Chapter 2 -Keeping it close

A few minutes later, Mr. Nick came into the room with some documents; handing them to Lana who was still in a daze.

"Huh? What is this?" instead of explaining it herself, Erica signaling Nick to do it on for her. The young secretary nods as takes another copy of the document from his keeps; touches his glass and starts to read it.

"My apologized Miss Lana… On behalf of my boss, this contract states that Miss Lana will be required to report herself to Miss Erica's resident immediately; Miss Lana will have to stay in Miss Erica's residents until further notice. Miss Erica will be her legal guardian as her parents will be unavailable for some term due to the treatment that will be undergone by Mr. Samuel oversea."

"Really? You will do that for me? You will help dad?" Nick paused at Lana's excited voice.

"Calm down, you have to hear the rest first."

"Wait, there's more?" Erica smiles before signing Nick to continue;

"As the contract states, Miss Lana will be needed to go back to school to further her studies and all of her life and daily expensive will be fully covered by Miss Erica as her legal guardian. In addition, the money Miss Lana's father owes will be fully paid. With all of the conditions states above being agreed; Miss Erica will not take any actions to the mistreat Miss Erica just received today and will consider it as a mere misunderstanding. If Miss Lana have any questions on the contract or objections in any of the terms states; please do tell inform us." Secretary Nick smile as nods to the waitress and his boss politely.

"So, Lana; how was it? Do we have a deal?" Erica turn to face the young girl as she was still looking shocked from was she just witness earlier.

"Lana?" Erica touches Lana's hands lightly enough to wake her from her daze.

"Huh?"

"Do we have a deal?" Again, Erica's voices fills with calmness and nothing from anger or other negative feelings.

"Sis…" The young girl looks like she was about to cry as she slowly turns to face Erica who was sitting beside her; she was eventually touched by her sincerity even thou she wasn't look like someone who actually would care about anyone else.

"Thank you sis!"

"Huh?" Erica was stunned for a while as Lana hugs her tightly; even Nick was being restless by her actions but was stop by his boss as she signaling him to leave them alone for a while. Erica just lets the young girl sobs in her arms.

After signing and agreeing with the contract; Lana was escort to Erica's resident by her secretary; Nick Garner.

"Why won't sis go home with us, Mr. Nick? She seems tired from the occasion earlier and she still needs to change from that dirty dress."

"Miss Lana doesn't really have to be worry about Miss Erica's whereabouts since she still needs to attend a meeting after this as well as having a dinner meeting with a client tonight. As for her dress; Miss Erica will probably on her way to the office right now for a change of attire." Explain the cheerful yet mysterious looking secretary to the young lady as smiling.

"Ah… is that so? Then, she must be really tired by the end of the day; that's sounds like a really busy day even for someone who likes to work a lot. Maybe I should do something for sis when she comes back tonight? Do you have any idea how I can pleased sis, Mr. Nick?" Lana turns to face Nick with expectant in her eyes.

"For starters, I will prefer if Miss Lana to drop the casualties; Miss Lana can just call me Nick instead of Mr. Nick since Miss Lana is going to be Miss Erica's families from now on." The young girls bit her lips.

"Then, you should call me Lana too ;just Lana… drop the Miss, it makes me feel really old."

"I'm afraid I have to declined that as I still have to respect Miss Lana as Miss Erica's family member." He bows lightly.

"Then, you'll be hearing me calling you Mr. Nick forever…"

"Miss Lana…, fine… I'll call you Lana from now on." The young man exhale hard as holding his head; seems relax than his usual self.

"That's more like it; Mr. Nick… Oops… I mean Nick." Lana grins as take a glance at Nick.

"So, Nick… do you have any idea how I can pleased sis? What does she like and prefers? Do sis even has any hobbies?" Lana's sudden question attack on Nick make him realize how thoughtful this little lady can be towards her guardian.

"I'm relieved that Miss Lana seems to though and cares about Miss Erica a lot even thou Miss Lana just known Miss Erica less than 24 hours."

"I owe sis too much.. She even pledges to take me in; how can I resist caring about her? It's the least I can do for her."

"All I know was Miss Erica used to be home late at night and barely have time for her; she was busy all the time since her younger days. I have known Miss Erica since we're kids; we grow up together and if it wasn't for her, I will never be here."

'Seems sis have a really good relationship with Nick; and trust him much. I wonder what happen to Nick that made him said that.' Lana thoughts flew wild as she washes some vegetable they bought earlier for supper; she decides to make a homemade dish for Erica since she always been busy even to take care of herself.

"I hope she'll like it…" The young girl looked satisfied with her dishes as arranged it on the dinner table.

3 hours later; a car sound coming from the front resident was heard. Erica came back from work looking exhausted as ever; with her phone on her hand, she spoke with merely confidence without a trace of tiredness in her voice.

"I'll need all the documents from today's meeting and the contract on my desk first thing in the morning."

"Yes, of course Miss Erica; I'll make sure of it." Her secretary sounds as obedient as he always was.

"Then, I'll hang up for now…"

"Erica…" there's a hesitant in his voice.

"Yeah?"

"Take care of yourself; that kid seems to be worrying about you even though she just met you today."

"Kid?"

"Erica, Don't tell me you forgot that you just took Lana in today?"

"Ah… right, Lana… I totally forgot; yeah sure. Wait, she's worrying about me? Why would she?"

"She told me she owes you a lot and wanted to do something for you today; maybe to show you some gratitude. I guess you do make the right choice today, Erica." Nick's words seems to have a quite impact on her; she approaches Lana that was already felt asleep on the couch and put a blanket over her that she just took from her bedroom.

She then sits on the dinner table as she saw the dished were serve perfectly; and starts eating it with a warm feeling inside.

'Thanks, kid…'

'It's been 5 years since sis takes me in; and in those year, never ever even in a single moment do I saw sis took a leave or even having a date before.' Lana spouts as she stares at her laptop screen.

She's now a college student majoring in art; the contract was still ongoing even though now Lana's parent was already doing fine.

Her father was already being discharged from the hospital since three years ago and now running a small bookstore business with her mom fully funded by Erica near their residence. Lana is still living in Erica's house but will eventually go to her parent's house now and then. Erica had invited Lana's parents to stay with them but they decline since they felt they had owed her too much.

'Why does sis have to work today; again?' Lana exhale hard as scrolling through her laptop; she's been procrastinate on her assignments since this morning. Nothing seems to help her get into the mood to draw.

"Now, what?" Nick, who've been assign by Erica to accompany Lana that day arrive at the scene.

"Huh? Nick!" The girl who keeps a poker face since the beginning of the day finally smiles at the presents of Nick; somehow they get along pretty well since she arrives there 5 years ago.

"What brings you here? I though sis was still working at the office; like always…" again her smile fades.

"What's with that expression? You know well how Erica was like… She never stops working even if she could; she's a true-blood workaholic after all. Besides, Erica was the one who assigns me take care of you for today. She knew you'll procrastinate on your assignments again." Nick rustles her hair with his big hands; Lana looks down silently.

"Really? … But sometimes, I hope she'll be more responsible to herself rather than anyone else. I mean… sis never had her me-time before… I really wanted her to relax more." Nick removes his hands on her head and embrace her tightly as the girl keeps her head down.

"I know how you feel; but believe me… I've been trying since forever to help her relax but nothing seems to work on her." His calm voice seems to sooth her. An idea came into mind as Lana suddenly pushes away from Nick's arm and facing him.

"Then, how about…" Nick was pretty amused and shock by Lana's plan on Erica at that time but agreed to it after thinking it thoroughly.