Returning to the balcony, she got comfortable and lit a cigarette. She stared at the phone in her hand, but accustomed to receiving messages about so-called emergencies happening throughout the company, it wasn’t until she lit her next cigarette when she tapped on the mobile’s screen. It came to life instantly, and when it did, Addison frowned. She had six missed calls, one message, and one text, all of which had come from Fran. Not in the mood to listen to her lawyer chatter in her ear about contracts and deadlines, she passed over the voice mail and went straight to her text...and seconds later all the blood drained from Addison's face.

“You need to come home. It’s Joanna. Something’s wrong."

Chapter Forty-Three

George escorted Addison back to the limo, doing his best to protect her from the onslaught of rain that had been falling for days. With the handle of the black brolly so secure in his hand his knuckles had turned white, he fought against the wind as best he could, but when he momentarily lost control and Addison got drenched in an instant, she didn’t seem to notice. Actually, she didn’t care.

Others around her cowered at the sound of the thunder or flinched at the arcs of lightning as they split the sky again and again, but Addison was in a world of her own. A world that contained only darkness and sorrow, and the bleakness of its catacombs were lonely and barren. Echoing through the tunnels were the mistakes she had made out of anger or pride or stubbornness, and like stalactites, she was sure they would hang over her head for years to come.

She climbed into the car, unconcerned about the rain soaking through her suit, and when the passenger door opened, and the Rolls dipped ever so slightly, Addison’s eyes remained focused on the floor.

Fran uncrumpled the tissue in her hand and tried to repair the damage her tears had done to her makeup, but quickly giving up, she wiped away the remaining mascara. She opened her handbag and retrieved another tissue, and after blowing her nose, she sat back in the seat and turned to Addison. “I think I should call the board. There’s no need to do this today.”

Fran waited for Addison to say something, but when she remained silent, Fran pulled out her mobile, but before she could press one button, Addison broke the silence.

“No. We do it now,” Addison said flatly. “If they felt the need to interrupt me today, it must be important.”

“It can wait,” Fran said, leaning down to look Addison in the eye. “They’d understand.”

“There’s no reason to wait, Fran,” Addison said as she turned to look out the window. “No reason at all.”

***