It had been less than a day since Allie left and yet I already missed her. I knew the time between now and the summer would drag on without her by my side. But I would just need to be patient and wait for the time to come where she could intern for me on a daily basis.
I reclined in my chair, balancing a pen between my fingers as I grinned to myself, my mind replaying the events of our night together. All of a sudden, my phone started to ring with an unknown number. I looked at it strangely for a moment, wondering who it could be.
After the third ring, I picked up. “Hello?” My voice was cautious as I listened intently for a response.
“Mr. McKnight?” The voice on the other side of the line sounded distraught.
“Who is this?” I asked immediately, looking around my office before getting up, pressing my cell phone against my ear a little harder. “Hello?” I asked after a pause.
“Look you don’t know me, but you know my roommate and friend… Allie.” She said her voice tense. I could tell there was something wrong and a knot formed in my stomach as I thought of the worst possible scenarios.
“Did something happen to her?” My voice was serious now as I walked in front of my windows, my mind coming up with a million different reasons why this girl could be calling him.
“Yes. I found your number in her phone. I didn’t know who else to call. She hasn’t spoken to her mother in ages. She has no other family and her douchebag boyfriend isn’t going to help.”
“She has a boyfriend?” I asked, my voice a little tense at the thought of her being taken. Had she only been eager to be with me for my money? A small spark of hatred flashed through my eyes as I waited for the woman to reply. Her slowness of response was annoying me now.
“Well not anymore… he just landed her in the hospital.” I froze in place. He had done what? Anger boiled inside of me as I pictured the beautiful girl I had just slept with in the hospital. I didn’t know who this man was but I already wanted to tear him limb from limb. Who did he think he was that he could lay a finger on her?
I suddenly stopped in my tracks, remembering the bruises she had on her body. Had he created those as well? I ground my teeth in my emotion, knowing that if I ever saw this man I would kill him.
“Hello?” The woman called out when I didn’t respond.
“Sorry… what hospital is she in?” I asked as I grabbed a notepad and pen.
“South General… but how on Earth?” Her voice sounded confused.
“I will be there soon.” With that, I hung up the phone. I could feel my heart racing as I thought about the situation. If I had known she was in an abusive relationship I wouldn’t have let her go back. I felt like blaming myself but then remembered I had to get to the airport as quick as I could.
I stopped by my secretary who looked shocked when she saw my now red face and my messy hair. She had always seen me with my short brown hair styled to perfection. She, however, quickly composed herself, ever frightful that I would fire her if she ever slipped up.
“Can I help you, sir?” She stammered, trying not to make eye contact with me.
“Cancel all my meetings until further notice,” I said, my voice clear. She looked shocked and was about to say something when she noticed my expression was not one to be challenged.
“Yes, sir.” She nodded, looking down and quickly typing away at her computer. Once I saw her adjusting the calendar, I walked away. I grabbed my keys out of my pocket and impatiently waited for the elevator. Finally, it came in and using a little trick I learned from the maintenance crew I made it to the bottom floor without being interrupted.
With a quick step, I made my way to the garage, my mind trying to figure out what was more important: Allie in the hospital, or the asshole I needed to take care of. My hands were tight around the steering wheel as I speed through the streets of New York City. There were a bunch of horns being honked in my direction but in this moment in time I didn’t care.
I just wanted to get to the airport on time. However, as I got onto the main roads I was at a standstill as rush hour took over and each car moved at a snail’s pace. I felt frustrated and cursed myself for not taking the subway. I sat there shimmering, inching my car forward any opportunity I got.
Finally, after more than an hour stuck in traffic, I made my way to the airport. I tossed my keys to the valet and sent a text to my secretary to have someone pick it up soon. I didn’t know how long I would be in California but all I knew was that I wasn’t going to leave the West Coast until I knew Allie was okay and that the man who had hurt her wouldn’t be able to do it again.
With this thought in mind, I made my way to the counter. “I need a ticket to LA,” I demanded, my eyes intense. The woman looked at me, noticing my handsome face and the way I was dressed. She could tell I was some sort of businessman but right now her gaze was just annoying me. “Stop gawking and get me a ticket,” I said harshly, breaking her out of her trance.
She typed away, looking at the screen before her when a frown contorted her lips.
“I am sorry sir, but the oncoming snow storm has forced us to cancel all flights to California.”
