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father‘s company?
    And the most painful question: Will the great Dominic be able to save her company after his own empire comes crashing down?
    Why do I care?
    I don’t care.
    Stephan put the laptop aside and reclined back in his chair again. He covered his eyes with one forearm.
    This is going to be a long flight.

Chapter Three
    Maddy was handed out of the ambulance on a stretcher to where her anxious husband was waiting. He took her hand, unashamed of the tears running down his cheeks.
    A paramedic cautioned Richard to move, but the reluctant husband took another moment to plant a kiss on both his wife and the exposed forehead of his new son. One more gentle touch of the baby, as if making sure all was fine, and he allowed the medical staff to wheel Maddy down the hallway as he continued to hold her hand.
    Alone, Nicole stepped down and out of the ambulance, feeling a bit dazed by the whole experience. She hadn‘t wanted to interrupt the reunion, but she wasn‘t sure what to do next.
    Should she stay? Should she leave? What did one do in this circumstance?
    A middle-aged nurse touched her arm and asked, ―Would you like to get cleaned up?‖
    Nicole looked down at the bloodstains on her pants, stains that even the dark material of her clothing did not conceal. She‘d been so focused on the mother and baby that she hadn‘t noticed the dried blood that was still splattered up and down her arms. ―Yes, please. I didn‘t realize…‖
    ―That babies are so messy?‖ the nurse laughed as she led Nicole to a room where she could wash and change into scrubs. ―The mother was lucky to have you there. We heard you stayed calm and did a great job with your first delivery.‖
    Nicole started scrubbing down at the sink, grateful to have someone to debrief with about the experience. She said, ―I was terrified,‖ and realized how true that statement was as she said it.
    The nurse turned her back as Nicole changed into the scrubs, but kept talking. ―They say that courage isn‘t a lack of fear. It is doing what has to be done, despite your fear.‖
    Nicole joined her when she was dressed and said, ―I‘ll have to remember that saying. I like it.‖
    ―Ready to go?‖ the nurse asked, moving to open the door of the changing room.
    Not really, she wanted to say, but didn‘t. She wasn‘t sure what she wanted. Her part in all of this was finished. Time to slip out a side door of the hospital and go home. She may have helped Maddy, but she didn‘t belong here with Stephan‘s family. The sooner she left, the better.
    Instead of sharing her thoughts, she simply nodded and followed the nurse back out to the emergency room entrance.
    Nicole called her limo driver who informed her that he had arranged for a new vehicle and was already on his way, but lacking a siren, wouldn‘t be there immediately. Nicole headed back into the hospital‘s waiting room to get out of the late evening humidity. Sitting was a welcome relief.
    A short time later, an older woman with a slight Italian accent approached her. ―Nicole?‖
    ―Yes?‖ Nicole answered unenthusiastically and stood, feeling drained now that she was coming down from the adrenaline that had been coursing through her. She was filthy and tired.
    The last thing she wanted right now was to be seen by anyone.
    ―My name is Elise Andrade, Maddy‘s mother. Richard told us you were here and I just had to find you to thank you for everything.‖
    Oh, great.
    Why couldn’t it have been someone who knew my father? Someone I could give a fake smile to and run away from? Why did it have to be someone I used to dream of one day meeting?
    ―It‘s a pleasure to meet you. Congratulations on your new grandson.‖ Nicole shook the woman‘s hand and accepted the double cheek kiss the woman pulled her down for. Elise was a petite auburn-haired woman with a waistline that hinted at a love of pasta. Her delicate features were framed by expertly shaped curls. The simple flowered dress she