He’d likely just been delivering her test results, which meant she was awake.
“Is she okay? What’s going on?” I asked the doctor.
“Excuse me?”
“I am enquiring after Miss Gray. I’m a personal friend,” I said.
“I, um, well, I’m not supposed to disclose?—”
“Allow me to introduce myself, I’m Josef Aziz,” I said, watching as understanding dawned.
My name might not be as well-known as Volkov, but like Mario just confirmed, I was a major donor of this institution. Dr. Reynolds here, head of Emergency Medicine, would certainly know who I was.
“Yes, yes, Mr. Aziz, nice to see you. Um, Miss Gray is fine. I imagine it was the shock of learning her father had passed that caused her to faint,” Dr. Reynolds explained.
That made sense. I was told of Franklin Gray’s death seconds after we entered the ER.
The old bastard had it coming, even if he was kinder to me than his daughter had been.
I admit, I was shocked when Meredith said he was her stepfather.
I hadn’t known that little nugget. But I had my best guys researching it now, running down her claim. I needed facts. I needed indisputable truths.
If Franklin Gray was Meredith’s stepfather, why hadn’t she said so before?
I fucking hated not knowing. But at least I could busy myself taking care of her while I had my best team figuring all that out. If Meredith had secrets, I was going to learn them.
One way or another.
“Did you do the usual workup?” I asked.
“Oh yes, a full blood panel and exam.”
“And?” I asked, eyebrows raised.
What the fuck was up with this guy?
“And Miss Gray is in optimal health.”
“Good. And her father’s remains?”
“All taken care of. He had his wishes on record since he was a donor, as well,” Dr. Reynolds said, tipping his head towards me.
I really didn’t like being lumped in the same category with Franklin fucking Gray and my displeasure must have shown because Dr. Asshat backed away from me.
“Yes, well, um, excuse me. I must be going,” Dr. Reynolds said.
I moved past the physician and grabbed the handle to her door, ignoring the way his eyebrows shot up. If he expected me to ask permission to enter Meredith’s room, he could think again.
Seeking approval for my actions was something I had not done in a lifetime, or so it seemed.
I was Josef Aziz. Former soldier. Mercenary. Bodyguard. Founder of Sigma International Security.
True, my security firm had only one client. But when you worked for Volkov Industries, you didn’t need another.
I’d known Adrik and Marat Volkov for over twenty years. Longer than I’d known Meredith. But it was her father’s—no, her stepfather’s money that allowed me to invest in their company.
The idea I was missing something, something big, in Meredith’s personal life sat in my stomach like a brick.