Nikos had his arm around her shoulder and she leaned against him, drawing on his strength.
Zoe held Ash's hand with one of hers and patted it with her other one. "You have had a difficult day, no?"
Ash gave a shaky sigh. "Yes."
"Nikos told me all about it."
Ash's head came up at that and she looked from mother to son. "All of it?"
Zoe's dark eyes so like her son's, were filled with compassion. "Yes. All. My son, he was very stupid, but you must give him some credit. He did not know of your sister any more than you did."
"Did he tell you about the business merger?"
Zoe's expression turned infinitely sad. "Yes. He and your mother, they do not understand."
"No. I don't think they do."
"I am sitting right here," Nikos complained.
"And you are lucky to be so. Do not push it, my son."
Ash choked out a laugh. "He's been watching out for me. He came to get me. I wasn't answering my phone."
"I know. He called me from his car on the way to your apartment."
"I might not have known." Tears threatened again. "What if Mom had died and I didn't know it?"
"Do not think this way. All will be well."
Ash nodded, choking back tears.
The doctor came into the room. "Miss Hemsworth?"
Ash looked up at him. "Yes?"
"We've sedated your mother. She needs rest right now."
"What happened?"
"You've heard the phrase, 'His heart couldn't take it'?"
"Yes."
"That's exactly what happened. It's actually very rare, but the shock of learning your sister was alive and apparently combined with some painful personal inner revelations, it was all simply too much for her. The good news is that tests show minimal damage to her heart and she should enjoy a full recovery, but she needs rest and relief from stress."
"She runs a multinational company…I think she lives on the stress."
"She'll have to learn to live on something else for a while."
Ash looked up at Nikos. "How?" That's all she asked, but she knew he knew what she meant.
"I will work with her executive officers and keep the company running smoothly. Blade will find your sister and all will be well. Believe me,pethi mou ."
"I want to, but I'm scared."
"You have to have faith," Zoe said, squeezing her hand. "Nikos will help you."
"But…"
"Despite his ignorant handling of his courtship with you, he is a smart and capable man. He will protect your mother from further business stress until she is well again."
"That is good to hear," the doctor said. "You can go home, Miss Hemsworth. Your mother will not wake for several hours."
"I promised I wouldn't leave."
"So, you will stay." Zoe patted her hand again. "And I will stay with you. Nikos, you must go home and rest. You have much to take care of tomorrow caring for two big companies."
Nikos tried arguing, but it did him no good. Zoe Petronides was more than a match for her son when it came to being stubborn. Nikos arranged with the doctor for the two women to share a room near her mother. Wealth brought with it certain privileges, especially in a private hospital.
Ash slept fitfully and was beside her mother's bed before breakfast the next morning.
Her eyes opened and he searched the room with her gaze, stopping when she saw her on the far side of her bed away from the door. She smiled, her expression filled with gratitude. "You're here."
"Where else would I be?"
"I wouldn't have blamed you if you'd gone home and refused to come back to see me."
"Ash would never do such a thing," Zoe said from the doorway.
"Mrs. Petronides, I did not realize you were here."
"Ash needs me right now."