Chapter 6

Aaron spent days in the hospital. Gracie never came back. She just had Danny text him to rest and return when he felt better.

For once, Aaron put himself first. He stayed until he'd fully recovered.

Meanwhile, the private work chat wouldn't shut up about Gracie and Julian.

She'd booked out Disneyland for his birthday. A whole week, with three days of fireworks.

She'd brought him to a family dinner and given him the family watch traditionally passed down to a son-in-law.

She'd even bought land for a private ski resort named after him.

Aaron read the messages. He felt nothing.

Out of the hospital, he went back to work and stayed on top of everything.

Anything that needed Gracie's attention went through the other secretaries.

He got one quiet week. Then she called.

He dropped off her files and was about to leave when she stopped him.

"I have a meeting. Julian hates eating alone. Stay with him."

Aaron stiffened. Before he could say no, Julian started giving orders.

"I want shrimp. Peel me a plate."

Gracie shut the study door. Aaron swallowed his reply and went to the table.

Once he'd peeled the shrimp, Julian had someone bring over walnuts and a whole pineapple.

"I want fruit, too. No tools. Use your hands."

Aaron's heart sank at the hard shells and sharp spikes.

Julian was doing this to hurt him.

He did it anyway.

By the time Aaron cracked the walnuts and tore open the pineapple, both hands were bleeding.

Julian wasn't done. He sent him to the kitchen for soup.

The soup was fresh off the stove. His hands turned red from the heat.

The pain became too much. His grip slipped, spilling scalding soup over him.

His clothes steamed. Blisters rose on his hands within seconds.

He bit his lip to keep from crying out.

Julian laughed as Aaron fell to the floor.

Then the study door opened. Julian's smile vanished.

"Gracie said you were good at your job. You can't even carry soup? You burned my hand!"

Gracie rushed over.

"Where? Let me see. Does it hurt?"

Julian held up the hand he'd just pinched red.

"Just a few drops. I hope it doesn't scar."

Gracie turned on Aaron.

"What were you thinking? Julian's been spoiled his whole life. He's never been hurt. You couldn't carry one bowl without burning him? Why were you so close?"

Then she saw Aaron's injuries and stopped. She took Julian's hand and led him away for treatment.

Before leaving, she spotted Aaron standing there, dazed.

"Come to the hospital. Get those injuries treated, too."

Aaron pushed through the pain and followed them into the car.

Gracie drove fast.

Julian kept crying out to sell the act. Each time, she turned to check on him, growing more worried.

She never saw the sports car speeding toward them.

The crash slammed Aaron into the door.

Pain ripped through him. His insides felt scrambled.

Blood poured from his wounds. Everything went red.

He shook uncontrollably. He forced his eyes open and saw Gracie dragging Julian from the car.

A siren wailed in the distance. Two urgent voices cut through the haze.

"Miss, he just fainted from fright. The man in the back is badly hurt. He's losing a lot of blood. We need to get him to the hospital now, or he could die."