Chapter 12

The work day went by too slow for both Carter and Daniel's liking, it felt like it would never end and they both missed Andrea, when lunch came around it felt especially long for Carter, having lunch with shareholders were usually quite boring, he really didn't enjoy it since everyone was just sucking up to him but still he felt it was much worse this time - being away from work for two weeks seemed to have caused quite the chatter among everyone, especially since they didn't know why.

Carter sat and listened to everyone speaking, he wanted to get an idea for the aura surrounding everyone, were they annoyed, upset or were they just feeling that Carter couldn't be trusted because of his sudden unexplained absence.

"So, Carter, how are the wedding plans going?" Someone asked, Carter met the person's eyes and smiled a little, it was Angela's father - Carter could feel himself getting anxious again at the idea of marrying her.

"Ah we haven't talked much about it yet, we aren't really to marry quickly" Carter explained - he was lying, and he didn't like doing it since Angela's father was one of his biggest supporters in the company, but he really was struggling with deciding what to do about Angela, he was worried if he broke things off it would make her father upset, and he didn't want that, but he also couldn't imagine having to marry her.

"I see" He sounded somewhat upset, but Carter decided to ignore his clear disdain about the situation and continued eating his meal, the quicker he ate, the faster he could get out of this awkward situation. 

"So Mr. Abbot care to tell us why you went off the grid for two weeks?" Another shareholder asked curiously, Carter tried his best not to panic, but he decided it was best to just be honest about everything that happened, even if it would probably upset Angela's father.

"Well, as you all know my secretary Daniel has been with me for a long time, and he is considered to be part of our family by my mother and brother's family, thus when he had a family emergency I jumped to help him without hesitation, currently he and I are co-parenting his niece, we still worked in the two weeks we were not available for meetings, so I hope you all would be understanding in this unplanned situation" Carter explained, the whole table went silent for the first time since they arrived at the restaurant.

Some shareholders stared at him in disbelief and others had a small smile on their faces, seeming to see Carter as someone who was surprisingly more human than what they had thought - and then there was Angela's father, Carter didn't know he could look so expressionless, though his face was blank his eyes could write stories with how clearly unhappy he was with this arrangement.

Lunch went on, with some of the shareholders asking about how fatherhood was treating Carter and asking about Andrea, and then there was Angela's father, who had not uttered a word since he made the announcement.

When lunch came to an end, Angela's father pulled Carter back from the crowd once they were outside.

"Abbot let's talk a bit" he said, Carter took a deep breath, it was clear that he was quite upset about the announcement, and he was going to hear it, he just knew it.

"How can I help you, Mr. Bell?" Carter asked innocently.

"Don't act all innocent, Abbot, are you doing this to spite me and my family? Taking in another person's child? What are you thinking? Expecting my daughter to raise another woman's child?" He asked, clearly upset.

"What are you talking about, Mr. Bell?" Carter asked, getting a little upset.

"You better not expect me to accept that child, that child is not an Abbot, that child is someone else's child who they abandoned, and your secretary is clearly taking advantage of you to care for that child since you have the money to do so" He said in an angry tone, Carter could feel his blood boil with each word the man spouted.

"Well Mr. Bell, she is not yet an Abbot, we are still working on adoption papers, and if it upsets you so go talk to my mother about it who told me that the little girl is already her grandchild with or without any adoption papers, and don't you dare speak about Daniel in such a way - but you know it's good to know where Angela gets her entitled behavior from, it's quite disgusting" Carter said before walking off leaving Mr. Bell speechless.

Carter returned from lunch and headed straight into his office, Daniel could tell he was clearly upset, so he followed him into the office, wondering what happened at lunch that would upset the usually aloof Carter.

"How was lunch?" Daniel asked and Carter sighed while rolling his eyes.

"Not that great, honestly" Carter said - he could feel the indigestion starting from all the stress that he had caused by Angela's father.

"Tell me about it" Daniel said as he pulled a chair closer, Carter smiled - Daniel was always reliable, even when he was cold to him when they first started working together Daniel would always be patient with him, and eventually they ended up being best friends.

"Angela's father honestly, if I wasn't busy waiting on the idea of breaking off my engagement with her based on her recent behaviors I would totally be breaking it off due to her father" Carter said, he had a headache just imagining the drama that would happen if he ended things.

"What exactly happened?" Daniel asked, Carter thought for a bit, he wasn't sure if he should tell Daniel, but it was about him and Andrea, so he knew he couldn't exactly keep it secret especially if Daniel ran into her father then it would be best for him to know.

"It started with him asking me about my and Angela's wedding plans and I told him nothing has been set in stone yet which already somewhat upset him" Carter explained and Daniel nodded but stayed silent since it was clear there was more to it.

"One of the other shareholders asked what happened and why we were off grid for two weeks and I told him about how we took in Andy, and we were getting used to the new change before returning to work and that upset him some more, once we left lunch he pulled me to the side and said something's I wish not to repeat, but they weren't good words, and it was quite entitled such as he wouldn't accept her as his granddaughter, and she would never truly be part of the family" Carter explained and Daniel sat there shocked.

He knew Angela's father for a while, and he never seemed like someone who was that entitled, and he could tell those words really hurt Carter, that's when he decided no matter how much it would hurt Carter he had to tell him about Angela's cheating.

"Actually Carter, if we are being honest, can I play something for you? Without you getting upset that I kept it quiet for a long time" Daniel asked and Carter nodded with his brows furrowed, he wondered what it could be that would make Daniel act so out of character.

Daniel pulled his phone out of his pocket and went into the recording, he placed it on the table and then pressed play. Carter listened and Daniel could see how upset Carter was getting, and it was clear Carter was not impressed with what he heard, but Daniel could tell it really hurt Carter, he started Dating Angela to make his mother happy, but he did at some point love her even if he no longer did now and just knowing his friend had to hear those words coming from someone he once loved probably hurt quite a bit.

"When did this happen?" Carter asked, a little emotionless, Daniel took a breath as he took his phone off the table.

"When we went shopping for dinner with Abi," Daniel explained and Carter nodded a little.

"I would like to be left alone for a bit," Carter said. Daniel nodded and got up, he moved the chair to where it once stood and left the office. He took a seat at his desk, but he couldn't focus on his work at all. His mind was filled with Carter's expressionless face.