Chapter Forty-Four

Meanwhile, on the other line, Nick had frowned, pulled the phone away from his ears, and confirmed the number and name was right before responding.

"Hello?"

His response came out more of a question than a statement, for the voice was completely different, at least from what he remembered, and it was always. 

The moment he left Colorado, Sharlene's voice and face branded like a tattoo in his mind. The person's voice was familiar, but he could not place a face on them or remember where he met them, and he met and spoke to many kinds of people.

"Is this Sharlene Cunning-ham phone?"

He curiously asked as he swiveled his chair to face the floor-to-ceiling window. 

"It surely is, Mr. Ross."

Frowning, he became even more curious.

"And can I ask who am I speaking to?"

He heard the person smack their lips together in the speaker before tsking.

"I feel tremendously hurt that you would forget your fiancé's best friend, Mr. Ross."

As if something had clicked in his mind, the face of Sharlene's friend, whom she introduced a week and one day ago, came to mind. 

"Miss. Rita?"

"That is my name. Here in the flesh. You can call me Riri, by the way. Rita sounds like a witch who lived in the 19th century. God knows why my father gave me that name out of all others."

Hearing her humorous laughing, he lowly chuckled along.

"I apologize for not remembering, Rita, ah...Riri?"

"Oh, no need for that. I have experienced that too many a time."

Smiling, for he was glad she did not hold a grudge, Nick quickly jumped to the purpose of his call.

"Is Sharlene anywhere close? I tried calling her earlier, but it rang out."

Even as he spoke, he heard the nervousness in his voice, which he quickly cleared away with an inaudible cough, but not before pulling the phone away from his face.

"Oh, she is, but the thing is, I do not think she can come to the phone."

Frowning, Nick stood from the chair and walked towards the window. He was afraid Sharlene's lack of enthusiasm to answer his call was because he had not kept his promise. The week was over and gone. But that was not his entire fault. The moment he landed in Italy, his work was cut out for him because piles and piles of documents, mismanagement, and other relevant issues had greeted him. The minute he stepped through the double doors of his newly opened hotel doors, Nick got buried in work, something that did not bother him until now.

He wanted to apologize for his lack of punctuality. 

"Why? Did something happen? Is the baby alright?"

"No, nothing happened. The baby is fine. It's just that Sharlene is in the shower, and when she is in there, she thinks she is doing Karaoke or something. She..."

Her words were so astonishing that they left him speechless. He suddenly frowned when shuffling and murmuring sounds vibrated in the phone speaker. 

Soon, he heard someone moving with the phone, and after a few seconds, the voice that always made him smile came through the speakers.

"I am so sorry for Riri's mindless behavior, Mr. Ross."

Breathing out the breath he was unconsciously holding, Nick chuckled.

"It is alright. She sounds like a great person."

Hearing a few shuffling sounds, he heard faint whispers before she mimicked his chuckle. 

"She is."

Nick could imagine the blazing blush taking over her face, and his smile broadened.

A few seconds passed and he cleared his throat while leaning against the desk. He searched the tall ceiling for his words since he had not prepared himself for the phone call. 

Yes, he had dialed her number on a whim. Though feeling discouraged without an answer on the first call, he persevered on the second and was glad he did. 

Her voice sounded lovely, light, and filled with life. It made his already hectic day feel brighter and he had the motivation to go on for a few more hours. If he knew just hearing her voice made him feel this way, he would have called earlier.

"So, how are you, Sharlene?"

Wishing he could find a pillow to stuff his head in, he bit his lip. Why did he come up with that lame question? He sounded more of an acquaintance than her fiancé. 

"I am doing fine. And you?"

"Everything is a little hectic around here. That is one of the reasons I was not able to call you earlier."

He hurriedly explained since she deserved an explanation.

"Oh, that is okay. You are a busy person."

His troubled heart was no longer fretting after her words. 

He breathed a heavy sigh of relief and was thankful she was an understanding person. Another cloud of silence passed until he heard her nervous question.

"So, ah, when will you return?"

"I will..."

Suddenly, a loud knock on his office doors came, interrupting his answer. 

"Excuse me for a moment, Sharlene."

"Of course."

He heard her soft reply but sensed disappointment in her tone.

Pulling the phone from his ears, he allowed entry to the patient individual behind the door. The moment the person stepped inside, their businesslike manner shone through.

"Sir, your evening meeting scheduled for 7 pm. is about to begin."

It was the voice of his secretary. Nick cursed his luck.

"Have the partners arrive?"

"Yes, sir. They are waiting in the lounge you specifically provided for them."

"Thank you, Cordelia. Is there anything else?"

Nodding, Cordelia walked across the room and placed a small heap of documents on the space on his table. 

"This is?"

He questioned as his eyes moved towards the one on top. Instantly, he recognized the words and inwardly groaned. 

