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“Okay, so I have everything in order of importance. At the top is the contract for the new Singapore build, those amendments that needed your final sign-off. Then working down, we have new tenancy paperwork for the new building in DC. In this pile are more personal affairs, so invitations to the Heart Start Gala that happens every year.” Miranda is going through things that make my mind a blur.
“That’s a no, but send a donation,” I tell her, passing the invitation back to her, feeling good to tick something off my list immediately.
“No problem. This next one is an exclusive invitation from Whiteman’s Whiskey, releasing their new product at their distillery,” she says as I lift the invitation. We have known the Whiteman family for years. Tanner Whiteman started the distillery when he was young, after becoming a teenage father, his girlfriend leaving him to raise the kids on his own. Turns out, he made it a huge success, and they are now one of the wealthiest families in the country. I went to school with Connor, Tanner's son. There is no way I would miss catching up with them and flying out to their distillery in Tennessee. Pinkie would love it too.
“Add that to the schedule. RSVP for me and Katie. Also, call my brothers’ offices and see if they are going. I know Tennyson and Willow will probably go, so we can take the jet together,” I tell her and watch as she scribbles things down.
“Great. Another thing, this third pile is internal employee issues,” she says, looking at me.
“What issues?” I ask, because we run a tight ship and reward our people well.
“Nothing bad. Just to update you that Mary in finance is leaving this week to have her baby; Tom over in the mailroom has morning tea next week for his ten-year anniversary, and reminding you it is my birthday this week,” she says, smiling.
“I remember it is your birthday. Gucci or Louis?” I ask her. Every year, I tell her to go shopping and get herself a new bag. After all the shit she has to deal with for me, it is the least I can do.
“This year… Louis.”
“Done. Put it on my card and enjoy yourself. For Mary, get her a baby bonus organized, and for Tom, talk to HR and see if we can give him a little something for his loyalty too. I will try to make it to see them this week, but things are pretty hectic at the moment,” I say, looking back at the pile of paperwork that sits in front of me.
“Will do, thank you.” I know she appreciates it. I like rewarding my team. It is important for morale, of course, but the people who work for me make a choice to come in every day and give their all. Now that Pinkie is in my life, I appreciate it even more. All the late hours, the working on the weekends. I never really understood it before. Being single with no one at home, work was really front and center for me. But now, I just want to be with Pinkie all the time, so the ability to leave her and come into the office to work is an effort.
I feel the tickets in my pocket. A surprise date tonight is something that I thought would bring a smile to her face. Tickets to Broadway. Tenn is going to fly us up in his helicopter, and I am planning for us to spend the night. Tony will get us in the morning. Just something to get us out of the apartment, get our minds off all the police interviews, and give us a little break, even just for the night. But before then, I need to get things in motion here at work.
“Before you go, can you get a memo organized for our next foundation meeting? I want to raise the issue of funding a baby cuddling program and twenty-four seven foster care solution,” I ask her, and she takes some notes. “Do a bit of research, see what is out there and where we could have some impact.”
“Done and done. Anything else?” she asks, but before I can answer, Ben rushes into my office.
“Have you heard?” Ben asks, panting like he ran here. I am on alert straightaway and stand quickly, pushing my chair back suddenly, it hitting the wall behind me.
“What? What happened?” My heart is already racing, and I see Miranda standing, wide-eyed, clearly as surprised as I am.
“There’s a fire at the hospital. It’s in the cardiac ward. Just heard it on the breaking news,” he says, just as Tennyson flies into the room behind him.
“There’s a fire at the hospital. We gotta go,” he says, just as out of breath as he stands, gripping my office door.
“Oh my God,” Miranda whispers in shock, looking between us all. I see the fear in her eyes as the air leaves my lungs. The hospital? On fire?
“Pinkie is there,” I say quietly as the news penetrates my brain. My heart starts beating harder and faster in my chest. “Pinkie is there!” I yell as panic sets in, and the three of us bolt out of my office quicker than we have ever run before.
I think of nothing else as I run through my office and grab the elevator just before it closes, my two brothers hot on my tail.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” I yell and pull out my phone, the Broadway tickets falling to the floor, and I leave them there. Our date is no longer top of my mind. Why does this keep happening to us? Pinkie and I have had nothing but hurdle after hurdle. Just as we are starting to see the light together, it all gets ripped away again.
I dial Katie’s number and wait as it rings.
“Is she answering?” Tennyson asks while Ben is trying to get a hold of Harrison on his cell.
I shake my head, only hearing the ringing and my own heart pounding. This can’t be happening.
“Eddie!” I hear the panic in her voice as soon as she answers.
“Katie! Are you alright? Where are you?” I almost scream into the phone. I hear loud alarms ringing in the background, and then she starts coughing.
“I’m helping get the patients out. I’m nearly done. The fire department has just arrived. I’m just going to your mother’s room now. She is the last one.” I can hear the fear in her voice. I just want her to leave. I just want her out of danger.
“Get out of there. You need to get out now,” I say, because if there is a fire in the hospital, with so many medicines and cleaning products, it is full of fuel for a fire. But I know my pleas fall on deaf ears, as she would never leave anyone behind. I hear her cough some more, and anxiety crawls up my chest.
“Katie? Katie?” I’m panicked as the elevator door opens, and we run out to Tennyson's car.
