The Greek Tycoon (13 page)

“Of course I will. Thank you.” Katie
smiled.

“No, thank you.” Sophia hugged her.
“So tell me about my grand-child. When is it
due?”

“It’s a boy.” Katie smiled. “He is due
on the eight of July.”

“A boy! Two grand-daughters and a
grand-son.” Sophia smiled. “Perfect.”

When Sophia arrived at Nikos’
apartment she called Andreus’ office. “Hi
mama.” Andreus smiled after his receptionist
had put the call through. “Have you spoken to
Kate yet?”

“Yes I have. Why didn’t you tell me she
was pregnant? I felt like a complete idiot not
knowing my own son’s girlfriend is having
my grand-son.”

“Did she accept your apology?”

“Stop changing the subject.”

“Mama answer my question then I will
explain.”

“Yes she did, she was very sweet and
kind about it, we spent the afternoon talking
about your unborn son. Now explain.”

“Ok, if Katie thought you knew about
the pregnancy, she would think you were only
apologising for the sake of the baby. We
needed her to know you meant what you were
saying. I wasn’t trying to exclude or upset
you.”

“I know, I understand.”

“Thank you. So how is the beautiful
mother of my unborn son?”

“She’s fine. She looked fit and healthy
and she is very excited about seeing you on
Friday.”

“Good. See you tomorrow mama.”

“Melissa and I are flying back together
tomorrow.”

“Ok, I’ll tell Nikos. I love you.”

“I love you too son.”

Chapter 29

Katie went to her midwife appointment
at the beginning of June for her check up. The
move into Andreus’ apartment had gone
smoothly and they were living happily as a
family. Andreus had flown to Milan the day

before for two weeks then was flying to Paris
for two days to show his design and proposal
to the hopefully future client before returning
home.

“Katie.” The midwife called her in,
Katie smiled and walked into the office.
“How are you feeling?” Joanna her midwife
asked.

“Fine.”

“Good. Can you still feel the baby
moving at least ten times every day?”

“More than that, he never stops.”

“Great! That’s what we like to hear.
Now last time your blood pressure was up a
little but your urine test was normal.” She
done her blood pressure which was far too
high. “Do you have your urine sample?” Katie
handed it over. Joanna took it to the sink and
tested it, she washed her hands then instead of
pouring it down the sink she screwed the lid
back on and bought it to her desk.

“Is it ok?” Katie asked.

“It’s showing plus four on protein, so I
am going to send it off to the lab for analysis.”

“What does that mean?”

“The protein and high blood pressure
are both signs of pre-eclampsia, which is
when the placenta is failing so the baby wont
get enough oxygen. Also the placenta falls
away from the womb so it causes internal

bleeding. It is a very dangerous condition for
both mum and baby.” Joanna took Katie’s
hand. “I have to tell you all this at the first
sign of pre-eclampsia but we are talking
worse case scenario. Have you had any
disturbed vision?”

“No.”

“Good. Any swelling of feet, hands
and/or face?”

“My feet are a little swollen.”

“Let’s take a look.” She looked at
Katie’s feet. “Yes they are. If you have any
increase of swelling anywhere or disturbed
vision call the surgery and I will see you
immediately. I am going to take some blood
and send it off with the urine sample. I’m
going to mark them as urgent so I will get the
results in the morning. Could you make an
appointment for tomorrow morning before
you leave?” Katie nodded. Joanna drew some
blood then listened to the baby’s heartbeat.
“It’s not quite as we would like it but it is ok
at the moment.”

Katie made the appointment for the
following morning then left the surgery in a
daze. She went to her parents home and told
them what was happening. “Have you called
Andreus?” Heather asked.

“No, there is no point in worrying him

unnecessarily. I will tell him tomorrow when I
know more.”

Katie went back to the apartment alone,
her parents were having Rhiannon for the
night, she laid in bed that night but sleep
eluded her.

Katie arrived at the doctors the next
morning and was called straight in. “I have
the results, it’s definitely looking like preeclampsia,
I want to check your blood
pressure, urine and baby’s heartbeat now.”

“So what is going to happen?”

