My CEO 125

125 Judy Actually Cares

(Winona)

"You look awful," Judy says bluntly from the doorway.

I jumped because I didn't expect her to follow me up here. I thought she'd be hovering down in emergency for more news on Jayden.

"Let's get you in that shower." She takes Gordon's coat off my shoulders.

"I want to get all this blood off me," I admit, my voice breaking. The last thing I want to do is be this vulnerable in front of Judy, but I'm just so broken I can't put up any sort of emotional shield right now.

Judy surprises me by touching my hand gently. "Go take a shower. I'll stay here and wait for news. I'll have some clothes brought in for you immediately."

Her kindness catches me off guard. I search her eyes for any hint of ulterior motives but find only genuine concern. "Okay," I say, hesitant but grateful. "Thank you."

She nods, squeezing my hand briefly before letting go. "We're both here for Jayden. He needs us both to be strong."

I nod and head towards the bathroom, my legs feeling like they might give out at any moment.

Before I get under the water, I pull my cell phone from my pocket and message Anne, Lance, and Lisa, letting them know what's happened. That I can't talk just yet but just to watch the news. I place Jayden's phone beside mine. The symbolism catches in my throat.

I hear Judy on her phone too, calling Gus. I hear her say his name. Her voice is low, urgent, but I can't make out all of the words. I just hear the tremor in her tone, a reflection of the fear I feel.

grime. I wash the blood off me that's soaked through my clothes. I cry as I don't want to wash him away from me really, it might be the last

he might not make it. How could Ashlyn get

The sound of the gunshot. Waiting for the bullet to

this is unbearable, a

a little more human. I dry off and wrap myself in the hospital gown I

back into my room, Judy

"Feeling better?" she asks, her tone surprisingly caring. "There will be clothes

a little better," i

+25 BONUS

125 Jury Actually

while you wait for them. May

grateful for Jayden right now." I say as

a moment, we are just two women united by their love for the

in that moment. The realization that I can't live without him, no matter how much he's hurt me in

I nod. "Come in."

He does.

gets up. "I'll go see where that

she's voluntarily giving us

Gordon comes over and gives me a hug. "You did well. Everything has been dropped and you can

find a new normal. All the tracking will be removed from your home. Ashlyn is

she really needs help. I hope she gets

just worry about you, right now.

his heart but there's a lot

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