My CEO 217
217 The Decision
(Winona)
Every tI've been at this hospital it's been in fear of the life of someone | love dearly. Abby, Jayden, Mom.
Now, I'm walking back into that suncertainty, but this tit's about a life that hasn't even begun yet. | see
Jayden ahead, his tall frstanding rigid, his eyes focused on the floor. He looks like a man ready for battle,
and in a way, he is, "Jayden," | call out as | approach. His head snaps up, and the tension in his face softens just
a bit when he sees me.
"Winona," he replies, his voice thick with emotions he's trying to keep in check. He pullsinto a quick hug, his
arms strong and protective around me. "Thanks for coming."
"Of course," | say, leaning into him for just a moment, taking sof his strength for myself, "What's the
situation?"
"They're prepping Ashlyn for the emergency c-section," he explains, his voice steady but laced with worry.
I nod, trying to absorb the gravity of the situation. "Do they know if the baby will be okay?"
He shakes his head. "They don't know anything yet. The doctor said we have stto decide if we want to
be in the room during the delivery."
Jayden's words hang in the air, and | feel a wave of uncertainty wash over me. Being in the room during the
delivery... | don't know if that's where | should be. | mean, Ashlyn and | were anything but close.
Is it right to be there when | know once the baby is out, they'll be making an awful decision?
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Is it my place?
"What do you think?" | ask, trying to gauge his feelings.
7 want to be there," he says without hesitation. "If something happens... | need to be there. | can't let our baby
cinto this world alone. Or go out of it."
I swallow hard, my throat tightening. "I don't know, Jayden. | want to support you, but... I'm scared. What if
something goes wrong? What if what if you lose the baby? I'm not sure | can handle that." He squeezes my hand.
The nurse comes out and tells us the operating theater is held up for another thirty minutes but that they have
the baby stabilized for now.
"Let's sit and wait till we're called." | say trying to put off the inevitable decision. "How did the board meeting go?
Did you have enough tto tell them your decision?"
Jayden says, "you won't believe what just happened at the office. You really won't."
| blink. "What do you mean?" Is he going to say he changed his mind about leaving?
He lets out a breath, running a hand through his hair. "Greg's secret family showed up."
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217 The BecINION
| stare at him, not sure | heard him right. "What the actual hell are you talking about? Greg's secret family? Like,
from another marriage?"
"From another marriage, another country, Cuba," Jayden confirms, his expression still carrying the weight. of the
surprise. "He had a wife and kids there. They cto the office this morning, saying they have proof-DNA proof-
that they're Greg's family." "Oh my God! Jayden! What did you do? What did you say to them?"
He shrugs. "I gave them what is rightfully theirs."
"Wait! You gave them the company?"
"Technically, it's theirs anyway. I'm not even Greg's son"
"Do they have any experience?"
"No idea. Not my circus, not my monkeys."
"And Judy?"
"I gave her half my shares too. | do wish | could be a fly on the wall when she meets them." He half smiles.
I'm stunned."
"I'm free."
| shake my head, trying to process the information. "Why now? How long have they known? And why didn't they
cforward earlier?"
Jayden sighs. "I don't know. They didn't even know Greg as Greg Brennan. Apparently, they had no idea who he
really was until recently. Maria, the wife, said they were just as shocked as we are." "How many kids?"
"Four. The son isn't much younger than me. Then three younger sisters."
"This is unbelievable."
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"It actually justified my decision. | was happy to hand it all over. They can fight it out with Judy and by the looks
of Maria, that will be a battle royale."
I'm stunned. | can't even begin to wrap my head around the fact that Jayden just handed over the business to
these strangers. "You're really okay with this?"
He looks at me, his eyes unwavering. "I've never been more certain of anything. | am out, Winona,"
I don't know what to say. Part ofis still reeling from the shock, but another part ofunderstands where
he's coming from. Jayden's been tied to that business for so long, and it's brought him nothing but pain in the
end. Before | can respond, the doctor appears at the end of the hall, heading towards us. He's dressed in scrubs,
his expression serious.
"We're ready," he says, stopping in front of us. "If you've both decided to be present, we can get your prepped
now."
217 The Decision
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Jayden looks at me, his eyes pleading. "Please, Winona,"
| hesitate. But then | think about Jayden, standing in that delivery room alone if that baby doesn't make it, and |
know | can't let that happen. "Okay," | say, my voice trembling but resolute. "I'm with you."
The doctor nods and gestures for us to follow him. As we walk towards the operating room, | grip Jayden's hand
tightly, drawing strength from the fact that we're in this together.
Because that's what we've become-partners in every sense of the word. And as terrifying as this moment is, |
know we're ready for it.
We have to be.