Falling in love with Ms. Bennet

Chapter 34

"You'll come by dinner time? Yeah. That'll be fine. I love you, too Mom." Amanda said, talking with her phone between her shoulders and her ears as she tried to get the manuscript out from her bag before stepping in the elevator.

Pushing the button, Amanda embraced the first part of her manuscript for her latest novel. She inhaled and exhaled continuously, calming herself down. When she heard the sound of the elevator's "ping", she swallowed her throat and step outside.

Mr. Harold Hudson wanted her to give the manuscript to him personally. That was the first time Mr. Hudson wanted to talk to her regarding to publishing her books. She gripped her manuscript closer to her before she gave out a knock.

"Hello, Ms. Adams." Mr. Hudson smiled at Amanda and signaled her to have a seat. She look different now than the first time I saw her.

"I-I have the manuscript. It's not entirely finish but I just wanted to let you see my work. It's nothing like my previous works, sir."

"Really? Why is that?"

"W-well, uhm" Amanda could feel her palms sweating so she wipe them on her jeans before she continued, "this focuses more on a woman who doesn't believe in--you know, destiny and fate."

Mr. Hudson nodded so Amanda continued, "In my previous works, generally speaking, men are the ones seeking some answers to their troubled characteristics. This time, it is a woman who just doesn't believe that fate nor destiny exists."

"Did someone hurt her?"

"No. There were no pasts that contribute to her non-beliefs. But, rather from what she observed from other people."

"Can I have the manuscript. I want to see it." Amanda handed him the pile of papers. "Go on."

"And then, she met an artist. He showed Jane-that's the name of the protagonist- beyond what science couldn't explain fully. He showed her what really is the meaning of life, the meaning of fate,the meaning of love."

"Is she a scientist?"

"She's a neuroscience psychologist."

Mr. Hudson went quiet, studied her with his intertwined hands on his chin before he gave a smile. "I like it."

Amanda's eyes beamed. "Oh my god. Are you serious?"

"Yes. We'll have the schedule for your published date somewhere in---when can you finished this?"

"Somewhere in September or August."

"7 months from now then. Pleasure to be your publisher again, Ms. Adams." Mr. Hudson extended his arms to Amanda and gave her a hand shake.

"I really appreciate it, sir. Thank you very much." Amanda smiled. "Uhm, how was the film shooting?"

"It's going great actually. We're doing great progress. We got back to filming yesterday. We're expecting to finish filming it by September and August. Like your deadline. And if things go well, the release of the film and your publishing will be at the same time as well"

"That's great. I'm glad to hear that. I'll be leaving then-" Amanda was about to turn her heel when Mr. Hudson called her.

"Wait, Ms. Adams. There's also one thing that I would have a word with you."

Amanda went back to her chair and went straight and began to play with her fingers. "What is it?"

"Are you and my son dating perhaps?"

The question made her panicked. "What? N-n-no! No! Absolutely not! Why are you thinking that way?"

"Well, I notice in my party, you stormed off and he went after you. He left my friends there, wondering. And then there were some talking at the shooting-I just heard them as I passed by-about you and Henry going on a date or something."

"Uhm--he was just being nice...?"

"I also heard from James that he's been giving you gifts and calls you at night."

"Ahh..he's uhm..."

"I know my son, Ms. Adams, and I have to admit, he doesn't normally go out with women like you. And to hear these kinds of things-it seems to me that he is courting you."

Amanda couldn't speak no more.

"I should know because it's a Hudson way. We're quite persistent whenever someone caught our eyes. I should know because---that's how I courted her mother years before. And of course, his stepmother." He gave her a warm smile.

Gripping her hands on her lap, "I assure you, sir, he doesn't see me that way. With that I have to go." She stood up and headed to the door. Before Amanda could even touch the brass knob, Mr. Hudson called her.

"If ever you two would be dating, I won't oppose. I think you're good for him, Amanda."

She didn't look and proceed to open the door and left. She waited for the elevator to arrive, thinking what Mr. Hudson just said.

By the time she went back to her apartment, she was surprised to see her mother and her sister cooking at her kitchen.

"Oh, you're here." Emma smiled at her as she handed the plate full of mushrooms to her mother.

"Yeah. And you're here." Amanda was stunned, slowly closing the door behind her.

"Are you not happy to see me?" Emma pouted.

"Of course I am. I just--what about Carl and Noah?"

"Carl can take care of our son. However, I can't leave my little sister in this time of your troubles. Mom called me yesterday and she said there is something bothering you. I wanted to come and help my dear sister." She gave Amanda an embrace.

"I am indeed a mother." Caroline said, moving her hips side by side before tasting the creamy mushroom soup Emma made.

"Is it good?" Emma asked.

"Uhuh. You're getting good at this."

Amanda watched her mother and their sister in the kitchen and how it was a sight to see that her family came. After all, she misses them.

"So, you went to your publisher and did he like it?" Emma asked attentively before sipping her mushroom soup. They've been talking about the progress of her work.

"Yes. We just talked about the date of the publishing." Amanda said, enjoying the warmth of her soup.

"Isn't it your publisher is the father of the man you're dating?" Caroline asked, tilting her head. Amanda's blue eyes widen. "Henry Hudson? Was it?"

"It's Harold Hudson, mom. Henry is his son and we're not dating." Amanda corrected her mother.

"It's seems to me you are. You think Gillian and Gorgy didn't tell us?" Emma added. "Theytold us everything,"

Amanda's jaw dropped. Traitors! How much did they tell them?! She shook her head. "We aren't. That was just...playing."

"To those extremes? No. Trust me, if a man isn't smitten to a woman, he wouldn't do all those things. Learning how to make a paper rose? He really made time? I tell you, he's smitten." Caroline said, pointing her spoon at Amanda.

Amanda scoffed. "Smitten? What-is that even a word?"

"You're an author. You should know what smitten means."

"All right, you two." Emma stopped them. "Amanda, if anything, are there in the novel is based on some real person?"

Amanda was caught off guard. "Well, all my works came from a real person as my source of inspiration. Why?"

"It seems to me that this Jane Devlin sounds a lot like you."

"What? I am not. I believe in love."

"That's not it. You don't believe that you'd be in love someday. Isn't that why your endings are always tragic because you shut down the possibility of you being in love?"

Amanda let go of her spoon and leaned on her chair. She looked at her empty bowl. Her sister was able to hit the mark. "Can I have seconds?"