“Okay, sure… just give me updates on how it's improving, and one of these days I will come over to see how far you guys have gone with testing,” she said over the phone as she made her way out of the university building and to the car park that was outside the compound where she had parked.
“Thank you so much for your help with fishing out who was behind the disruption of the model we thought had failed testing, it means a lot to me and my dad… yeah, I am aware that you are a long term employee here and I appreciate your honesty so thank you Mr. Hans” she thanked.
Finally, they were able to pull out all the bad weeds in their company and employ fresh talents looking to grow in the field… now they are testing another model and hope that this time no one messes with it, especially now that they have heavy security watching the engineers overlooking the project.
“Thank you once again and I will call you later,” she said and disconnect the call then walked out of the university’s compound to get to her car.
Suddenly she felt distressed and bad… she felt like something isn't right about her environment and like she was being watched so she stopped to look around but saw nothing suspicious, just some people walking in the pedestrian walkway and a few cars going left to right.
Trying to brush away the feeling, she took her phone from her ear to look at the screen and then saw a pop-up message from someone she never thought would give her a beep.
Her heart leaped when she saw Dimitri’s name pop up with a message for her. She hadn't read what the content was and doesn’t know what to expect when she reads it.
He could be texting to ask about the weather… weird. Maybe he misses her… she hoped it was the case. Maybe he thinks that they might not work… she would definitely think such seeing as she hasn’t seen him since the last time they bumped into each other about a week ago.
It was crazy how it has been a week since she saw him last and she couldn’t stop herself from missing him and wishing that he would come sooner to get her and now, here is his message in her messaging app, waiting to be read to know what was actually going on now.
Just as she was about to tap his unread message chat to read the message, a call came in and Earl’s name was showing as the caller ID.
A little furrow graced her brows as she wondered what could be the reason that made him call after so many weeks of not getting back to her calls and messages.
It was really offensive and a bit hurtful that the friends she managed to keep ghosted her after she was rescued from her kidnap… she remembered calling and texting and even asking Sofia if she heard from them but nothing.
He never even asked after her when was missing and it made her wonder what kind of a friend he was then hoped that he wasn’t with Daniella with what she did to her company.
She ignored it, placed it in her skirt pocket, and made a note to call back or answer if he ever calls again then proceed to cross the road and walk to the parking lot.
Her phone went up blasting again and she brought it out of her pocket to see it was still him calling and decided to stop when she was about two feet away from the car that she brought with her.
She was standing beside a silver car and swiped on her phone to answer the call.
“You ar-”
“Audriana, leave” she was interrupted by what he just voiced out to her.
Leave…
There wasn’t any time to think about anything because things happened quickly and what was heard were groans of pain, a thud, car alarm blaring after the blast cause the little commotion.
She had hit the side of her stomach on the edge of the silver-colored car boot and fell on the floor but not after hitting her head lightly against the car as a sharp pain overtook her stomach and she clutched her stomach to get it to stop.
Her head, her body, and her stomach hurt so bad that she could feel a strong headache and the burnt smoke entering her eyes didn't help matters so she tried looking around to see if her phone is nearby so that she can call for help.
Then she heard chattering and some screams then some people saying faint words but then she realized their words weren’t faint… she was slowly losing consciousness and she still couldn’t find her phone to look for help.
Soon the faint sound of the siren could be heard and more chattering like some more people had gathered around and she couldn’t keep herself from being awake and just succumb to the intensity of the pain she felt which brought her into a dark-filled environment.
…
“So, send this contract to Mr. Cho and please make sure he signs it and have it brought ba-” he was interrupted from giving his PA instructions when Aiden barged into his office, looking so worried and out of place.
“Everyone keeps barging into my office” he threw his hands up in the air and dismissed his PA then looked at Aiden with an annoyed look but when he saw his demeanor, a frown settled on his face and he stood up to walk over to him.
“Why do you look worried? Is everything fine?” he asked but the frown on Aiden’s face deepened and it somehow scared Dimitri that he had to let out a sigh to ask again and prepare for whatever he was going to say because he feels like he wouldn’t like it one bit.
