted the blanket and almost threw up from the sight that greeted his eyes.

Blood.

Cuts.

Bruises.

Bite marks.

Her shirt and bra lay cut or ripped open, hanging from her shoulders. Only her skirt remained intact. He dreaded to find out what lay beneath it.

Damn it! There was even a knife sticking out of her shoulder.

And a belt lay wrapped around her neck.

So much blood. He couldn’t even tell where it all came from.

Panicked, He called to his bodyguard and chauffer, as well as his housekeeper as he checked her pulse. “James!” He shouted. “Margaret! NOW!

Within moments, a man carrying a Glock, followed by an older woman burst into the room.

“Oh, dear lord!” gushed Margaret. “What on earth?”

James holstered his weapon, and rushed over to Ethan, who was kneeling beside Vicki. “What happened sir? Why is Mrs. White here in your kitchen, and in such a state?”

Ethan sputtered, “I don’t know, but I intent to find out…And when I do…Even God won’t be able to help the person that did this. We need to get her moved to a bed and get her cleaned up. Call a doctor.” Ethan stroked Vicki’s swollen cheek gingerly.

James held up his hand. “Sir, I understand your concern, but first, I must insist that you call 911. The police will need to collect evidence. So do not touch anything yet.”

“But…” Ethan started. He sighed, “alright,” and retrieved his cell phone out of his pocket.

James grabbed some Ziploc bags and gloves. Margaret got a bowl of warm soapy water and the first aid kit. Ethan set the phone on the counter and took the load from Margaret and said, “You make the call, We will tend to Vicki.”

Ethan barely heard Margaret on the phone to the 911 operator, as he watched James take pictures of Vicki with his cell. Once he was done, he said, “Sir, we can move her now. This position cannot be comfortable for her.”

Ethan asked, “Should we remove the knife first?”

“No. Not until we have a bandage ready for it. Sir, if you would get her legs, I’ll get her shoulders. Yes, like that…slowly…Carefully…Lift together on the count of three. One…Two…Three.”

The both lifted her. A terrified scream ripped through the air. Vicki had started to come to, but the pain of being lifted was just too great.

They carefully, carried her to the guest room, followed by Margaret, still on the phone, carrying the soapy water and first aid kit. She was laid down gently on her right side.

James spoke again softly, “After I remove her cuffs, place a gallon bag on each foot and hand, fastening it with a rubber band to preserve any evidence for the police, after I remove and bag the knife, I will do a quick perimeter sweep, to make sure that she wasn’t followed.”

Ethan clenched his hands into fists at the thought of the monster that did that, following her here. In the background, he could hear Margaret relay everything that was going on to the 911 operator. He held Vicki on her side, as he watched James, quickly pick the cuffs and bag them, then grab gauze pads. James pulled the knife out of her shoulder and pressed the wound with the pads. There was still a good sized stream of blood that escaped the gauze. James nodded at him to press the gauze onto the wound. With silent worried eyes, Ethan pressed the gauze firmly as he watched James bag the knife.

After taping the gauze to her shoulder, Ethan and James, gently rolled her onto her back. They began to divest her of her town and tattered clothes. When they had removed her blouse, he heard a rapid intake of breath from James. Ethan saw that amidst the horrendous bite wounds and shallow cuts, there was another deep stab wound in the front of he left should, blood just flowing the wound, and a gunshot hole in her side. In complete silence, he assisted James is applying pressure to try and stop the bleeding of both wounds, then bandage them.

James whispered, so as to not disturb Vicki if she awoke, “She’s been stabbed twice, AND shot. I can see the entry and exit wounds. Hopefully, it didn’t hit anything vital. I have no clue how she walked from wherever she was to here in this condition.” He continued to clean and bandage wounds on her torso.

Once her chest was mostly bandaged, with Ethan’s assistance, he cut her skirt off without nicking her skin. When they open it to slid it out from under her, Ethan, James, and Margaret gasped together.

