Home H.S

Chapter 35: The Call (Nick)

"OF COURSE SHE'S coming back! She's desperate to film again!" I exclaimed trying to sound convincing, the ice swirling and slowly melting inside my whiskey glass as my left foot nervously tapped the carpeted floor at one of LAX's VIP lounges.

I hate flying. I loathe it. But life is filled with ironies, one of them being that due to my job I have to be on them seventy-five percent of the time. At least Olivia was finally living in L.A. but, since I started managing her career, she had me traveling back and forth more times than I could actually count.

"I'm trusting you, Richardson, don't make me regret it," Robert Goldstein's nasal voice penetrated my ears making my eyes squeeze shut, my head pounding in annoyance. I hated the old rascal, but he had been in WB for a lifetime, and the part that they wanted Olivia for was a unique opportunity. I only had to convince her, which tends to be the hardest part of my job, she is lucky I adore her.

"You will not Bobby! Gotta go now, they are announcing my flight's departure," I lied.

I slid the phone into the top pocket of my blue blazer and finished the remaining liquid in my glass in one gulp. I hissed as the alcohol slid down my throat. I'm not a fan of whiskey but it helps me relax, and I needed it. I checked my watch for the millionth time and confirmed I still had around fifteen minutes before I had to walk to my terminal and board that damn wicked aircraft.

I called Olivia, assuming she would already be at the photoshoot location in downtown L.A. The phone rang once, twice, and five times without an answer. It was weird, she always had her phone around her, especially after the son of her friend Amy was born. I kept calm and chose to call Jill instead, maybe Liv was in hair and makeup and couldn't hear the phone.

Jill's phone rang a ridiculous amount of times without anyone picking up. I'm not a man to lose my composure easily, but something felt fishy. I checked the airport screen in front of me and saw that my plane status had changed to 'boarding', I was so focused on my phone that the announcement didn't catch my attention. I had the usual coldness I get when flying running down my spine and I huffed before placing my hands on the armrest to stand up. I grabbed my coat, my briefcase and with a subtle smile and a quick nod to the girl at the front desk, I tensely exited the lounge.

I held my phone tight in my palm as I approached my gate, my mind was torn between the anxiety of flying and my concern about Liv. I spotted Gate 3 and saw people already in line in front of it as two flight attendants spiritedly chatted behind the desk. I shook my head wondering what was it with people and their desperation to form a line before being called to actually board.

I sat down in the waiting area and stared at my phone for a few seconds hoping it will illuminate with a call from Olivia. It didn't happen so I started scrolling down looking for Harry's number. He didn't answer either.

"What is it with these kids?" I wondered. The annoying sound of yet another airport public announcement interrupted my thoughts as I was starting to freak out.

"Good morning passengers. This is the pre-boarding announcement for flight 292 to New York City. We are now inviting passengers with small children, and any passengers requiring special assistance, to begin boarding at this time. Please have your boarding pass and identification ready. Regular boarding will begin in approximately ten minutes. Thank you."

The people that were already pointlessly in line had to move aside to let a group of families and elderly passengers board. I didn't have a lot of time so I tried to call the three of them once again before genuinely starting to worry. The most random options crossed my mind, from a kidnapping to a cold-blooded assassination.

My hands were sweaty as they called my seating group to board. I called my office and quickly hung up after my assistant confirmed she hadn't heard from any of them. As the last person started walking towards the bridge, and under the attentive look of the flight attendants, I reluctantly stood up. I handed them my boarding pass and ID and nodded at their exaggerated grins as they beckoned me to move forward. I was the last one to arrive on the plane. I spotted my seat and, as I was nervously placing my briefcase in the overhead compartment, my phone finally buzzed in my hand.

"Finally," I whispered but was disoriented to see it was an unknown number. My heart started pounding. Fast.

"Hello?"My heart gave a leap.

"Is this Mr. Nicholas Richardson?" The voice of a woman inquired, an uproar of people coming from the background on her end.

"Hmm, yeah, it's me, who is this?"

"Good Morning Mr. Richardson, I'm calling from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center," time stopped right there and I felt how my blood chilled inside my veins, "Unfortunately there's has been an accident, and you were Ms. Olivia Ferrari's first emergency contact."

I traced my free hand over my head, puzzled and shaky, "What? Are you sure?" Was all I managed to mutter.

"Yes, Ms. Olivia Ferrari was involved in a car accident, I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news..." she said and continued talking, giving further details.

I couldn't hear anymore, all I needed was to get out of that plane, as fast as possible. My eyes wandered confused across the aircraft and I saw one of the flight attendants slowly beginning to close the door.

"Mr. Richardson? Are you still there?" The woman asked from the other side of the line.

"I'm on my way," I stated before, in one move, grabbing my briefcase and my coat and rushing to the front of the plane.

"Excuse me!" I yelled as I approached the door, "Excuse me, Miss, I need to get off the plane," I said panting.

The two flight attendants standing beside the door looked at me frowning, "That's not possible Sir, we are already preparing to take off, you should go back to-"

"I need to get off this plane, right now," I stated raising my voice.

Suddenly a man, who looked like a purser, stood beside me, "Sir, you need to return to your seat, please," the cockiness in his voice drained my last drop of rationality.

Puffing I stared at each one of them with fire in my eyes, I tightened my hand around the handle of my briefcase making a leathery screech, and clenching my jaw I yelled, "I think I haven't made myself clear, you need to open that fucking door right now, it's an emergency!"