Hot Coffee (The Hollens) novel Chapter 34

Ethan's POV

I had been calling Emma for hours and kept reaching her voicemail, and Halley's too. When I got back they would be grilled. I also wanted to know what the results of the pregnancy test. Would I be a dad or would I have to make a better effort?

I couldn't concentrate on the meeting being held in front of me; I kept thinking about Emma.

"Sir, does that mean that the demands have been met?" Linda shooed my floating thoughts away.

I raked my fingers through my hair and heaved a sigh. Linda looked at me.

"Sir, are you alright?" she asked with a small smile to show she wasn't making a scene.

"I'm fine," I answered and flipped through the proposals in front of me.

I headed back to my hotel room, after the meeting, and called Emma again but got the same results. Voicemail. I called Halley and I got her voicemail too. Where were they and what were they doing? Something was wrong. Emma wouldn't ignore my calls like that and she wouldn't take so long to return them. She loved her new phone.

I called Luis.

"Yes sir?"

"Luis, I'm trying to get a hold of Emma or Halley. Where are they?"

"Sir, I don't have that information. I'm currently with my wife and kids."

"Oh, right. I'll try calling Anton." 

I ended the call and tried Anton who should have been at the grounds presently. His phone went to voicemail as well.

Damn it! When I get back, I'm going to kick some asses all over the place.

I laid on the bed and stared at the ceiling fan. I didn't want to work myself up over nothing. Emma would call me when she could; I knew she would.

A knock came at my door. I opened it and Linda walked in.

"Hey, how about you get up and join me in a friendly dinner?" she suggested with a smile.

I returned her smile and grabbed my wallet. We headed down for dinner in one of the hotel's restaurants. Linda always knew how to cheer me up and keep me laughing. She was a really great employee and friend. I couldn't imagine Hollen Tower without her. She had been there since the beginning and believed in me when no one else did. She had my utmost respect.

We were in the middle of a conversation over dinner when my phone buzzed with a text from Halley.

Hello Mr. Hollen. Hope you're enjoying your business trip. You've been trying to reach Emma but she's asleep and exhausted. I'll have her call you back when she wakes up. Hope you're not worrying too much, she's fine. I'm taking good care of her. Bye.

Well the message made me relax. Emma had been sick and sounded exhausted. She did needed to rest, and I needed to stop worrying. She was a big girl and she could take care of herself, and Halley was there with her. But why was I having a gut feeling that something was definitely wrong? I wished she was the one who texted or at least call me back. Had I really hurt her that badly by leaving? 

I'll be back soon, baby. Just four more days and I'll be there.

"Are you enjoying the food?" Linda cut my thoughts again.

I looked down at the untouched dessert plate in front of me. "Yeah. France always has the best wine and cuisine."

"Ever wonder why they're hardly sick and have low rates of heart disease?"

"Not really."

"Well, it's because of all the wine they consume."