Lincoln's POV
I dial her number and the phone rings, after two times she picks it up and all my anger and irritation wells up.
"Where the hell are you?" I all but roar into the phone.
She is quiet and I'm impatient. I came out of the meeting and went over to our hotel room and she was not there.
I waited for a good hour and she still didn't show up, I don't know what to feel but I'm worried and angry at this point.
"Ermmm…." She stammers and I resist the urge to shout all over again, all my concerns and fears are turning to something more like anger.
"Speak now Liz!" I ordered and I heard her heave a deep breath.
"I'm in New York," she mutters, "I am at the verge of losing control of the reins of anger I'm holding on too tightly.
"What do you mean you're in New York?"
I hear a masculine voice say something to her on the other side of the phone and I am patiently awaiting her explanation.
"Answer me!"
"Can I call you later? I am kind of in the middle of something."
She says softly, a little more softly than she normally would speak.
"You know you can tell me whatever it is…" I say, and there is quiet.
"Okay," she responds and cuts the call.
I stare at my phone and for once in my life, I don't know what to do.
I have a room full of business moguls carrying out a marathon meeting and I was here, fretting over my incessant secretary.
Why won't she do as she's told for once?
"Her excuse better be good" I mutter as I head back to the conference room.
***********
It wasn't until it was time to go to bed that I felt the absence of Eliza.
When I turned and met with a vacant space that I realized she should be laying curled up in my hands.
I stand up and put on a shirt.
Strolling over to the terrace, overlooking the modern city of Turkey, I want her here with me.
"Mr Grey, you have visitors" a feminine voice calls from behind me and I turn to find a petite hotel staff standing by the doorway and I nod in acknowledgement.
"I shall be out." I respond, and button up my shirt, I am going to return to New York as fast as I can.
I walk into the apartment again.
It is a presidential suite and I purposely chose it so it would be convenient for me and Eliza but now she is no longer here and I didn't feel like staying any longer.
"Gentlemen," I say as I join them in the adjourning living room.
They stand up and we shake hands again.
"Mr Grey," They say in unison and I settle opposite them.
"The meeting was quite long, what do you need again?" I joke, but I meant it. What did they want?
They share a look of uncertainty and then Mr Morris finally says something.
"Well, as a matter of fact. We are happy to have had this one, we would like the rest to be concluded off zoom calls. Many of the other clients have engagement elsewhere."
On any other occasion, I will be upset and irritated at their lack of communication and seriousness but this time around It is different.
I want to see Eliza and know what the hell is going on.
"Oh well, have you discussed it with the rest of the team?" I ask and they nod simultaneously. Are they hardwired the same way?
"They are all in agreement." They reply, standing up to leave.
"Then it's concluded. Thank you," they move over to the door and as they leave I call out to them.
"Next time, adopt more seriousness in your dealings, we can't fly out here only for the meetings to be canceled"
"Thank you Mr Grey." Morris says and they leave the room, leaving me to make the fastest decision I have ever made after making Eliza my personal assistant.
************
"Are you sure you want to return to New York Mr Grey?" The hotel receptionist asks, utterly and truly confused.
"I am not two years old, I need the next flight booked back." I order, my bag is packed and I am holding it tightly.
"I thought you would like to see around Turkey," she starts and I give her a cold glare, the same one that was so infamous in the conference room.
"You can leave now, I think there's one leaving in an hour, if you leave now you can meet up." She says and I nod.
"Thank you," I tell her and drop the room keys in front of her.
"The chauffeur will drive you over. Thank you for your stay here…" the rest of her words fades away as I go in search of the vehicle that shall take me to the airport.
I get to the Airport a little till nine and I am just in time to get a ticket, I am flying economy but I don't mind.
I walk over to the plane and it takes off, I am doing all I could to remain calm.
Handling anything slightly relating to Eliza always makes me unhinged, seeing as she is my personal assistant and Lover.
The math is balanced and it is clear I think with my ass when it comes to her, because it's obviously not a good idea.
"Fasten your seat belts, we will be landing in New York in a few minutes" the announcer says and I jolted from my slumber.
Being unable to sleep because a certain red hair flees me without telling me she is leaving.
The plane lands and I have all of my things in hand as we land in New York air.
Home sweet Eliza.
I approach a taxi and give him my hotel address.
I am going to refresh and meet her with a clear and refreshed head.
"You better be ready Eliza," I say under my breath.