With tears welling up in his eyes, he heard Margaret say to the operator, “She is bruised and bleeding between her legs, It appears that she has been abused in that way. There are also multiple cuts across her thighs. How long until the ambulance arrives?”

Ethan looked at his watch and was surprised to see that only thirty minutes had passed. It had felt like a lifetime. As much as he enjoyed his home being out of the city, he cursed that fact as they waited for the paramedics.

As soon as they heard the sirens, he grabbed the blanket from the end of the bed, not wanting her to be so vulnerable when they arrived.

Margaret returned with officers and EMTs with a gurney. James filled in the EMTs with what they had found and done, while Ethan explained how he found her at the kitchen door.

He was about to escort the officers to the kitchen, when he heard a moan from the bed. He turned to rush her side.

“Vicki” he called softly, “Vicki, can you hear me? If you can, please open your eyes.”

Her eyes shut more tightly, her brows furrowed, as she tried to curled into a ball, pleading, “Please don’t hurt me anymore!”

Ethan felt like his heart was breaking from the pain in her voice. He stroked her cheek, and insisted, “Vicki, it’s Ethan. You are safe. You are in my home. Please, open your eye, so we can see how badly you are hurt.”

“Ethan?” She whimpered, “Is it really you?”

“Yes, Vicki. Now open your beautiful eyes for me sweetheart.”

Her eyes fluttered open. She groaned, “Oooow. Everything hurts.”

The EMTs started asking her questions. The officers motioned to Ethan to lead them to the kitchen. When he neared the door, Vicki called out in a panic, “Ethan, where are you going? You are not leaving, are you?”

“I’m just going to the kitchen with the officers, I’ll be back in a moment.” He nodded to Margaret, “Margaret will sit with you.”

Reluctantly, she said, “Okay.”

“Once I return, I will stay by your side,” he tried to assure her.

She brightened slightly, but replied, “You don’t need to do that.”

“Yes, I do.” And with that, he left the room, with the officers on his heels.

In the kitchen, he explained how he had found her slumped against his back door, and the state she was in.

The officers took detailed notes and took pictures. Then they asked, “Did you see anyone else about?”

“No, but then upon seeing her, I really didn’t look,” he admitted.

Officer Holman picked up a crowbar just outside the door, “Sir, is this your crowbar?”

Ethan strode over to him, “I don’t think so, but James would know better.”

“Do you have exterior light?” asked officer Ross.

Ethan answered by flipping a switch and the back yard was flooded with so much light, it looked like daytime.

The officers started searching the yard, when one stooped to look at a large dark spot on the grass at the edge of the clearing that his house is in, Ethan hurried over, “Is that blood?” he inquired.

Ross rose and insisted, “Mr. Wright, We must insist that you back in and allow us to preform our investigation without interference. We will keep you informed.”

Hesitantly, Ethan nodded, and started to return the house. He heard Ross, radio for backup. “We need search dogs, and spot lights.”

Ethan paused as her heard Holman say to Ross, “There seems to be some hair and blood on the crowbar. Most likely, she hit her attacker in the head with it. Probably saved her life.”

Ethan turned back, “What?” He roared. “You have to find the bastard that did this. They need to pay!”

“Holman looked thoughtful, “Mr. Wright, I must ask this, are you in Mrs. White in a personal relationship?”

“Ethan, exploded, “No! Of course not. She’s been my PA for a year. She’s a lovely young woman. She has been a widowed mother for all of that time. I’m just angry at what happened to her. No one should be treated like this. Now, I’ll let you get back to your investigation,” as he stormed away.

*****

When he arrived back in the guest room, He heard Vicki weakly arguing against being taken to the hospital, saying, “No, I’ll be fine after a few night sleep.”

