6:25 and we still hadn't completed our work load, this one project seemed to consume so much of our recent work load that we poured all our resources just to get it done before Christmas, Christmas being tomorrow!
Ginny sat on the sofa's sorting through files due to her current heavily pregnanted state my boss, Holly had told her to take things easy and just do what she could, she often gave a light hissing if she moved too fast but she seemed ok. Holly however was continuesly running back and forth between offices trying to collect all the right paperwork whilst I organised the paperwork and checked the numbers, dates and data.
Today was to be my last day at the nakatomi corperation, my father worked in accounting kindly his boss, Mr Takagi had seen an ideal solution to dads babysitting worries whilst i was on holiday here and quickly put me to use in holly's office. It was a fantastic opportunity for someone only 17 to work in a place as highly regarded as this and couldn't wait to get back home and tell my Aunt and friends about my time here.
6:40, we were nearing completion as the christmas party seemed in full swing outside the office in the foyer. Holly returned with more papers in her arms and Harry Ellis in tow, the slickest guy I ever had the displeasure to meet. In the short week i had been here he had come onto Holly numerous times and shamelessly infront of other co-workers.
"I was thinking more of roaring fireplaces mulled wine and a brie..."
Ellis tried with a confident gleam in his eye, although holly ignored him and turned to Ginny.
"Ginny, Amelia, it's 6:40, you're making me feel like ebeneezer Scrooge. Go on, join the party, have some Champagne."
I looked up briefly and smiled but continued what i was doing. Ginny struggled to her feet however.
"Thanks Ms. Gennero. Do you think the baby can handle a little sip?"
She replied gratefully and a little anxious for the baby's well being
Holly smiled fondly
"That baby is ready to tend bar."
"How about tomorrow night?"
Ellis pestered but followed Ginny out after holly waved him off, spinning her chair to use her phone. At this i took my leave too, taking some documents that still hadn't been photocopied to the vault room.
20 pages later I was done and finnaly all the documatation was ready for after the christmas holidays, as i turned to leave a voice broke through the vault room's silence.
"Didn't i tell you to enjoy the party.?"
Holly stood accusingly by the door.
I smiled sheepishly and straightened the documents.
"You did, but i'm done now. i wanted to make sure it was all done tonight, can't leave until Dad goes anyway."
I always felt i got along well with Holly, she was never strict to me at all and always had a kind mothering tone to her voice, personally probably grateful for the extra pair of hands and a fresh pair of legs to run around for her.
"Come on, we'll get these put away and enjoy ourselves..."
She trailed off as she led me out the room.
" Has your husband been in contact yet?"
I enquired softly, she had told me of her Christmas plans and seemed heavily tense over the idea of her husband not making to LA in time.
"Not yet, soon hopefully."
As we approached the office i could hear voices in there, surely Ellis hadn't come back to take Holly away again?
To my surprise however, Mr Takagi, Ellis and a casual stranger stood in the office. Holly hesitated for a second before she took full position in the room.
"...John."
She breathes out surprised clearly not expecting him yet, she moves closer to him to embrace him.
" I was hoping you made that flight."
Her husband kissed her softly and mumbled something to her before he let her go.
"Your wife's made for the business. She knows how to drive a hard bargain."
Mr Takagi inputted polietly, Ellis moved in on Holly slightly.
"Show him the watch."
"maybe later."
She mumbles quietly but he doesn't relent.
"Go on, show him, what are you embarrased?" He looks up at John.
" A little token of appreciation for all her work, it's a rolex."
"nice, is there a place where I can wash up?"
Asked her husband. Happy for the excuse to leave, Holly smiles brightly and leads him out of her office smiling at me as they leave together. I give Ellis a noticable nasty look as I leave with Mr Takagi.
"I'm grateful for the help you have given Holly over the past week and should you ever wish to come back at any time my door is always open to you Amelia."
The japanese man smiled polietly.
"Thank you Mr Takagi, i've genuinely enjoyed being here, now i suppose i should see if i can find my father somewhere..."
I begun looking into the crowd for the familiar fluffy ginger mop that sat upon my fathers head.
"Last i saw of him he was going towards his own office."
"Thanks, i'll see you later Mr Takagi."
I waved as i dashed off to find my father. His office was just down the hall from Holly's, not too far away. i arrived to see a mess of paper work stacked up on every available work surface. I smiled softly, typical of my dad he had always enjoy a little mess whereas i was the polar opposite and prefered cleanliness and space. His messy office however didn't occupy him and thought to wander the floor above us to see if he was near by.
I had managed to get half way up the stairs to the 31st when gun shots suddenly break the silence, panic over flowing in me I run up the stairs ignoring the 31st floor door and running higher. I open the next door to find a quiet room that is still under construction. There are a few desks with computers and phones, i run quickly to pick up the phone to hear no dialling tone. i whimper slightly as i slam the phone back down and take refuge underneath one of the desks, trying hard to keep hidden.
What was going on downstairs? Who had fired the gun shots? Was my father safe?
The thought of my father being in danger made me feel sick, along with anyone else down at the party being in danger or am i over exagerating? No, the strong thought in my head rang out. There were multiple shots, but for now I was safe up here?
The silence was suddenly broken by someone running into the room, my heart leapt to my throat and panic bubbled in the pit of my stomach.
"Why the fuck didn't you stop them John?"
Someone shouted perplexed.
" 'Coz then you'd be dead too asshole.. Think, damnit think!"
My heart pounded like crazy, that was Holly's husband. I jumped up suddenly from my hiding place and called out to him, but startling him dramatically as he fired a warning gun shot near my head. I was too scared to scream and just stared at him fearfully.
"Shit, What the fuck were you doing down there?"
He cried coming over to me.
"I heard the gun shots downstairs and ran and hid and you came. What's happening, what are you doing? Why are you...bare footed?"
I bombarded him, throwing random questions at him fearfully.
"It's hard to say what's going on, It's a take over, Takagi's just been killed. I was freshening up when everything kicked off and had to leave everything behind. Who are you?"
Mr Takagi was dead? No... Why?
"I'm Amelia, M..My dad works here, I've been helping your wife for the last week."
"You're British!?"
My accent startled him. Born and raised in North London with my Aunt, My father had taken a great opportunity out here after his divorce with my now deceased mother, but after my reassurance he stayed in here for work.
"Yeah and you're from New York, what does it matter right now. What do we do?"
"We?" He asked confused and slightly aggresively. "There's no we, you're going to hide while i figure this shit out, got it?"
He looked around the room wildly, his eyes landing upon the sprinkler system and then following the pipes to the switch at the far end of the room. A brilliant idea, he ran over and pulled the lever.
We stand at the window waiting until we see four fire engines coming, red lights blazing. John laughs happily moving around the windows.
"Come on baby, come on i'll kiss your fucking dalmation."
He cries gleefully.
But suddenly the lights go off and they start to veer off turning away.
"No you mother fucker no no, turn the fucking truck around!"
" What happened?"
I asked frightened. My answer is given to me, when the elevator 'pings' dully and John drags me and him behind a desk.