  Catherine

  

      Lord God, please help me.

  

      I start to keep my laptop, trying to avoid James's intense stare. No words were exchanged since Stan's departure a few minutes ago. All he has done was stare at me with a mix of emotions that I do not understand. Being the center of his attention, no, just simply being in his presence after all these years is very unnerving. Feelings that have been locked up all these time is struggling to burst out. It takes all of my emotional strength to try to stop the dam from opening.

  

      "Excuse me Ma'am, Sir. Should I order lunch for the both of you?"

  

      I am shaken from my thoughts at Melissa's question. I was so out of it, I didn't even notice Melissa knock. Get a grip Catherine!

  

      Before I could respond, James answers. "No need Miss Melissa. Architect and I will be having lunch outside. Will you kindly tell my 

  Catherine's POV

  

      Coming out of the café, Monica kept whispering to me that she was sorry, "I didn't know. It was so coincidental."

  

      "Well, who would have thought of that? You don't have to be sorry, Monica, really." I let the children get in the car first and stood next to the car to chat with her for a while. I didn't want her to think too much.

  

      Monica was a person who cared about her friends a lot. She would probably feel guilty about something like that for a long time.

  

      I gently patted her shoulder. "It's OK. I mean it. Would you like to ride with me? I can take you home."

  

      "It's fine. I drove here. Let's meet for coffee sometime."

  

      "OK." I watched her leave. She walked a few steps and still turned to look back at me. I took out my phone and sent her a message: "Really, Monica. Let it slide."

  

      After sending the 

  Catherine

  

      "The conference room is ready Ma'am."

  

      I turn to my secretary and dear friend Melissa who spoke while opening my office door. "Thank you Melissa, and again please stop calling me Ma'am. We're friends."

  

      She lets out a small laugh and replies "Well since we're friends I can call you any way I want, I choose Ma'am." She then closes the door after giving me a wink.

  

      I laugh at our small banter, refocusing on the impending meeting. Breathe in. Breathe out. I walk out of my office and enter the conference room, proceeding to set-up my laptop. I move on to rearranging the needed documents, placing them beside my laptop.

  

      A few minutes later, I hear a knock on the door. I look up to see Melissa ushering in Stan, the owner's representative.

  

      "Good morning Stan." I stand and reach out my hand.

  

      "Good morning Cather

Catherine
  
      Lord God, please help me.
  
      I start to keep my laptop, trying to avoid James's intense stare. No words were exchanged since Stan's departure a few minutes ago. All he has done was stare at me with a mix of emotions that I do not understand. Being the center of his attention, no, just simply being in his presence after all these years is very unnerving. Feelings that have been locked up all these time is struggling to burst out. It takes all of my emotional strength to try to stop the dam from opening.
  
      "Excuse me Ma'am, Sir. Should I order lunch for the both of you?"
  
      I am shaken from my thoughts at Melissa's question. I was so out of it, I didn't even notice Melissa knock. Get a grip Catherine!
  
      Before I could respond, James answers. "No need Miss Melissa. Architect and I will be having lunch outside. Will you kindly tell my driver to prepare for our departure?"
  
      "Certainly Sir." Melissa replies then lea

Chapter 13