Repeating History (History #1) by Hanleigh Bradley

the only one here who will want to know.
    Okay. I’ll message you as soon as I hear anything.
    I’ve got to go. The guys from P and P are here.
    Okay. I hope you manage to get everything done.
    You and me both. X
    I’m surprised by the kiss at the end of his message. I don’t know how to respond so instead I just lock my phone and turn my attention back to the TV. I take a sip of wine, “Andrew is working on a press release for the company. He says he’ll let us know as soon as he hears something.”
    Mike nods his head, not taking his eyes off the screen. “They are saying that someone’s dead.”
    “Aurora?” I ask
    “I don’t think so,” Mike is shaking his head, “it’s not confirmed but they are saying it’s one of the pilots. Someone else is still trapped inside.”
    “Shit,” I ignore my plate of food that is resting in my lap as I wait anxiously for news.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER four: Andrew
     
     
    I’m sat in the conference room at work. I’d gotten the call about the crash barely moments after I’d left the building. I hadn’t even pulled my car out of the car park. Landon’s assistant Lisa had been the one to call me, asking that I oversee the press release and potentially deal with the day to day running of TRW until Landon’s return to Britain whenever that might be. I hadn’t hesitated to say yes, even though it would mean delaying my Christmas break. As I had spoken to Lisa on the phone, I registered the look of disappointment on Maya’s face. She’s always loved Christmas, ever since she was a little girl hiding under the Christmas tree waiting to catch Santa in the act of delivering her presence. She took it to be her own personal mission to discover the identity of Santa Claus. She’d been incredibly disappointed when she had learnt at the age of eleven that Jacob and I were actually the ones depositing her presents under the tree. Not only was she disillusioned about St Nick that year, it was also the moment she realised just how disassociated our mother was. Our mother had nearly died that Christmas so the idea of not having her whole family there to celebrate Christmas is unimaginable for Maya. I’d hung up the phone and apologised, before promising that I would be there for Christmas Day.
    I’ve called my brother Jacob to get him to pick up Maya and now I’m sat surrounded by a bunch of idiots from P and P International as they argue over what to tell the press as if it isn’t pretty obvious. They keep over thinking their choice of words. I’m beginning to get cross with their indecision, “it’s simple,” I tell them angrily as I write a short statement out on a piece of paper. I clear my throat and read them what I have written; “Everyone at P and P International and TRW Advertising is deeply troubled at the news of the plane crash in L.A. Landon Peters, our Managing Director, has travelled to L.A. today to be with his girlfriend, Aurora Stone and her family. We are waiting to hear confirmation as to Aurora’s medical condition. We will keep you informed and Mr Peters appreciates your support and respect of his privacy at this time.”
    There is a general murmur of consent around the board room. I think more than anything they are just grateful that they are my words; they can’t be blamed if this turns into a shit storm. They all nod their head in acceptance before one of the P and P guys turns almost grey, “who is going to be our spokes person?”
    “Seriously?” I’m as close to losing my cool as I’ve ever been.  How the fuck does Landon put up with these plonkers. “I’ll do it myself. Lisa, can you inform the press I’ll be ready to receive them in about half an hour?”
    “Yes Mr Contius,” she smiles at me. She’ll be glad when we can get the P and P guys out of our building. I can’t really say I blame her. They are getting on my last nerve too. Not to mention my mother keeps texting me to ask why I’m running late.
    “Thank