Rejected Heiress, Reigning Queen novel Chapter 249

As the trio continued their shopping trip, Emma's phone suddenly rang.

"Travis says there's a problem with the clinical trials. I need to go check it out."

Emma turned to leave, but Jocelyn grabbed her arm. "Let me handle it."

"You just flew in today. Go have fun! Let Carter entertain you. I've got this."

Emma didn't want Jocelyn jumping straight into work the second she got off a plane, so she passed the hosting duties off to Carter.

Seeing Jocelyn about to protest, Carter stepped in.

"I'll show you around the mall."

Jocelyn eyed him curiously. Once Emma was out of earshot, she asked, "Don't tell me you can't tell?"

Carter played dumb, offering a calm, polite smile. "Emma's wishes come first. She didn't want you stressing over work on your first day back."

"Are you seriously not worried Travis might steal your wife?"

Jocelyn looked at him like he was an idiot. Carter just chuckled. "I trust Emma. I'm not going to let petty jealousy interfere with her career or damage her relationship with her friends."

Jocelyn didn't push the issue, but the look of approval in her eyes deepened considerably.

Meanwhile, Emma sprinted into the research wing of Metropolitan Medical Center. When Travis saw her in that dress, his eyes lit up.

"That dress looks incredible on you."

Emma was in no mood for compliments. She marched up to him, all business. "What data discrepancy? Let me see."

These were live clinical trials. Even a fraction of an error could cost a patient their life. That was exactly why she had abandoned her shopping trip and left her best friend with her husband.

While unexpected variables were normal in research, and every patient had signed waivers, she refused to let anyone die or suffer worsened conditions on her watch.

"You developed the drug. What could possibly go wrong?" Travis smiled easily. "I just wanted to see you."

Emma let out a breath of relief, but a spike of anger quickly replaced it.

"Travis, how could you joke about something like that?!" she demanded, collapsing into a waiting room chair and wiping a thin layer of sweat from her forehead.

Travis pressed his lips together, realizing his excuse was incredibly stupid. He shifted awkwardly on his feet.

She knew Travis hated being cooped up in a lab. Now that she had the time, she wasn't about to force him to do something he despised.

"Em, that's not what I meant."

Travis was scrambling for an excuse. He just wanted to see her and keep her away from Carter. He didn't actually want to abandon the clinical trials!

"Go on, get out of here. You deserve a break."

Emma kindly pushed him toward the exit, leaving Travis drowning in a sea of misery and regret.

Defeated, he called Jocelyn, who immediately took the opportunity to mercilessly mock him.

"Serves you right. You know exactly how exhausting clinical trials are. When Emma collapses from overworking, let's see who feels worse."

Travis's face turned ash-gray. Looking back toward the hospital wing, a new plan formed in his mind.

He made another phone call.

"Get one of the villas near Metropolitan Medical Center ready. I need it by tonight."