Ethan, angry that she didn’t want to make sure that she was alright, sat on the edge of the bed. “Vicki,” he said when she smiled slightly at him, “You have been through a traumatic ordeal. You need to go and get a full workup. You need to make sure that you are okay enough to go home, or something worse could happen to you.. Not to mention, they need to collect any and all evidence that will help put that…that BASTARD away for the rest of his life.” She turned ashen at the mention of her attacker, but was still reluctant, so he continued urgently, “Think about your family! They need you strong and well.”

Tears welled up in her eyes, “Oh! My God, Kat! She must be worried sick! My kids! They mustn’t know,” she babbled, as she attempted to sit up, but fell back against the pillows with a gasp and a groan.

Ethan watched as pain welled up in her eyes. He took her hand, “I will take care of everything, I will call after we get you settled at the hospital, and we know more. I will arrange for a caregiver for your children until such time as you are back on your feet.”

Vicki stammered, “I’ll pay you back.”

“Vicki,” Ethan insisted, “We can discuss this when you are feeling better, and more up to arguing,” He smiled. “Just concentrate on getting better and let the EMTs do their job.”

Tired, and in pain, Vicki nodded.

Ethan watched as the paramedics transferred her to the gurney. She cried out in pain and passed out again. The EMTs took her out of the room. Ethan glanced at James and Margaret, “James, I will be accompanying Vicki in the ambulance. Please follow with the car. Margaret, please try to go back to bed. Take the whole day off. I will let you know what happens.” He watched as they both nodded.

As he turned to leave, Margaret said, “Sir, I would be happy to assist in taking care of Ms. Vicki when she can leave the hospital.”

“Thank you. I will take that into consideration,” Ethan nodded and continued out of the room, and hurried to the ambulance. When he attempted to climb in, one EMT said, “Sir, you may not travel in here with her, you are not a relative.”

Ethan was livid, but he gave in so as not to delay their departure. Instead he hurried to his massive garage, where James was already in the car and waiting. Ethan said nothing as he climbed in the back of the car.

Ethan sat quietly for a few minutes, fuming.

How dare they not let me ride with her!

She needs me.

What if…

No, Vicki will be fine.

She just has to be.

Why is it so important to me?

She is my PA.

She is a widow and a mother.

She is a good person.

Mollified for the moment, he quickly got out his phone and dialed.

A soft woman’s voice answered tiredly, “Hello, White residence, Katherine speaking.”

“Hello. This is Ethan Wright—“He began before being cut off.

“Thank God! I tried to call your office but didn’t get an answer,” she said swiftly. “Have you heard from Vicki, she hasn’t come home yet. I’m dreadfully worried.”

“That’s why I’m calling. She showed up at my home an hour ago. She…” he hesitated.

“That’s great! But what is she doing there in the middle of the night?”

Ethan continued, “She had been attacked.”

“Oh!” She exclaimed. “Is she alright? How did she get to your home? What happened?”

“I don’t know exactly what happened…” he hesitated again. “I think it best that she tell you. I do know that she is bad shape. Her injuries are serious, but she hopefully will be alright given enough time. I’m right behind her ambulance on the way to the hospital. I do not want to overstep, what she would want me to share.” He heard a soft sob over the quiet of the phone. “Is there any possibility that you could continue to watch her children until she can come home. I can pay you wages, or hire some help for you if you can,” he urged.

“Well, of course I will. Anything for Vic. But some help would be great. I have my kids as well.”

“Of course, I will have someone there before 10am.” He assured her.

Katherine inquired, “What could I possibly tell the children?”

“Ummm…” Ethan thought, “How about that she is very sick and needs to be with the doctors to get better?”

“Thanks.”

Ethan saw the hospital in the distance. “I will keep you informed. We are almost at the hospital, so I will let you go.”

“Have her call me,” she begged, “I need to know she is okay.”

“I will, but it may be awhile. She didn’t stay…awake for very long, before.”

After the call, Ethan sat on the edge of his seat, impatiently waiting for James to drop him off at the door. Ethan ran into the ER, and demanded of the lady at the desk, “Where is Vicki White? She just arrived in an ambulance!”