"These are the documents you asked Mr. Presley to sign regarding the new construction of his new restaurant in Sicily, sir. However, he is..."

"Adamant?"

Nick interjected when Cordelia was at a loss of words.

Smiling, she nodded.

"Yes, sir. He is adamant. He is insisting on raising the sum higher than was allegedly discussed."

"He is a stubborn one."

Nick groaned.

He recalled the meeting with the man a few months ago, and to say it went cordial was an understatement.

Presley wanted him as his son-in-law, and his shining eyes said it all, but Princess Presley was not interested in him, and so was he, so the stubborn block showered him with gifts and deals to make up for his disappointment.

In the past months, he rejected his offers and introduced him to potential grooms for his daughter, but the man still treated him like his son-in-law. In the end, Nick shoved another list of random blind dates into his face, and one turned out to be his friend Christopher, who happened to know Princess from diapers. 

A headache had occurred since Christopher became a nuisance. 

"Thank you, Cordelia, and please make the men feel comfortable in the lounge. I will soon join after my call."

Cordelia politely nodded before walking out of the room with the soft click of the office doors.

Sighing while postponing the documents for another time, Nick placed the phone back onto his ears with erratic heartbeats, for he thought Sharlene ended the call. However, to his surprise, her lovely voice greeted him with a cheerful laugh that made him smile.

"You sound busy."

"Did you hear all that?"

"Yes, I did."

Passing his hands through his hair, he sighed.

"I am sorry. It seems every time we are together, something always comes up." 

"Do not worry yourself too much. As I said before, you are a busy man."

"Thank you for understanding."

He heard someone chuckling in the background, most likely from her friend, for he heard, as she whispers yell.

"Do not laugh, Riri."

"Why? You two are so cute."

"He will hear you."

"So?"

"Hush."

"Fine."

His smile broadened as he heard her daintily hushing her friend.

"Why don't I call you tomorrow, Sharlene?"

He quickly suggested, making the line go dead, except for her friend's whispers and gushing.

"That...that would be great, Mr. Ross."

He frowned when she was still using honorifics.

"Nick. Call me Nick. Mr. Ross makes me sound old."

He pressed, for he wanted her to feel comfortable in his presence. Though, his main reason was to hear her say his name.

"If you insist, Mr...Ah, Nick."

A large smile broke across his lips. Glancing down at his watch, he lowly hissed, for his time had run out. 

"Then enjoy the rest of the day, Sharlene."

"You too, Nick."

Disappointed but satisfied with the call, although it was shorter than he wanted it to be, Nick ended it and quickly gathered his things. Already dressed impeccably in his suit, he left the office for the lounge area.

+_+

Sharlene felt relieved and disappointed at the same time after the short call. Pulling the phone from her ears, she gazed at the black screen.

"So, what did you two talk about?"

Rita, who had been more annoying than a fly, curiously drawled, her lips coming closer to her ears like a mosquito.

"Nothing much, and there is no use asking because you were listening earlier."

Pouting, Rita dreamily sighed as if she was the one who had received the call. She folded her arms on top of her chest.

"I thought the phone call would have been long since you two had not spoken often. I thought midnight would take us standing in the same position with the amount of blushing you did every time he asked you a question."

"Well, that was not possible because he was busy."

"Understandable. But I could sense from hearing his voice he had wanted to stay speaking with you longer."

"I thought so too."

Sighing, Sharlene pulled the phone towards her chest while gazing at the ground.

"And," Rita added with wiggling eyebrows. 

"I heard he will call you tomorrow."

Blushing, Sharlene cleared her throat after shoving her phone in the pocket of her clothes. 

"Let us go. Jan must be..."

Suddenly, the doors of the women's washroom were thrown open. It was by Jan, who had a slight frown on her lips.

"Speaking of her! Here she is!"

Rita exclaimed.

"I thought you two died inside the washroom."

Shaking her head, Rita guffawed.

"We are far too young to die so easily, Jan."

"Sorry for keeping you waiting, Jan. Something came up."

Hurriedly, Jan scanned the washroom stalls, her face scrunching up in disgust as she looked at one of the toilets.

"When you mean something came up, do you mean...?"

Catching onto her question, Rita burst into laughter while shaking her head. 

"No, no. Not that come up, Jan, but Mr. Ross finally called Sharlene."

Her shoulders relaxed.

"Oh."

She murmured.

Then, after processing Rita's words, she squealed.

"OH!"

Sharlene almost had a heartache from the sudden shriek. 

Rita, on the other hand, nodded her head up and down like a doddle head. She had a stupid smile on her face. 

Pulling the notebook she had carried under her arm in, Jan scribbled something down. 

"What is she writing?"

Sharlene curiously asked, and Rita shrugged with a hidden smirk.

Glancing between them, she shook her head.

"Whatever. Let us go to our next destination."