I wait and wait as the ringing tone drones on in my ear. The time seems to last forever, and I am waiting for voicemail to kick in. It doesn’t, but it’s not my dad who answers, it’s a woman, an older woman, his wife maybe.
“Erm, sorry, hello, I wanted to speak to my, Mr Carrington, Nigel.” I avoid outing myself as his daughter, in case he hasn’t told her yet, although he must have, or Anita will have.
My musing is making my head fuzzy and distracting me from the woman talking to me.
“Who’s calling please?” She is business like in her tone until I reply.
“Olivia.”
Her voice softens. “Hang on, love, please, thank you. He’s in the garden, don’t go away while I get him,” she pleads with panic in her voice. Yes, she knows who I am.
“She’s getting him,” I tell Mason who is sitting opposite me now, me on the sofa, him on the edge of the coffee table.
A few more seconds pass before I hear my dad, muttering to the woman and then he speaks to me. “Livy, Olivia,” he corrects, clearly remembering me telling him he had no right to call me Livy.
“Hello,” is all I manage in response.
“I’m glad you called.” He sounds as though he is crying or about to and I feel strangely reassured and then guilty that he thought I might not call, made worse by the fact that I had no intention of calling until Jimmy prompted it.
“I need to see you,” I say bluntly.
“Okay.” He agrees quickly, making me feel even guiltier that he is so keen to meet when he has no idea exactly why I need to see him. “Are you okay?” he suddenly asks, possibly sensing my own nerves and fear.
I don’t want to lie to him, but I also don’t want to explain things over the phone.
“It’s complicated, but I really need to see you. As soon as possible.”
“I’m free this afternoon, or tonight.”
I repeat his availability to Mase who simply nods, confirming either time works for him and I should decide when is best for me. “This afternoon. Where?” I ask but it is Mase that replies rather than my dad.
“Here, baby, meet here, or my office.” There’s a quiet insistence in his words and I am fine with that because I know there’s more security in this building than a lot of airports I’ve been through and Mason’s priority in all of this is me, keeping me safe.
I give my dad the address and agree a time after fending off his suggestion that he could bring someone with him, his wife I assume, but if there is a time for us to meet this is not it.
Chapter 41
Mason
I watch Olivia pacing the floor and am sure she’s going to wear a groove in it if she doesn’t stop soon. Her father is due in ten minutes and she is tense, getting tenser with every second that passes. We had originally agreed to meet in my office but she was jittery to say the least so we have moved upstairs to our home which I do think might give her an advantage, emotionally, home turf and all that.
The sound of the intercom makes us both jump, Olivia more than me. I answer it and authorise Mr Carrington’s use of the lift that will bring him directly here.
“Shit!” Olivia curses as she hears my words and absorbs their meaning. “He’s actually here. I don’t know if I’m ready to do this.”
I reach her side and pull her in for a hug. “Baby, you can do this, you need to do this. You need to know what happened and then decide what to do next.” There really is no choice in this because the lift is coming to a halt in front of us.
I nod at the security man who has escorted our guest up and that’s enough for him to take the return trip alone.
“Mr Carrington.” I offer an outstretched hand as I lead Olivia to meet her father.
He accepts my hand and I can feel him shaking, almost as much as my girl whose hand is safely ensconced in my other hand.
“Thank you, for seeing me.” He looks at Olivia. “This is nice, your home, although I was expecting an office up here. It’s a shock, a surprise, a good one...” He is rambling and I can see where Olivia gets heropen your mouth and let the words fall outhabit from.
“Please, come in.” I encourage the man before me to join us then turn to lead Olivia, who is yet to speak to her father, back to the sofa where she sits while I prepare coffee.
From the kitchen I watch them, both scared, nervous and silent. It really is going to be a very long afternoon. I place cups onto a tray and carry them through, relieved to be taking up the space next to my girl.
