To New Beginnings. Sequel -(On Hold)

Chapter 9

Nathan

AlI could think about was the site of her. What was she doing in New York, of all places? I played it over in my head. Seeing her eyes lock with mine. Those brown orbs I sulked over for months, back in the day.

I didn't know why she left me without even so much as a good bye but all I knew was, she disappeared when I needed her the most. The one good thing I had in my life, ran without a word. The pity and sadness slowly transitioned into hate and distaste.

Maybe it was a good thing she left me. It made me realize my capabilities for this company and the potentials I had without her. I slowly began to convince myself that I didn't care. I was better off and she was nobody... Nothing but an distance memory. Our exchange would stop at that mark and there would be no need to further any interactions.

I pushed my way through the revolving doors, my hands holding onto my cell carefully. Once all the way through, I contemplated my next move. With my phone to my ear, I slipped through the hordes of people, walking briskly against one another, always somewhere to go.

There was a halt on the ringing, "Mr. James." My personal assistant, Randall answered breathly.

"Mr. Quimby!" I greeted back mockingly. "You sound swamped, shall I call back?" I paused and caught a throat clearing

"No, of course not Mr. James." I could hear the fear in his voice. I tried to be as firm as possible but never scary, so it puzzled me.

"Is everything alright Randy?" I pryed and there was absolute silence. "Ok, what happened? Talk!" I commanded this time. I heard Randy take a deep breath before his explaination.

"I know you said to call you if anything has changed with the new client merger but sir. I, um... I-" He stammered on.

"Take a deep breath and relax." I tried to ease his nerves. "What happened to our client?" I was beginning to feel the anxiety in the pit of my stomach. On top of the Ad Company my father started, we decided branch out and expand by taking up, a failing magazine publication, that was of course my father's idea. They refused to sell, no matter what we offered and despite my protest against it, I still wanted the deal to work out accordingly, in place of my father's wishes.

"That's just it sir." Randy finally spoke up and I braced myself. "The Client is here at the office."

I let out a sigh of relief, releasing most the of tension in my body.
"Then why so dramatic?"

"Um, along with the client... Your, father, is here." I felt a something roll through my body and I wasn't sure, if it was flat out anger or surprise."

"What?" Was all I could say!

"I know. I was going to inform you but Mr. James insisted not to call you. He had me running non-stop around the office, bringing him all the the old files from previous clientele and he even went as far as to, call a board meeting for tomorrow." I looked up to an almost grey, cloudy sky momentarily... Hoping it would help with clarification but, the clouds only danced across the blue sky, showing obvious signs that it was about to rain.

"Who helped him check out of the hospital?" I snapped and could hear the trembling in Randy's voice. I didn't mean to take my frustrations out on him, but this just wasn't making any sense to me. Why did my father, check out of a hospital two days after falling ill to kindey failure and a whopping diagnoses of Cirrhosis? He drank himself into a corner and the doctors made sure to emphasis that if he kept going, he would be cutting his expectancy shorter and shorter. But, seeing him in that state, he didn't seem too phased by the news and it revealed to me how little he cared about his family that remained.

Selfish Dick!

Brandon became a popular personal trainer with his own book, so he traveled regularly and visited only when he was in town, which was rare, but truthfully I knew he didn't want to see my father in his condition, same went for Julie, whom later became pregnant by that asshole she was with. He finally went to prison for fraud and robbery, of all the things... When it should've been for slapping around my sister, nearly harming their unborn child.

Julie gradually got over things with him and went to therapy. She remarried two years ago and moved away to Italy with Don, her husband, never bothering to come back or even call. I would go visit every so often to see my nephew but it became pretty clear that both my siblings refused to associate themselves with our father and the toxicity that enveloped in his life.

"Alright, keep a close eye on him, ok?' I instructed and checked my watch, almost 5:30pm. Did he take is medication? How was he handling being on his feet?

"He's in a wheelchair sir. There appears to me a woman by his side." Randy added, basically reading my mind. What woman?

He wasn't seeing anyone that I knew of and I made sure to specify to the nurses not to let him leave unless an immediate family member signed off. It couldn't have been Julie though. They hadn't spoken in years... I even called her and Brandon to inform them about his condition but no one bothered to show up and see him, except colleagues and the media.

"Sir, are you there?" I didn't realize that I spaced out entirely.

"I'm on my way now. Try to stall Wheeler and magazine and keep my dad busy." I declared, hunting for a cab.

"Should I call your driver-"

"No!" I almost yell into the phone. "Just get everything ready before I arrive." I stuck out a hand one last time to finally have a yellow Taxi pull up and a driver greet me.

"Heading up or downtown?" He asked over a series of honks and traffic surrounding him.

"Uptown please!" I reached for the unlocked door and slid in smoothly, phone still to my ear. I gave the driver the address to the office and in one motion, he nods and proceeds to pull off. "I should be there in thirty, there's a bit of traffic." I mentioned to Randy.

"Ok Sir, I'll go get everything sorted then!" He was ready to hang up.

"Oh, one last thing Quimby." I adjusted in the leather seat, unsure as to why I was about to do this. There was quiet on his end. "I need you to look up someone for me." I let out a few curse words under my breath.

"Who sir?" Randy chimed. There was a long pause on my end and I felt almost too embarrassed to speak. It's not like he knew our history. So why was I even worked up?

"Candice Moore." I declared. "Get me every detail on her. I want to know her where abouts the last 8 years, what she's up to now. If she has kids... Or married. I wanted to know everything!"

I fiddled with my tie, loosening the fold around my neck.

"Will do sir!" Randy complied without question.

Please stop me! I begged in my head. The one time I needed his objections.

"Actually, never mind Randy, I-" The line was cut, indicating he hung up.

Shit.

I peeled my phone away from my ear and stared at with regret.

What am I doing?