A plane awaited his arrival with the precious package that he told Interpol he went to retrieve in Dubai. Sterling knew how to use his position to retrieve his only daughter. He stared at his own private team waiting for him to give orders. He glanced at one particular agent. She was the only one he trusted to make sure his daughter got back safely to London. And from there he would take her home back to the states.
She was the one he called his partner even though he never worked with one. She was the impulsive type who just went straight for the jugular and got to the point. Her methods were much different than his. Her green blues were the ones that read deep into the soul. And she never backed down…he knew this from experience with a scar on his shoulder from a mishap.
Her strides were quick and graceful as she opened the passenger side of the SUV. Her hand extended to the young girl who had fear in her eyes, but trying to be strong.
"Olivia Sterling," she said.
The young girl looked over at her and swallowed the lump in her throat. The agent addressed her like she knew her. Olivia turned to her father in confusion. How did this woman know who she was?
"It's alright, Darling," Sterling said. "She's going to take you back to London."
"But I don't want to go without you," Olivia objected.
He grabbed her hand and kissed it. "I promise we'll see each other in London. And we'll go home, but right now I need you to go with Agent Coleen Graham."
Olivia turned to the auburn haired woman. She was to pretty to be someone who worked for Interpol. She took a deep breath and stepped out of the SUV. She turned and looked at her father and hoped he'd change his mind. There was no reason for him to stay back and let her go on her own.
Sterling got out the vehicle. "Agent Graham, wait one minute."
She turned and looked at Sterling as their eyes met. She walked towards him with Olivia close by. He wrapped his arms around Olivia and kissed her head.
"I promise, we'll catch up. I need you to be strong, Darling one more time." Sterling took her hand and placed something in her hand. "Be safe."
He glanced up at Coleen and she took a deep breath. The young woman walked towards him and grabbed his arm just below the elbow.
"Jim," she said.
Sterling reached over and placed his hand lightly on hers.
"Make sure my daughter gets to London."Sterling never let his eyes leave the young agent's.
She gave a nod and let her hand drop from his arm. It was not her choice to leave him behind. But she promised to keep Olivia safe. He trusted her and she wouldn't let him down.
"Let's go," she said to Olivia.
The two of them walked towards the plane and Sterling watched as they loaded each step. He would finish what he had started. But getting Olivia on the plane was his main objective. He would see her soon enough.
Two Months: New York
Sterling looked at the chess board and tapped the piece he had taken in his last great move. His eyes searched the board for a perfect opening. He was going to trap his opponent just like he would in real life.
"Dad, make a move before I'm old," Olivia joked.
He looked up at her and raised his brow. She laughed at his expression and sat back in the wood and iron chair. He reached up and rubbed his chin still trying to adjust to the beard he decided to keep two months ago.
"Don't try to distract me," Sterling remarked. "Don't forget who taught you that move."
"Well, if you'd hurry up I can actually beat you." Olivia looked up at him.
He smirked and moved then leaned back. He watched as Olivia pursed her lips together. He chuckled knowing he had her trapped. His signature style lived up to its name.
"So, I was thinking," Olivia said as she tapped a piece.
Sterling rolled up his sleeves and ran his hands lightly over his short hair.
"You know I never liked when you started a conversation with that," Sterling stated.
He looked around at the other players spending the day playing.
"I know, but that's why I use it." Olivia looked up at him as he waited for her to say what she was going to say.
She knew he already knew what she was going to say. And she could see him already twitching. But it needed to be said again until he got the point. She was determined to keep prying until he gave in like in chess.
"Dad, I was think it's time again," Olivia said as she reached for a piece outside Sterling's trap.
"Liv, we aren't having this conversation." Sterling shifted in the hard chair. "I've already told you."
Olivia glanced up at him watching him becoming uncomfortable at the topic at hand. He rubbed his beard and ran one hand through his hair. She smirked and looked down at the board. Her eyes searched for another move that would give her the upper hand.
