Martha has agreed to stay with us and be on hospital duty until Jeremy and I work out a routine to be with Daniel at the hospital. Mia volunteered to pick up Hazel when I asked her if she'd have time today.

"Be a good girl and thank Ben's mom when she drops you off at school, okay?" I tell Hazel as I help her put her backpack on and lead her to the driveway just as Mia arrives.

"Hi Hazel! Come on in!" Mia smiles at her through the rolled down car window.

"Thank you so much for driving her." I tell Mia as Hazel climbs into the backseat where Ben is waiting for her.

"Don't mention it!" Mia smiles at me before saying goodbye and driving off. A black car with guards follow her. Mia thinks that the added security is due to my paranoia that has followed since Hazel's kidnapping. Little does she know that our enemies haven't backed down entirely.

I instruct the butler to have a car brought to the front while I hurry back inside to fetch my laptop and purse.

Jeremy meets me in the office lobby.

"Ready for your first day as boss?" He asks, leading me to the elevators.

"I hope." I mutter to myself but he hears me and reassures me, "You'll be great."

Jeremy walks me to Daniel's office and when I start towards the seats for visitors he stops me and tells me that I need to appear completely in charge, hence, I have to use Daniel's office as if it was my own.

Sighing, I shakily roll back the chair, set my laptop down and then take my seat. Jeremy leaves me to fetch some files from his office.

In the silence that follows hundreds of memories come crashing back to me. The inauguration of this office building, the parties that followed, waiting for Daniel's endless meetings to finish, picking up Daniel for dates, office dates, Hazel's first time here and so many more follow.

"Doing okay?" Jeremy's voice startles me, making me realize that I have tears in my eyes and a few on my cheeks.

I hastily nod and wipe them away.

"Okay, to be honest, there's a lot to do today but we have the entire day. It's only eight thirty so we'll take things one step at a time. Alright?" He suggests.

I nod gratefully, "Okay."

"Good. First things first. I have called a meeting with managers from various levels, junior and senior. They are most probably beginning to gather this moment. The purpose of the meeting is for them to meet you, officially as their head and so that they know that the Aarons have not withdrawn from the running of the company."

"What do you need me to do?" I ask him.

He slides a printout towards me, "You are to make a little speech. We will not distort facts that are already public knowledge, such as, Daniel's illness. But I have dubbed down its extent. Just go over this once and you're good to go."

I nod suddenly nervous. It's been a good number of years since I've had to address a large number of subordinates in a formal setting.

Jeremy leaves to make sure the meeting is ready to begin while I take ten minutes to go over the points that Jeremy has put down for me then take another five minutes to compose myself before heading to a lower level where Jeremy instructed me to meet him.

"Ready?" Jeremy asks when he sees me walk out of the elevator.

"Let's go." I nod as he holds open the door to the auditorium for me.

I always knew that Daniel had hundreds of people working for him but never realized just how many until now. My eyes and brain take in the auditorium which is filled to the brim and these aren't even all the people who work for the company, just the most important ones.

I keep a straight face as I make my way to the podium and climb the two steps to the pedestal. As I reach the microphone all the commotion in the room dies down and silence entails.

I take a deep breath as Jeremy comes to stand at the bottom of the podium. I take comfort in his presence as I survey the room. These people are loyal to my husband and must be treated fairly for the trust and belief that they have in Daniel's abilities. I am here for him. I am here for Daniel.

"Good morning." I start before my brain decides that I'm too scared to speak.

"I am Emma Aaron as most of you already know. Your boss and my husband, Daniel Aaron is ill to the extent that he cannot attend to the needs of this company at the moment. This is something that I am aware was brought to your attention by one of Aaron Limited's biggest competitors, Alan and Co."

I pause and gather my thoughts before continuing.

"Due to Daniel's absence, it has been felt that many of you have started to question the plausibility of this company. Rest assured that if one Aaron is unable to attend to your needs, another will be there at all times."

I look to Jeremy and the smile on his face confirms that my improvising is exactly what this speech needed.

"As promised, I am here to announce that until Daniel is well enough to return to work, I am stepping in as head of this company. And I promise to uphold the guidelines and moral values that my husband so strongly believes in."

This is answered by serious nods from everyone but I read no resistance in anyone's gaze or body language.

"I will be around, not just limited to my own office to answer any queries or worries that you may have. Thank you for taking out your time to be here."

I was not expecting any reaction from the crowd so when it breaks into an applause I'm stunned for a second but I quickly compose myself and politely thank everyone before wishing them a good day and letting Jeremy escort me out.

Once we're back in Daniel's, for the time being, my office Jeremy pulls me into a hug.

"That was brilliant!"

"Really?" I ask, a little breathless from the positive response.

"I will have employee morale re-evaluated at the end of the week and I can already see a positive light shining through."

"Good." I nod, smiling back.

"You need to know something." Jeremy says, sheepishly.

"What?" I ask, crossing my arms.

"We had your speech aired on the news."

"YOU WHAT?!" I scream.

"As a response to Alan and Co.'s statement about the condition of the company and now the world knows and especially all our clients know that Aaron Limited is still very much in the hands of an Aaron family member who has its best interests at heart." Jeremy explains.

I think it over for a second before nodding, "Okay. Whatever needed to be done."

The rest of the morning passes in a blur with a meeting with Daniel's most trusted lawyers to bring me up to speed with all the obligations that now lie with me and all legal aspects of business that I absolutely must be aware of. I decide to have lunch in the office's cafeteria to chat with people and get their thoughts on the last few weeks.

Which is a success as we gather plenty insight to confirm our theories of Daniel's absence and employee morale. I also put in a call home to check on Hazel and ask her if she needs anything once Mia drops her off.

As evening approaches most junior employees begin to wrap up and leave, that's when Jeremy forcefully sends me home to rest too.

But instead of going home directly I make a slight detour and stop at the hospital first.

"Hey!" I hug Martha when I meet her in Daniel's room. "You should go home and get some rest."

"You need the rest more than I do. Besides, Jeremy called and said he'll be arriving within the hour so I'll come home for the night then. Do you mind if I get myself a coffee?"

"Please do. I'll wait here for you to return and then we can go home together once Jeremy arrives." I tell her.

"Perfect." Martha gives me one more hug before closing the door behind her.

I sigh and sit down on the bed next to Daniel. I take his hand that is free of tubes and give it a little squeeze.

"I'm expected to do the bare minimum and I'm already exhausted. How do you do this every day?" Tears prick my eyes as I watch Daniel's face.

"Please just be okay. I'll go to the office every day for the rest of my life if I have to but please just come back." I kiss his cheek as tears spill out.

I sigh and wipe them away, composing myself before his mother returns.

Please comment and tell me what you think!! The story has crossed 23K reads (thank you for which BTW ❤️) but I still have no clue whether my readers like it or not. Please do tell me!!

-T