ELIZA'S POV
"What is it?!"
Lincoln's annoyed voice brings me out from reverie.
"Uh, what?"
"You have been fidgeting and staring off into space for the past hour. You have not jotted down anything or responded to my nudges," he continues whispering, careful not to disturb the meeting going on.. "What has you so bothered?!"
"I am sorry. I just…uh, something came up. Can I be excused?"
He stares at me for a few seconds, his blue eyes boring into mine like he is trying to unravel the secret of my mind before he finally nods.
"Thank you," I whisper before hurrying away from the board room.
"Excuse me," I call to one of the passing staff. "Can you direct me to your restrooms please."
"Sure," the man replies. "You head down the hall over there and take the last door on your right."
"Thank you," I say as I hurry past him.
Once in the safety of the restroom, I pull out my phone and read the message again
"Hi, this is a friend of Nick's. He has been involved in a fight and needs to have surgery. The doctors need a family's signature on the forms. Can you come over."
I begin to hyperventilate as I read it over And over again.
Nick.
Is he…
My brother.
My brother.
Panic sets into me and I struggle to take in a deep breath, my eyes go blurry and I have to slowly drop to the floor before I actually pass out.
"Come down, Liza. Just calm down. Deep breaths now," I mutter to myself as I try to get under control.
In what feels like hours but is probably minutes, I am in a somewhat more controlled state of mind.
First things first, I book a plane back.
I know I have a return ticket but that is for the end of the week and I am not ready to get into the argument that will ensue if I ask for it to be replaced.
I consider going back into the boardroom to inform Lincoln on my movements but I decide against it.
Thai merger is important to him, he can't be bothered by my petty problems.
Especially when that problem is my brother who arranged his ambush.
I head out of the restroom and put the hotel before hailing a cab. While heading to the airport, I quickly send a message to him telling him I had an emergency and had to leave.
Once done, I dial my brother's number.
It picks on the first dial tone.
"Hello, is this Eliza?" a female voice asks.
"Yes. Who is this? What happened to my brother? Why is he in surgery?" I rush out.
"He was involved in a gang fight. He got injured pretty badly."
Oh god. Not again.
"Bad enough to get surgery?"
"It was a knife fight. The doctors have him stable for now but he needs the surgery. Your permission is needed."
"I am on a plane, headed to New York right now. Is there a way I can give my permission from here? Can you ask a doctor?"
"Hold on, let me find out."
As the minutes drag by, all manner of scenarios flashes through my eyes.
What if it's too late?
What if he doesn't survive?
We parted on bad terms after that issue with Lincoln. I haven't heard from him in years and now….
Oh, please.
Please don't let him die.
"Hello, this is Doctor Stevens. Am I speaking to Eliza Vance?"
"Yes!"I exclaim. "I am Nick's sister. Can I know the details of his condition?"
"Sure. But I am going to need some proof that you are who you say you are."
I quickly switch to a voice call where he can see my and the ID card I flash to him.
"Is that okay?"
"Yes," he answers before briefing me on my brother.
"Can you carry out the surgery now?"
"Of course. But I am going to need you to say it on record that you agree to the surgery. I will read out what it entails, its chances and risks and you will state your name and your agreement to carry out the surgery."
"Sure. Whatever you need."
He begins a long monologue if clauses and the likes, it is enough to drive me mad but we eventually arrive at the end where he asks me if I agree.
"I agree. Please do all you can to save my brother. Please."
"We will do our best. Take care."
The rest of the flight is spent with me alternating thinking miserable, horrible thoughts and having recurring nightmares, all of which end with Nick dying and leaving me all alone.
I should have reached out to him.
I should have listened and forgave him when he tried to apologize.
The last time I had seen him was when I was moving out of that apartment.
He looked so lost and heartbroken.
Abandoned.
Just like we had been all our lives.
How could I do that to him?
He moment the we land in New york I order an Uber, which thankfully arrived minutes after I had exited the airport.
""Where to?" the driver asks the moment I get in.
"Granville central clinic. Hurry please."
Arriving at the hospital with my heart in my mouth I question the receptionist on his whereabouts and I am directed to a room on the third floor.
Rather than waiting for the elevator I take the stairs, two by two before arriving at the floor, just in time to see the doctor emerging from the room.
"Doctor Stevens!" I call out as I race to him. "My brother! How is he?"
"Miss. Vance. You can relax. He made it through the surgery, he is sleeping right now."
"Oh thank God. And thank you. Thank you so much."
With the woes past us, I can finally relax and catch my breath, but that is not what happens.
Instead, as my body calms down, my eyes go blurry and dark before I collapse to the floor.
Waking up in the hospital bed is not even the list of word things that I thought might happen to me.
"You are awake. That's good "
"Doctor Stevens, what happened?"
"You passed out when I informed you of your brother's status."
"Oh, I must have been so exhausted."
"if you don't mind, I can run some more tests for you-"
"No need for that," I tell him as I get to my feet. "I am fine. I-"
I am interrupted by my phone ringing.
"It has been ringing for a while now," the doctor says Befor excusing himself.
"Right."
I lift the phone to me to check the caller ID.
Lincoln
Great.
Just what I needed.
With a deep breath, I pick it.
"Where the hell are you?!"