Oh hell. If she doesn’t call me back, I might be going for a drive.
Krista had no idea why that man was calling her. It was bad enough reporters we’re hounding her, so much so that she couldn’t even stay in the office today. At first she thought it was just going to be Darrell. She was wrong. Her phone had never rung so many times as it did today, and not once was it a patient of hers.
But maybe Connor was actually calling to update her regarding his new little girl. She really could use some uplifting news right now. Krista loved her quiet lifestyle, and today was anything but quiet. So she dialed his number, and hoped for the best.
“Hello, this is Connor,” he answered.
“Good evening. Sorry to be calling so late. I hope I’m not waking the baby.”
“There is no baby here to wake.”
Her heart raced. She hoped that didn’t mean something happened to the child. “What do you mean?”
“That I do not have a child. That was not my baby. It was only my vehicle. Technically, it was a rental vehicle.”
Krista felt foolish. She recalled yelling at him, and saying some pretty mean things, he was innocent of them all. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. The baby was cute, but I’m not looking to be a father,” he replied.
“I mean that I am sorry for the things I said to you. They were not very nice.” She didn’t need to apologize often, because she could not recall the last time she ever spoke to anyone that harshly. There was something about that situation that infuriated her. She can blame it on the conference but that wasn’t it entirely. And for the first time, she really wasn’t sure why she acted the way she did.
“I think we were both wrong with our assumptions. I would not have been so difficult if I had known you were a doctor.”
“You mean instead of some bossy pedestrian?” She asked.
She heard Connor laugh. “Maybe a little bossy. I wasn’t actually calling to talk about the baby. It seems you are getting bombarded with calls from reporters. May I assume it is in regard to the video of the delivery?”
“I don’t know what video you’re speaking about.” Krista hadn’t actually spoken to any of the reporters. She knew they were reaching out but she had been blowing them all off. “How do you know there is a video? Are reporters calling you as well? And may I ask how you got my personal number?” It wasn’t something that was public knowledge.
“I have not received any calls yet. I believe you are a more public figure than I am. From what I have learned, you were a guest speaker at a conference in New York City. Impressive,” he said.
Krista did not want to talk about the conference. Had he intentionally ignored the question about how he obtained her phone number? She didn’t need his flattering. She needed answers. In a more forceful tone, she tried again. “My phone number. Where did you get it?” If he thought for one moment that she was joking or easily dismissed, he would soon realize that was not the case.
He paused for a moment and she thought he might not answer. If he refused to do so, then she would end the call, and block his number.
“Someone from Montpelier works with me. I asked, and he provided it.”
Was that all he was going to divulge? Did they need to play 20 questions over something so simple? Krista had nothing better to do tonight, but she also had little patience for games. “I’m not sure I know anyone in New York.”
“I’m actually in Boston,” Connor said.
Boston? “Mikie?”
“Yes.”
“Is your last name Henderson?” She knew they were a very big family, but didn’t recall any of their first names. And she wouldn’t know any of them if she saw them. Krista never followed the life of the rich and famous. She treated everyone the same way, as a life that should be valued, and not based on what was in their bank account.
“My last name is Falciano. I am not a Henderson nor am I related to them. I do however work for them.”
She really couldn’t fault him for that. Mikie after all was working for them too and he was a good kid. Krista hoped that the Henderson family wouldn’t corrupt him. She might be wrong, but her fear was that Mikie was going to want more and more and more. In reality very few people ever had the kind of money the Hendersons have.
“I have no interest in seeing any video.” She didn’t want to think about it and that’s why she refused to speak to the reporters.
“I am working to have them all taken down. Unfortunately, it seems as though your name is already linked to the videos and to the pictures. As of yet, I am not.”
So she had her answer. He was not calling to check on her. This was all about him. Connor wanted to make sure no one knew who he was. Maybe I wasn’t so wrong yelling at him in New York. Just yelled about the wrong things.
“Mr. Falciano, you do not need to worry. I have no intention of speaking to any reporters. And I definitely will not be talking to anyone about you. Now if you don’t mind, I have better things to do, than to waste my time talking about social media.” Once again, Krista found her emotions heightened. What was it about him that made her feel on edge? Whatever it was, she shouldn’t worry about it, because this should be the last time they speak.