I’m sitting in a private waiting room . . .
Waiting.
I came straight to the hospital, exhausted and wanting information. All I know at this point is that my father was rushed to the hospital with symptoms of a heart attack.
My father is the strongest man I know. The thought of him being sick doesn’t seem possible. He held our family together up until he retired. It was his decision to give me the company and withhold it from my brothers. He claimed it was in the best interest of the family. Grant didn’t agree, and since then there has been an irreparable strain.
I lean back, running my fingers furiously through my hair. I’m frustrated at the lack of news. Where’s my mother? To try to calm my nerves, I turn on the television. TMZ blares. I try to turn it off, but a picture has me snapping my eyes back to the screen. The girl that was with Olivia that night at Club X is plastered everywhere. Lindsey, the oil heiress. But it’s not her that my eyes are fixed on. It’s Olivia. At Club X. Seemingly having the time of her life.
Does she care about me that little? Surely, the hotel staff gave her my messages and filled her in on my dad, right?
I don’t have time to contemplate it. The door swings open and my brother files in. My eyes meet my brother’s for the first time in months. I suddenly feel awkward and out of place, but it doesn’t matter because he comes right to me, enveloping me in a tight hug.
“He’s going to be okay. Tell me he’s going to be okay,” I beg my brother to tell me. I’m usually the strong one, but not today. Not when it’s my father who’s in trouble. He’s the glue to The Lancaster Empire. He might have retired, but everything I do is with his guidance. I don’t know if I have it in me without him.
“Have you heard any news?” I plead once more for information.
“Mom sent me to get you. She’s speaking to the doctor right now.”
Looking around the waiting room, it dawns on me that Pierce is missing. “Where is he?” I grit out. Grant just shrugs his shoulders. My blood boils. Where the fuck is he? I want to scream. But Grant wouldn’t know anyway. So I don’t bother. “Tell Mom I’ll be there in a minute. I have a phone call to make.” He nods and walks away. Pulling out my phone I dial my piece of shit brother. Straight to fucking voice mail.
“Get your pathetic ass over here,” I hiss into the phone. My voice might be low because I’m in public, but there is no mistaking my rage. “You’re a disgrace. Even Grant showed up. Even fucking Grant is here. You’re an embarrassment to the Lancaster name.” And with that, I disconnect. There’s nothing more to say. After all I have done for him, all my father has done for him, he should have been here.
I pace for a minute. Inhaling oxygen to calm myself. Eventually my pulse returns to normal and I move to walk to the private room where they are keeping my father. Our mother is hunched forward in a chair as the doctor pats her back. She looks so sad and despondent. What if she’s not getting good news?
She looks up at me, forcing a tight smile. “Spencer,” she calls weakly.
“What’s going on, Mom?”
She looks at the doctor, who proceeds to tell me that my father has suffered a heart attack and had to undergo a triple bypass surgery. “We were able to clear the blockage. Your father should recover.”
I let out the breath I was holding.
“He’ll have to take it easy for a long time and have routine check-ups, but he’s going to be fine.”
I sigh, relief washing over my body. I take my mother into my arms, holding her tight as she cries. My parents have a perfect marriage. A billion-dollar company to control can cause a rift like none other, but it never has with them. He was absent most of my years growing up and my mom has always stuck by his side and defended him. I always knew she loved him with all her heart, but in this moment, though, I can see just how much.
It makes me think of Olivia. The image of her in the club has me sobering. I know her. We might have only just met, but I know her. She wouldn’t be out partying if she knew about my dad. There is no way. That woman would claw her way here to be with me.
So if she’s there, what does she think is going on?
When I still don’t hear from her the next day I’m even more pissed. Between her and Pierce I’m a live wire.
“What the fuck do you mean she checked out? I was supposed to get a phone call the minute she had a chance. What did you say to her?”
The villa manager is stumbling over his words. “I didn’t relay the message, sir. One of my employees did.”
“What?” I bellow. “I gave you strict instructions that the news should come from you.”
“I’m so sorry, sir.”
“I can’t deal with you right now, but expect a call very soon.”
I hang up on the man, ready to filet someone. Who the hell talked to her and what did they say? I pull out my phone and dial. It goes straight to voice mail. I wait to leave a message, but her mailbox is full. This is playing out like some horrible drama.
I need to find her.