0.1| Elliot Knight
2400 Words
Elliot had to maintain public etiquette in front of his elite friends and he was in no mood to be a victim to their pointed glares when. But his big mouth was no longer in his control. His lips parted and out came a yawn bigger than California.
"You call this fun?" He asked Pablo, one of his school time friends whom he had acquired by punching in the face at age ten. He had stuck around, now working in his company. "I would rather be at home in bed, away from this chaos."
Pablo crossed his leg over the other and leaned back on the leather couch next to Elliot. Elliot had to give it to his friend, he had style. But nothing compared him to Elliot, he was above it. He started where the standards ended.
"Most bachelor's in New York pass their time in bars, Elliot. Maybe pick a girl or two." Pablo gestured at the bling surrounding them. Elliot let his eyes rake the colourful lights, dance floor filled with half dressed girls and the men eyeing them with interest. He wasn't one of them. He didn't fancy this life of thugs.
"I'd rather be home." Elliot said once again. His taste in fun included a sport, friendly dinners and definitely not a bar that smelled of cheap booze.
"You are no fun Elliot! When was the last time you got laid?" Ricky gulped down a glass of whiskey and winced, his face was flushed and on either side of him were strip dancers ready to get rid of their little clothes at his order. Elliot's ears thumbed with the loud music, they were in the VIP section, the one Elliot paid for.
If was such a waste of good money.
"Last January. Not that it's any of your concern, Loney," Elliot smirked, Pablo snickered and Ricky narrowed his eyes at the name he refused to be called by, "My s****l life is the last thing you should be caring about."
"Pablo told you?" Ricky drowned another glass of whiskey, this one stronger than the last. He patted the girls and told them to leave. The light, drunk atmosphere turned into a burning furnace. He hated taking advantage of other's misery, but it was work and Ricky was no saint.
"He did." Elliot sipped on his red wine, the only beverage he found suiting his style, "I am ready to help you. But conditions will be mine."
Ricky breathed heavily. "I don't need your help, Elliot. Your help will mean you own me. I can't let that happen."
Pablo was silent during the exchange, Elliot knew he was paying unnecessary amount of attention to the meaningless conversation. Things were going to go down the drain, Elliot predicted it even before he stepped into the bar.
"I can't change that. My help also means having the back of Knight's and everyone knows what that accounts for. Take it or leave it. I'm not the one going bankrupt."
The red wine tasted bitter on his tongue, but it felt good. He eyed the sleek flute and twirled it between his fingers. The red liquid swirled and threatened to spill. He found it more entertaining than the dancing crowd and ear splitting beat.
"My father has the last say in this, I cannot make the decision." Ricky breathed. Elliot let out a loud laugh that attracted the attention of everyone at hearing distance. A beautiful, deep laugh with no humor.
"You think that's a worthy excuse?" He scoffed, "You acquired the company a week ago, loney. We all know how you personally dumped your sorry excuse of a father in the old age home before coming here to celebrate your victory. Don't play with me."
Elliot decided to have a word with Maximus when he was done dealing with Ricky.
His older brother was busy preparing for his own wedding, and by birthright all the workload had been dumped on Elliot's shoulders, Marcus was only given trivial work because he was the privileged younger brother. Elliot was prepared for whatever turn the meeting took. He didn't expect anything good from a man who chose a bar for business meetings. Ricky was looking for a good time, even after knowing why Elliot had agreed to meet him.
Elliot placed the flute of half filled wine on the table next to him and wound his fingers over his knees. He must have looked intimidating, Ricky looked nervous.
"How did you know?"
"I have eyes and ears everywhere. Don't take me for a fool, I've told you before and I'm telling you again. It's only wise to hand over the shares before the bank and your debtors come knocking at your door. It will save you."
"I know my condition very well, knight. You don't have to say it again. I will not kneel!" Ricky sneered.
Elliot leaned forward, his intense eyes flashed with something dangerous and dark, his smile was of the devil. Ricky gulped.
"Your wife seemed to have different ideas when she came to my younger brother's office and asked for a favour to save your sorry behind. She was very willing to kneel and beg." Elliot's voice was slow and deep with an underlying meaning, "You won't know what leaks and makes headlines in the news tomorrow. I suggest you take your decisions very carefully. All factors included."
There was an underlying threat, a warning in his tone that spoke louder than the bass and echoed. Ricky started sweating, Elliot knew his work here was done. The rest will be taken care of by Marcus.
"I will be waiting for your call?" Elliot smiled pleasantly and patted Ricky on the shoulder on his way out of the stinky bar. Pablo followed him out.
"Yes sir, we will have news by tomorrow morning." Pablo reported to Maximus on phone. Elliot raked his hand through his hair and snatched the phone from Pablo's hold.
"What the hell, Max!" Elliot whined, "I don't want to do this!"
His brother's laugh bothered him more than Ricky's face had. He was enjoying this too much!
"It's for your growth, Elliot. You should learn how to deal with nasty business."
"That's not an excuse! Just say you are busy falling in love and getting married!" Elliot spoke into the speaker as he got in his driver's seat. Pablo buckled himself in on the passanger seat.
"So what if I am. You are invited, aren't you?" He heard the amusement in Max's voice. Elliot pursed his lips. "Oh wait, you live here and do nothing all day. Of course you are."
"I work!" Elliot protested. From the corner of his eyes he saw Pablo shake his head in a no.
Elliot mouthed, "Shut it!" Pablo looked the other way.
The line went dead and Elliot threw the phone back at Pablo who caught it midair thanks to his endless amount of practice. Elliot started the engine and drove off into the colourful night of New York City. He wasn't in the mood to go back home. He needed a drink.
