Page 24 of My Mystery Billionaire

That made Ralph roll his eyes and put his hands together in prayer to the skies! I asked, “What is your slowest night? I’ll come ‘round. Unless your 12-string guitar man comes in on your slow nights??” And that prompted Ralph to say, “I dunno. He hasn’t been in for a while.”

So much for gathering intel about Mr. Mystery Man! Some spy I am!

Doggonit!

Chapter 29

Hendrik

Ihadspentaday working with the men on a brand-new business concept they’d gotten interested in. Earlier in the day, one of the ladies in the gang also presented me with her business plan. In all these years, she was only the third woman who was part of Jared’s crew to present a business idea to me, and I took it very seriously. I had known the woman for several years and had a good idea of her real, solid potential.

I still hadn't seen Beatrice since her late nights at work.

I was getting ready to turn in for the night, and my phone rang. Tired as I was, I rushed to answer hoping it was Beatrice. Instead, it was a number I didn’t know, but local, so I thought it might be someone in Jared’s crew. I picked up.

It was the local hospital.

They had just gotten my phone number from my father. He’d been rushed to ER by ambulance just after dark and the ER team had finally gone through his pockets and wallet. They found my name and number as Emergency Contact.

The nurse or whoever called me gave me enough particulars to know where to go once at the hospital complex, but no information about my father’s condition. “No, sir, not over the phone. Hospital policy. Yes, I understand. The charge nurse or the doctor will give you the status when you arrive.”

I didn’t need to call Jared. He texted me and showed up at my door at almost the same time. He’d gotten copied on the call through our emergency system. I just told him in one sentence what I needed, and he drove me to ER.

On the way asked me what his instructions were. “Professor, the boys are at your service. You just tell us what you want and it’s done!”

I cannot imagine going through this without Beatrice.

I send Jared to get Beatrice and remind Jared, “She doesn't know who you are, remember? She doesn’t know you are one ofmy associates.”I looked pointedly at Jared as I underscored the last words, and Jared nodded his understanding. “Take Luz when you go to Beatrice’s apartment. Call Luz now so she’s ready. Be gentle but persuasive when you tell her I'm at the hospital, and that I would like her to join me here. That's all you need to say.”

“Okay, I’ll call Trey. We’ll get there faster.”

This is the first time Beatrice is going to be exposed to anyone I know. She hasn't yet met Papa and she doesn't know at all about the gang.

Oh, well. I guess I just go with it. It’s not how I imagined doing things, but …

And I sunk back into worry all the way to the hospital.

Chapter 30

Beatrice

Aknockatmydoor.

What? Who? At this hour?

I jumped at the knock, thinking instantly that something had happened to mom.

No! Don’t even think it! Mom is just fine.

Fine, fine, fine.

Keep breathing now. Mom is just fine.

It’s just the cousins popping in.

I pulled the door open with my heart in my throat and see two individuals I didn't know. One was a handsome young man with honey-colored skin, short very dark hair, and piercing eyes. The other was a strikingly beautiful curvy woman his age, with smooth coffee-cream skin and long silky black hair.

The man spoke, “Miss Beatrice? My name is Jared.” He pointed to the woman, “Luz, my wife, and I are associates and neighbors of your friend Hendrik. He's asked us to come to get you. He's at the hospital, in the ER, and would like you to join him. We have a car downstairs.”

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