Filed to story: Watch Out, I’m The Lady Boss (Eleanor & Sebastian) Book PDF Free
“Lean on me. Hold on to me.” I pulled him closer, hoping the contact would ease the pain.
“Call Harry. Tell him… I’m shot. He’ll know what… to do,” Sebastian said, reaching slowly for his phone and passing it to me.
I took the phone with hands sticky with blood.
“What’s the passcode?”
“Your birthday, last four digits,” he managed.
Hearing that made my throat tighten. He’d used my birthday as the code.
The call connected and Harry answered on the first ring.
“Boss?”
“It’s me, Eleanor. Sebastian’s been shot. He’s bleeding badly. Get the hospital ready for surgery, now! We’re on our way.”
“I’ve got it,” Harry replied instantly.
“Kit, can you go any faster?” I yelled.
“I’m trying,” Kit called back, hands white on the wheel.
We reached the hospital in what felt like the blink of an eye. Harry was already waiting at the entrance, and a team of doctors and nurses stood ready inside.
They rushed Sebastian into the operating theatre. I paced outside the door, a tight ball of nerves.
“Mrs Laurent, would you like to sit down?” Harry asked, hovering at my side.
“The operation will take a while.”I shook my head.
“I can’t sit.”If I did, everything that had happened in the last hour would catch up with me and I’d either scream or cry or faint.
“If you collapse, who will look after the boss? He’ll be worried if you’re down,” Harry tried again.
“I’ve got four bodyguards posted here and staff outside, it’s safe.”He was right, but that did nothing to calm me.
We waited, and waited. At last, the theatre light went out and a surgeon came through the door. I rushed forward and gripped him.
“Doctor, how is he? How is he?”
“Mr Laurent is going to be all right. We removed the bullet and the bleeding has stopped. He’s through the critical period. He’s fit and strong, and with proper rest, he should recover quickly.”
“Really? He’s really all right?” I pressed, refusing to let him go.
“Doctor, he will be all right, won’t he?”The surgeon smiled behind his mask.
“Essentially, yes. You can be reassured.”Relief unclenched me like a physical thing. I drew a huge, trembling breath and felt my knees go weak. I almost collapsed.
A nurse caught me at once.
“Are you all right?”
“I’m fine, just a bit tired,” I lied with an embarrassed half-laugh.
“Mrs Laurent, you should have a quick check-up. Boss will want to know you’re all right,” Harry urged.
“I’m fine,” I protested. I genuinely felt fine, or I wanted to feel fine.
“No, please,” Harry said more firmly.
“Do a simple check now. If Mr Laurent wakes up and finds you like this, he’ll insist on a full examination and it will be more trouble later.”He had a point, so I nodded.
“Okay. All right. Doc, could you arrange a quick check-up? I’m sure I’ll be fine.”The nurse led me away. The doctors found nothing wrong beyond shock. Rest and sleep, they said, and I’d be fine.
After the check, I insisted on staying with Sebastian even though he was still under the effects of anaesthesia. I did not leave his bedside, not for a second. I watched him without blinking, as if one moment away would be the moment he vanished.
Barely two months out, he was once again back in the hospital. It was fast becoming one of my least favourite places on earth.
By then, there were already several bodyguards posted outside his room. At some point, the police arrived and spoke to Kit first.
“Sorry, I held them off as long as I could,” Harry said to me when the officers came inside.
“That’s fine,” I said, refusing to leave Sebastian’s side.
If the police wanted to question me, they could do it here. There was nothing more I could add to Kit’s account anyway.
The officers told us they had found the Camry, but the plates had been stolen and they had yet to trace the car’s origin.
“Thank you for your cooperation, Mrs Laurent,” the lead officer said politely as he closed his tablet.
“Shall I see them out?” Harry offered.
I turned and saw Sebastian blinking awake.
“How are you feeling?” I asked, rushing to him.
He reached for my hand and gripped it lightly, his voice rough and lips dry.
“You cried. Your eyes are red.”
“Yeah. I would be superhuman if I didn’t cry a bit after being shot at. I was terrified,” I admitted.
I am not usually a crier, but seeing Sebastian covered in blood had terrified me. Tears came whether I wanted them to or not.
Sebastian sighed and pulled me close, holding me and patting my back as if to comfort me.
“You wouldn’t have been involved in this if not for me,” he murmured, sounding guilty.
“I put you in danger.” n’t figured out who’s behind this yet.” cu to protect you.”
“No. You did fine. I’m upset because you were hurt. Promise me you’ll be careful from now on, please?” I clung to him, my voice breaking.
“I promise,” he said, stroking my hair, his voice hoarse but tender.
I let go and looked at the bandage around his abdomen, which was still seeping a little. I touched a trembling hand to the dressing.
“It must hurt.”
“Not at all,” he lied, taking my hand and gripping it hard.
“Not at all.”
“This should have been me.”
“I’d rather it be me,” he said it with conviction.
That evening, some of Sebastian’s friends arrived, including Cassian Langford and… Genevieve.
I glared at Cassian. He touched his nose sheepishly.
“Her parents called my parents, who called me. What was I supposed to do?”You could have ignored the call, I wanted to say. Or stood your ground and refused to bring her.
Genevieve barreled into the ward and flung herself at Sebastian’s bedside, sobbing.
“Seb, are you all right? How did this happen? Who did this? Oh my God, I’m so scared!”I watched her with a sour expression. Why didn’t Sebastian push her away? The sight stung.
“Seb, you’re always so careful. Who could have hurt you like this?” Genevieve said through her tears, all concern and theatrical distress.
“Enough. Leave me alone, I’m fine.” Sebastian frowned and gently shoved her back.
Reluctantly, Genevieve released him, dabbed at her eyes, and turned to me with an apologetic look.
“I’m sorry, Eleanor. I lost control. I know you don’t like it when Seb and I get close, but we grew up together-“
“The patient needs rest. You can all leave now.” I kept my voice flat.
“All right, we’ll go. Call me if you need anything,” Cassian chirped.
Genevieve, however, had no intention of leaving.
“I’ll stay and help. Eleanor is young and untrained, she can’t possibly look after Seb on her own.”I felt my temper flare, but I said nothing. I wanted to see what Sebastian would do.
“Enough fuss. Come on, let’s go.” Cassian hauled Genevieve up.
She struggled, but she wasn’t as strong as him and he dragged her away.
After they left, the mood between Sebastian and me shifted. It had been fine before, but now my chest felt tight and heavy.
“Are you mad?” Sebastian asked.
“Why would I be?” I met his eyes.
“Good. Do you want something to eat?” Sebastian offered.
“Don’t change the subject.” I glared.
“You must know Genevieve likes you. She practically wears her heart on her sleeve.”
“So? She’s just a friend.” Sebastian corrected after a beat, “An acquaintance, really.”
“An acquaintance who throws herself at you, who cries as if she’s the one bleeding,” I said sourly.
A corner of Sebastian’s mouth twitched.
“Are you jealous?”I wanted to fling something at him to wipe that smug smile off his face. Lacking a suitable object, I tried words instead.
“If you ever get bored with me, just say so. I promise the divorce won’t be messy.”
Sebastian’s face fell.
“Eleanor, do you want a divorce?”I shrugged.
“I’m only saying it in case you change your mind one day. There are plenty of women queuing up. Who knows if you might fancy a change?”