Chapter 23
Lena's POV
The alarm went off at six-thirty.
I opened my eyes and immediately regretted it. Pain shot through my skull like someone had driven a spike between my temples. My throat felt like sandpaper.
I lay there for a moment, staring at the ceiling. The room tilted slightly when I turned my head.
Just didn't sleep well, I told myself. Get up. You have work to do.
I pushed myself upright. My body felt heavy, limbs filled with lead. When I stood, the floor swayed beneath my feet.
In the bathroom, I gripped the edge of the sink and looked at myself in the mirror.
Dark circles under my eyes. Lips pale, almost colorless. Cheeks flushed in an unhealthy way.
I turned on the cold water and splashed my face. The shock helped, but only for a second.
Makeup will fix this.
I went through the motions—foundation, concealer, lipstick. By the time I finished, I looked almost human. Almost.
I pulled on my white blouse and gray slacks, hands shaking slightly as I buttoned the shirt. The fabric felt scratchy against my overheated skin.
One last look in the mirror. Professional. Controlled. Fine.
---
The conference room was already half full when I arrived.
Rachel looked up and her eyes widened slightly. "Lena, are you—"
"I'm fine," I said, setting my laptop down. "Let's get started."
The meeting began at eight. I took my usual seat at the head of the table and opened my notes.
Across from me, Rowan sat with his arms crossed, watching. Nora was beside him, scrolling through something on her tablet.
"Good morning, everyone," I said. My voice came out rougher than intended. I cleared my throat. "Let's review the internal report Wells sent over last night."
I pulled up the document on the screen and started walking through it. Financial disclosures. Board meeting minutes. Email chains between Wells and his CFO.
The numbers blurred in front of me. I blinked hard and refocused.
"Here," I said, pointing to a line item. "This transaction—$2.3 million transferred to an offshore account three days before the SEC announcement. Wells claims it was a routine vendor payment, but there's no supporting invoice."
Someone asked a question. I answered it. Another question. Another answer.
My head throbbed with each word.
Rowan leaned forward. "What about the board members he named? Are they cooperating?"
"Not yet," I said. "But Rachel is working on getting their sworn statements by end of day."
He nodded slowly, eyes still on me. His brow furrowed slightly.
I looked away and continued through the slides.
Nora spoke up. "Do we think Wells is telling the truth about the extent of his involvement?"
"Doubtful," I said. "But we'll need forensic accountants to confirm. I'm arranging that this afternoon."
The meeting dragged on. Forty minutes. An hour. My grip on the pen tightened until my knuckles went white.
Finally, I closed my laptop.
"That's all for this morning," I said. "Rachel will distribute updated timelines this afternoon. Any questions?"
Silence.
"Good. Thank you, everyone."
I stood up.
The room tilted.
I grabbed the edge of the table, steadying myself before anyone could notice. Or so I thought.
Rachel was at my side in an instant. "Lena," she said quietly. "You need to sit down."
"I'm fine." I pulled my hand away from the table. "Just need some air."
"Your face is white."
I ignored her and walked toward the door. Each step required deliberate effort—left foot, right foot, don't stumble.
In the hallway, Rachel caught up with me. "Lena, please. Let me call a doctor."
"No." I kept walking. "I just need to lie down for an hour."
She followed me all the way to my room. When I fumbled with the keycard, she took it from my hands and opened the door herself.
Inside, I sat on the edge of the bed and started unbuttoning my blazer. My fingers felt clumsy and slow.
Rachel knelt in front of me. "Let me help."
She slipped the blazer off my shoulders and set it on the chair. Then she looked at me, worry written all over her face.
"I'm calling a doctor."
"Rachel—"
"Or I'm calling Mr. Reynolds."
I closed my eyes. "Don't."
"Then rest. Please."
I nodded slowly.
She helped me swing my legs onto the bed. I didn't even bother taking off my shoes.
"The final document submission," I said. "Three o'clock. You'll need to—"
"I'll handle it," Rachel said firmly. "You've already done all the work. I just need to upload it and get the signatures."
"Make sure you—"
"Lena." Her voice was gentle but unyielding. "I've got this. Trust me."
I wanted to argue. But exhaustion won.
"Okay," I whispered.
She pulled the blanket over me and dimmed the lights. "I'll check on you after the submission."
The door clicked shut behind her.
I lay there, staring at the ceiling. The room spun slowly, a lazy carousel of shadows and light.
My last conscious thought was of the whiteboard in my apartment back home. The one where I'd written the contract end date in red marker.
Then darkness pulled me under.
---
Rowan's POV
Something was wrong with Lena.
I'd noticed it the moment she walked into the conference room that morning. The careful way she moved, like every step required planning. The pallor beneath her makeup.
She'd powered through the meeting with her usual precision, but I'd seen her grip the table when she stood. Seen the white knuckles, the momentary sway.
Nora leaned over as Lena left the room. "Is she alright?"
"I don't know," I said, watching Lena's retreating back.
Rachel had rushed after her. I almost followed, then stopped myself.
Not your concern, I thought. She made that clear.
But the thought stuck with me through lunch, through the afternoon video call with headquarters, through the pile of emails that needed responses.
At three o'clock, I went back to the conference room for the final document submission.
Rachel was there alone, setting up her laptop.
"Where's Lena?" I asked.
Rachel hesitated. "She's... resting. She wasn't feeling well this morning."
"How long has she been in her room?"
"Since the meeting ended."
Four hours.
"Did she see a doctor?"
"She refused."
I pulled out my phone and texted Jack: [Get the hotel doctor to Room 1428. Now.]