My Father's Best Friend novel Chapter 38

"Nothing," I just want to hear your voice.

"Oh," she said.

They both stayed silent for a while.

"Andrea," he said the same time she said, "Lance,"

"Andrea," he said again.

"Yeah?"

"Can we talk about what happened last night?" he asked, as he put his laptop and files in a case and sat down on his chair, calming his nerves.

He had thought about it, about talking things out with Andrea. He realized as he showered that morning that it wasn't just lust over a younger woman that he was feeling, rather something stronger, and Andrea mattered the world to him, ever since he laid eyes on her, and he does not want anything bad to happen with their relationship.

"Yes," both remained quiet.

"You mean, through phone?" she added, as if suddenly realizing it.

Lance had thought about talking it out through dinner tonight, but he needs to go to Japan for a very important meeting.

"Yes," he said, "I was called for a sudden appointment in Japan and I'll be gone for a week, tops, and well, I don't want you feeling like I abandoned you after doing... That, last night. So, it's either through phone or wait ‘til I get back," he explained, feeling the need to.

He could hear Andrea smile, "I guess we should wait, it's better," she said.

"Okay, so... I need to pack more stuffs, so, see you next week?" he confirmed.

"Yeah, next week. Don't forget my souvenirs, I wish I could come with you," she said, her signature remark whenever he went out of the country meant different to him now.

"I wish you could, too. Bye," he said, his words having a different connotation.

"Uhm, Lance" she said, before Lance could even hung up his phone.

"Yes?" he asked.

"Thank you," she said.

Lance knitted his brows, "For what?" he asked.

"For being you, Bye," she said and then hung up.

Lance put his phone to his briefcase and rounded up his files needed for the trip, still thinking about Andrea's mysterious thank you.

"Sir, your ride has arrived," Bianca, his secretary, announced.

"I'll be right down," he said.

---

"Is there anything you need from me, sir?" she asked.

Holden stood by the window overlooking the LA skyline, he looked so confident in his suit, Andrea thought and mentally slapped herself because of her wayward thoughts.

"Yes, there is. Please sit," he offered as he took a sit behind the desk.

Andrea sat down and waited for him to speak, her eyes suddenly caught a pill bottle on his desk, "What's that for?" she asked without meaning to, and Holden swiftly took it from his desk and pocketed it, "Stress reliever" he answered.

She nodded, "Sorry for prying," she said, though a little part of her did not believe what he said.

"It's all right," he said as he shifted on his seat, "how's the business report?" he asked.

Andrea didn't know what to answer. She had been working on it, yes, but she's distracted.

"I'm partly finished, sir," she lied and saw Holden nod to that.

"Can you get it ready by Sunday?" he asked.

Andrea's eyes popped, her deadline was still on the week after next week and she still hadn't even finished formulating ideas, "Can I ask why the hurry?"

Holden looked at her with a thin line of a mouth, "There will be a meeting by Monday and I'm relying on your report to present," he explained.

She bit her lip, "I'll try my best, sir," she agreed. Earlier deadline might motivate her.