Chapter 49
"Jack Reynolds leaked the pregnancy news," Lisa announced, tablet in hand as she entered Emma's bedroom office. "Our sources confirmed it."
Emma looked up from her laptop, surprised. "Jack? Are you sure?"
"Positive. He apparently mentioned it to a reporter after drinks celebrating his son's birth." Lisa settled into the chair beside Emma's bed. "The timing matches—his son was born two days before the story broke."
Emma processed this information, unsure how to feel. Jack leaking private medical information felt like a violation, yet something about the circumstances gave her pause.
"Was it malicious, do you think?" she asked.
Lisa shrugged. "Hard to say. The reporter described him as 'emotional' and 'reflective about his own journey to fatherhood.' Could have been an alcohol-fueled slip rather than deliberate sabotage."
The door opened as Alek entered, carrying Emma's prenatal vitamins and tea. His expression darkened when he caught the conversation.
"Reynolds," he said, the name carrying volumes of displeasure. "I should have known."
"Before you overreact," Emma cautioned, "it sounds more careless than calculated."
"Carelessness with your privacy is still unacceptable," Alek replied, setting down the tea with more force than necessary.
Emma exchanged glances with Lisa, who tactfully gathered her materials. "I'll draft response options for your review," she said, making a quick exit.
Once alone, Emma patted the bed beside her. "Come sit. You look exhausted."
Three weeks into her bed rest, with Franklin still commanding the guest suite like a general's headquarters, Alek had been running himself ragged between team management, household coordination, and caring for both Mitchells.
"I'm fine," he insisted, though the shadows under his eyes told a different story.
"Liar," Emma said fondly. "You're trying to do everything yourself, and it's not sustainable."
"Someone has to manage things."
"Not single-handedly," Emma argued. "We have staff. Delegate more."
Before Alek could respond, Emma's phone chimed with Katie's special ringtone.
"It's Katie," she said, answering immediately. "Hi Katie, how are—"
Katie's voice came through, tight with worry. "Emma, I'm sorry to bother you, but I'm at the hospital. Some spotting and cramping this morning. Probably nothing, but the doctor wanted to check."
Emma sat up straighter, concern flooding her. "Which hospital? Do you need anything?"
"Mass General. Tim's with the kids so I'm alone, but really, it's probably nothing—"
"Alek will be there in thirty minutes," Emma decided, looking to him for confirmation. He nodded immediately, already reaching for his keys. "He'll bring you anything you need and keep me updated."
After the call ended, Emma explained the situation. "She shouldn't be alone there."
"Of course not," Alek agreed. "I'll go now."
"Thank you," Emma squeezed his hand. "For understanding."
Though their surrogacy plans had been paused due to Emma's natural pregnancy, Katie had remained an important part of their lives—a friend now, rather than just a surrogate. Her own unexpected news three weeks earlier—that she'd become pregnant naturally with her third child—had seemed like cosmic confirmation they'd all made the right choices.
Now, with both pregnancies experiencing complications, the connection between them felt even more significant.
"Keep me posted," Emma called as Alek headed out.
Left alone, Emma tried focusing on work emails but found her mind drifting repeatedly to Katie in the hospital, to Jack's unintentional betrayal, to the precarious nature of all their interconnected lives.
Her door creaked open slightly as Franklin peered in. "Where's your Russian shadow?"
"Hospital," Emma explained, making room as Franklin wheeled himself beside her bed. "Katie's having complications."
"The surrogate?" Franklin clarified.
"Friend," Emma corrected gently. "She's pregnant too—naturally, with her third child."
Franklin's bushy eyebrows rose. "Quite the coincidence."
"Life's full of them," Emma agreed. "Like you and me being confined at the same time."
"Nothing coincidental about aging and high-risk pregnancy," Franklin countered, studying her face. "You're worried about her."
"I am," Emma admitted. "And about Alek. He's exhausting himself trying to manage everything."
Franklin nodded thoughtfully. "Perhaps a line change is in order."
"What do you mean?"
"In hockey, when players are fatigued, you substitute fresh legs," Franklin explained unnecessarily. "Your husband needs reinforcements."
Emma smiled despite her concerns. "Are you volunteering? Because doctor's orders apply to you too, Grandpa."
"Not me," Franklin waved dismissively. "But I have resources. Connections. Staff who could be reassigned to lighten his load."
"He won't accept help easily," Emma warned. "He sees it as his responsibility."
"A common affliction among strong men," Franklin said knowingly. "He'll accept if it comes as a business decision rather than charity. Leave it to me."
Before Emma could question what exactly he meant, her phone rang—Alek calling from the hospital.
"How's Katie?" she asked immediately.
"Stable," Alek replied, relief evident in his voice. "False alarm, thankfully. Minor irritation that looked concerning but poses no risk to the pregnancy."
Emma sank back against her pillows. "Thank goodness. Is she being released?"
"Shortly. I'll drive her home after."
"You're a good man, Aleksander Volkov," Emma said softly.
His voice warmed. "I'm learning from the best. Your grandfather just called the hospital administrator demanding Katie receive the VIP suite during her observation."
Emma glanced at Franklin, who looked entirely too innocent. "Did he now?"
"Apparently Mitchell Industries' annual donation gives him certain privileges," Alek said with amusement. "Katie was mortified but impressed."
After hanging up, Emma raised an eyebrow at her grandfather. "VIP suite?"
"Merely ensuring proper care for someone important to my granddaughter," Franklin said mildly. "Now, about that line change we discussed..."