5. On The Look

It was a long day and everyone aware of the issue, especially those that were connected in one way or another other had a difficult time relaxing.

The Jacksons, especially Veronica were restless while Henry was worried about his ill father, Maureen, Claudia and the employees in WL were all restless.

Veronica sat thinking deeply while drinking alcohol while Henry sat by his father looking at him with worry on his face.

Also, Maureen couldn't rest as her worries about Charles were endless. She was scared of the condition he would be in and how devastated he would be about everything.

She understood his feelings and emotions and can tell when he was unhappy.

She alone understood him and it would have been great if Charles was aware of how important he was to her.

No one would stay up all night over the news of a plane crash except their loved ones were engulfed in the crash, not to talk of a lover being worried about a man who showed her no face.

She should be praised because no lady would sit crying over an incident like this just because she fears that her love is distressed and that he will be insulted.

It appears that it's going to be a long night for all and a sad one.

They all couldn't fall asleep as they anticipated what will happen the next day.

Charles had the least opportunity of sleeping since he was still at work and since he will take responsibility for whatever happened.

Those who are part of the search team were still on the look for the aircraft.

International search protocols have been invoked to fasten the process since all hands need to be on deck.

The military forces have decided to get involved in the matter and military aircraft, naval vessels, passenger planes and civilian boats are being used to track the plane.

Due to the efficiency of the search team, the area where the plane crashed was found and more effort was made to scout the area where it is believed to have disappeared.

With this development, the plane was just not searched for on radar but also with the naked eye as pilots of passenger planes flying over the area looked out the window in search of the plane.

The search team was bent on finding the plane as soon as possible to check for any survivors and calculate the casualties.

In the incidence of a plane crash or its disappearance, the death rate is usually high and they could only hope that some passengers used their parachutes to escape. Well, the possibility of that happening is relatively thin.

Since it's been revealed that the plane disappeared from radar around the North Pacific Ocean, naval vessels sent people to search for debris in the water.

Also with this info, the search team feared that the casualties would be massive.

After the news of the disappearance of Flight A245 was announced, Narita International Airport where the plane was heading became the focal point.

Some of the passenger's families went to the airport to wait for their loved ones hoping that they can get info.

The airport in Tokyo wasn't the only focus because families of victims who lived in the US needed to express their dissatisfaction and (LAX) provided a means so they crowded the place.

Amidst all this, chaos erupted in Los Angeles International Airport(LAX) where the plane departed as families and friends vented their anger through their tears.

All night long the search was conducted. It lasted till dawn.

This is going to be the longest night in Charles' life after he became an adolescent.

*****

The beep of the landline in his office woke Charles who slept off while working.

He looked terrible and his hair was scattered.

His face told a lot. Sleeping in his office means that he didn't take his bath, something that Charles doesn't joke with.

He picked up the phone and placed the receiver on his ear and the news was welcomed.

"sir the aircraft has been found but it's in ruins."

"Any survivors?" Charles asked in pain.

"No sir. There was an explosion," he said and Charles became sad.

"Okay," Charles replied and his caller understood and cut the call.

The news weighed on him when though he knew that there was no chance of receiving a positive update.

He hoped that there were survivors but, sadly, there aren't.

He walked to the bathroom and washed his face with water hoping to take his stress away but it failed.

He dipped his hand in his hair and arranged it. Afterwards, he adjusted his clothing before stepping out of his office.

Upon getting out, he was surprised that Ethan wasn't at his desk but remembered that it was still very early.

*****

25th December 2021. (CHRISTMAS DAY)

"Where are you going?" Veronica asked James who was fully dressed in a black suit as he walked out of their room.

She was surprised that James was up so early and dressed rather than relaxing his body.

He was so weak before she fell asleep so, she ought to be surprised about the sudden change even though Dr Michael told her that he would be fine.

"To the company," he responded.

"You can't go there, not when you need to recover," she said following him as he walked toward the stairs.

She was worried about his health because she doesn't feel that he should bother much about this.

The only thing that mattered to Veronica is the company's loss in money and she didn't want their competitors to have something to laugh about.

She didn't want their company's reputation to be tarnished because it counts for money.

"I'm fine. Something went wrong with one of our aircraft. And if you must know, West Land needs me" he said as he mounted the stairs and Veronica followed suit.

"I'm aware of the missing plane but there's not much that you can do." she continued.

"That's where you're wrong. There's so much that I can do."

"You can't be leaving. What about the press? They won't leave you alone."

"Let me handle that myself," he replied and walked out of the living room.

"But James!" she said James got into his car and Daniel drove off.

James arrived at West Land Airlines and since it was pretty early, no reporters were surrounding the building.

Without wasting time, he went to Charles' office and waited for him.

James was in a rage as he never imagined that this could happen.

He wasn't just angered with what happened but he was displeased and scared that his company would face many challenges.

He sat in for a while before Charles walked in.

As Charles returned to his office, he was surprised to see his father sitting and swivelling his chair.

He thought that James was taking his position from him because his father doesn't give a damn about him.

He believes that James had always been waiting for him to make a bad decision or flop in his duties to outcast him.

Immediately Charles came in, James turned to face him and then he spoke.

"What do you have to say about this?" said James.

"The plane has been found, it's in ruins and all lives were lost," Charles replied sternly as he didn't want to speak to his father.

After his utterance, James coughed and this made Charles jolt.

James picked up the table water that was on Charles' Desk and drank.

With this, Charles was relieved.

He might not like his father but he doesn't want him to die.

"That's bad and you're responsible for all that happened and must take responsibility for your actions. I'm disappointed and as much you must resolve this matter." James said and stood.

"I'm not surprised that you lack faith in me but I'm sure that crash is not any fault of mine. I've never shown irresponsibility in my duties and the profit rate multiplied since I took charge of the company."

"Nice, you want to discredit me for the years that I have ruled," James said and laughed.

"You're a failure, not just to the company but to your position. Fix this mess." James said and left.

James' words got to Charles and tears fell from his eyes with a thick scowl formed on his face.

The tears on his face proved that he hadn't gotten used to James' mistreatment.

Anyone who saw him will realise that he was pained.

Charles wiped them and watched where his father left in anguish.

James' attitude reminded him of how he was treated by his father when he was a young boy

He couldn't let it out of his head.

He remembered how James would yell at him and how he was less bothered about his well-being.

As he thought of this, he remembered his grandmother Teresa Jackson who was all to him and how she died and left him in the world to live alone.

Soon, the images rekindled and tears flowed from his eyes.

His pain multiplied as he recalled his grandma and he felt that loneliness and emptiness he felt that day, a terrible Christmas eve.