Page 96 of Just Not That Into Billionaires

“Your favorite music, Benny,” I say, letting the tunes roll.

Nothing.

I leave it playing while I go to talk to Mac in the waiting room. He’s distraught. “Benny’s a good boss, a good guy. The best.”

“The best,” I agree.

“He’d hate this,” Mac says. And I just nod. Mac says something about having called Benny’s parents in Ann Arbor. There’s been discussion of travel arrangements.

“He won’t be unconscious for that long,” I say. “I can feel him right there. I know he’ll be fine. He just needs to wake up.”

Mac nods. “Of course.” I can’t tell if he’s placating me or if he really believes me.

“Hey, will you do something for me?” I ask. “Will you go back home and get his favorite robe and his slippers? We’re supposed to have familiar things around him.”

Personally, I’m planning on gettingSpock Must Dieon my ereader so that I can read it to him when I run out of things to say.

“I’d be happy to grab anything,” Mac says, “but visiting hours are over in twenty minutes. They’re going to kick you out.”

“No!” I look up at the clock. Shit. “I can’t leave him!”

Mac shakes his head. “You may not have a choice.”

I go to find the nurse who’s working with us and beg her to let me stay over. “Aren’t the first few hours of a coma critical? He needs to know I’m there!” I tell her.

She informs me that rules are rules.

I rush back to Benny’s room, and I’m surprised to see Aaron there sitting in the bedside chair. “What are you doing here?” I ask him.

“Seeing Benny, obviously,” he says. “What do you think I’m doing here?”

“I thought it was next of kin only,” I say.

Aaron smiles. “I’ve got connections.”

A queasy sensation spreads through my stomach. It’s his smile. It’s the way he said it. It’s that he has no business being here! Benny certainly wouldn’t want him here. “I’d like for you to leave so that I can be alone with him.”

Aaron looks up at the clock. “Sure.” He disappears.

It suddenly occurs to me: isn’t it kind of suspicious that both of the owners of TezraTech would be killed in the same span of six months?

My pulse is just racing. My antenna is up so high, it’s a wonder there are no holes in the ceiling.

Didn’t Benny say that James was dead set against the sale of the company? And then he’s run down on his bike? And then Benny turns against the sale andthishappens?

Is Aaron in control of the company now? Does he get the money or something?

“What happened to you?” I ask Benny. “You have to wake up. You’re right here—I can feel you.” It’s true. I can feel him. He’s so close.

I look up at the clock, thoughts racing.

Could Aaron be responsible for this accident? Is it possible Aaron pushed him into the traffic? I feel this grip around my heart just thinking of it. The horror Benny must’ve felt. The pain.

And how did he even get in here to see Benny? He’s not family! Did he bribe an employee? Will he be able to get back in when I’m gone? Will he return in the middle of the night and finish the job?

It feels crazy to think these thoughts, but I can’t stop. It all just seems obvious now.

Benny was going to meet Aaron when this very mysterious accident happened.

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