"Drop me off at this address," Pablo added the address of a hotel in the GPS. Elliot squinted his eyes at the name. The hotel wasn't that far, he took a left.
"Date?" He asked.
Pablo winced, "Bachelor party."
Elliot took a sharp right, toppling them both to a dangerously angle. When it was safe enough Elliot asked, "You are getting married too!?"
"Of course not!" Pablo held the handle and his seatbelt, fearing for his life, "My sister is! It's her to be husband's party!"
"Oh." He was much calm now. It was hard to think of Pablo as a settled man with kids. He was still young and had potential. Elliot would hate for everyone around him to be married or engaged. He shivered internally.
Elliot wasn't opposed to marriage, he was in fact happy for anyone who got to marry the one they love, like his brother was. But surrounded by married men was a pressure on him, he didn't want to get married at this age. He had so much to see, so much to experience. He didn't want to waste away the best days of his life being tied down.
He dropped off Pablo and took a quick U turn to his appartment. His suit jacket discarded on the backseat, his sleeves rolled up to show the tanned skin on his arm. Elliot wouldn't say he lacked anything. In the rear-view mirror he saw his ruffled hair and attempted to tame them. His dark eyes were full of life, just how he felt.
He gave up on his untamable hair and looked back at the road, just in time to see a human in front of his car, and then gone. Elliot pressed on the brakes like he had never before. He gulped and stayed frozen in his seat. His fingers held the steering wheel with the intention to choke it. His knuckles were white. He tried to remember what happened.
The horrified face of a girl in front of his car. Headlights flashing on her face and then nothing.
Stumbling on thin air Elliot quickly moved out of the car to witness his worst mistake. The girl was unconscious on the ground, a small crowd of by standers surrounded her and whispered among themselves.
"Scram!" He growled at them and knelt next to the girl. Her blonde hair covered her face, blood was splattered on the strands. Her arm was scratched and bleeding. Elliot never felt his heart clench so tightly. With shaky hands he pressed his fingers on her wrist to feel her pulse. He felt a rush of relief when he felt movement. It was barely there, but she was alive.
Without wasting time he held the girl by her arm and carefully picked her up princess style. The blonde curtain on her face fell and for the first time, he saw what she looked like.
Her slim face was lined with thin lips, her closed eyes fanned her cheeks with their lashes, leaving a shadow. Thin line of lood trailed from the other side of her face down to her chin. Elliot couldn't move, or breathe. He shook of the daze and swallowed.
He placed her on rhe passanger seat and strapped her in. He had the destination in mind and he had to reach there quickly. He got into the driver's seat and revived the engine. There was still a small group of idle watchers before his car. Aggravated, he honked loudly.
"Move!" He yelled.
He sped on the streets of New York to the nearest hospital. The girl was moving violently along with the aggressive movement of the car. Worried, Elliot held her shoulder with his free hand. Her skin was cold under his touch.
The flashing red sign of the hospital was never a relief to Elliot until tonight. He threw open the door and gulped before stepping out. He had so many worries, so many questions that he will have to answer.
What was he supposed to say to the doctor's who will treat her?
What will his family think if they found out about his accident? His mother will probably disown him. But among all others, his worst fear was the unconscious girl he was currently unstrapping from his passanger seat.
"Come on! Hold on, don't stop breathing." He prayed to whoever was listening.
"Ugh," He stopped moving at the sound. His hands were under her, ready to pick her up and run inside the hospital. She moved and made a sound of discomfort, of pain. Elliot's heart clenched further. He didn't understand the reason behind his hammering heart. Was it guilt for hitting her with his car?
It was a foreign feeling. Guilt, he was acquainted with.
"Papa," She groaned and slowly, like time was being dragged with weights on it, she opened her eyes to reveal blue oceans.
Time had stopped, or was it his breathing? His heart wasn't annoying him with it's beating anymore. Elliot blinked.
He bit his lip hard and forced himself to breathe heavily.
"It's okay. You will be fine." He whispered to her hoping it sounded comforting. He proceeded to pick her up and close his car door violently with his foot. One thing Elliot knew, she had a father and if he found out Elliot hit his daughter with his car, Elliot would be dead meat!
"Papa," She cried softly, her breath felt hot on his neck, he held her tighter. He felt a jolt of hot electricity run up his spine everytime she spoke, when she breathed on him.
"Get me a doctor!" Elliot heaved at the reception table, the nurse looked frightened, he exclaimed "Fast! Now!"
Even his yelling didn't speed up the process of finding a doctor for her. He sat on a spare chair with her bunched in his arms. He stroked her face, layered with thin dust which didn't do anything to hide her beauty. She wore ripped jeans and a long blouse, her knee was covered in blood. He cringed, it was all his fault.
She had a gash on her forehead which almost made him cry. It looked deep and was oozing blood, he placed his handkerchief on her head. Why didn't he do it sooner? Because he was an i***t who didn't know how to react and give first aid. His PE teachers would be disappointed.
"Hold on." He kept whispering and dabbing her forehead softly. When the doctor finally attended the girl, Elliot was ready to fight him.
"Don't you have a responsibility towards patients? How can you arrive late?! What if something happened to here just because the doctor was not on time?!" Elliot kept ranting on the way to the treatment room. He had no idea where they were taking her until they took her into the care unit.
Elliot blew out a breath and his self loathing grew. How could he not blame himself, it was clear as day that he deserved to be shot for what he did. He had learnt about traffic rules while taking his driving test. The most important rule was to pay attention to the road, not his face.
Elliot wanted nothing more now than to see the girl conscious. He would make everything right.
- Writer
