Page 26 of Thiago (Family Ties #6)

Chapter Twenty-Six

“ A re you okay?” Thiago asked India.

Since their return from Brazil last Sunday, he had been keeping an eye on her.

She and her team had met in his office that afternoon, and the meeting had already wrapped up, but he had asked her to stay behind under the pretense of needing to discuss some of the marketing figures.

The truth was, he suspected she wasn’t well.

“I’m fine.”

“You don’t look fine.” He had become attuned to the changes in her voice and heard the subtle strain.

“Nothing major. My joints are a bit stiff.”

She rolled her shoulders and laughed to minimize the weight of her words, but now that he knew she had lupus, there was nothing funny about her answer.

“Go home. You’re done for the day,” Thiago said, rising from the chair and walking away from the conference table.

“Excuse me?”

He turned to see the expression of disbelief on her face.

“I have way too much work to do?—”

“You’re done, India.” He hated having to repeat himself.

Slowly, she rose from the chair and clasped her hands together. “Thiago, you’re being ridiculous.”

“ I am the one being ridiculous?” he scoffed.

When she opened her mouth to protest, he stepped forward, staring into her eyes and daring her to argue with him. He didn’t mind their verbal sparring. He appreciated that she was no pushover, but he was not going to tolerate her stubbornness when it came to her health.

India sighed resignedly. “Fine. I’ll go.”

“Thank you.”

“I’m not an invalid,” she muttered with a pout, like an adorable, petulant child who hadn’t gotten her way.

“I know.” He dropped a soft kiss on the middle of her forehead. “Go. I will check on you on my way home.”

“All right, I…” Her voice trailed off, and she looked down at her phone, a frown emerging on her brow.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I received another text,” she said.

“What do you mean another text? From who?” Thiago moved closer, but she covered her screen. Considering their newfound closeness, he was sorely offended. “If someone upsets you, they upset me,” he said.

“There’s nothing for you to be upset about.”

“Yet your expression tells me otherwise.”

India eyed him as though struggling with the decision to divulge what was on the phone. Finally, she said, “Promise me you won’t get upset.”

“Whenever someone says those words, I am certain I will be upset. Therefore, I will not be making any such promise.”

She blew out a breath of frustration. “Why are you so difficult?”

“I could say the same to you. What are you hiding from me?”

“I’m not exactly hiding anything from you, but I… It’s a text from Simon.”

“Simon? Why is he texting you? You did tell him?—”

“Yes, of course I told him that I was seeing someone else seriously. I told him weeks ago.”

“Then why is he texting you?” Thiago demanded.

“He seems to be having a little difficulty accepting the break.”

“I know exactly how to make sure he accepts the break,” Thiago said in a menacing way.

“Your reaction is the reason why I didn’t tell you, but I don’t want there to be any secrets between us. Please, let me handle Simon,” India said.

“You mean how you have handled him thus far?”

She rolled her eyes. “I have the situation under control. Don’t stress me out more than I already am. You know I have lupus.” She smiled.

Thiago narrowed his eyes at her. “How convenient. Now you want to use your disease to shut me down, to protect another man.”

“I’m not trying to protect him, but I don’t want his messages to be a big deal. I will talk to him, okay?” Her eyes pleaded with him to understand.

“How many times has he been in touch since you told him you were moving on?”

“I haven’t counted. He sent flowers one day, and he’s texted a handful of times.”

Now was the time to come clean about what he had done. “There is something you should know about your doctor friend. I hired a private detective and had him investigated?—”

“You had him investigated? Oh, this should be good.” She crossed her arms, her face settling into firm lines.

“Do you remember how two minutes ago you told me you didn’t mention he was contacting you because you were concerned about my reaction?

Well, for the same reason, I didn’t tell you that I had him investigated.

I didn’t see the point since you had ended your relationship with him.

Now I see he has been keeping in touch, that changes everything.

“The investigation uncovered a couple of parking tickets and a speeding ticket from two years ago. All minor. What interested me were the accusations made by his ex-wife. After their marriage ended, he continued to text her and send flowers. Then, according to her, shortly after he saw her with another man, he became violent. One day, he smashed her car windows. Another time, he flattened her tires and threw a rock through the window of her home. The good doctor denied the charges, and the restraining order his ex-wife requested was denied since there was no proof he had done any of those things. Fortunately for her, a few weeks later, he moved to Atlanta to work at the hospital.”

India’s eyebrows drew together. “He doesn’t give off stalker energy. I’m genuinely shocked.”

“Which is why I should be the one to talk to him.”

“No,” India said immediately.

“Why not?” Thiago demanded.

“From what you said, it sounds like the behavior escalated when he saw his wife’s new man, and if you talk to him, I know you’ll piss him off. It’s better if I handle the situation. I’ll give Simon a call and politely but firmly ask him to stop contacting me.”

