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"Vic!"

I' on? I closeShort, shallow breaths

"Vic! Stay with me"

Stay? Who wantsat the ceiling

"I' 911"

"No It's her asthma She'll be fine"

"She turned blue"

"And now she's not Sit down and give her space"

Someone moves, a chair creaks, and the roo the sis center me Asthma Okay, yes I remember I had an asthma attack Ben's here

Ben!

My heart gallops and ain Ben's here and he still doesn't want to be around me Elation dies replaced by shaly to his refusal to spend time with me

"I' to sit up

A strong ar position Ben, one arm around me, stares into my face His expression is unreadable His chiseled, tanned features give away nothing but my heart flips like it always does when I look at him Grief hits me out of nowhere for no reason that I can remember, but it seems like I should

"Are you sure Vic?" he asks

"Yes and please, call me Victoria"

I hate it when he calls me Vic That hat he called me before, ere close That's a special nahts to use Any warards me coolly and returns to his chair I clie of the desk orry and concern evident on his face as his pudgy fingers tap the ink blotter beside him

"Are you sure you're okay Victoria? I can get a doctor here for you if you need"

"No, thank you I'm fine"

He shuffles papers around in front of hi at me At last he comes to the decision that I'll be fine or he has no control Either way he decides to continue

"Well, as I was saying You may of course have your oyers look at the papers but her intent and will is quite clear If you refuse, the company and all assets will be liquidated and the proceeds will go into a charitable fund"

I glance at Ben covertly He sits stock still giving away nothing No indication of what he's thinking outwardly except one perfectly er traces a circle on the arm of the chair He used to do that ere kids If he orking on soured out the solution

"Fine," Ben says at last

"So you agree to co with this?" Mr Morian asks

"Yes," Ben says

He still doesn't look atat him I don't realize for a moment that Mr Morian has shifted his attention until Ben turns and looks at ht and his brow is furrowed

"Victoria?"