Ste was left with a very good impression of Dr. Winter. "I understand. Thank you, Dr. Winter."


    Dr. Winter nodded. "I''ll head back and start drafting some treatment options. I''ll keep you posted the moment I have an update."


    "Great." Ste stood up and personally walked Dr. Winter to the door.


    Joshua stood by Ste''s side, his gaze fixed thoughtfully on the doctor''s retreating back. He didn''t look away until shepletely disappeared from view.


    Noticing his intense focus, Ste asked, "Joshua, what is it? Is there something wrong with Dr. Winter?"


    "Don''t you think she looks a bit familiar?" Joshua asked.


    "Familiar?" Ste echoed. "I guess she does have a friendly face, but she''s a top- tier psychiatrist. Having aforting, approachable vibe isn''t exactly suspicious, is it?"


    Joshua''s eyes narrowed slightly as if he was turning something over in his mind.


    "I already had someone run a deep background check on her," Ste reassured him. "And I sent her files over to Mr. Burton and Old Mr. Wyatt for verification. They both said her credentials are rock solid. But if you feel like something''s off, we can dig deeper."


    Joshua quickly withdrew his gaze. "No, it''s fine."


    It would take Dr. Winter some time to develop a new protocol. In the meantime, Ste looped Laurel Quinn in on the situation.


    "If you need to, Ms. Quinn, feel free to coordinate with Dr. Winter and brainstorm together," Ste suggested.


    Laurel knew Ste was still dead set against hypnosis for Joshua. She understood where Ste was


    Issue After all, they could find a


    viable alternative to hypnosis, it would be a win for everyone.


    Cóntent


    "Understood," Laurel agreed. "I''ll reach out to Dr. Winter. I''ll let you know the second


    we make any progress."


    After wrapping up her call with


    Laurel, Ste opened her email to review the resumes Abby Murphy had sent over With Wilbur gone, a


    Tot of tasks were slippinrough


    the cracks, and Abby was drowning in work. Ste had decided to hire two more people.


    She noticed that every single resume Abby had forwarded belonged to female assistants with bodyguard training. Ste didn''t care about gender; as long as they were highly capable and fiercely loyal, that was all that mattered.


    Before she could even finish going through the first batch, Abby called.


    Her voice soundedpletely devoid of the will to live. "Star, did you look at the resumes I sent?"


    Ste navigated the mouse with one hand while holding the phone. "I''m looking at them right now. What''s wrong?"


    "Gideon just told me he had a family emergency and needs to take a long leave of absence," Abby practically wailed in despair. "Oh my god, Wilburjust quit, and now Gideon is bailing? Are they trying to work me into an early grave?"


    Ste''s finger paused on the mouse. "Gideon''s taking a leave too?"


    "Yes!" Abby cried, frustrated beyond belief. "I was already drowning, and now this... when it rains, it pours!"


    Ste frowned slightly. "Did he say when he''d be back?"


    "No, but he said he''ll be gone for at least a month."


    "If he has an emergency, we have to let him handle it," Ste said calmly. "I''m going through the resumes now. I''ll try to bring on an extra assistant to help take the load off your te. Also..."


    Ste nced toward the study door. Satisfied it was tightly shut and Joshua was nowhere nearby, she lowered her voice. "How is that investigation I asked Gideon to look into going?"