“Let’s talk about that after I’ve checked
everything. I need you to take a deep breath
and be as calm as you can possibly be ok.”
Katie nodded. Joanna checked her blood
pressure, it was a tiny bit higher than the
previous day, she checked her urine and got
the same results, then she checked the baby’s
heartbeat. “It’s all practically the same as
yesterday, I was hoping for even the slightest
improvement. I think the best course of action
and especially the safest for you both is for
you to be admitted into hospital where they
can keep an eye on your obs, they’ll do daily
blood tests, check your blood pressure every
hour and put you on a foetal heart monitor for
half an hour every two hours. It’s the safest
option.”

“I can’t stay in hospital! I have a six
year old daughter!”

“Can’t your partner look after her?”

“He works, and he is away at the
moment.”

“I need you to know this is a very
serious condition Katie. If something happens
to you, who will look after your daughter
then?”

“Ok, I’ll go into hospital.”

“I wouldn’t suggest it if I didn’t think it
was necessary. Do you have someone who
can take you to the hospital?”

“I’ll have to make a few phone calls
before I go anyway so I’m sure someone can
take me.”

“Ok, if you go into the waiting room to
make those calls, I will call the hospital and
let them know you are on your way. Come
straight back in as soon as you are ready.”

Katie walked out to the waiting room
and called Heather. “Hi sweetheart, any
news?”

“I have to go into hospital, it sounds
like I will be in until the baby is born unless
my test results improve.”

“Oh no!”

“I know you work, but is there any way
you, dad and Ellie would be able to take care

of Rhiannon for me until I get home?”

“Of course! I’ll rearrange my shifts.
How are you going to get to the hospital?”

“I’m going to call a taxi as soon as I
have called Andreus.”

“Don’t be silly, I’ll be there in twenty
minutes.”

“Thanks mum.” They hung up and
Katie rang the number Andreus had left her.

“Hello?” He answered.

“Hi, it’s Kate.”

“Hey sweetheart. I’m in a meeting can I
call you back in about an hour?”

“No, I’m sorry this is important.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m being admitted into hospital, I’ve
got a thing called pre-eclampsia my midwife
explained it all but I don’t really understand
what it is. All I know is that both the baby and
me could be in serious danger.”

“Oh God! I’ll be home on the next
flight.”

“No! This project is important.”

“You and our family is more important.
Are you in the hospital now?”

“No, I’m waiting for mum to pick me
up.”

“As soon as you know the name of the
ward, text me and I’ll meet you there as soon
as I can.”

“Ok. Andreus I’m so sorry.” She started
to cry,

“What for?”

“Failing our son.”

“Don’t be silly darling.” Andreus said
softly. “You are an amazing mum, none of this
is your fault. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“I’ll see you in a couple of hours.”

When Heather arrived Joanna told them
the name of the ward to go to then Heather
drove her to the hospital.

Andreus collected his paperwork off
the conference room table and explained his
situation to the other men in the room,
promising his brother would be in Milan as
soon as possible. He almost ran out of the
room pulling out his mobile at the same time,
he called the airline and booked a seat on the
next flight to London which would leave in
just over an hour. He got into his car, dropped
the paperwork off at his apartment then drove
to the airport.

Once Andreus had checked in and was
in the departure lounge he called Nikos.
“Hello bro’ how’s it going?”

“Not good. I need you to get on the
next plane to Milan. I’m just about to board a

flight to London.”

“Why? What’s happened?”

“Katie is in hospital, I don’t know
much other than Katie and the baby could be
in danger and I need to get there straight
away.”

“Of course. Let me know anything that
happens. I’m going to call the airline now.”

“I will thanks Nik.”

Andreus went straight from the airport
to the hospital, Katie was laying on the bed
with some sort of machine wrapped around
her belly. “Hey beautiful, how are you both?”
He smiled at Heather who had been sitting
next to her and had stood when he had walked
in.

“I’m going to get us some coffees.” She
said as she left the small side room.

“So, what has the doctor said?” He
asked.

“Nothing has changed, I’m waiting for
the consultant to come.”

“How are you feeling?”

