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.

hot water wash away the blood and 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

his life. He took a bullet meant for me, and now he might not make it. How could Ashlyn get to that state of mind? It all happened so

for the bullet to hit me and then Jayden on the ground. The chaos

like this is unbearable, a pain so deep it threatens

the hospital gown

I step back into my room, Judy is still

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

feel a little better," i admit. "Thank you for

+25 BONUS

125 Jury Actually

bed while you wait for them. May

now." I say as I climb

and for a moment, we are just two women united by their love for the same man.

he's hurt me in the past. We've both been manipulated and controlled in

I nod. "Come in."

He does.

go see where that cup of

she's voluntarily

are a free woman." Gordon comes over and gives me a hug. "You did well. Everything has

removed from your home. Ashlyn is behind bars. and will stay that way for a very long

needs help. I mean, she really needs help. I hope she gets

worry about you, right now. How about Jayden, any

just missed his heart but there's a lot of

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