Page 2 of The Exposed Heiress

Emma watched them leave and asked Jeremy, “You do think that he’s going to pull through?”

Jeremy straightened his shoulders. “I can’t imagine his day has come.”

Emma bit her lip. Jeremy’s wife was pregnant. The baby would be the first grandchild. Her father had been so excited about the prospect of a new generation. “Let’s find a nurse and see if they can tell us what’s happening.”

An older nurse brought them into a small office and hovered by the door. “I’ll let the doctor know that you want to speak with him. He’s reviewing the stat results and talking with his team. You may need to wait a little bit.”

Emma nodded and held up her hands. “I understand. We don’t want to interrupt the doctor, but we are worried.”

The nurse nodded, “The waiting is hard.” She went back behind closed doors.

Jeremy ran a hand through his hair. “We should talk with the hospital about getting additional security in place.”

Emma held her arms against her body. She hoped her father would survive the night.

After nearly thirty minutes, a trauma doctor stepped into the cramped office. “Your father is still unconscious, but the images are beginning to come back. He does have a head injury but there isn’t a major bleed. In terms of his body, his pelvis is fractured, several organs have been damaged and there are fractures in both legs. I’ve called in specialists, but I don’t think they’ll operate tonight. In these situations, it’s best to let the patient stabilize and then take care of broken bones in a day or two. Our strategy right now is to keep him comfortable, give him fluids, and make sure his vital signs are stable.”

Jeremy pulled Emma close. “He’ll survive this?”

The doctor placed his hand on the door knob. “I can’t say for sure. The next twenty-four hours are critical. His injuries are severe, but his vitals are strong, which is encouraging.”

Emma held onto Jeremy’s arm. “Can we see him?”

The doctor pulled the door open. “He’s unconscious. You should keep the visit short and then the nurse will show you to a private waiting room.”

Emma nodded. Her eyes began to fill with tears. It didn’t seem real. Turning away, she wiped her tears with her fingers and took in a steadying breath.

They walked into the trauma unit together and the male nurse left quietly.

Worry flowed through her. Her father looked pale and unresponsive, nothing like the vibrant, opinionated man that he projected to the world. The blood had been washed away and he had a breathing tube in. He was vulnerable and it was their job to protect him now.

She couldn’t imagine the couture house without him. He practically lived there. He had done everything possible to bring the business back into profit after a series of missteps and scandals.

Jeremy held onto the side rails. “It’s going to take time for him to recover.”

“I know.” Her voice sounded far away. Her father was weak and fragile.

Emma sat in a chair near his bed and said a silent prayer.

She stood and looked at her father. Did all of the recent stress cause him to not pay attention to traffic? London could be insane during commuting time. “We have to make sure that he gets the best possible care.”

The male nurse came back in and adjusted the IV. “I need to draw more blood.”

Emma nodded. “We’ll move to the waiting room. Please let us know if there’s a change?”

The nurse looked at her briefly, “Yes. We’ll let you know immediately if anything changes.”

They walked down a deserted corridor to a small waiting room.

Jeremy paced for a moment then turned to her. “I know Dad poured his life and soul into Francis Bolles. But you have a choice. You don’t have to take it on.”

She couldn’t walk away from the couture house. “Many of our employees have spent their entire careers with us. When Dad recovers, I want him to have the option of returning.”

He crossed his arms. “Your ability to design new garments is extraordinary, Em. Our grandparents would be enormously proud of what you’ve accomplished in the last few years. But I’ve read the recent financial statements. Francis Bolles is close to going under. Our grandparents wouldn’t want you stuck with all of the trouble. Let’s face it, too many scandals have plagued our family and have nothing to do with us.”

She looked away from him. “The numbers don’t tell the entire story. And in large part, we’ve moved past the bad press. Uncle Oliver has been dead for years.”

Jeremy sat on a leather chair and leaned forward. “True. But Dad hasn’t been able to solve the financial issues that all couture houses face. It’s expensive and without proper backing, it’ll fail.”

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