Chapter 2

He turned his attention back to Becky, "Tell me, how is the education congress going to be?" It intrigued him. 

"It's going to start with a speaker who is a librarian talking to us about how family members can bond with books." Becky blushed and looked away briefly. 

"Wow," it impressed Collin. "That's a brilliant idea!" 

"That was how I felt when she gave me the idea," a proud Evelyn chipped in. "Tell him more," she urged Becky. She already saw that her friend was smitten with Becky.

"You are so creative," an impressed Colin said. 

"There is also going to be a book fair on Saturday.” Becky continued. She was so happy with herself. She likes it when she meets people who appreciate her work. 

Colin listened with rapt attention as she talked. Her voice was so soothing. He liked the passion and assuredness she displayed. It was so obvious she enjoyed what she was doing for a living.  

The waiter returned thirty minutes after he brought the wine, as Colin instructed him. They made their orders and their conversation shifted to lighter topics as they ate. 

When they were leaving after the food, Evelyn gave Colin a nudge. “You seem to like Becky.” Becky was out of earshot. She was walking ahead of them. 

Surprised that she noticed, he just beamed and nodded.  

"She's a wonderful girl, and she is available," Evelyn winked at Collin. "And I hope your thoughts are pure. I want no player around my girl. She's been through some rough patches lately."

He nodded, "I ain't no player." He placed a hand on his chest. "You of all people should know that." Evelyn just smiled and jabbed him playfully on his arm with her elbow.  

They fell into silence until they walked to where she parked her car.

"I will be expecting you next week, Collin.” Evelyn opened her car door. 

"Sure, I will be there most definitely on Saturday," he told her. 

Evelyn grinned, "thanks so much for lunch." 

"My pleasure," he looked over at Becky, who was standing by the passage door of the car, "take care Becky, I will see you next week." He was having a rush of adrenaline again as he looked at her. 

"Okay," she smiled back."I will be expecting you, Collin." 

He waited for the ladies to get into the car. Colin watched as Evelyn drove off, wondering about how he could start falling in love with Becky at first sight. 

Never in his life had he felt like that with any woman. It was almost four years after Lauren, his former girlfriend, and he had had no desire for any lady until now. It had been his work since. 

He smiled into the thin air and walked to his car. His veins were still popping with excitement when he got back to the office, Blake Tower, which housed the head office of their company. 

"Welcome sir," Mabel, his executive secretary, stopped typing on the computer. "Chairman called." She was referring to his father. "He said you should call him back as soon as you return, sir."

"Okay," he gave the young woman a thumbs up. "I will do just that." He walked into his office and picked up the phone to call his father.

"Where have you been? I have been trying to get you on your phones."

"It must be the network. My two phones are on. I went for lunch."

"Okay," the older Blake said from the other end. "I got a call from China. They are going to send in some documents today." 

The company had been working on partnering with the biggest shipping company in China, and things were coming through. "I will copy you immediately after I get the document. I will want you to go over it and get back to me as soon as possible." 

"Yes sir," Colin replied. 

He and his father spoke for about twenty minutes more before they ended the call. He picked up the remote control and aimed it at the TV to change the channel. 

Just that moment, his intercom rang, and he picked up the mouthpiece. It was Mabel, calling to tell him that two senior managers were in the conference room waiting for him. 

"Oh, thanks." He was supposed to meet them for some briefing. Colin pushed his chair back a bit and opened a drawer to retrieve a file. He stood up and left for the conference room with the file and his iPad in hand. 

Colin returned home after eight in the evening. The meeting with the senior managers took longer than he expected, and he stayed back for another hour to tidy some things up. 

When he drove into the compound, he saw a car parked in front of his apartment. "Oh my God," he muttered under his breath. "Not today. What is Debbie looking for tonight?"

He parked at his usual spot and got out of his car. Debbie stood up on his veranda and said, "welcome sugar," she flashed him a smile. 

"Debbie, how are you?" He punched in the code to open his door and they both walked in. He dropped his car key on the media stand and put his laptop bag on his work desk in the dining part of the sitting room, which he had converted into a home office. 

"I have been waiting for you since," she said. “I think we should hang out together this evening. Since I'm traveling tomorrow night." She had earlier told him she would travel to the Sansfanscio for a cousin's wedding and will stay there for about a month. 

"You should have called me," he sighed. "I have a lot to do tonight," he lied. "I will be off to my dad's study soon now. There are two virtual meetings lined up for me tonight." He frowned and I don't know how long the meetings will be." 

"But I called you twice this morning." She looked hurt and shrugged her shoulders. "You didn't pick. Collin, you don't always pick up my calls."               

“Debbie, you know I'm always busy," he rubbed his forehead. He was already feeling the onset of a severe headache.