Page 96 of Silver Fox's Christmas Scandal
"I owe you an apology," he began, his voice low enough that Jamie couldn't overhear. "I pried where I shouldn't have last week during that meeting. I overstepped my boundaries because I was concerned, but I was also nosy."
I opened my mouth to deflect, but he held up a hand.
"I've watched you work these past few weeks. Your analysis is sharp, your insights valuable. You have the mind of an analyst, and I was wrong to reduce you to coffee service at the CEO's expense." He paused, seeming to choose his words carefully. "You're showing promise, exactly how Lucian mentioned, and I'd like to make amends to you."
"That's not necessary?—"
"Cross Capital would like to offer you a full grant for the MBA program at the University of Chicago. Tuition, books, livingexpenses—everything covered, as long as you promise to return here as an analyst when you graduate."
His announcement was a total shock. Lucian had offered this at least three times and I had refused.
I thought he was trying to pay me off, that he felt bad for sleeping with me and using me or something. But this?
A full MBA, completely funded, at one of the top business schools in the country.
It was everything I'd dreamed of handed to me when I needed it most.
Tears spilled over before I could stop them, and I covered my face with my hands. "I don't understand. Why would you?—"
"Because you deserve it. Because this company needs brilliant minds, regardless of where they start." His voice grew gentle. "It was Lucian's idea, actually. He believes in your potential more than anyone."
The mention of Lucian's name made my chest constrict with fresh pain. Even after I'd walked away, even after I'd rejected everything he'd offered, he was still fighting for my future.
"Jamie, could you grab some tissues from my office?" Daniel called out, and I heard her footsteps retreating down the hallway.
"Why the change of heart?" I whispered when we were alone. "Really?"
"Because I made a mistake." Daniel's expression grew serious. "Lucian knew what he was talking about. Viktoria has been scheming for some reason, but outside of that, you really are brilliant. He was right about that."
I had tried for weeks to put all thought of Viktoria and her children out of my head.
I distanced myself from Lucian to preserve his career at the company he built.
Every time I spent a single second thinking about that woman, I felt anger, and that wasn't who I wanted to be.
But being reminded of how nasty she had acted made my heart ache to know how Lucian was faring now after things had died down a little.
"How is he doing?" I asked quietly. "I haven't seen him much lately."
Daniel's face darkened. "You haven't heard?" He paused and his eyes searched my face, but I could only shrug. "Elena was in a car accident three days ago. She's been in a coma at Northwestern Memorial. Lucian hasn't left her bedside."
The blood drained from my face. I knew how much his kids meant to him and if this was true, he was probably devastated. "Is she…? Will she…?"
"The doctors don't know yet. It's touch and go."
Without thinking, without caring about professional boundaries or protecting my secret, I was moving.
The conference room, the Christmas decorations, Jamie returning with tissues—everything blurred past me as I rushed toward the elevator.
Lucian was alone at the hospital, facing the possibility of losing his daughter, and I wasn't there.
I put my things away, shut off my laptop, and headed down to the street to hail a cab.
The ride to Northwestern Memorial felt eternal. All I could think about was how scared Lucian must be.
By the time I reached the ICU floor, my hands were shaking.
"Elena Cross," I told the nurse at the desk. "I'm here to see her family."
