"Unless you want me to have security escort you out. Don't test me."
I raised the champagne in my hand, ready to throw it right back.
A suit jacket settled over my shoulders from behind, carrying the cool scent of cedarwood.
Bernard's tall frame stepped between us, shielding me completely.
He drew a handkerchief from his pocket and, with effortless composure, dabbed the wine that had splattered near my collarbone.
Then he turned around.
"Allow me to introduce Ms. Maggie Sullivan, the newest partner at the Delgados, personally recruited at a premium."
"She's also my date for the evening."
The room erupted.
Barret's face went white. He stood frozen in place.
Bernard was the investor he'd spent an entire month courting.
Barret panicked. He grabbed for my arm.
"Maggie, when did you meet Mr. Delgado? Why didn't you tell me?"
I stepped back, dodging his touch.
I lifted my champagne glass and tipped it toward him in a hollow toast.
"Mr. Henson. If you'll excuse me."
I took Bernard's arm and walked out under the awed stares of every person in that room.
Bernard dropped me off at Marcella's place.
The moment he left, my phone erupted with vibrations.
The hospital.
"Are you family? The patient is critical. Get here now!"
I grabbed a cab and raced to the city hospital.
When I burst through the doors of the emergency wing, I saw Barret standing there.
When Grandma Linda Sullivan had been admitted, she'd listed both my number and his as emergency contacts.
A doctor rushed out clutching a critical condition notice.
"Ms. Sullivan, the patient is in multi-organ failure. She needs an injection of R3, the imported emergency drug, or she won't make it."
"The hospital's supply is gone. You need to find it yourself. There isn't much time."
I pulled out my phone and started calling everyone I knew.
A hand pressed down over my screen. Barret was staring at me.
"Don't bother."
"The only three doses of that drug left in the city were just bought out. By me."
He turned and walked toward the family consultation room nearby.
"Come in."
A cold-storage case sat on the table.
Barret loosened his tie and leaned back in his chair.
"The medicine's right here."
"Maggie, all you have to do is come back to work, convince Bernard to increase his investment in the company."
"Then apologize to Queenie. Admit you were wrong. Promise you won't give her trouble again."
"Do that, and I'll hand this to the doctors right now."