Always A Call Away

The following morning, Diane arrived at the First Family Hospital thirty minutes before her shift, and as soon as she put her bag in her office, she went straight to find Dr. Tricia who had just arrived as well.

"Tricia, you really have to help me on this one," Diane said the second she let herself into her friend's office.

Tricia had only managed to put her bag down and hang her coat when Diane came bursting in, so hearing her demand that early in the morning, she turned around and twitched her lips.

"Good morning to you too."

Diane exhaled deeply while looking apologetic. "I'm so sorry." Her desperation had pushed her to the brink of leaving her manners behind.

"It's alright." Being a good friend, Tricia who never held a grudge against her, put everything behind them. "You looked so worked up," she observed while squinting her eyes. "Are you sure you had a good night of rest?"

"You can even tell that much?" Diane exhaled tiredly. How could she sleep when a thief was lurking outside her door? She hadn't gotten out of the deep mess she found herself in. and maybe until she found a solution, she wouldn't be sleeping a wink.

Tricia turned her body fully to face and let out a sigh. "Is this about the Skyville pass? Can you tell me what is going on?"

Diane slowly shook her head as she met her friend's gaze. "I'm sorry that I can't tell you what is going on right now. I'm still so oddly confused by everything that is going on right now that going insane is just a junction away."

Diane only needed to say this much while looking like she carried a mountain on top of her head for Tricia to give in.

The latter walked up to her, placed her hand on her shoulder, and said while looking into her eyes. "Whenever you are ready, you can talk to me about anything and everything. Okay?"

Diane nodded at that promise while biting her lower lips. "Can I get the pass now?" she inquired without minding how urgent she sounded.

"About the pass…" Tricia started after retracting her hand. "It's not enough to grant you access to that luxury palace."

"What?" Diane was taken aback. "So then, what do I need to do because I have to visit Skyville today and you are my only hope of being granted an entrance?"

Tricia was impressed by Daine's ability to quickly recover from shock and ask the right questions. So, without further delay, she revealed, "You also need to be invited by anyone that lives in Skyville because the security at the entrance will be making a call to that person to confirm your invitation after you have presented the pass to them."

"Wow!" Diane released a deep breath. She was finally having a first-hand experience of what it means to live in a luxurious environment.

The security and protocol are always over the top.

"And I'm sure you can help me deal with it, right?" Diane asked while looking so sure of it.

"Of course, but then I will have to come with you," Tricia declared immediately with a smile. But when she saw the look Diane was giving her, she explained further. "Remember, I'm the one with a VIP patient that lives in Skyville?"

At that question, Diane finished the rest of Tricia's unsaid statement in her mind and understood that she didn't have any other choice. "Got it. Thank you."

"So, what time are we leaving?" Tricia inquired.

"As soon as our shift is over," Diane answered and got ready to return to her office.

"I think it's going to rain sooner after that. Don't forget your umbrella," Tricia reminded as she watched Diane leave and shut the door.

---

When Diane returned to her office, she remembered something and called her attorney.

"Mr. Sixtus, is there a way you can help me get Mr. Christian Knowles's contact information?"

Diane had never expected that she would one day address the man she had known so years so formally. This was what the strain in their relationship caused. And who was ever going to believe that she once had a tight bond with him?

Even if they believed her story, they were all going to think she was stupid.

"Mrs… Ms. Brown, might I ask what you need Mr. Knowles's contact information for?" her lawyer probed.

"In our last meeting, you suggested that he is the only one who can help me, so I'm going to try my luck." Diane presented her response in such a way that her lawyer would not escape from her clutches, and it worked.

Her attorney let out a sigh. "Ms. Brown, I wouldn't get my hopes high if I were you, but I will get the information you requested."

'That's all I need to hear,' Diane thought to herself. "Please, I need it before 5 PM today."

---

Diane met Tricia at the underground parking lot of the hospital and together, they took a ride to Skyville.

"I have already spoken to my patient and she is expecting me with a gift even though she is rich as fuck, so we are going to stop by a mall and get one deserving item as a 'get well soon' package."

Diane nodded in acknowledgement. "And I will pay for it as a way to thank you for this help."

Even though she couldn't wait to meet Christian, she was still nervous regarding his perception and reception.

Diane had at the back of her mind that everything might not end well, but she was willing to do anything at all costs to save herself even if it warranted kissing her ex-boyfriend's feet.

---

Arriving at the entrance of the famous Skyville, Diane couldn't keep her eyes off the tall skyscraper with two shorter ones attached on each side. She was so distracted that she didn't pay attention to them getting past the checkpoint.

"Beautiful, right?" Tricia asked with a smile.

"Whoever lives here has made it, but that's not important," she muttered under her breath.

As it was already dark, both women found the building more fascinating than ever with the lights in it.

Pulling up at the car park for visitors Tricia turned off the car and asked, "So, do you know which of the buildings you are going into?"

"I have no idea yet, but you can go ahead. I will find my way," Diane said, unsure of what would happen next.

Tricia did not disturb her further. They got out of the car, and she locked it before saying to her, "It's already very windy. It's going to rain soon. I will text you when I'm ready to leave, but if there is any emergency, call me."

As soon as her friend left, Diane took out her phone from her bag with shaky hands and opened the message her lawyer had sent to her three hours back. It contained Christian Knowle's private number.

There was a slight hesitation from her end before she proceeded to dial the number, but nothing prepared her for what happened next.

"Oh. My. God!" Diane's eyes widened in horror as Christian's name popped up as 'Chris' on her phone screen.

It turns out that the private number her lawyer sent to her was Christian's former phone number which she still had saved on her contact list. He had always been a call away.

Sadly, she has always had his number on her phone all these years, yet she never once tried it or received his call after she got married because she had blocked him.

"What am I going to do?" she asked herself as she broke down into tears, but before she could think any further about the pains she must have inflicted in his heart, the call connected.