“Okay, in the meantime I’ll have my team send over a few projections of what we hope a complete Cabot and School Bucks integration would look like and estimates on cost.”
Jacob nods his head in agreement and opens a large calendar on his desk. He leafs through the pages looking for the best time for us to speak again and I feel like I’m making a colossal mistake. The entire point of this virtual call was to get a commitment from the university today, and now that he wants to give it to me, I’m getting off of the phone for what? Because I’m embarrassed that my fiancé is acting like an asshole?
“You know what, can you hold on for just another moment, Jacob? I think I may have figured out how to rearrange a few things and clear up my schedule so we can chat a little longer.”
“That would be perfect. I’ll answer a few emails while I wait. Take your time.”
“Thank you so much for your patience.”
I mute the audio once again and adjust the monitor so we’re both out of the line of vision of the computer camera.
“Roman, can I speak to you outside, please?”
“Why can’t we talk right here? He can’t hear us.”
“Roman, I’m not asking.”
I stomp defiantly outside of the office and into the sitting room, which is one of my favorite rooms in the house because Sloan decorated it so beautifully. It’s a peaceful space decorated with clean lines and muted colors, plus, it’s the sunniest room on the second floor. I like to sit here when I’m reading a novel or just want a quiet moment away from the rest of my life.
After a long defiant pause, Roman follows me into the room and stands silently against one wall, staring at me as ifI’vedone something wrong.
Typical.
“I’m having one of the most important business calls of my life in there and you are acting like—”
“I’m acting like what?”
“A jealous brat.”
He scoffs as if my comment is ridiculous. “Why would I be jealous when you’re already mine?”
“I am my own woman and I have been for a very long time or haven’t you noticed?”
“You aremywoman because it says so in blue ink, above your hip, and underneath those shorts.”
“Oh, stop it. Just what the hell are you doing? Jacob is the president of a university. I am trying to create a partnership with him. He clearly is interested so—”
“Yes… he clearly is.”
Roman slowly cracks the side of his neck, a telltale sign that he is losing patience with this conversation, but I don’t give a damn. I am one hundred percent right on this one. I won’t be bullied.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“You two are already on a first name basis, he complimented you on your hair and not your ideas, and he definitely looked at your ass when you stood up from your chair just now.”
“All you can see is a person’s ass when they stand up and turn around!”
“Especially when they’re wearing running shorts at a business meeting.”
“He was only supposed to see me from the neck up. I had to stand up and turn around because of you!”
“That’s another thing. Why isn’t this is a regular phone call? Why do you have to talk to him on a video chat?”
“Where is this coming from? I have virtual calls all the time. Would you rather me leave you and our son and drive clear across the state to go meet Jacob in person?”
“Now you’re just being a smart-ass.”
“And you’re just being an ass.”
