Page 39 of The CEO

Her dark eyes flicked up to me and then back down to her screen as she typed furiously. “She’s still in the emergency room.”

“Can you tell me which room?” Hearing she was in the ER worried me, but where else would she be?

“It says only family is allowed back. Are you her?—”

“I’m her fiancé.” The words came out before I could stop them, but it didn’t matter. I’d make up any lie for a chance to see her.

“She’s in twelve-C.”

I scanned the area for a sign to point me in the right direction. Hospitals weren’t new to me, but I didn’t know my way around this one. The only thing I knew was that the emergency room was on the first floor. I didn’t have to find the right elevator to make my way upstairs.

Turning left and right, and then right and left, I finally saw the entrance to the emergency room and breathed a sigh of relief. I trained my eyes on the room numbers. With each moan and cry from the rooms I passed, my mind got away from me. It didn’t matter that I was mad at Pria. I only wanted her to be okay. There were so many people in the ER and the smell ofurine, vomit, and antiseptic brought back unwanted memories of Murphy.

Finally, after seemingly circling the entire emergency room twice, I found 12-C. The door was closed and now that I was there, I was unsure of what to do. I had been a total dick earlier when I left leaving Pria confused and probably not wanting anything to do with me ever again. I decided not to knock. I didn’t want her to know it was me and turn me away. Instead, I quietly slipped inside. I was happy to see she was in a room and not one of the beds with only a curtain around it.

Pria lay on the bed staring up at the ceiling and even from the doorway I could see the tears slipping down her bruised and battered cheek. Her entire face was swollen with cuts and bruises marring its usual perfection. There was no way the dogs did this unless they dragged her out in front of a car. One black casted arm rested on her stomach as the other brushed away her tears.

“Pria,” I gasped, rushing toward her. “Oh my God, what happened?” I didn’t wait for her to answer. As delicately as I could, I pulled her into my arms and buried my face in her hair. Her good arm wrapped around me as she buried her face in my chest and started to sob. “I’m so sorry,” I whispered repeatedly into the top of her head. If I’d stayed and talked to her none of this would have happened. The guilt almost brought me to my knees.

When her sobs calmed, I pulled back to look at her. One eye was swollen shut, and the other was red and puffy from crying with a gash above her eyebrow. My fingers itched to wipe away her tears only I was too afraid I’d hurt her. “What happened?”

She sucked in a hitched breath. Her eyes welled again with tears that were about to spill over with only a blink of the eye. “I… I was so mad at you that I did-didn’t want to be in yourspace. Your sm-smell was everywhere.” She hiccupped and then grimaced. Her casted arm held her ribs.

“I can’t express to you how sorry I am. I’ll do anything for you to forgive me.” I kissed her forehead and stroked her hair back from her face.

“You didn’t do this to me. I was mugged and…”

There was more? Had she been…

“Were you raped?” I choked out. I would never be able to live with myself if she was.

“I don’t know. He tried, but I fought back and that’s when he started hitting me. I woke up here, so I don’t know what happened after I was unconscious.”

No, not my little Pria. She didn’t deserve this.

“Someone is supposed to come and do a rape kit, but I don’t know when.” She rested the side of her face against my shoulder. “I’m still waiting to hear about my CT scan.”

“Fucking hell, Pria. I’m so sorry. From now on you use my driver. He’ll be at your beck and call.”

Separating from me, she looked up at me as her eyes searched for something. “How are you even here? Your secretary said you were out of town for the rest of the week. When I emailed her to find someone to watch the dogs, I didn’t expect you to show up here. I only wanted someone to take care of Jimmy, Orvy, and Sarah.”

“I was still at the airport when I got the email and once I found out you were in the hospital, I had to make sure you were okay. I know I was pissed earlier, but?—”

“Ms. Wang,” a voice interrupted. Turning to the door, a sweet older looking nurse stood inside the door. “I’m here to do your rape kit. I was told you’re unsure if you were raped or not.

I looked down at Pria with what could only be horror in my eyes. It was possible someone had violated her because I was an asshole.

Pria bit down on her split lip and winced. “I don’t think he did, but I can’t be sure. I’m sore everywhere and…”

“That’s all right. Say no more. I’ll explain to you what will be done, and you can decide if you want to continue. It’s your right to have one just as it’s your right to deny it. If your…”

“Fiancé,” I added. Pria’s gaze shifted to mine. It looked as if she was about to deny my claim, so I whispered to her, “I’ll explain later.”

“If he can sit in the waiting room, I’ll have someone come get him when we’re done.” She smiled kindly.

“I can’t stay?” I clasped Pria’s hand in mine. “Do you want me here?”

“Sir, I think it would be best if you weren’t in the room. It can be invasive, and many women find having their significant other in the room more difficult. We don’t want that, do we?”

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