The nurse calmly looked into her system for the information. Then she looked at him, “Are you family?”

“I’m her employer.”

“I am very sorry, sir. We are only allowed speak to family,” she replied.

He leaned over the counter, looking deep into her eyes, he watched her eyes widen as she looked up at him. She began smiling seductively, leaning toward him, showing more of her cleavage. She placed a manicured hand on his arm, licked her lips slowly and asked, “Is there anything else that I can assist you with?”

Wanting to pull away, but needing the information, he placed his hand over hers and smiled back, “While I am sure that there are many ways that you could help me, I really need to know where my employee is. I was the one that found her. I feel a certain responsibility to her. Could you possibly help me?” As she began to shake her head, he said suggestively, “Maybe you could assist me further, once I have had time to check on her.”

He watched as she swallowed hard, and her will waivered then she said haltingly, “Well…sir…I get off at noon…Mrs. White is currently in the ER.” She looked at him inquisitively.

He winked, smiled slowly and nodded his approval. He then removed his hand, allowing his finger to caress the back of her hand where it lay on his forearm. He turned to hurry to the ER, hoping that he was busy when the nurse clocked out.

The doctors were hovered over Vicki, taking blood, discussing tests to run, and examining her wounds. Ethan was not allowed in the area yet. So, he stood against the wall glowering at everyone, wanting answers now. An older nurse with a clipboard approached him slowly, “Sir, can we get some information from you?”

Ethan did not have much information, as Vicki was not one to share much with others. After speaking with the nurse, he waited to speak with the attending physician. He watched, as the physician straightened for Vicki’s bedside. Ethan could see the doctor’s eyebrows furrowed as he looked at Vicki and began making notes. Ethan could now see Vicki, as orderlies and nurses rushed off. Vicki lay so still that Ethan almost thought that she had died. He rushed to her side, brushing past the exiting orderlies. He gingerly picked up her hand and held it tenderly. It was cold to the touch.

He looked up to see the doctor looking at him curiously. “Are you her husband?” the doctor inquired.

“Her employer, I was the one who found her. Will she be alright?”

“I am unable to give you any information, as you are not related.”

Ethan asserted, “I am Ethan Wright, CEO of Wright Industries, and major contributor of the hospital.”

The doctor nodded, but said, “I understand that Mr. Wright, but Doctor/Patient confidentiality prohibits me from sharing Mrs. White’s information without her permission. Right now, she will be transferred to a private room so that she will be more comfortable.”

Ethan, furious, wanted to lay into this doctor, but just followed as Vicki was transferred to a private room. He was about to confront the doctor when he heard a moan from the bed. His countenance quickly changed from one of fury, to one of concern. “Vicki?” he called gently, “Can you hear me? If you can hear me, please open your eyes.”

Vicki groaned again. She whispered, “Lights.”

Silently, the doctor picked up the remote and dimmed the lights. “Mrs. White? Can you open your eyes?”

Vicki, upon hearing a strange voice, jerked her eyes open. “What…”she whispered hoarsely, “What happened? What are you doing here?” Her eyes darted around the room, “Why am I in the hospital?” She lifted up her head, trying to sit up, only for her head to fall back down, with a groan of pain.

Just as Ethan was about to tell everything to Vicki, the doctor said, “Mrs. White, what do you remember?”

Vicki’s eyebrows furrowed. “What….I don’t…”

Ethan feels strangely grateful that she was unable to remember, what must be a horrific ordeal. He let out a relieved breath.

A knock on the door interrupted his musings. Officer Ross entered with his partner. “Doctor, is Mrs. White awake and able to have visitors?”

The Doctor nodded. Vicki looked confused, “Why do the police…” her voice trailed off. She slammed her eyes closed, as suddenly, the memories of what happened crashed upon her like waves upon on the shore during a storm. Great heaps of sobs racked her body. She yanked her hand from Ethan’s grasp, covered her face and sobbed all the harder.

