Page 65 of Shattered Throne
"You don't know that."
"No," he admitted. "But I know you, and I know Zoe, and I know that kid is tougher than anyone gives her credit for."
I didn't respond, but I didn't pull my hand away either.
We arrived at the school in record time. I rushed to the nurse's office, Xavier right behind me, and found Zoe curled up on a cot, looking small and pale.
"Mommy!" She reached for me immediately, and I scooped her up, pressing my lips to her forehead. Warm. Too warm.
"Hey, baby. I'm here."
"I don't feel good."
"I know. We're going to take you home."
"Mr. Xavier!" Zoe spotted him over my shoulder and reached out. "You came, too!"
Xavier stepped forward, letting Zoe grab his hand. "Of course, I did, munchkin. Had to make sure you were okay."
Zoe clung to him, her small fingers wrapped around his larger ones. She didn't let go as we signed her out, didn't let go as we walked to the car, didn't let go even after Xavier buckled her into the backseat.
"Will you sit with me?" she asked him, her voice small and pitiful.
Xavier looked at me. I nodded.
He climbed into the backseat while I drove, my eyes flicking to the rearview mirror every few seconds. Zoe had curled against his side, her head on his shoulder, her eyes closed. Xavier had his arm around her, holding her steady, murmuring something I couldn't hear.
The sight made something crack open in my chest.
Back at the office—because I had nowhere else to go and Xavier insisted we not leave her alone—he had Zoe set up in the small conference room within minutes. Blankets appeared from somewhere, along with a pillow and a bottle of water.
"I'm calling a nurse," he said. "Someone I know. She'll come check on her, make sure it's nothing serious."
"Xavier, you don't have to?—"
"I want to." His eyes met mine. "Let me do this."
I nodded, not trusting my voice.
The nurse arrived within the hour. She was kind and competent, checking Zoe's temperature, looking at her throat, asking gentle questions. Her verdict: a mild virus, nothing serious. Rest, fluids, and children's Tylenol.
I sagged with relief.
Throughout all of this, the office buzzed with curiosity. I saw the looks—assistants peering through the glass, executiveswhispering in the hallway. Xavier Dubois's secretary's daughter, sick in the conference room. The gossip would be all over the building by tomorrow.
I didn't care. Let them talk.
Zoe fell asleep on the conference room couch, her color already looking better. I sat beside her, stroking her hair, while Xavier dealt with something at his desk.
"I need to run something to Sebastian's office," I said when he returned. "His assistant asked for the quarterly projections."
"Go. I'll stay with her."
I hesitated. "Are you sure?"
"Kim." He sat down on the other end of the couch, gentle enough not to disturb Zoe. "Go. She's safe with me."
She was. I knew she was. That was what scared me.
