Need You

Chapter 33

Getting home later in the night, I called Amanda after settling. I had been waiting for her call because I had her notebook but she didn't.

"Didn't you miss your notebook?" was the first thing I said when she answered.

"I did but there wasn't anything I could do about it." She said. "I'm guessing you've read everything." She chuckled.

"Not everything. I hadn't expected you to have written so many new chapters. It just might keep me up all night." I said.

"I hope it does. It would certainly affect your productivity tomorrow." I noticed the cheekiness in her tone and replied, "You're annoyed you left the book in my car, aren't you?"

"You were so sure that it would take me ten years before I read the story and then you ended up leaving it in my car and it's right here in my hand." I added with a grin as I held the book between my fingers.

"I'm not sure I want to continue the story anymore."

"Why?"

"I just don't want to." She said in a low voice.

"You can't just not want to. I'd want to know how things end for Harold and Mandy." I said. "And I'm sure the publisher I got in touch with today would want to as well."

"Publisher?"

"Mmhmm." I nodded. "I met with a publisher today and when I had to step out during our meeting because of Derrick, she picked up the notebook and started reading. She says with the right modifications, the story is capable of starting a bidding war."

The elongated mmmm sound she produced bred uncertainty. I remembered her reluctance to accepting the idea of being a published author.

"She would like to meet you."

"Shouldn't a writer have to have finished writing before meeting with a publisher?"

"I don't know, but she said that if you were interested, she would like to meet with you."

"What's her name?"

"Sandra Watson."

"Mmm."

"You should go for it. You are an incredible writer and I know you'd love being a published author."

"I'll think about it."

"Okay." I said and sighed. "I'm going to finish reading what I have here and hand it over tomorrow for you to continue."

"I really hope it keeps you up all night." We chuckled.

Amanda came by my apartment the next day to get the notebook. She'd decided to meet with the publisher. I could tell she was very hopeful for how things would turn out.

As we sat in the living room, she asked about business Derrick had mentioned in the car yesterday.

Responding to the summarised version of what Derrick had told me, Amanda said, "If all those guys want is an investor, I don't think it's a good idea for you to do so right now. I'm sure you've already put so much money into getting the A&H office completed."

"That might be true but we still can invest." I said. "Derrick wants us to invest about six figures-"

"Six figures!?" Her eyes widened slightly.

"Yeah." I reacted similarly when he mentioned it.

"How well do you know that financial firm?"

"It's like any regular financial firm." I said. "Derrick seems to know the owners and says that by investing six figures, we make a huge profit."

"I don't doubt that. You should get some research done on the firm if you plan on investing that much money."

"Yeah, Debbie said she'd get me all the information I need as soon as possible."

"Debbie?" I noticed the change on her face.

"Mmhmm... she's a researcher." I mentioned. "Derrick suggested that I contact her when I asked for more information on the firm."

She nodded, her eyes roaming the room.
Reaching out and holding her chin gently, I steadied her gaze on me.

"There's nothing for you to worry about." I said. "She's just going to get the research done and email me what she finds."

"Have the two of you been in contact since the other day at the restaurant?" She asked.

"Well yeah. We text sometimes."

"Okay."

"You don't need to get jealous."

"I'm not."

"Are you sure? Mandy seemed upset when she found out about Harold's and his past flame's friendship."

"Oh my goodness!" She chuckled, tipping her head skyward. "Those characters have nothing to do with us."

I raised my eyebrow at her.

"I'll be sure to change the names of the characters before I meet with Sandra Watson."

"When are you meeting her?"

"I don't know. I'm yet to call her actually."

"Well you can change the names but it won't change the fact that the story is about us."

Amusedly, she shook her head.

My phone rang and the name displayed on the screen was Debbie. I caught the look on Amanda's face as I answered - the one that asked, "Why is she calling?"

"Hey Harry." Debbie said in a charming tone.

"Hi, what's up?" I said curtly. I didn't know why she called but for the sake of Amanda's security, I hoped it was about work and it would be finished shortly.

"I'm at your door."

"You're where!?" My eyes shot to the door in surprise.

"At your door. I'm here with Derrick. There's something we need to discuss." She said.

"What is it?" I asked as I stood.

"Just open the door." She said and ended the call.

I noticed Amanda's confused expression as I made my way around the couch to go and get the door.

Debbie wore a big grin when I opened the door. It was just her with her. "Where's Derrick?" I asked.

"He left something in the car. He'll be back soon."

"Does whatever we need to discuss have anything to do with the firm you're researching on?" I asked.

There was a short exchange of pleasantries between Amanda and Debbie before she answered my question.

"You mean the firm I researched." She stated emphatically when she sat.

"You're done?"

Debbie nodded.

"Then why didn't you e-mail it to me?"

Before she could answer, a knock came at the door. I was sure it was Derrick and so I yelled, "Come in!"