“It's about Audriana” he stated.
…
His mind has been everywhere and he so wished the car they were in could fly so that they could get to the hospital on time. He kept tightening his grip on the leather chair and would try to even his breathing when he suddenly feels panicked.
Aiden had tried talking to him to calm down and hope that it isn't as serious as they think it is. He also said that he called her family and that Sofia will get there in no time.
After about thirty minutes of driving, they reached the hospital and Dimitri jumped out of the car then half-walk and half-run to the reception of the hospital.
When he entered, his eyes met with someone he wasn’t expecting to be here at this moment and took large steps towards him then grabbed him by the shoulders so that he could turn to him.
When Earl’s eyes landed on Dimitri, his eyes widened and he tried to shrug his hold off him but Dimitri’s grip on his collars tighten.
“What are you doing here?” he asked with glaring eyes boring into his eyes.
Trying to compose himself and not look scared, he matched Dimitri’s glare and managed to shrug his hold off him then he stood straight and dust his arms.
“What sort of question is that? I can be wherever I want to and without being accountable to anybody” he responded and Dimitri so wanted to land his fist on his face to shake off the feeling that this man might be part of what has been happening to his wife and what just happened.
He moved closer to him but was stopped when Aiden came in between them and shoved them away from each other.
“What the hell is wrong with you both? This isn't the right place and time to start throwing fists and be inappropriate” he looked between them with a warning glare for them both.
“We are aware of the situation that Audriana is in… fighting should be the least on your minds right now,” he told them.
Dimitri gave Earl a once over then rolled his eyes and cursed him in Spanish then he ran his fingers through his hair continuously.
He saw the attending nurse at the desk and rushed to her as he interrupts what she was saying to a fellow worker. Turning to him with an irritating look and ready to shush him, she stopped when she saw who he was and sat up straight.
“I will talk to you later, Nurse Yilen,” she told the nurse she was talking to before she turned her attention to Dimitri who talked over her when she was about to ask him what he wanted.
“Where is she?” he demanded and a look of confusion cast a shadow on her face as she looks at him with an eyebrow raised.
“Where is who?” she asked trying to clarify who he seeks.
“Audriana, my wife… where is she? Is she fine? Is she okay? Tell me please, where is she?” He asked in a harsh but panicked manner then she held her both hands up as if to tell him to calm down.
“Be calm sir, this is a hospital and we can’t tolerate any form of no-” she was interrupted yet again and started to get irritated by him.
“Where is my wife?”
Aiden came to the rescue of the nurse and put his arm on his friend's shoulder for him to calm down.
“Dimitri, take it easy, you are scaring the poor woman” he turned to the woman and flashed her an apologetic smile. “Please, pardon my friend’s behavior… he is worried about his wife’s wellbeing” he explained and she nod.
Dimitri was about to ask her again when his name was called upon. He turned around to look at who called him to see a doctor in his surgical attire approaching him.
He had his surgical mask below his chin and a file in his hold with a nurse behind him.
“Yes, I am Dimitri Lorenzo” he walked closer to him. “Doctor please, how is my wife? Where is she?” he asked looking hopefully at the doctor.
“Please be calm Mr. Lorenzo… my name is Chargo Arreverdeci, I am the doctor in charge of Mrs. Lorenzo’s case” he introduced himself and held his hand out for a handshake.
Reluctantly, Dimitri accepted it and kept asking about his wife.
“According to the reports we were told when she was brought in, it was a blast that prompted her to be here, and seeing that she hadn’t been in any way close to where the blast happened, it is a good thing” he explained.
Dimitri’s face softened and he began to relax from what the doctor was explaining but he still needed to be sure.
“So, she’s fine? She’s okay?”
“Well, like I said the blast did nothing to her only that when she was brought in, she was bleeding so bad and when we checked the cause of the bleeding sir… I am so sorry, we tried our best” he said.
Heart sinking… that was exactly how he was feeling when those last words left the doctor’s lips.