Needing to work off some of his rapidly escalating edginess, Luca took the stairs. His grandfather was acting mysterious over whatever information he’d learned about the Pillmeyer account, refusing to share even a hint of it before the meeting. He was also insisting Jacey had to be present when he made his big announcement.

Luca couldn’t think of many good reasons for Jacey to be present. He would have preferred Edric to be more forthcoming about whatever information he’d uncovered. Whether his family liked it or not, Jacey was his personal assistant. She was his business. He was dealing with her in his own way though he was beginning to worry about the wisdom of pushing her so hard during her illness.

She’d been visibly sick all week, though she denied it profusely the few times he’d tried to bring it up. She’d taken it the wrong way, of course — as a personal criticism — and stepped up her pace even more. It had been a busier week than he expected, so he hadn’t needed to fabricate any more fool’s errands to keep her busy. As long as whatever Edric had to say didn’t involve firing her on the spot, he was going to insist she take the weekend off. No overtime. No exceptions. He needed her to get well.

Man! He rubbed a hand over his face as he bounded down the final flight of stairs, briefcase swinging at his side. He just needed her. Period. A need he had no hope of assuaging anytime soon. Ever since she’d caught him mourning over Easton’s photo, she’d stopped. Stopped mouthing off at him. Stopped flirting with him. She’d pretty much stopped talking to him altogether.

Her pale silence was wearing on him. The old Jacey had her issues, but he missed her — all the way down to her sass and insubordination.

He strode through the conference room door, hardly hearing the greetings of his family as he awaited Jacey’s arrival. She was only seconds behind him, looking way too pale and thin in her simple black sheath dress. She’d lost weight since she’d come to work for him. Everywhere, that is, accept on top. He was sure of it. Due to the nature of their business, he knew everything there was to know about the clothing, shapes, and sizes of women. If he hadn’t been working her such long hours, he would have suspected plastic surgery, but that wasn’t possible given the hours she’d put in. Maybe she’d invested in a new push-up bra. He could only hope she wasn’t planning another round of centerfold photo shoots. Genesis & Sons didn’t need that kind of publicity!

She stumbled on her way to the conference table, and he lurched in his seat, moving in her direction, but she righted herself with an angry glance at him. Great. On top of being ill, she was in one of her poisonous moods.

He frowned across the table at his grandfather. Let’s just get this over with, shall we? “What do you have for us, sir?”

Edric shot him a gleeful grin. “Well, son? You were right about the sabotage of the Pillmeyer account.”

His heart sank as all eyes turned toward Jacey. Her face jerked to his. Bewilderment stained her features. She paled another few degrees, shaking her head slightly at him with a beseeching expression.

He wanted to throw himself bodily between her and whatever else his grandfather had to say, to protect her from any more grief over the Pillmeyer account. Whatever part she had played in that mess, she was clearly sorry for it, and that was good enough for him.

“It was the Maddoxes alright. Up to their old tricks.”

Jacey made a choking sound. Luca half-rose from his seat in concern. She seemed to be having trouble breathing. Waverly leaned across the table to clasp her hands, but Jacey moved them out of reach and pushed her chair back. She gripped the edge of the table, swaying slightly and chest heaving.

“Stop.” Luca couldn’t tear his gaze away from her but didn’t dare approach her. She wouldn’t welcome his help.

Edric continued as if he hadn’t heard him, chortling so loud it made them all jump. He must have turned down his hearing aid again. “We weren’t supposed to find out, but ol’ Jensen couldn’t resist bragging to a golf buddy. They were upset with Jacey for putting in her application with us after turning down their offer to make her a VP. They’d already cut off her funds. What else could they do but set her up to get fired from her new job? It must chaff their backsides to see how well she’s performing at our firm.”

Luca hated how chalky Jacey’s face had become. “Sir, I’m not sure this a topic for boardroom discussion.” Why oh why couldn’t his grandfather have broken the news to him one-on-one?

Edric ignored him and spread his hands wide. “Ms. Maddox, I’m of a mind to make it up to you with a sizable bonus. I’m as sorry as I can be that you took the heat last week over something that was no fault of yours.”

Her mouth moved, but no sound came out. A deep flush replaced her paleness and just as quickly evaporated. She stood, slowly turned away from the conference table, and pitched forward.

Luca stopped thinking and simply moved. He pushed his chair back so hard it went flying, but he was too far away to reach her in time. She crumpled like an old building falling in on itself. She would have smacked the merciless tile floor but for Rhys’s swift intervention. Fortunately, his brother was sitting much closer to her. He caught her limp frame and lowered her to the floor.

“Jacey!” Her name tore from Luca’s lips as he flew across the room to crouch on the floor beside her. “Somebody, call an ambulance!” He pressed two fingers to her wrist. Thank God she has a pulse! A wildly erratic one.

Face pinched in concern, Waverly eased herself down on the floor on the other side of Jacey and gently cradled her face in her hands. “Remove my shawl,” she instructed sharply. “Put it under her head.”

He rapidly complied. “I’ll ride with her in the ambulance to the E.R. Someone else needs to inform her family.”

“What?” His grandmother looked outraged. “After all they’ve done to her? That’s the last thing she needs right now. Why, those hooligans—”

“Ask for Alora. Her sister.” His voice was firm. He suspected the older Maddox daughter had something to do with the press release that had made it difficult to fire her younger sister. Since Jacey was innocent of sabotage, it was the only other logical explanation for her calls to Alora hours before losing the Pillmeyer account. He hoped it meant she had at least one ally left in her family.

Rhys laid a hand on his shoulder. “You don’t have to go to the E.R., Luca. I know things haven’t been easy between the two of you. I don’t mind being the one to accompany her.”

“Yes, I do. This is my fault.” Raw guilt tore through his gut. “I was angry about a lot of things, and I pushed her too hard.”

“Yes, you did, so how about we put a different face in front of her besides yours when she wakes up?”

“Thank you but no.” Luca was beyond reason on the topic. He wasn’t leaving her side, and that was final. “I’ll fix this. I owe it to Easton.” He couldn’t roll back the years or undo the distance that had sprung up between him and his youngest brother before his death, but it was past time to quit punishing his widow for things outside her control. He’d make it up to her. Somehow. When she woke up, things were going to be different between them. They were going to start over.

Something in his face made Rhys lower his hand. “If you’re sure about this, brother.”

“I’m sure. Just try to reach her sister. I think Jacey would want her to know.”

“I don’t think Alora Maddox cares too much for any of us, especially me, but I’ll do what I can.”

Especially you, eh? Luca frowned up at him, sensing a story, but it wasn’t the time to pursue it.

One thing for sure, his calm, unshakable brother looked worried.