Chapter 80

"I'm sorry to get you in here so early," Charles said to the small group gathered in his office. "But I want to be sure things are set up to go if for some reason I'm gone longer than anticipated."

There is a small silence as this sank in.

"Surely you'll be back," Amy said, her eyes wide. "You're too high profile for anyone to mess with. It would cause an outcry."

Charles shook his head. "I'd like to think that's the case, but I have no idea what's going on, so I don't know what I'm walking into."

Sally was pacing slowly back and forth behind the couches we were sitting on, her arms crossed, and she was tapping her chin with her finger.

"I think Amy has a good point," she said. "However, how many days would you like me to wait before I begin making your disappearance public?"

"A week should be a good indication that something is wrong," Charles said. "We are supposed to be back right away, but then again, any kind of negotiation or talks tend to take time."

He put his strong, warm arm around me. I was trying not to look as nervous as I felt. I'd spent the morning throwing the nicest outfits I had into an overnight bag and despite the air travel I'd have to do, dressed and done my hair and makeup with care, as if I were going to a particularly important meeting or interview.

I was going to a governor's offices and residence after all, even if I didn't end up meeting him myself, and I wanted Charles to feel confident proud having me at his side.

"Okay," Sally said with certainty and confidence that made me glad Charles was trusting her to look out for the other editors in his absence. "Rafe Media will continue to report the successes in the city-wide talks, and then report your trip with equal strength so people know you have been summoned. If you aren't back in a week, we will begin a barrage of reporting and inquires Lupinton's way in an attempt to get you both back."

She stopped pacing and looked at us. "You two are much too important to our city at this point. The outcry would be enormous, you can rest assured of that."

I smiled, thankful for her fierceness and confidence, trying to absorb as much of it as I could.

"I am certain Rafe Media will thrive with you at the helm, Sal," Charles smiled graciously, though I knew it bothered him to think of anyone but himself running it.

Sally bowed her head in acknowledgement of the praise.

Charles checked his watch and stood. He and Sally shook hands. Amy looked at us and her eyes filled with tears.

"Now, Amy," Charles said, putting a brotherly arm around her. "We will be back before you know it, and Sally will be a welcome relief after working for me."

Amy sniffed and nodded, trying to smile through her tears. As Charles spoke to her, Sally came around the couch and, to my surprise, embraced me.

"Thank you for standing up to me, for not rolling over and submitting to my original directions when you first came to us." She pulled back and looked into my eyes. "You woke me up, Elena. You made me remember my ethics, and you've made me alive again."

She closed her eyes and inhaled, smiling, absorbing my scent as I tried not to cry as well.

"When you come back," she said, opening her eyes, "I'm going to have a lot of work for you to catch up on."

"I can't wait," I said, smiling.

Amy threw her arms around me and I held her, letting her breathe in my scent. Her breathing quickly mellowed and she stepped back, smiling at me. "Take care of him," she said quietly to me. "And yourself."

I nodded, squeezing her hand, and then followed Charles to the elevators.

Charles held my hand as we went up to the final stop on the elevator, and then walked the last flight of concrete stairs and out a door into the bright sunshine and cool wind of the rooftop helipad.

If it wasn't such a tense situation, the view would have been magnificent.

Rafe Media intentionally didn't have the tallest building in the city. Charles wanted a buffer from the wind currents that other buildings provided so that he could have a helipad, but despite this, one side of the building had an unobstructed view of city.

The sun was just beginning to shine it's full morning light down on us and multiple windows and metallic surfaces from all around the city reflected back like sparkling diamonds.

Charles was squinting into the air, and then pointed at something in the distance. It was a tiny dot.

"There it is," he said. "Looks like they're right on time."

My phone buzzed and I pulled it from my carryon bag. It was Cathy.

"Elena," she said when I picked up. "I just got your message. Oh my Goddess, what's happening?"

"Honestly, Cath, I'm not sure."

"Do you have to go? Surely you don't have to be involved in this!"

"It was my decision. Charles actually tried to get me to stay."

Charles glanced over at me and smiled. He leaned toward my phone. "I tried, Cathy!" he called.

I heard Cathy scoff and then take a deep breath.

"Well, Elena, if anyone can make people see sense about something than you can. Just your presence will ensure success. Charles is lucky to have you, and you're probably right, you should go be his secret weapon."

I felt tears sting my eyes for the second time that morning and blinked rapidly to try to prevent the makeup from running.

"Thanks, Cath."

"I love you, girl."

"Love you, too."

The helicopter was clearly visible at this point. Charles pulled me behind a plexiglass shelter to shield us from the sound and wind as it battered and moved the air around us.

"Is it silly to be excited?" I asked.

He looked down at me with questioning eyes. "Excited? Not nervous?"

I looked at my feet, a little shy. "I've never been in a helicopter before."

He beamed like a little boy, and my heart warmed seeing him momentarily forget the stress of the situation.

"You're going to love it," he said. "Or you're going to hate it and throw up. Either way, I'm going to enjoy watching you."

"Thanks for your support," I grumbled playfully.

In front of us, the helicopter touched town and the rotors began to slow. A man in a black jumpsuit with the Wolvenhelm state crest on his chest got out and walked toward us.

He shook hands respectfully with Charles, then me, his cool eyes taking us both in. He and Charles yelled over the sounds of the helicopter to each other about bags and flight time, and then he took our bags while Charles helped me get up into the back seat.

It was loud, and I was grateful as soon as he put the headphones on me. I wanted to tell him I was okay, but he fussed over my seat belt, checking it like I was a child, and making sure I was comfortable (and that a vomit bag was close by) before he got in his own seat next to me.

The pilot got in, gave us a questioning thumbs up which Charles returned, and then the helicopter began to vibrate and shudder as the rotor began to spin faster.

We lurched suddenly and my stomach dropped. I thought for a moment that I was indeed going to be sick, but then it levelled off and we were hovering up over the rooftop.

It was surreal seeing the building get further below us, and then we were moving.

It was beautiful, the diamond windows of the city sparkling again, the dots of cars and even smaller ones of pedestrians on the street moving in lines down below. I recognized certain squares and towers, beaming at the different point of view.

Charles' warm hand grabbed mine and when I looked over I could see my own smile of delight reflected in his as he looked at me. I leaned over and gave him a quick kiss before looking back at the city.

Despite my wonder at the view, something in me was uneasy and as I looked at my beautiful city. I wondered if this was the last time I would see it.