Chapter 13
1563 Words
I blinked twice, wondering if I'd begun hearing things.
“Huh?” Just in case I wasn't, I had to confirm.
He shrugged, “you don't have to if you don't want to, but I just realized that you've never actually traveled out of USA and I know that if you tag along, people might think we're a happy couple going out together.”
Again, more blinking because this wasn't a case of me hearing thing.
But Henry Smith was actually asking me to go on a business trip with him.
“Is it that surprising?” He stared at my stunned expression.
“Uh… yes it is really surprising.”
He turned back to typing on his laptop. “You don't have to come. I just thought it might help our divorce look more like it wasn't either of us fault.”
Did I want to go to Germany? Certainly. Anything to get me out of this house.
But did I want to go with Henry and whoever would be tagging along for the business?
That was something I wasn't sure of.
He just continued typing like I was no longer here.
Should I go?
It wouldn't do either of us any harm.
While he would be doing his business whatever, I could go around Germany and learn a thing or two about the country.
Who knows, I could make friends there. It would be a nice experience.
“When did you say it was again?” I asked, the extroverted part of me suddenly jumping at the idea.
He didn't raise his head from the laptop, “Wednesday. You coming?”
“How long are we going to be gone for?”
“Two weeks.”
“Just two weeks?” That would not be enough time to explore the country.
He nodded, “I've got some business to take care of, and within two weeks, I'll be done.”
Although I wished it could be longer, I had to not forget that he was going there for a business trip and nothing else.
"How about my visa and all those process?" I might not have traveled before, but I was sure one couldn't travel without a visa, right?
"That will be settled, you don't need to worry about that." He assured, still not staring up from the laptop.
“I guess I'll have to start parking then.” I yawned, realizing it was still twelve, then asked, “how long will you be up?”
“I'll get going then.” He slammed the laptop shut, rising to his feet as he walked past me, leaving the parlor.
Did he seriously just ignore me? So frustrating.
***
“Yes mom, it's just a few hours trip to Germany.” I reminded my mom for like the umpteenth time already, while packing my clothes for the trip.
“Do you seriously need to go? You're going to enter a plane for crying out loud.” She said, worry echoing in his tone.
My mom was afraid of planes and I couldn't judge her on that.
The fact I'd never left US was because of her fear of planes.
But it was understandable as she was obviously traumatized.
My dad had died in a plane crash alongside her dad when I was really younger and that had traumatized her way too much that she feared planes more than anything.
She'd gone to therapy for so many years before she was able to heal from their deaths, but the fear never left her.
All the therapy didn't let her believe that not all planes crashed.
She shouldn't let that one incident change her life entirely.
My grandma used to tell me that my mom was a woman of adventures, but ever since my dad died, she even had fear of leaving her house sometimes.
It hurt how she let my dad and granddad's incident cage her forever.
That adventurous woman died with them in that plane.
“Mom, I'll be alright.” I assured, hoping it'd convince her enough to not be afraid.
She sniffed in. “What if you're not? What will I do when you're all I have?”
“Trust me mom, everything will be alright.” A knock came from my room door. “One sec mom. Come in.”
The door opened, revealing a maid as she walked in, bowing her head. “Mr Horsen is in the parlor ma'am.”
“Really? Derrick is around?” I dropped the cloth on my hand in the bag. “Mom, how ‘bout I call you back.”
“Okay, but please reconsider this trip, alright?” Her voice shook in obvious fear.
That was something I didn't like.
“Everything'll be alright, trust me and just enjoy yourself,” I offered one last assurance before hanging up while the maid left.
Wow, Derrick was here.
A little excited, I scuttled out of the room to the parlor.
And there he stood, back facing me as he focused on the door like there was something special to it.
“Derrick.” My voice made him turn in my direction, showing the six foot figure of Derrick Horsen.
He was Henry's best friend for who knows how long, and almost as handsome as Henry.
Brown eyes and dark curly hair gave him a type of unique hot look. Especially since his brown skin was so taken care of, I wasn't sure it had met with an injury ever.
At least that was expected from someone as rich as him.
He wasn't famous or as wealthy as Henry, but owned and built one of the biggest Hotels worldwide.
His companies were spread in every country one could think of.
And even with that, he still maintained the status of the kindest, sweetest and funniest man I'd ever met.
When I'd gotten married, he was the happiest person (even happier than I was) on our wedding day, and because of that I'd come to like him.
So we became friends also (though not as close friends as he was to Henry).
“Hey,” he smiled, heading towards me, then wrapped me in a brief and friendly hug.
“Hey, how're you? I didn't know you were back in America.” He'd flown to Dubai for a business trip with his girlfriend, Anna, a few weeks back.
“Yeah, wanted to surprise Henry,” his gaze travelled around, “where's the dude?”
“At work.”
He frowned slightly. “On Sunday?”
A chuckle escaped my lips. “Your friend never rests.”
That made him shake his head, “I guess he might if he has a child to take care of.” He winked at me.
Rolling my eyes, I gestured for him to take a seat which he did, so I took the one opposite him.
It was obvious he was aware how terrible my marriage was, because if there was something I was certain of, it was the fact him and Henry shared everything together.
“I guess it was a dumb idea to think of surprising someone like Henry who doesn't do anything other than work.”
“He's the definition of a workaholic, I wonder how he's still so strong and healthy,” and also still so handsome.
“You're a really great wife for being able to cope with him.” He smiled genuinely. “But I'm sure he's going to become less of one as you two grow older.”
I offered a small smile of my own, wondering if he was aware of our soon to be divorce or if I should tell him about it.
It didn't seem like he was aware. But I wasn't in the position to tell him about it either.
He was Henry's best friend after all and if Henry hadn't told him yet, then he probably had his reasons.
Maybe it had something to do with the stupid process he had to go through before our divorce.
“When do you think he's going to come back?”
I shrugged, “he's an unpredictable one so I can't say.”
“When do you think he left this morning? I really don't want to leave without seeing him.”
“Where are you heading to?” I brushed a few strands of hair that'd escaped from the ponytail, off my face.
“I'm heading to my cousin's place so we can both head somewhere.”
From his tone, it was obvious he was being secretive about the somewhere
That made me wonder where it was, but knew best than to ask.
“How's Anna?” I asked instead, watching him smile.
“Same old.”
“And your trip? You two must've enjoyed it a lot.”
He nodded, “it was a fun trip. She enjoyed herself a lot actually.”
We chatted for about an hour extra, till surprisingly, Henry walked in.
Certainly early for him.
If he was surprised to see Derrick, well guess what, he didn't express it.
Did he even know how to express emotions?
“Hey man.” Derrick rose to his feet, giving Henry a manly hug with a back pat.
“Hey, when did you get back?” He asked once they'd pulled apart from the hug.
- Writer