“Politely and firmly sounds like the right way to deal with a stalker,” Thiago said in a dry tone.

India pursed her lips at him. “If my method doesn’t work, then you can get involved.”

Thiago didn’t like her plan, but at least she lived and parked in a secure building. He also knew her well enough to know she wouldn’t budge. He locked eyes with her to ensure she understood the gravity of his next words.

“You have until tomorrow to talk to him. If he gives the slightest hint that he will not accept what you say, let me know. Then I will talk to him. I will walk right into the hospital where he works and make sure he understands you are off-limits.”

“Got it, but I doubt you’ll have to get involved. Now, I’m going to take your offer and go home.”

Thiago captured her chin between his fingers. “I know you are accustomed to taking care of yourself, but you have me now. If this man gives you any problems, or if anything seems out of the ordinary in the coming weeks, you let me know right away. Am I clear?”

Her face softened with appreciation. “Yes, and thank you. I promise I’ll let you know if my car is vandalized or anything else odd happens.”

“I hope so. And do not take any work home. Get some rest. I will stop by later.”

“I’ll see you later.”

He kissed her briefly and watched as she walked out of the office. When she was gone, he rounded the desk and sat in his chair.

They’d had a wonderful time in Brazil, and since they’d been back, their relationship was stronger than ever, but he didn’t like that Simon continued to reach out to her.

As a man, he knew what that meant. Simon hadn’t accepted she had moved on, and being nice only encouraged the doctor, making him think the door to their relationship was still open.

India would have to put her foot down hard to make sure he understood he didn’t stand a chance with her.

As for Thiago, he meant what he had said. He would go to speak to Simon if he didn’t leave her alone. He would check in with India to make sure she did talk to him. In the meantime, he wanted to ease her burden at work.

He hadn’t known much about lupus before their conversation in Brazil, but since their return to the States, he had done his research.

While the average person’s immune system helped them fight infection and disease, for people like India, the immune system actually attacked the body, causing inflammation and leading to lupus flares and potential long-term damage.

The disease destroyed the body’s organs and was completely unpredictable.

In addition to learning more about the disease, he also understood how the steps India took helped minimize her symptoms. He wanted to help her but couldn’t let her know. She was proud and independent, but he already had ideas.

Picking up the phone, he called his assistant into the office.

Amir arrived with his iPad and an electronic pen in hand, stopping in front of Thiago’s desk.

“I need you to work on a couple of projects that I think will boost morale and increase productivity. Here’s what I want to see happen.

” Swiveling his chair to the right, Thiago crossed his ankle over his left knee.

“I want to institute a new program in the company. It will be a wellness program, and we need a name. If the program works here at our U.S. headquarters, we will roll out the idea to the entire company. First, we’re going to start offering in-house massages to staff as a way to help with stress.

Anyone who needs a break can book a massage. ”

“Will there be a limit to how many massages staff can get in a week?” Amir asked, his pen poised above the tablet screen.

“No. If they need one, they can have one.”

Amir raised his eyebrows in surprise. “Aren’t you worried some people will abuse the policy?”

“There is always the possibility for abuse, but I trust staff to use their judgment and will not make everyone suffer because a few may take advantage. Second, we’ll have some kind of wellness room.

We’ll also need a name for that. It will be a place where staff members can go to meditate or get a mental reset.

The room has to be quiet and away from the chaos of work so they can take a true break. ”

“Yes, sir.”

“Third, find a company that specializes in ergonomic workstation consultations. I want everyone to have their workspace checked to make sure it’s comfortable and reduces physical strain.

They need the right chairs, wrist support, proper monitor height—that kind of thing.

There should be enough money in the office equipment budget to cover any purchases.

Have operations contact me if there’s a problem. ”

“Yes, sir.”

“Finally, we’re going to implement yoga sessions.”

Amir looked up. “Yoga, sir?”

Thiago stared at him. “Yes, yoga.”

“Right,” Amir murmured, going back to writing.

“Find a qualified yoga instructor who can come in several times a week for anyone interested in taking classes. There is an unused room in the gym downstairs that could probably be used for the classes, but I’ll let you and operations figure out the details.

I want a rollout of the wellness program by the end of the week. ”

“So soon, sir?”

“Is that a problem?” Thiago asked.

“No. Not at all. The end of the week is plenty of time.”

“Pull in anyone you need to help. Make sure they understand the request is coming from me.”

“I most certainly will, sir.”

Thiago tapped his fingertip on top of the desk. Was he missing anything? “That’s all for now,” he said. He could always implement additional ideas as they came to him.

“Got it,” Amir said with a nod. He left and quietly closed the door behind him.