“Scared.” A tall Indian lady walked in
and smiled.

“Hi Katie, I’m Dr. Ali, your consultant.
Now I’ve read all your charts and although
your obs are too high, I am happy they aren’t
rising. I need you to stay in hospital for a

while, I know that is not what you want to
hear but pre-eclampsia is a very dangerous
condition, it could lead to blood loss, internal
bleeding, strokes or in the worse case scenario
death of baby and mum. If you go home with
these results that is what could happen but by
staying in hospital we will continuously check
on you and make sure this does not happen. If
your condition gets worse we will do a
caesarean.”

“But there is still six weeks until the
baby is due!” Katie cried.

“I can guarantee, your child will be
delivered before then. You need to stay as
calm as you possibly can.”

“Dr. Ali.” Katie called as the doctor
turned to leave the room, she turned. “Is this
my fault? Is there anything I could have done
to prevent this?” The doctor sat on the edge
of the bed and smiled.

“No Katie, there is no known cause for
pre-eclampsia just as there is no known way
to stop it developing. Unfortunately it is a
very common condition. There is nothing you
could have done differently and this is not
your fault. I will be keeping an eye on you
and I promise I will do everything in my
power to keep you safe and to hand you your
beautiful healthy baby. I will not allow this to

get any worse, I’ll deliver before that
happens.”

“If he is early, will he be ok?”

“His lungs will be a little under
developed so he will need to go into an
incubator for a while but I have delivered
babies at twenty six weeks and they are now
strong, fit and healthy.”

“Thank you.” Dr. Ali left and Katie
turned to Andreus. “If something happens and
they can only save one of us, save the baby.”

“Katie…”

“Andreus this baby means the world to
you.”

“So do you! Katie we can have another
baby one day, but I would never find another
you. You heard what the doctor said she wont
let it go that far.”

“But…”
“No buts Katie. You are my life, I wont
lose you so stop asking me to sign your death
warrant because I will not do it!” Andreus
kissed her hand. “You will both be fine.”

Chapter 30

Two weeks later Katie was still in
hospital, all her results were the same as when
she had been admitted. Andreus refused to
leave her side except to go home to shower

and quickly see Rhiannon, he was never gone
for longer than two hours a day.

The on duty midwife woke them at
seven o’clock on the fifteenth of June to
check Katie’s blood pressure. “How are you
feeling this morning? Any visual disturbances,
headaches or swelling?”

“No everything is the same.”

“Good.” The midwife put the cuff on
Katie’s arm and pressed the button on the
machine. It beeped loudly when it was
finished. “That’s gone up a lot. Are you
feeling stressed or unwell?”

“No.”

“Ok, I’m going to put the foetal
monitor on you whilst I call Dr. Ali.” She put
the monitor on and found the baby’s heartbeat
then walked out of the room.

Ten minutes later Dr. Ali walked in and
checked the monitor before speaking. “Katie,
it’s time.” She said.

“You want to do a caesarean?”

“Yes. Your blood pressure has risen
significantly and the baby’s heart rate has
dropped slightly.” Katie nodded.

“When will you do it?” Andreus asked.

“The nurse is sorting out the consent
form and the operating staff are getting
scrubbed as we speak so I would say ten to

fifteen minutes.”

When they arrived in theatre there was
a tiny incubator standing in the corner, Katie
cried when she saw it, knowing it was likely
that, that little glass bed would hold her son
before would. The anaesthetist administered
the epidural and as soon as the bottom half of
her body was numb Dr. Ali made the incision,
two minutes later their son was lifted into the
world. The room was silent as the midwife
cleared his nose and mouth, then the room
filled with the magical lusty cry they had all
been silently hoping for. A paediatrician
looked the baby over then turned smiling.
“Here, hold your son.” He handed him to
Katie.

“Is he ok?”

“He will be fine. In a minute I will put
him in the incubator, we’ll keep him in the
special care baby unit for a week and so long
as he stays healthy and he shows signs of
growth then he can go to the post-natal ward
with you for a few days. If all is ok with the
both of you after forty eight hours you can
take him home.” He took the baby then and
placed him in the warm glass bed.