Charlie's POV
My phone had been buzzing incessantly in my boot for I don't know how long.
But I'm, unfortunately, in a major staff meeting right now-for the Spring of 2018 line- and have been for a better part of the afternoon. And the meeting just so happens to be with none other than Mr. Kors himself.
The people immediately around me kept looking, wondering if I was ever going to pick it up, but I couldn't-not with the boss of all bosses watching and sharing his ideas for the new line with us. Hell, I was scared to even look at the damn thing. And I was sort of in a mess-I couldn't leave the room because I had a little presentation to give on the projected trends for the Spring, as with the other executives.
It's been well over an hour now since the last call came through, and I'll be able to see who was trying to reach me so much in a few minutes, since we're just about to wrap things up.
"Okay, and unless anyone has any questions, I think we're all set. I want each and every one of you to put your best designer-shoe clad foot forward. I want to make this the best line yet," Mr. Kors sums up. But he says this every time, so...
I hastily make my way out of the conference room, already pulling my phone from out of my boot. Holy crap. There are twelve missed calls from Zayn. I try to call him back, but the phone just rings. Oh God what if something happened to Liyana...or Marley. Oh God. I quicken my pace to my office, shutting the door behind me and already racing to pack up my stuff.
A text comes through as I fumble around, trying to shove all my files in my bag. But it's not from Zayn; it's Bryson. I ignore it for now, opting to dial Zayn once more. But this time it goes straight to voicemail.
Fuck. Don't do this to me Zayn. I'm more than clumsy as my mind starts racing a mile a minute and I fight with myself, trying to fit all of my crap in my bag. It's just after 4' clock now-I've got a plan; I'll catch a taxi straight home and maybe he'll be there? Yeah, he's probably already picked Marley up from school and is making dinner or something. Yeah.
I finally get myself together and text Bryson back telling him I'm on my way out cause I've got a bit of an emergency. Just after I send off the text, my phone rings again. I scramble to answer it, thinking it's Zayn. But it's not a number I recognize.
"H-hello?"
"Miss Charlotte Dunn?"
"Yes, that's m-me." I don't know why the hell I'm nervous and stuttering.
"Yes, hello, how are you doing? This is Shannon from Sunset Park Playhouse. I um, well, I'm just calling to let you know that um, Marley's still here...it seems that no one picked him up, or perhaps his ride is just running late." Fuck. "I wanted to make sure that everything's okay..."
Oh my God. Okay. "Yes, everything's fine. I actually, I'm on my way now. I just got out of work late, I'm so sorry. I meant to call, but I got held up in a meeting. I'm leaving right now, and I should be there in a few minutes. Is he okay?"
"Yeah, of course. I tried to give Mr. Malik a call, but I'm not getting an answer." Fuckfuck. "But yes, Marley's fine. We have him in a classroom with his teacher, playing a game."
I pinch the bridge of my nose between my fingers. "I'm so sorry about this. Thank you so much Shannon."
"Not a problem. We'll see you soon," she says and we hang up at the same time.
I rush out of the building and immediately start hailing a cab. Luckily, one stops for me, and I blurt out the address to Mar's school.
Throughout the entire ride, I keep trying to call Zayn. I eventually settle for leaving a voicemail. What the hell is going on? "Zayn...where are you? You didn't pick Mar up from school and now I'm rushing over there to get him. You could have told..." I sigh. Deep breaths. "It's fine. But...God I hope you're not hurt somewhere. Please call me back. Love you."
