She wiped her hands on her jeans and picked up the handle of the phone, trying to control her trembling hands. She had to redial the number three times. She was shaking so hard she kept misdialing.
As the phone started to ring her nerves were at the breaking point. She was hoping it would go to voicemail. Then she could just leave a message and not have to face hearing his voice.
"Who is this?" a voice demanded, startling her.
"Th … this is Nicole," she stuttered. There was an uncomfortably long pause on the other end of the line.
"Nicole who?" came the same voice, as cool as ice.
"Nicole Lander," she said, barely above a whisper.
"How did you get my person number?" his voice demanded. She was thinking she'd made a really bad mistake. It sounded as if he didn't even remember who she was. Maybe their time together had been far more significant to her than to him.
"I got it from your uncle," she finally managed to say. There was another really long silence at her words.
"What do you want?" he demanded to know.
"I um, wanted to see if I could, um, talk to you about something important," she forced through her trembling lips. "We used to know each other, a really long time ago, I don't know if you still remember me," she finished.
"I don't have time to beat around the bush. Spit out what it is you want," he demanded of her. She didn't want to ask him for money over the phone but what choice did she have.
"My little sister is in the hospital and she needs an operation and we don't have any other options. Your uncle said I should talk to you," she finally pushed out, on the verge of crying, once again. She could tell by his tone of voice he was simply humoring her and in no way was going to help them out. She was going to lose her baby sister and she didn't think she could possibly make it through the horrific experience.
He was silent for so long she thought he hung up the phone. He didn't remember her, or her sister and he was far too important a man to sit there on the phone with her. She'd failed her last resort and she felt an overwhelming sense of grief. She was starting to take the phone from her ear when he finally spoke again.
"Do you know where my office is?" he demanded.
"Yes, in the city," she mumbled.
"Be there tomorrow at five," he said and then she heard nothing but a dial tone. She sat there for a couple of minutes in shock as the phone continued to beep at her. She finally managed to hang up and allowed the tears to fall down her cheeks. It wasn't hopeless. He was willing to hear her out. She didn't care what it took. She had to convince him to help her baby sister. She couldn't lose her.
Ryan sat at his desk, feeling a myriad of emotions coursing through him. He had known who was on the other end of his line from the very first word she had whispered. He could never forget that voice. It had haunted his dreams for the past twelve years. She'd been the girl who got away; hell not only got away but thrust him from her life.
He ran his hands through his hair and let out a sigh of frustration. How he wished he could've simply told her to go to hell and hung up the phone. There was no way he could be that much of a bastard. He'd loved Patsy as if she was his own little sister.
He felt a smile lift the corner of his lips, as he thought back to little Patsy toddling around his legs, as he spent time with Nicole. She had become attached to him from the very first moment he came through her doors. Over the years of watching her grow up she'd squeezed a piece of his heart.
He hadn't heard Patsy was hurt. He decided to make some calls and get some background information on the situation. He needed to be well prepared when Nicole stepped through his doors. He'd been incredibly surprised by her call. He wasn't having any more surprises when she stepped back into his life. He also needed to speak to his uncle. He didn't know what the old man was up to but he knew not to give his number out to anyone. His uncle should've taken her number and given it to Ryan. That way he wouldn't have been surprised. He didn't like to be blindsided.
By the time Ryan got the answers he was looking for, he hung his head in shame. He couldn't believe how bad things had gotten for Patsy. He knew beyond any shadow of a doubt he would help her but Nicole had no clue of that. He would help Patsy but he was also going to get what he wanted out of Nicole.
She'd once thought he wasn't good enough for her and now he was the only one who could save her baby sister. He felt a sense of justice in that knowledge. He knew there wasn't any point in working the rest of the day, as he couldn't concentrate. He was eager for his appointment the next day. A smile stole across his features, as he sat back in his chair. He enjoyed a challenge and Nicole would definitely provide him some entertainment.