Chapter 1 Anxiety

ELARA

The power of a single phone call is unsettling.

A loved one's unexpected call can make you happy, but one about them can make you sad or even regret it.

I was gazing at my phone every other minute with a mixture of excitement and anticipation, even though no one would want to sit by one and wait for it to ring.

The morning was sunny and bright. As I sat in my office hut, waiting for this specific call, I watched out the window as people strolled around the streets, enjoying the warmth of the sun before winter arrived.

I took a sip of the cappuccino that was sitting next to my laptop after checking my phone for the sixth time in the last five minutes.

My secretary, Sarah, had become very skilled at her work. She'd been making me the same cappuccino for the three years I'd been here, since I couldn't exchange my coffee for English tea.

My phone started ringing before I had finished my coffee. I picked it up and quickly cleaned my face.

I was done waiting.

I replied with a smile, "Hello? "Good morning, Dad!"

He was swamped as the CEO of Drake Enterprises, a telecom business that, under his father's guidance, grew into a tech behemoth.

I couldn't remember the last time my father called me to check on me or answered the phone at the first ring. His secretary usually planned our calls, and today was no exception.

Dad stated, "Bring your team to the meeting room with your latest project...and I have something to tell you."

I grinned as though he could see me from the other end of the line. "Sure, I'll be right there," I said.

I missed him, but I would never tell him because our relationship had soured, especially in the last few years.

I retied my shoulder-length brown hair in a high ponytail, pushed my chair back, and walked out of my cabin and up to the elevator.

I said hello to Eric, the leader of my HR department and one of the two friends I had made here, as I was leaving.

"How was the date?" In an effort to avoid drawing attention to this very contentious subject, he muttered.

"Do not!" "I can't believe you," I told him. You and your brother are going on a blind date? You've lost it.

"Umm... What went wrong?"

"The answer to what went right would be shorter," I said, rolling my eyes.

I had met his brother a few times, but after just five minutes of our date, I realized that we would be better off as friends.

"I was only trying to help you find a boyfriend."

"Why are you more desperate than I am?"

"Because if you find a nice distraction, maybe you'd let us breathe too, just saying," Eric laughed.

"There is nothing that can distract me from what I want, and if someone does, that's not the right person to be with," I responded with candor.

"If I were in your dad's place, I'd make you the CEO right now for just saying that."

I smiled wistfully at him.

If only it were that simple.

Then I said, "Dad called me."

He scowled and asked, "Everything alright?"

Talking to my dad implied that anything had to be serious, which was funny.

Before becoming my father, he was my boss.

"It is just a project report, but he did say he had to tell me something important," I said, "I'll tell you about it at lunch."

He gave a nod and walked away.

I approached those involved in the next project and summoned them to the conference room. I used my laptop to make a video call to my father as one of them turned on the projector.

"Good morning, sir!" I grinned. I would want to give you an update on the project that my team is working on here, Vinera, with Ashford & Co.

In order to have experience if I were to take over as CEO, I had been managing all of Dad's important initiatives, particularly in Europe.

"Elara, you are delivering the presentation, I believe," Dad said after the team leader had completed outlining the concept we were putting forward and the execution we had planned.

"Yes, I am. The day after, I'm taking a plane to New York. I intend to remain for three days.

This was something that worried me.

I wanted a new beginning when I departed three years ago. I had no desire to interact with that location or the individuals I had left behind. Even though I had a different outlook on the world, I wasn't prepared to deal with the fallout.

"I need to speak to you alone, Elara," Dad replied.

I signaled the other folks to get out. I turned back to Dad when the final person in the room had shut the door.

"Alright, you may go on now."

"There is a slight problem back here," he said, sitting up straight and pinching the bridge of his nose.

"What happened?" I scowled.

"I'll tell you when you get here. You might think about prolonging your trip as well.

"Are you alright?" I inquired, my anxiety growing.

"I'm not the one. "It's something else," he said, his gaze fading.

"How long am I supposed to stay over?"

"Two weeks, at least."

"Two weeks!" I almost let out a yell.

He said casually, "You should look for a temporary replacement for your position," when asked.

I said softly, "I will see you tomorrow," even though a storm had begun to build inside of me.

Was he unaware that he was phoning me at home? Is that a place where I'd be welcome? Would they let me in at all?

His eyebrows rose as he said, "After three long years, I will finally see you in person."

I was scared it might be the latter, so I didn't try to figure out if he was happy or tired about it.

"Love you, Dad," I said with a smile.

The call terminated before I could hear the response to that. His haste must have been the reason, I told myself. I shouldn't be concerned because he appeared so tense and stressed.

Naturally, Dad loved me because he was my father.

Correct?

With a sigh, I returned to my work, half of my thoughts still focused on what my father had said.

Two weeks?

At home-at home?

Home.

I no longer call Drake Estate home.

A knock on my door almost made me jump since I was so tense.

"Elara, lunch!" As she arrived, Sarah gestured to a dish she was holding.

I had lost my appetite after talking to my dad.

If the smell of mac and cheese hadn't been in the air, I would have skipped lunch.

My second buddy here was Sarah, who also served as my secretary.

Eric came in with two more gifts after she sat down.

"You know that I am not a fan of eating at my office desk." I squinted.

"Compensation for wasting my efforts to set you up with my brother.", Eric grinned.

I grinned and shook my head while eating from my bowl.

I don't think I could have recovered from the incident that forced me to leave my family if it weren't for the bond between Sarah and Eric, who have supported me for the past three years.

I loved them unconditionally, and guess what? I was able to set these two up by playing my cards well. I even had the opportunity to serve as their maid of honor, and they have been blissfully married for a few months.

After I informed them of what my father had said, we started making plans for every scenario that might arise while I was in New York.

I wasn't prepared to return. I doubt that I ever would be.

Not after that evening.

However, I was less credulous than I had been at the time. After three years of living alone, I had developed the independence, cunning, and even manipulative qualities I would need to return home.