The Billionaire Playboy's Regret (Lark and Max) novel Chapter 85

Lark found Max sitting up in his hospital bed with his laptop and a beautiful older woman standing at his bedside. The woman waved her off and motioned Max was on a call. Max held up a finger to her but shook his head when she signalled, she was going to leave.

“Send me the design plans for the product and we can discuss the product launch. Also, after today, my VP of operations will be taking over the CEO duties indefinitely. I’ll be checking in periodically with him, but we all know Friedrich can do this job with his eyes closed. He’s been with me since day one. I know you’ll do me proud Friedrich.”

A man’s voice floated into the room from the laptop, “of course, sir.”

“Peaches will be in touch with the rest of the assignments and will be assisting Friedrich while I’m recovering from surgery. I’m only a text away but please for the love of God, in order to keep my mother off my ass, can you keep the messages down to a minimum?” he begged as they all laughed. He signed off and passed his laptop to Peaches.

“Thanks Peaches. Send the quarterly report to the CFO’s office. Make sure the legal team has what they need for the latest patents. They will be working remotely so everything needs to be digitalized and encrypted before being sent electronically. IT will set up special parameters.” He reached out and squeezed her hand, “thank you for everything.” “It’s a pleasure, Mr. Villeneuve.” She lifted up a bag and tucked the laptop into and then left the hospital room.

“That was hot,” Lark grinned. “Max Villeneuve acting corporate is sexy as hell.”

He laughed and patted the bed, “very funny. How’s your head? Johan sent me a video of you last night doing shots with your dad.”

“Head hurts.” She ruefully grimaced, “heart hurts more though.”

“Yesterday was tough. I’m hoping each day without her gets easier.” Max said softly.

It wasn’t what she meant but she ignored his comment and made her way to sit beside him. She bit the inside of her cheek, “you look a lot better today.”

“I feel better. I had a good talk with my own cardiologist here yesterday afternoon and again this morning.”

“Is it why you’re taking a leave of absence?”

“Partly.” He lifted her hand into his. “Mom was here before the sun was even up this morning.” He exhaled heavily, “We had a bit of a hard chat.”

“What’s wrong?”

“She is my maman and I love her, and I owe her so much for all she’s done for me and our family but she’s overstepping and more importantly, she’s running herself ragged. I don’t want her in the next bed. I made a deal with her. I would listen to the doctors. I would take time off work to focus on healing. She needs to let me be an adult and back up.”

“You’re her son, though Max.”

“I am but I am one of six children and I do not want her stretched thin. I can take care of myself. I’m a big boy. I need her to stop worrying so much about me when there are much more important things to worry about. Stop reading the wrong and incomplete storyline, jo b ni b.co m has the correct and complete book. She is at the age where she should be looking forward to retiring in a few years and living child-free. My father and I talked a long time about it when he showed up here drunk after midnight. He is worried for her. She cries. A lot. I reassured her she is done raising me. I can take care of myself.”

“I see.” She wondered if she should tell him what Fallon blurted this morning. “I hate to say this, but the triplets are in some deep shit.”

“I know. Ollie texted me. I let my father know.”

“I know you have group therapy, so I didn’t want to take too much of your time.”

“I’m not going.” He shook his head. “Mom needs to focus her time on the triplets and Margot. If she wants me to come for support, I can do this but I’m getting therapy on my own and while they are my family, I’m a grown man who lives in his own home. I don’t live with them. They need to sort out their s**t. It has nothing to do with me. LJ’s prejudices because he thinks I was handed a better life than him are his and my mother’s, to sort out.”

“What about your counselling with Ollie?”

“I’m continue with her. She and I are very co-dependent and we’re needing to learn how to live our separate lives without dragging each other down. Counselling will help.”

“You’re a smart man, Max.”

“I know, chère,” he smiled at her. “I thought you would have popped by sooner.”

“Ollie told me you were booked for a medical procedure this morning, so I took my time. What was the medical thing?” “It’s called cardiac rehabilitation, but it wasn’t a procedure. My first appointment was this morning. I’ll attend daily for the next four to six weeks. I’ll be able to move back to my condo in a few days so long as nothing untoward pops up after yesterday’s flight and I’ll attend the day program.”

“You’ll be home in a few days? Who will be there with you?”

“Nobody.” He laughed. “Lark. My heart is repaired and while it’s still bruised and recovering, I’m fine.”