Sara spoke softly, the voice on the other end of the line sounding weak and in pain, the telltale sniffling of crying ripping painfully at her heart as her voice struggled to remain calm and upbeat as she insisted that everything would be fine. As the receiver was transferred once more to the same woman she had earlier spoken to, her voice became harder and insistent. “If you do not call the doctor RIGHT now”, she bit out angrily, “then I will call the police and anybody else who will listen...DO YOU UNDERSTAND?”
The huffy answer made her even angrier as she stifled the curse which rose to her lips once more repeating her threat, before hearing as the other woman finally agreed. “If I do not hear from you in a couple of hours, then I am coming over there with the police...Do I make myself very clear?”
Again she heard the irritated confirmation, as the phone went dead, Sara cursing loudly as she stood trembling with anger and panic. Everything in her wanted to ditch the party, to go over there herself, knowing that she would not be given entry. “Who were you talking to?” The amused voice of Darius made her jump, Sara twirling round, forcing a smile on her face. “N...nobody important”, she lied, seeing as he grinned back. “Sounded like somebody had irked you”, he teased as she gave a shaky return laugh, praying that he had not heard what was said, relieved as he seemed to forget the incident almost immediately.
“Car is here” Lifting her wrap he placed it over her shoulder, dropping a small kiss on her neck; Sara gave him a wide smile in return, a smile which hid the nerves and foreboding swirling so uneasily within her. The night dragged by for Sara, amazed that she managed to smile and give the appropriate pleasantries. Darius however, frowned seeing how nervous and fidgety she seemed, constantly sneaking a look at her mobile phone, becoming more and more restless as the time slipped by.
Asking what was wrong with her she gave a feeble smile, her hand slid along her forehead; her assertion of a headache saw him smile sympathetically at her. “I will say our goodbyes to our host and we can go home”, he offered gently. Sara gave him a thankful smile, watching as he moved to the other end of the room to give their farewells.
As she watched him talk to their host, Sara gave a sigh of relief hearing her phone ring, pulling it out quickly and answering. From the furthest side of the room Darius was surprised to see her on her phone, his surprise turning to a frown as all colour seemed to drain from her features, her complexion suddenly pale, as her hand reached out to a nearby table to steady herself. Turning, he sensed that there was something seriously wrong as she met his eyes, hers full of panic as she backed out towards the door, her look frantic as she turned and fled from the room.
Darius quickly made his way to the exit trying to catch up with her. As he made it out to the street he cried out her name as she had been about to step into a taxi. Looking back at him she shook her head, her mouth forming the word, “Sorry”, as she ducked inside and the car which slid into the heavy traffic. Pulling out his phone he called his security officer demanding that they set the tracker that he had placed in her phone. Signalling that his car be brought around, he waited for the information he had requested.
Stepping inside his car the call finally came, Darius’ mouth tightening hearing that she was close, that the signal had been traced to the hospital only ten blocks away. He felt the anger course through him, her words returning to him when they first met that she was dating a doctor before he forced her into his home.
He believed that their budding relationship ended the moment she become his mistress, however it all made sense now. Her need to be free, her need not to make waves in public, Darius filled with rage that the secret which he allowed her to keep had been her on-going affair with the doctor. She lied to him when she insisted that it was not a man, white searing fury flooding through him. She made a complete fool of him. Barking the order the car headed to the hospital.
Sara rushed into the emergency room, running quickly to the information desk, ignoring the many curious looks from both staff and visitors, not caring that she looked so out of place wearing the long, expensive and elegant cocktail dress, her throat and wrist adorned with diamonds. She stood impatiently as the woman behind the desk helped the visitor in front of her, willing her to be faster in her need to find the patient she had come to see.
Finally it was her turn, and giving a weak smile, she gave the name of the patient, the woman giving a small return smile as she tried not to stare at the beautiful woman before her, her fingers flying over the keyboard before giving directions, relief filling Sara as she moved to the elevator.