Page 100 of Beautiful Revenge

I nodded but never looked away from Mom.

Everyone was being so weird those last few weeks of her life, but they never told me it was the end.

The next day, everything changed.

It all comes rushing back when I walk into this hospital room. The machines, the bed, and an unconscious parent.

I look from Chrissie to Devon, who wraps a hand around my shoulder to calm me, but my panic rises as I turn to the nurse. “You said he woke up.”

She gives me a small smile that reminds me of the last nurse who cared for my mom. “He did. He’s weak from the last few months, but his vitals are steady. He just fell asleep. I’m confident he’ll wake up again—we all are.”

My shoulders sag in relief. “Thank you. It’s been a long day.”

I feel Devon’s hand stroke my back. “I’ll go find some dinner. Sit down. There’s plenty of security here. You’ll be fine until I get back.”

I don’t have a chance to answer, because Chrissie turns to Devon and pipes up first. “Before you leave, just tell me if double-oh-seven is a real thing. You can trust me. I mean, apparently, I monitor everyone’s emails now. I can be trusted with a secret.”

I wonder how often Devon has gotten that question, because he doesn’t seem at all fazed by it. “No.”

“No?” Chrissie echoes, exasperated. “That’s it? Look, I’ve had a difficult day, mister. The least you can do is tell me yourcode name. I need a distraction to escape the Madison family spectacle.”

Devon glances at me. “This is your assistant?”

Chrissie juts her thumb over her shoulder toward my sleeping father. “I’m his assistant now too. That’s a new development.” She turns to me and lowers her voice. “Sorry, Harlow. Daddy Warbucks trumps you. When he found out Allen was defending Janie, he mustered up what little energy he could and told me I work for him now because he doesn’t trust anyone else.”

I glance at my father who looks better than I expected. Sure, he’s lost weight, needs a haircut, and a good shave, but he certainly doesn’t look like he did the last time I saw him. He might not have been waiting at the steps of heaven’s gates, but he was a good city block away.

I grab Chrissie by the forearm and pull her to the hallway and Devon follows. Once we’re out of earshot of my father, I demand to be brought up to speed. “Dad knows about Janie? And that I put Allen on administrative leave?”

Exasperated is not a drastic enough word to describe my friend and assistant, if I can even call her the latter anymore since it sounds like my dad stole her away from me. Her hair is piled high on top of her head, and even though she’s makeup free and dressed for yoga rather than working for a billionaire corporate mogul, she’s still just as beautiful as ever.

Her arms flail before falling to her sides. “It took a few hours for the fog to begin to clear, but then it was like dealing with someone who has short-term amnesia. He’s missing time, Harlow. He was drilling me for financial information from three quarters ago. I had no answers for him and had to explain that we are in the middle of summer, and he literally lost three seasons. Your father did not lose his intensity during his forced hibernation, by the way.”

I cringe. “What did he say?”

Chrissie sighs. “It was a lot. The more I told him, the clearer his head got. We all know your dad is smart to the point of gifted. You don’t get to where he is by shopping from the back of the stupid truck. He kept demanding information.” She grabs my hand and gives it a squeeze. “I even told him about Albert. I’m sorry, that may have been a mistake.He was so angry, his blood pressure spiked. I don’t know how anyone can be that demanding after waking up from a coma, but he was. I didn’t know what to do. I had to tell him the truth.”

“You’ve done so much for me.” I pull her in for a hug and hold her there. “I owe you the world. Thank you.” I let her go but hold onto her hands. “I didn’t even know he’d wake up, let alone be back to his old self so quickly. I never expected this. From now on, I’m trusting my gut over everything else.”

Chrissie’s gaze shifts from me to Devon, but she continues speaking to me. “Does that mean you’re trusting your gut with the Prince of Winslet over here?” She narrows her eyes and turns to Devon. “Or are you a Duke or a King? Duke of the Manor? King of Main Street and Bingo Night?”

Devon crosses his arms over his wide chest and turns to me. “You didn’t tell me your assistant was so ...feisty.”

I shrug. “It comes in handy.”

“I can see that,” Devon mutters and glances at his watch. “I’m going to find food. I’ll bring enough for everyone, but not too much. We don’t want to waste anything.” He turns back to Chrissie. “Anything you want? Or maybe I should ask if there’s anything you hate?”

“No more caffeine. I’m wired enough as it is,” she says.

Devon leans down and presses his lips to mine. “I’ll be back.”

I smile. “Thank you.”

Chrissie and I watch Devon saunter down the long hospital corridor until he disappears around the corner. Chrissie turns to me and punches me in the shoulder. “What the fuck?”

“Ouch! What was that for?”

She gapes at me. “That’s for holding back, dammit. You didn’t tell me he’s—” she turns and flails her hands around in the direction he just disappeared “—all that! I mean, look at him.”