CHAPTER 6

The phone continued to ring, the sound piercing through the silence in my office. My fingers twitched, but I clenched them into a fist, refusing to let old habits take over. I wouldn’t answer. Not yet.

Brent arched an eyebrow. “You sure? He’s persistent.”

“He can keep waiting.” I turned to Sabrina, who was shifting nervously by the door. “Tell me everything about Adam Ortega’s condition.”

Sabrina cleared her throat, pulling out her tablet. “He was admitted early this morning. Another stroke, but not as severe as the last one. The doctors say he stabilized after emergency treatment, but he’s still under observation.”

I drummed my fingers on my desk, thinking. Adam Ortega had been a formidable businessman in his prime, but age had worn him down. And yet, I couldn’t ignore the unease settling in my stomach. The Ortega family had been quiet for too long.

“Has Jeff been seen at the hospital yet?”

Sabrina nodded. “Yes. He arrived about an hour ago. He hasn’t left the VIP ward since.”

I scoffed. Of course, he’d rush to his father’s side. He always had that unwavering sense of duty—something I once admired. Now? It just irritated me.

Brent tossed his phone onto the table. “The calls stopped.”

I smirked. “Good.”

“Demi.” Brent’s voice softened. “You’ll have to face him sooner or later.”

I stood, walking toward the large window overlooking the city skyline. The sun had begun to set, casting a warm orange glow across the buildings. “I don’t have to do anything, Brent.”

“But you want to.”

I turned to glare at him, but he merely shrugged. “You’re the one who jumped up when you heard about Adam Ortega.”

I exhaled sharply. “That’s business. Their family has too many ties to Hermosa Group. If Adam dies, there’ll be chaos. I have to be prepared.”

Brent hummed in amusement. “Sure. And it has nothing to do with Jeff, right?”

I ignored him, shifting my attention back to Sabrina. “Contact the hospital’s director. I want full access to Adam Ortega’s medical records.”

Sabrina hesitated. “That might be difficult. The Ortegas are—”

“Make it happen,” I said firmly. “If necessary, offer a donation to the hospital. Understood?”

Sabrina nodded. “Yes, Ms. Perez.”

Just as she turned to leave, my phone vibrated on my desk. This time, it wasn’t a call. It was a message.

Jeff Ortega: We need to talk. Meet me at the hospital.

I stared at the text, my mind racing. He wasn’t the type to send unnecessary messages. If he was reaching out like this, it meant he wanted something—and I wasn’t sure I was ready to give him anything.

Brent peered over my shoulder, reading the message before I could lock my phone. “Well, that’s direct.”

I rolled my eyes. “He always was.”

Sabrina looked between us, concerned. “Are you going to meet him?”

I picked up my phone, my grip tightening. The rational part of me screamed to ignore him. To let him stew in uncertainty like he once did to me. But another part of me—the part that had once loved him—felt the pull.

I had spent years building walls around my heart, fortifying myself against the ghost of Jeff Ortega. But now, standing at a crossroads, I realized something unsettling.

Maybe I wanted to see him, just to prove to myself that I no longer cared.

I exhaled slowly. “Get the car ready. We’re going to the hospital.”

Brent and Sabrina exchanged a glance, but neither objected. They knew better than to argue when I had made up my mind.

As I walked out of my office, heels clicking against the marble floor, I steeled myself for what was to come.

It was time to face Jeff Ortega again. And this time, I wouldn’t be the one left waiting.

The phone continued to ring, the shrill sound echoing in the office. Brent raised an eyebrow, watching me carefully as if expecting me to change my mind. But I didn’t. Instead, I turned away, crossing my arms as I stared at the piano. The past had already taken enough from me—I wasn’t about to let it control me now.

Brent finally silenced the call, letting it go to voicemail. He chuckled lightly, shaking his head. “Demi, you know he’ll just keep calling, right?”

“I don’t care,” I said, my voice sharper than I intended. “He can call all he wants, but I have nothing to say to him.”

Sabrina shifted uncomfortably before clearing her throat. “Ms. Perez, should I have security limit the Ortegas’ access to Mr. Adam’s medical records?”

I considered it. Adam Ortega wasn’t just a businessman; he was a strategist. If he was in one of our hospitals, it meant he was vulnerable. And knowing Jeff, he wouldn’t just sit back and watch his father’s health deteriorate. He’d be involved, desperate for control.

A cruel smirk tugged at my lips. “No. Let them have access. But make sure every single treatment, every specialist, and every medication comes at a premium cost. No discounts, no favors.”

Brent whistled lowly. “You really don’t hold back, do you?”

“Not when it comes to them.”

Sabrina jotted down notes, nodding in agreement. “Understood. I’ll make the necessary arrangements.”

I turned back toward my desk, but before I could sit, Brent spoke again. “Demi, what’s your endgame with this?”

I paused, my fingers curling into my palm. “Reclaiming what’s mine.”

“The hotel? The company?”

I lifted my gaze to his, unblinking. “Everything.”

Silence stretched between us before Brent let out a low laugh. “Then I suppose I should get started on clearing out our old suppliers. Parisian Home won’t know what hit them.”

A knock on the door interrupted us again. This time, it was one of our security personnel. “Ms. Perez, there’s an unexpected visitor in the lobby. Mr. Jeff Ortega.”

Sabrina’s pen slipped from her fingers. Brent stiffened.

I exhaled slowly. Of course. Jeff never was the type to wait patiently.

I grabbed my wine glass and took a slow sip, my lips curving into a smirk. “Tell him I’m busy.”

The guard hesitated. “He said he won’t leave until he sees you.”

Brent snorted. “Persistent bastard.”

I set my glass down, pushing my chair back. “Fine. Let him wait.”

Then, with a flick of my wrist, I dismissed the guard.

If Jeff wanted to see me, he’d have to suffer first.

Just like I did.