Ah. Why does it give me this lousy reaction to smell that blood? She was racking her brain for the answer. It startled her for a bit, but she immediately turned around in the driver's seat and occupied it while Stefanie moved slowly to the next space.
She helped her fasten the seatbelt.
"Try to relax and stay conscious," she said, alleviating her old friend without looking.
She quietly drove the car at high speed to reach the nearest hospital.
From pacing back and forth in the hospital's hallway, Angeline decided to walk out after calling the Medici family and managed to leave a message to their servant.
"I'M SORRY, Miss Bianchi, but it's a tall order from the admin. No appointment, no gate pass. Besides, you got the wrong timing to come here, and he's in the conference room right now. The meeting above has just started," the receptionist said to Angeline without a smile. "As I said a while ago, unless you know his direct line...?"
Angeline became impatient in front of the receptionist. It never crossed her mind that it was this difficult to visit Jacob in the vicinity of his company.
She felt tired and hungry in those moments. What worries her the most is Stefanie's condition that she was rushed to the hospital. Jacob might think she meant what happened to his sister, which she wanted to avoid. Jacob, at times, can be stubborn to convince, but she can't blame him, thinking her worst. He knew that she had cut friendship with his sister as her best friend.
She let out a deep breath and controlled herself not to snap at the receptionist. She chose to stay calm. She looked around, and her eyes stayed at the lobby for some minutes. All the while, Angeline contemplated how to convince the woman in front of her. She refused to accept that she would be going home without talking to Jacob. That was what was pressing on her mind, so she faced the woman again.
"I... I have his calling card once, but I forgot to bring it with me. But I need to see him, again full of pleading. Not only Angeline's voice but also what mirrored in her eyes. She had been begging the woman before, but there was no destination in her estimation. "Can't you at least ask him if he can spare a little bit of his time to see me? I know he will... "
The receptionist was dumbfounded, staring at her. Her lips were still slightly pitying. But in her eyes, she seemed to be running out of patience in dealing with the woman. She can't blame her. His sister told her that Jacob's life many times was in danger.
"At least, call him, please," Angeline continued to plead. There was no blink of an eye when looking at the woman, "tell him I'm here... I'm telling you the truth, madam. He knows me. "
The woman froze upon hearing it. "I must say, you're not his type, so I don't see any reason-"
"I said, call him," Angeline raised her voice slightly. She couldn't hold back anymore. It angered her what she said.
The receptionist was shocked. Her neck extended a little to look at the guard's post. Angeline was concerned because the guard standing at the lobby entrance watched them.
"I want to help you, but I don't want to lose my job here. If you want, wait for lunchtime."
She was out of words to say. Looking at her wristwatch, she will have to wait more than an hour, which she may not make because she has to get something to eat. She was feeling pain in the pit of her stomach now. She must be hungry.
She felt nervous, thinking that the woman is trying to call the guard's attention. "Look, can you just dial his number for me?"
She gave Angeline that lingering look before she raised the phone's handset and dialed.
Angeline took a deep breath, quietly hoping that Jacob was available. But the woman sadly shook her head.
"He's still in the meeting, Miss ..." he said while lowering the auditory. "And you'll have no chance to see him after lunch. His secretary just informed me that he will be out most of the office after the meeting."
Angeline's shoulder sagged. What if he found out what happened to his sister without hearing her side first? Her eyebrow creased from that thought.
"Miss…?"
"It's okay. Can I leave a message instead just in case he passed by?"
"That would be great," the receptionist smiled and handed Angeline a piece of small message paper.
She nodded and quickly scribbled a short message on the paper; simultaneously, the receptionist did the same thing. As she handed the message note to the receptionist, she gave her also a message paper.
"His cellphone number ..." the woman said, "remember, I did not give you this-"
"I know," she said quickly with a smile. There was a slight twinkle of joy in her eyes. "I owe you this, Miss-"
"Never mind me," she interrupted. "Go and try your luck ..."
She nodded and smiled, stepped towards the lobby lounge chair. Her hand was trembling as she dialed the man's cell phone number and then she heard it three rings and cut. She figured that Jacob must be very busy that he missed her call.
Jacob, please don't let me down. Not at this minute, she thought and dared dial again while she prayed that the man would pick it up. Then she heard that voice on the other line.
"You have five seconds. Speak up…"
"Jacob ...?"
Quiet on the other line, but she felt the man is listening.
"P-please, hear me out--"
"Yes?" That baritone voice on the other line. She could hear the annoyance in the voice. "I'm in a meeting. Who's this?"
Ugh! That impatient voice…
"Hey, Angeline ..." she answered quickly, almost catching her breath.
"Angeline?" Repeating this seemed wanting to be sure.
"Yes. Angeline Bian- "
"Where the hell are you?"
"Don't shout, okay?" She hissed moved the auditory slightly away from her ear. "I need to see you badly. I'm here at the reception lobby- "
"Where?"
"Right here in the reception your building ..." Her eyes rounded when suddenly cut the line.
She let go of an exasperated sigh.
The man in question is no longer in line. Jacob cut their conversation intentionally.
Was he mad at her? But wait a minute, why would I care now what he thinks of me? Her brain was screaming at her. Argh! At least I tried…
When she looked up, and her eyes wandered to the reception, it seemed like the receptionist knew what transpired, and it shrugged.
Depressed, she regained her sight and walked towards the woman.
"Thank you for your help ..." she said to the woman while forcing smiles to peek at her lips which were chapped. She turned around and left the premises.