Uriah's breathing was getting faster, rough and uneven.

"Stella, this is between me and Tegan. I'd advise you to butt out!"

His voice had turned ice-cold, the disdain for Stella's interference unmistakable.

Stella caught it instantly. "Oh, so now I'm annoying you just for caring? Honestly, Uriah."

"Your own girlfriend was driven to ask her best friend for help, and yet you have the nerve to call this something just between you two?"

"If it's your business, then step up and handle it for once!"

She was about to blow a gasket.

"Anytime there's an issue between her and Leslie, you take Leslie's side without thinking. If you trust your precious sister that much, why not just shack up with her for the rest of your life?"

Fuming, Stella ended the call.

That tirade left Uriah's head pounding. He pinched the bridge of his nose, then turned to his assistant, Miriam. "Has she been in surgery all this time?"

He was parked just outside the hospital. He'd meant to go straight in and look for Tegan, but Miriam had already checked-Tegan had gone into the operating room the moment she arrived at the hospital and hadn't come out since.

Miriam nodded. "Yes, Ms. Tegan's been in the OR with Dr. Yoder—" She stopped short.

She had to rein herself in—her boss was on edge, and the wrong word could set him off. Why couldn't she just keep her mouth shut sometimes? That was not something she should've blurted out. With the way Uriah had been lately, even saying Finley Yoder's name was like throwing gasoline on a fire.

Uriah's gaze narrowed dangerously. "Finley's with her?"

Miriam could only manage a nervous laugh and nod. "Yeah. That's right."

"Why didn't you mention this earlier?"

His voice went deathly quiet. / His tone turned arctic.

*Because I was afraid you'd lose your mind,* was the answer Miriam screamed inside her head. Her poor heart felt like it was going to give out with how he'd been acting lately. In that moment, she seriously considered handing in her resignation. She was half-convinced her neurotic boss would be the death of her.

Uriah shot her a glacial look.

Miriam shrank under his stare, stammering, "Well, I only just found out myself."

"Miriam, I'm starting to seriously question your competence!"

"Then maybe you should get yourself a new assistant," Miriam blurted before she could stop herself.

Uriah went silent.

Helena, who was sitting beside him, was stunned speechless.

The driver glanced up, caught in the tension.

Three pairs of eyes landed on Miriam.

Miriam froze. *No, wait, that's not what I meant! I'm just so frustrated!*

Uriah's icy gaze bore into Miriam. For someone usually so competent and put- together, her outburst was shocking. There was a dangerous shimmer in his eyes.

Miriam rubbed her nose and stared out the window, pretending she hadn't just voiced a death wish.

Good Lord-this couldn't be her

fault. It was her boss who couldn't seem to draw a line between his girlfriend and his sister-constantly snowballing into drama and going off the rails without warningo Working for him was enough to give anyone a nervous breakdown s She spent half her time getting yanked between his personal disasters!

r

Dear God, if I've sinned, punish me with overtime at my desk, not by dragging me abroad to play marriage counselor-only to get blamed when goes wrong! How was any normal person supposed to put up with this? Her heart was pounding out of her chest faster than during any late night at the office, and she wasn't even getting overtime pay for her trouble. How was that fair?

Helena finally found her voice. "Miriam, did you actually just say that to Uriah? Are you out of your mind?"

Uriah's reputation in Portis City was practically legend; everyone knew what he was like. Yet here was Miriam, his assistant, daring to talk back to him...

Helena glanced at Uriah. "Uriah?"

Was Uriah really so easygoing, or was Miriam just plain gutsy? Honestly, this was the most anyone had ever seen her snap. But, really, who could blame her? She was supposed to get married tomorrow. She'd already arranged her days off Instead, while she was supposed to be picking out wedding dresses, her boss called and ordered her to fly overseas, chasing after his sister and his girlfriend. Who wouldn't be angry in her place? And he'd even promised-promised!-that they'd be on their way back today.