Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 29460 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 147(@200wpm)___ 118(@250wpm)___ 98(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29460 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 147(@200wpm)___ 118(@250wpm)___ 98(@300wpm)
Thankfully, Justice knew I wasn’t being rude. As the head neonatologist for a large hospital in Manhattan, I couldn’t afford to be late. My patient was technically the child being delivered, and this little boy had a heart condition that would need to be addressed the second he was born.
“Can I give you a ride to the hospital so we can talk?” he offered.
“My driver is already waiting, but you can ride with me, and he’ll bring you home afterward.”
Justice nodded and fell into step beside me as I resumed my trek toward the front doors. “Thanks. I’m hoping you can help me with my daughter.”
I glanced at him with a raised eyebrow, and he laughed. Justice and his wife, Blair, had nine children, and I was pretty sure that at least six of them were girls. I’d probably met them all at some point, but I was a workaholic and rarely home, so I wasn’t sure I could pick any of them out of a lineup.
“Jenna. She’s my eldest daughter. She’ll be eighteen in a couple of months.”
A black Town Car idled at the curb as we stepped out into the late morning sunshine. It was a deceptively beautiful day. Despite the brightness of the sun, it was cold as hell. I grimaced when a rush of frigid February air blew over us and wrapped my long wool coat tightly around me.
My driver—and covert bodyguard—was just rounding the hood of the car and opened the back door. “Thanks, Linus,” I said with a smile before climbing inside. Justice greeted him warmly before sliding onto the seat next to me.
He was one of the few people who knew that Linus was more than just my chauffeur. Mainly because one of his best friends, Jonah Carrington, owned a security company and had found Linus for me.
Justice was also one of the few people who knew why I had a bodyguard. I certainly didn’t make peanuts at my job, but it was the medical research company I owned that put my net worth in the billions.
I was considered a prodigy growing up. I graduated from high school at sixteen and finished my bachelor's at eighteen. When I was in medical school and started doing my own research, one of my professors found out what I was working on and encouraged me to form a company.
Some of my ideas had been ground breaking, so our reputation grew at sonic speeds. By the time I graduated, I’d made several million and had expanded the business, opening several labs throughout the state of New York, each with a different specialized area of research.
Having that many zeros in my bank account alone made me a target, but I’d also been threatened a few times by people who reacted violently without doing their research. My company didn’t test on animals, yet I’d nearly been killed twice by activists. After the second attempt, I’d given in to Justice’s advice and hired Linus.
“How can I help you?” I asked my friend.
“Jenna graduates from high school in May, and she’s not sure what she wants to do. She loves kids and has a way with them that is just incredible, but she’s adamant that she doesn’t want to work with her mom at the K-Corp daycare. My wife suggested that she spend some time looking into other jobs that involve babies, and I remembered that your hospital has several volunteer positions that work with kids.”
I nodded. “We do the standard patient pals, room buddies, and open playroom, among others.”
“Yes, but doesn’t your hospital also have one of the few cuddler programs?”
“We do,” I confirmed. “But we don’t usually accept volunteers under twenty-one for that program.”
Justice leaned back against the seat and scratched his salt-and-pepper beard while thinking. “I can certainly understand that,” he replied eventually. “But Jenna is already a mature and responsible young woman. I’m sure she’d be happy to volunteer in any capacity you need, but if age isn’t a hard and fast rule, would you consider it?”
If what he said about her was correct, then I was open to his idea. “Send her to the hospital tomorrow after school,” I told him with a nod. “I’ll have the volunteer program coordinator go over her options. I promise to keep an eye on her, and if I feel like she’s a good fit, I’ll make sure she’s given a spot as a patient cuddler.”
Justice grinned and clapped me on the shoulder. “You just made me Dad of the year, Chase. Anytime I can return the favor, you just let me know.”
“I’ll think of something,” I chuckled. The car slowed to a stop in front of an employee entrance to the hospital administrative offices. “I have rounds tomorrow at five, so ask Jenna to try to get there before then. That way, I can get her squared away before my shift starts.”