Page 24 of Claiming My Cocky Boss

“Daisy, what’s going on, girl?” I murmured, feeling a surge of worry rise in my chest. Her normally bright, happy eyes were dull, and her body was tense. She let out another pitiful whine, and that’s when I noticed the small puddle of vomit near her bed.

“Oh no, no, no…” My voice wavered as the reality hit me. She was sick, and there was no way I could leave her like this, let alone drop her off at Tessa’s. How could I ask Tessa to watch Daisy when she was clearly not well?

My mind raced, trying to figure out what to do—the trip, the gala, Liam. I pulled out my phone with shaky hands and dialed his number. The moment I heard his voice, the floodgates opened.

“Liam, it’s Daisy,” I said, my words rushed and breathless. “She’s sick, and I—I don’t know what to do. I can’t leave her like this. Maybe I should just cancel.”

“Mia, slow down,” Liam’s voice came through, calm and steady. “What’s going on? What’s wrong with Daisy?”

“She’s been sick—she threw up, and she’s not acting like herself.” My throat tightened as I glanced at my dog again. “I just can’t leave her with Tessa, not when she’s like this.”

There was a pause on the other end, and for a moment, I thought Liam might agree that canceling was the only option. But then he spoke, his tone shifting into problem-solving mode.

“Okay, listen. Don’t cancel yet. I’ll call an emergency vet and meet you at your place as soon as I can. We’ll figure this out.”

“Liam, I?—”

“No arguing,” he interrupted gently but firmly. “I’ll handle it. Just get Daisy ready, and I’ll be there soon.”

His confidence was like a lifeline, and I nodded even though he couldn’t see me. “Okay. I’ll…I’ll get her ready.”

After we hung up, I moved quickly, gathering Daisy’s things and trying to calm myself down. She looked up at me with those sad eyes, and my heart ached a little. I couldn’t leave her if she was sick, not with anyone, not even Tessa. But maybe Liam was right—maybe the vet could help, and we wouldn’t have to cancel everything.

A few minutes later, I heard Liam pull into the driveway. I carried Daisy outside and found Liam holding the door open for me. His doctor had given him permission to leave the crutches behind, now only wearing the boot on his ankle, but he still limped slightly as he came to help me.

“Hey, hey, it’s okay,” Liam said softly, taking Daisy from my arms and settling her in the back seat of his truck. His hands brushed mine as he did, and despite the situation, there was something reassuring about his presence.

“I called the vet,” he continued. “They’re expecting us. Let’s get Daisy checked out, and we’ll go from there.”

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak without the panic spilling out again. Instead, I climbed into the passenger seat, casting one last worried glance at Daisy in the back.

As we drove to the vet, a swarm of butterflies fluttered erratically in my chest, their delicate wings creating a tumultuous storm of nerves within me.

We rushed into the vet's office, Liam walking beside me with that steady presence that seemed to ground me even when my thoughts were spiraling. Daisy whimpered softly in my arms,and my heart squeezed as I glanced down at her. She was never this lethargic, and I couldn’t shake the worry that something serious was wrong.

Liam held the door open for me, his hand brushing my back as I passed through. "We’ll get her looked at, and she’ll be okay," he said, his voice calm, almost soothing. He was good at that—staying level-headed in times of stress.

"Thanks for this," I mumbled, glancing at him. He met my eyes for a moment, and I saw something there—a softness I hadn’t noticed before. It wasn’t just his calm demeanor that was getting to me; it was the way he seemed to care without making a big deal out of it.

The vet tech at the desk smiled kindly as we approached, her eyes immediately landing on Daisy. "You must be Mia," she said, glancing at the computer screen in front of her. "Dr. Martinez is ready for you. Come right this way."

I followed her down the hallway, Liam close behind, his presence as steady as ever. We were led into an exam room, where a middle-aged man in a white coat greeted us with a warm smile.

"Let’s take a look at this sweet girl," Dr. Martinez said, his tone soothing as he reached out to gently take Daisy from my arms. I reluctantly let her go, my worry still gnawing at me as I watched him examine her.

Liam stood beside me, his hand resting on the back of the chair next to me. I found myself grateful for his silent support, even though I wasn’t used to needing help from anyone. The vet’s hands moved quickly and efficiently, checking Daisy’s vitals and examining her belly.

"She probably just ate something she shouldn’t have," Dr. Martinez said after a few moments, offering me a reassuring smile. "Nothing to worry about. I’ll give her a shot to settle her stomach, and she’ll be feeling better soon."

A wave of relief washed over me. “Thank you," I whispered.

Dr. Martinez gave Daisy the shot, his hands gentle as he worked, and then he turned to me. "She should be fine in a few hours, but keep an eye on her. If she seems off tomorrow, bring her back in."

I nodded, feeling the weight lift from my chest. But there was still the problem of leaving her behind. I glanced at Liam, my brows furrowed. "I don’t know if I can leave her with Tessa. It doesn’t feel right."

Liam’s gaze softened, and without missing a beat, he turned to the vet. "Do you offer kennel services here?"

Dr. Martinez smiled, nodding. "We do, actually. We have a boarding area in the back where we can monitor her overnight and make sure she’s comfortable."

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