The CEO's Entanglement

18 Angrier and Angrier

Elise POV

On the drive back to my parents' house a thousand thoughts run through my mind. I believe that Morris had no intention of screwing that woman, but I still wonder if he cared for her at all. Why the hell else does she feel like she has any right or claim on him? I know he said it was about being a night in shining armor, but what if it's more?

I shake the thoughts away as I pull into the driveway. If that was the case, then he wouldn't be so hell-bent on being with me, saving our marriage. I hate that this situation has planted a seed of doubt when it comes to my marriage. I hop out and make my way into the house. "Mom," I call out. "We are in the kitchen" she says.

I smile when I walk in and my daughter looks like she got more flour on herself than in the bowl. "Mommy, we are making cupcakes. Can I take one to daddy later," she asks. Her question solidifies that I'm making the right choice returning to our home. "I think he would really like that. After you're done making them, we will get your bag packed up and head home."

My mother smiles before turning back to the cupcakes. An hour later we are in the car on our way back to our house. My phone rings and my body stiffens with the thought that Morris is calling to say he's going to be late again. I look at the screen and see Benton's name. I take a breath before I push the hands free on my steering will.

"How is my favorite artist today?" "I bet you say that to all your artists." "Only a select few, but you know I love you Elise" he says. "Don't let my husband hear you say that. Do you remember what happened when he saw you slap my a** as a joke?" "Never bring that up. I thought he was going to kill me. Honestly, you should have told him before our first meeting that he is more my type. Then maybe he wouldn't have freaked out and threatened to rip my nuts off," he says.

I can't help the laugh that escapes me. I look in the mirror to make sure that Emmy still has her headphones on so she doesn't hear Benton's colorful language. "Anyway, are you ready for your show on Friday," he asks. "Sh*t" I say, because honestly with everything that's been going on, I forgot it was this weekend. "Please don't tell me you forgot. This is a big opportunity, Elise," he says.

"I'm ready. I have twenty pieces that are ready to show." "Next time, lead with that even if you forgot. I almost had an aneurysm," he says. I can't help the laugh that escapes me at his dramatics. "What time do I need to be there?" "No later than five. We need to make sure everything is perfect for the show to start at six" he says. "Sounds good, Benton. I'll see you on Friday." I cut the call just as we pull into our parking spot.

I grab our bags and Emmy out of the car and head inside. I know it's only been a few days, but I missed our home. I missed how I feel when I'm here. As soon as I set Emmy down, she takes off like a shot toward her room. I throw our dirty clothes into the hamper and head for the kitchen. It's almost five, so I decide to start on dinner.

The whole time I prepare the baked chicken, mashed potatoes, and asparagus I wonder if Morris will disappointment me or if he'll actually come home on time. When everything is finished, I set the table and look at the clock. It's fifteen minutes after six and my heart sinks. With every minute he's late, I feel myself getting angrier and angrier. When the clock reads seven I'm absolutely seething. If my husband was in front of me right now, I wouldn't trust myself not to beat the sh*t out of him.

He begged me to believe he was sorry and, like the id*ot I am, I did. Believed that he wanted me and our marriage. I reach for my new phone and dial his phone, ready to tell him not to come home. He can go stay in a hotel. When a woman answers the phone, I almost pitch the phone before I hear a strange beeping in the background. "Hello" the voice says.

"Who the hell is this?" "Ma'am, my name is Penelope. I'm a nurse at Regional Hospital." All the fight and anger fades, replaced by fear. "Ma'am, are you there?" "Yes, I'm here. What happened to my husband? This is his phone." "Mr. McNair was brought in about an hour ago. He was attacked in the parking garage of his building," she says.

I fall to my knees. "Ma'am, your husband is fine. We were just about to call you because he was upset he was running late." Tears pour from my eyes. He was attacked, and he's worried that I would be angry he's late. I push those thoughts away for now. I need to get to Morris. "I'm on my way" I say and disconnect the call.

After I make sure everything is off in the kitchen, I grab Emmy. On the drive to my parents' house I call my mother. "Mom, I was so angry he was late, and he was hurt. I'm a terrible person." Elise Jane McNair, you are not a terrible person. You had no way to know he was hurt, and he hasn't exactly had a good track record lately with being on time. Morris is a strong man, and I'm sure he is fine. You have to give yourself some grace right now, baby girl."

When I pull into the driveway my mother and Connor are both waiting. She takes Emmy out of her seat while Connor slides into the passenger seat. "What are you doing?" "Going with you for moral support. Besides, your husband is a big f**ker. You're going to need help getting him into the house depending on his injuries" he says.

I lose the battle with my emotions as tears stream down my cheeks. Why would someone attack my husband? Connor pulls me in for a hug. Once I finally get myself under control, Connor decides he had better drive. It doesn't take long for us to reach the hospital. As soon as the car stops, I'm out and running for the ER entrance.

I head for the nurse's station and an older woman with gray hair smiles at me. "Can I help you?" "My husband, Morris McNair, is here." She types on her computer for a few seconds before she looks up at me. "He is in room twenty-four. He is a little bit ornery. Is it your anniversary he's missing because he was pissed the doctor wouldn't let him leave. Kept saying he couldn't be late for dinner with his wife," she says.

I want to cry again, but I keep myself together. "No, I'll talk to him. Can I see him now?" Connor waits in the waiting room as I make my way through a set of double doors. I look up at the numbers as I move down the hall. When I make it to room twenty-four, I take a deep breath before I push open the door.

Morris damn near jumps out of bed when he sees me. "Elise, I swear I was out on time" he starts to say, and I burst into tears. I rush toward him, and he pulls me into his arms. "I'm so sorry, Morris." "Why the hell are you sorry? I was the one that didn't keep my promise." I pull my head back looking at him like he has lost his mind.

"Morris, you were attacked. I was angry that you were late. I should have called you instead of being a self-righteous b*tch." "No, don't you ever say that about yourself again. My track record of keeping my promises of coming home on time hasn't been great, so I understand why you were upset. I panicked after I woke up and realized what time it was. I was scared that you wouldn't let me explain," he says.

"We were both wrong, Morris. I shouldn't have left with Emmy no matter how upset I was. You shouldn't be worried about me leaving you after you were hurt. I'm so sorry Morris," I say as fresh tears run down my cheeks. A knock and the door opening interrupts the moment.

I turn to see a man that I assume is the doctor walking into the room. "Mrs. McNair, I'm glad to see you arrived. Your husband has been a rather difficult patient because he was so worried about you." Morris glares at the doctor. "He will be a model patient from here on out. Can you tell me exactly what his injuries are?"

I feel awful I hadn't asked him yet. "He has a concussion. It appears he was struck hard in the back of the head. He has a large hematoma on the back of his head." "Hematoma, what does that mean?" "My apologies, a goose egg. I want to keep him overnight for observation. If he doesn't vomit or develop headaches he can go home in the morning" he says. "I don't need," Morris starts to say, and I cut him off. "That's fine. Will I be able to stay with him?"

"That's against hospital policy, ma'am. You can stay with him until they take him to his room upstairs." I nod and the doctor leaves. I turn to my husband, who doesn't look happy. "You are staying with me, or I'm not staying. I'll call the COO of the hospital if I have to" he says. I ignore his comment for now because I need to know what the hell he remembers.

I'm just about to ask him when there is another knock on the door. Two police officers step inside. "Mr. McNair, we need to ask you some questions about the attack. Your girlfriend couldn't give us any details." I feel Morris stiffen and I fight the urge to scream.