"How long are you going to sit there and ignore the fact that I'm getting older and I'll one day not be here to keep tabs on you?" Olivia looked up at him.
"When that time comes, I'll deal with it," Sterling sighed as he once more shifted in discomfort. "Now, when were you going to let this topic go?"
"Never." She smiled and stared at her father. "You still have what it takes, Dad."
"We're not talking about this, Liv. Play chess." Sterling glanced up at her. "And what part of I'm content with what I have in my life, don't you understand?"
He reached over and gave her hand a squeeze. He smiled, but he couldn't fool her. She was too much like him. And to continue to pry in the subject of happiness was her specialty.
"Dad, you may have everything you think you need."
Sterling sighed and shook his head. He made a move out of being frustrated and let Olivia take the upper hand in the game.
"Two months ago, I saw something that you constantly deny happened. I just want you to see what I saw. I want you to be happy with someone, like you were happy once with Mom."
Sterling stopped her there.
"Liv, I'm happy. I don't care what you say or think you saw two months ago. I have everything I possibly want right here. Please, let's just play."
Later that evening Sterling sat in his office and worked on the report he had yet filed. He glanced up at the screen saver of the Interpol shield and sighed. His gaze looked out into the hall hearing the silence that echoed inside his home. Olivia had gone off to bed and he had the report to do. But something kept his mind wondering. He touched the mouse and pulled up a file full of pictures from the last year. He glanced down at his phone as it sat in silence. There was always someone he could call when his mind was a lost soul.
Sterling lifted the phone and dialed a number. He let it ring and leaned back into the swirling office chair.
"Hello, Jim," a feminine voice answered.
"How did you know it was me?" Sterling asked.
"You're the only one that calls me this late when something is bothering you," she said.
He sighed knowing she knew everything about him. But that was what happens when someone spends time with him.
"How do you know me so well, Graham?"
"What's bothering you, Jim?" she asked.
Sterling sighed and rubbed his chin. He closed his eyes for a second to phrase exactly what had to say.
"My daughter?"
"What's wrong?"
"She's becoming her mother," he said.
"No, Jim she's becoming like you. You can't blame the dead if they can't talk back," Coleen remarked.
Sterling smiled and looked down at the hardwood floor. He couldn't blame the dead and he couldn't blame anyone for making him feel so unattached from who he really was.
"So, she brought up that topic again?"
"Yes, how do you convince someone that you are fine?"
"You can't, Jim. You have to face the facts that maybe they know more than you do. She's observed you since the moment you came for her in Dubai."
Sterling stood up and walked around his office. He walked to a bookshelf and lifted a picture of Olivia. She was growing up fast and he already missed most the important dates. He couldn't afford to put anything else in front of her.
"Jim?"
"I'm here," he said.
"If you are happy, then why are you calling me?"
Sterling took a seat and sighed. He rushed his hand through his short hair fighting everything. His gaze fell to the computer screen and the file of pictures. He stared at one and leaned back.
"I just wanted to hear your voice," he whispered.
"Jim?"
He could hear her shallow breathing.
"I'm sorry," he said. "I just thought maybe…"
"Maybe what?"
Sterling stared at the picture and clicked off it.
"I don't know, maybe I'm tired." Sterling rubbed his eyes.
"Oh, I see. You should go get some rest. I'm sure you have plenty to do to keep yourself busy. You're missed here, Jim."
Sterling smiled a little. He had taken a leave of absence to be the father he never was before. He was kept well informed and did small things here and there to stay quick witted. His eyes looked down at a book mark with a pressed rose.
"Thanks, Graham." He said. "Good night."
"Good night, Jim."
He hung up the phone and sat the phone down. He watched as the time blinked and he looked out the window.
Sterling glanced up at the screen with a window full of icons. He moved the mouse and clicked one. He stared at the green blue eyes of someone he had put more faith in than anyone in his life. She was a woman that understood him from his habits to his personality. But their relationship didn't start off that way.