Page 116 of When Hearts Awaken

My assistant knocks on the door. “Sir, London is on the line.”

Holding up my finger, I answer the call. “Joe, thanks for getting on. Yes, it appears someone’s making a move. We have Barclays in our corner right now.” I nod my thanks to Patterson, who tips his head in acknowledgment. “But I think we’ll need more capital. Can you liquidate our assets at HSBC? Have them front us an emergency loan and we’ll settle the next day.”

My cell phone buzzes again as I listen to the head of finance halfway across the world talk numbers with me.

My mind is in a swirl. I can’t let the Bank of Columbia be acquired under my watch. No fucking way.

My damn cell phone won’t stop buzzing.

I pick it up, looking at the caller ID.Liam.

Rubbing my temples, I murmur, “Give me one minute, okay? A call is coming in.”

I blow out a breath and answer my cell. “Liam, this isn’t a good time.”

“It’s an emergency. I need your help. I can’t get to her—I’m in the air right now.”

I type an email out on my computer. “Who?”

“Our sister! She called me just now. She must’ve called you too, right? It sounds like an emergency. She wants us to meet her somewhere. Can you do it?”

“Liam, there’s a hostile takeover at the company and I can’t—shit!” Another ten percent dip in the stock price.

“Fuck the company, Charles! This is our sister. She’d never call an emergency meeting unless it was an emergency. Please, just check on her, okay? At least make sure she’s fine.”

I delete some words and retype—I can’t think straight right now. My office phone rings again—who the fuck is it now?

“Fine. I’ll call her. I really need to go.”

“Thanks, bro. I can count on you, right? You’re going to check on her?” Liam asks. I hear rustling in the background. “Because if you can’t, I’ll tell the pilot to turn back. But I rather not.”

“Yeah, I will.”

We hang up and I pick back up the office phone and redial London, because of course they hung up on me since I kept them waiting for so long.

“Sorry about that. The call went long. Yes, so I need you to move the funds from this account.”

I fiddle with my phone and see the missed calls. Ten missed calls from Firefly. Three unread texts.

Firefly

I need your help. It’s an emergency. Please. I can’t do this over the phone. Needs to be in person.

Firefly

Charles? I tried calling and you haven’t picked up. Liam is on his way to the airport.

Firefly

I’m scared.

My brows furrow as worry prickles me.What’s going on?Then I shake my head. Firefly is a passionate person. This is the girl who was scared of the dark until she was in high school. Then there was last week when she was scared about the strange noises in her apartment, which turned out to be a leaky faucet. She has inherited her fiery personality, along with all the detested emotional upheaval from our parents.She’s probably being dramatic.

“Charles, Barclays said they got approved for half the funds. I think we need a second backer,” Patterson murmurs from his seat across from me.

Shit. I knew this was going to happen.

I put London on hold and ping my assistant to get Deutsche on the line. I may need Grandma’s help after all.

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