Ethan helplessly looked from Vicki to the Doctor, to the Officers, and back to Vicki. He waited patiently for her to calm down. He wanted to make her feel better, but understood that he did not have that power.

After a few minutes, the sobs started to gradually slow. And they slowed to whimpers and hiccups from so much crying. Ethan grabbed the box of tissues on the side table he silently pressed a few tissues into her hands by her face. She briefly nodded her thanks. She wiped her eyes and face, then blew her nose. She looked up at the officers, “Go ahead.”

“If the Doctor and Mr. Wright would leave the room…” Officer Ross began. The doctor nodded, assured Vicki that he would be back to check on her, and exited.

Ethan looked at Vicki questioningly, “Vicki?”

“It’s okay Ethan. Go ahead, I’m sure you have other things to do.”

Slowly, Ethan nodded, “I’ll go get something to eat, but I will be back soon, would you like me to bring you anything?”

Vicki smiled, “Hot cocoa, please.”

Ethan smiled at her. It was a small joke of theirs that he like black coffee, while she didn’t drink coffee at all, only hot cocoa.

He was walking across the room as Officer Ross asked her to recount her afternoon. She began, “I left work at 5:00. I went to the mall, to meet with Mr. Schmitt for a job interview…”

As the large heavy door slowly closed, Ethan slumped against the wall and closed his eyes.

Job interview?

What was going on?

What was she interviewing for?

Why did she need to have an interview?

Was she looking to leave him?

I mean, his employ?

He mentally shook himself. She was in no condition for him to be interrogating her. He slowly opened his eyes looking at the floor of the hall. Black boots were across the hall from him. As his eyes scanned the figure standing opposite from him. It was James.

An idea began to form.

After a short conversation with James, Ethan quickly got some food for himself and some hot cocoa for Vicki, then hurried back her hospital room.

As he silently opened the door, he heard her talk about her attacker beating her, stabbing her, and finally, sexually assaulting her. Her voice cracked when she spoke of the…the person…no, not a person, a monster…the monster forcing his way inside of her body. Ethan filled with rage as he handed her the cocoa, careful to keep his face neutral as she looked up at him, eyes, wounded like an animal’s, wide with tears. He felt his heart crack even as the fury inside him raged to get out. He brought a chair to her bedside as she completed her story of wandering through the woods and stumbling, literally, to my home.

When her voice finally, faded away, Ethan waited for a few moments, as the officers asked her questions about details from her ordeal. When they seemed content with her answers for the moment, he said, “She really should rest now,” as he pressed the button for the nurse. The officers nodded, thanked Vicki, leaving their card, and telling her to call them if she thought of anything else. She nodded.

When Officer Ross reached the door, he looked at Ethan. “Mr. Wright, we need to interview you as well with regards to what happened from the time she showed up at your home. Why don’t you meet us at the station in an hour for the interview?” He inquired.

Ethan acquiesced, “Sure. I’ll be there.” He immediately got out his phone and called Margaret to come and stay with Vicki, since he did not want to leave her alone, especially after just giving her accounting to the police, despite how much she protested when she heard his phone call. He over-rode her.

Vicki and Ethan sat in silence until Margaret arrived, Vicki dosing, not wanting to sleep, but unable to keep her eyes open, and Ethan alternating between rage, guilt, and helplessness.

His phone buzzed silently. He read the message. Margaret had arrived. He quickly texted her the room number, then looked at Vicki. She looked to be in a fitful sleep. While her body was still, her brow was furrowed and her was breathing in short, quick, harsh breaths. Slowly, as to not wake her up, Ethan gently caressed the top of her head. Almost immediately, her face relaxes a bit and her breathing evens out.

Ethan met Margaret at the door. In soft whispers, he filled her in on Vicki’s situation. She silently nodded, and went to sit down next to her. Ethan hesitated, then left the room.