Chapter 13 - THE NIGHT HE DID NOT LEAVE
The doctor called it a postpartum complication.
Treatable.
Manageable.
But serious enough to require a procedure.
Emma tried to remain calm.
Nathan did not.
He hid it well.
But she saw his hands shake while filling out the emergency contact form.
“Stop.”
He looked up.
“What?”
“Your handwriting.”
Nathan glanced down.
His signature was barely recognizable.
“I’m fine.”
Emma gave him a look.
Nathan exhaled.
“I’m terrified.”
“Better.”
He almost smiled.
The procedure was scheduled for the next morning.
Then Daniel Mercer called.
Nathan stepped into the hallway.
Emma could hear fragments.
Emergency financing.
Shareholder revolt.
Potential sale.
Vote tomorrow.
Nathan returned ten minutes later.
“What happened?”
“Nothing you need to worry about.”
Emma stared at him.
Nathan caught himself.
“That was old Nathan.”
“Yes.”
He sat.
“There’s a vote tomorrow.”
“What kind?”
“If I’m physically in Manhattan, there’s a chance I can block a sale.”
“And if you’re not?”
“I probably lose the company permanently.”
Emma looked toward the hospital bed.
“When is the vote?”
“Ten in the morning.”
“My procedure is at nine.”
“Yes.”
Silence.
Emma’s heart began beating faster.
“You should go.”
Nathan stared at her.
“No.”
“Nathan.”
“No.”
“I have doctors.”
“I know.”
“Eleanor can come.”
“I know.”
“This company represents your entire adult life.”
Nathan’s eyes filled.
“And you represent mine.”
Emma looked away.
“No.”
“What?”
“You cannot say things like that.”
“Why?”
“Because then if you lose everything, it becomes my fault.”
Nathan shook his head immediately.
“It is not your fault.”
“You’ll resent me.”
“No.”
“You don’t know that.”
Nathan leaned closer.
“You’re right.”
Emma looked at him.
“I don’t know who I’ll be in ten years.”
“But I know who I refuse to be tomorrow morning.”
He pointed toward the floor.
“You are going into a medical procedure.”
“I am Sophie’s father.”
“I am the person you listed as emergency contact.”
“I am staying.”
Emma began crying.
Nathan did not touch her.
Not until she reached for his hand.
At 9:07 the next morning, Emma was taken through double doors.
At 10:00, the Whitmore Global board voted without Nathan.
At 10:18, he lost controlling authority over the company he had built.
At 10:26, Daniel texted him.
It’s over.
Nathan read the message once.
Then deleted it.
At 10:41, the doctor entered the waiting room.
Nathan stood so quickly his chair fell backward.
“How is she?”
The doctor smiled.
“She’s fine.”
Nathan’s knees nearly failed.
When Emma woke, he was sitting beside her.
She looked at him.
“What time is it?”
“Almost noon.”
“The vote?”
Nathan smiled.
“Done.”
Emma knew immediately.
“You lost.”
“Yes.”
Her eyes filled.
Nathan leaned back.
Emma whispered, “Why are you smiling?”
May you like
He looked toward the hallway where Eleanor was holding Sophie.
“Because everybody I need is still here.”
