I own fifty-one percent of the company.
Anderson’s words come flooding back to me. I pull my phone out and do a quick Google search. By law, if Anderson has controlling interest, which he does, he has the voting power. He is obligated to look out for the minority shareholders—Luca—but if it were to come down to a vote, Anderson could overrule him. I remember Luca saying he wanted to make Anderson CEO. Would he still want that, knowing Anderson had gone behind his back? Knowing his business partner was about to cross him?
Nausea roils through me, and I clean up the kitchen—though I debate leaving a flaming pile of trash. I put his computer back and call an Uber. I feel sick to my stomach, and I send a quick text to Luca asking if he landed safely. It stays ondelivered, which means he’s probably busy. I have a few missed calls from a strange number, but I ignore them. The Uber arrives, and I text Anderson that I’m leaving—with no indication of my discovery. I can talk to him about it later. Or not—there’s still time to walk away. To pretend that I don’t enjoy the way he holds me in bed, or the way his lips feel against mine, or the feel of his cock inside me…
I slam the door shut and turn, surprised to find it’s pouring out.
Yep, sounds about right.
I climb into the Uber and cross my arms as the driver pulls away, quiet in the back as the rain slides down the windows. I’m about to text Kira that I’m on my way home when my phone rings. I glance down at the caller ID. Nathan. I press the green button with a smile on my face.
“Hi,” I chime, my voice friendly.
“Natalia,” he says, his voice breaking. “There’s been an accident.”
41
Natalia
My stomach drops—plummetsdeep down into the depths of my bowels. His words send a chill down my spine, and I can tell, without hearing it, that something’sverywrong. My hand shakes, and the only thing flashing in my mind isnot again, not again, not again.
“What happened?” I blubber, my hand over my mouth.
“There’s been a plane crash…”
I sob into the receiver. “Where?”
“Near the airport in Santa Barbara. I can come pick you up.” His voice is uneven, and I realize with a start that he’s been crying.
“Nathan, are they okay?”Please.
“I don’t know,” he says, his voice hoarse. “They won’t tell me anything.”
“Come get me. We need to go.”
“Of course. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
I hang up and lean forward, my body trembling uncontrollably as I cry.
“Miss, everything okay?” the driver asks.
“Please hurry,” I beg, tears streaming down my face. “My whole life is on that airplane.”
To his credit, the driver does a great job keeping us safe while also getting me home in record time. I throw the door open, somewhat relieved that Kira is out. I don’t have the energy to talk to anyone besides Nathan. I change as quickly as I can, throwing on boots, jeans, and a baggy sweater without thinking about it—I just know I need to be dressed. I grab an overnight bag and pack things in case, grabbing anything I can make sense of, since my mind is a mess. I’m not even sure I’m packing things I’ll need. And if they…
No. They’re fine. Maybe they walked away and they’re at the hospital for observation.
Maybe…
Maybe…
I collapse onto the floor, my body wracked with sobs. This can’t be happening. Theyhaveto be okay. Anderson is so safe, so knowledgeable about planes—
But the rain.
The forecast predicted it, but maybe he was distracted and forgot to check, or maybe it was worse when they got up there—
My head snaps up. The missed calls. Was it the hospital? Luca? Had someone been trying to reach me?
