It is disturbing how much power a single phone call has.

An unexpected call from a loved one can fill you with delight but one about them can leave you with sorrow, or even regret.

No one would want to sit by a phone waiting for it to ring yet here I was, looking at mine every other minute, with part enthusiasm and part anticipation.

It was a bright sunny morning. People were walking on the streets, taking in the sun's warmth before winter set in while I sat in my office cabin, looking out of the window, waiting for this particular call.

I checked my phone for the sixth time in the past five minutes and then took a sip of the Cappuccino placed beside my laptop.

Sarah, my secretary had become quite accomplished at this task. Following my inability to trade my coffee for English tea, she had been making me the same cappuccino for the past three years that I had been here.

I was nowhere near done with my coffee when my phone began to ring. I hurriedly wiped my face, picking it up.

My wait had ended.

I cheerfully answered, "Hello? Good Morning dad!"

Being the CEO of Hudson Enterprises, a telecom company which evolved into a tech giant under dad's tutelage, he was a very busy man.

I couldn't recall the last time dad picked up my call at the first ring or called me to ask how I was. Our calls were always pre-scheduled by his secretary and today was no different.

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

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

I would never say it to him because our relationship had become strained, especially in the past couple of years, but I missed him.

I pushed my chair back and walked out of my cabin and upto the lift, retying my shoulder length brown hair into a high ponytail.

On my way, I greeted Eric, the head of my HR team and one of the two friends I had managed to make here.

"How was the date?"He whispered, trying not to attract attention to this rather spicy topic.

"Do not!"I warned him," I can't believe you. A blind date with your brother? You have lost it."

"Umm... What went wrong?"

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

His brother, I had met him a few times but five minutes into the date, I knew we were 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 chuckled.

"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 gave him an honest reply.

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

I passed him a wistful smile.

Only if it were that easy.

"Dad called me," I informed.

"Everything alright?" he frowned.

It was funny how talking to my dad meant that something had to be serious.

He was my boss first and my father later.

"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 nodded and left.

I walked over to the people working on the upcoming project and called them to the conference room. As one of them switched on the projector, I video called my father on my laptop.

I smiled,"Good morning sir! My team here, working on the upcoming project, Vinera with Greys & Co., will like to brief you about it."

I had been handling all of dad's major projects, especially in Europe so that I had experience if I took over as CEO.

Once the team head finished explaining the idea we were proposing and the execution we had planned, dad asked,"Nessa, you are delivering the presentation, I believe."

"I am. I am flying to New York day after. I will be staying for three days."

This was something I was apprehensive of.

When I left three years ago, I wanted a fresh start. I wanted nothing to do with that place or the people I left behind. Though my perspective about things changed, I wasn't ready to face the consequences of this change.

"I need to speak to you alone, Vanessa," Dad said.

I motioned for the rest of the people to leave. When the last person in the room had closed the door behind him, I turned back to dad.

"Alright, you may go on now."

He pinched the bridge of his nose and sat up straight,"There is a slight problem back here."

"What happened?" I frowned.

"Once you come, I will tell you. Also you will have to consider extending your trip."

"Are you alright?" I asked, panic swelling within me.

"It's not me. It's something else," his eyes drifted away.

"How long am I supposed to stay over?"

"Two weeks, at least."

"Two weeks!" I nearly screamed.

"You should look for a temporary replacement for your position," he gave a nonchalant reply.

"I will see you tomorrow," I replied quietly, though a storm had started brewing within me.

Did he not realise that he was calling me home? Would I be welcome there? Would I even be allowed in?

"I will finally see you in person after three long years," he said, his eyebrows arched.

I did not try to interpret whether he was happy or weary about it, afraid that it might be the latter.

"Love you, Dad," I smiled, nonetheless.

I didn't get to here the reply to that as the call ended. I explained it to myself that he must have been in a hurry. He looked so tensed and hassled so I must not worry.

He was my father, of course he loved me.

Right?

I sighed and went back to work, half my mind still stuck onto what dad said.

Two weeks?

At home...home?

House.

Hudson Estate was no home to me, not anymore.

I was so tensed that I nearly jumped when I heard a knock on my door.

"Nessa, lunch!" Sarah pointed towards a bowl in her hand as she entered.

My conversation with dad had made me lose my appetite.

I would have skipped lunch...if the aroma of mac and cheese wasn't wafting through the air.

Sarah was my secretary and the second friend I had here.

She sat down followed by Eric, who entered with two more packages.

"You know that I am not a fan of eating on my office desk."I narrowed my eyes.

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

I shook my head, smiling as I dug into my bowl.

Sarah and Eric had been there for me for the past three years and had it not been for their friendship, I don't think I would have been able to recover from the incident that made me leave my home.

There was no limit to which I loved them and guess what, I played my cards right and set these two up. They have been happily married for a few months now and I even got to be the maid of honour.

I told them about what dad had said and we began planning for all possible contingencies that could be awaiting me in New York.

I wasn't ready to go back. I don't think I would ever be.

Not after that night.

But I was not as gullible as I was back then. Living alone for three years, I had learnt how to be independent, shrewd and even manipulative when required, a skillset that I was going to require back home.