“Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt.”She glances to Gary.“It’s just that I’ve only got thirty minutes.”
We’ve made lunch our thing since our spectacular reunion after my trip to Singapore.When we can, our noon hour rendezvous aren’t just about sustenance.We try to indulge in other things as well.Unfortunately, today there isn’t time for anything but food.
“You’re not interrupting.Gary Williams, this is Paige Hayes.”The two shake hands and she sits in the chair next to him.
“Your food will be here in about five minutes.Will Mr.Williams be joining you?”Karen asks.
“No thanks, Karen.I’m just about done.”Gary looks uncomfortable, not used to sharing information with anyone else.
My assistant closes the door and I lean on the desk, stretching my legs out to brush ankles with Paige.“Where were we?”I glance at Gary.
“Um.”He assesses both of us with an expression akin to a scared rabbit.
“You can speak freely in front of Paige.”
“Okay.I wasn’t…anyway, I’ll try to stall some more.”
“Find out if there are any other interested parties.”My lips press into a line and she arches a brow, imploring me to give more details.“There’s a property in St.Barts I want to buy so Gary’s keeping them warm for as long as we can.”
“And what if another party makes a bid?”
Gary laughs nervously, standing and looking to me for guidance.“Then we might need to let it go.”
“Unless.”She pauses, uncertain if she should continue in front of Gary.
“Unless I have my trust fund, and then we’re in the game,” I say.
“Well, sir, I’m going to leave you two to enjoy your lunch.”He shakes my hand and nods goodbye to Paige.
She stands, her back to me, watching him leave before facing me with a troubled expression.“Did he tell Donovan?”
I shake my head and clench my jaw.I’m dealing with Donovan later.“Let’s eat.”
“We can’t do this.”
“Do what?Have lunch?”
“Dupe your grandmother.”She frowns.“I happen to like her a lot and respect her.This isn’t right.”
I inwardly flinch but hide behind nonchalance.“Relax, it’ll be fine.”
“How can you say that?Is she even close to giving you your trust?”
Karen interrupts again and sets our lunch on the table.We stare at each other, neither moving nor saying a word, our conversation suspended until the door clicks shut behind my assistant.
“Nan and I haven’t talked about my trust in weeks.”
“Are you going to push her?”Her question is curious and sets me on edge.
“No, I won’t push her.”If I did, it would backfire.“She’ll make up her mind when she’s ready.”
“And is this,” she waves her hand between us, “even working?”
“Yes.We.Are.Working.”Somewhere along the way, when love came into play, I stopped questioning, strategizing, or caring about the success of our deal.“As for the business end of it, that doesn’t matter.”I hand her a sandwich and we sit side by side.
“What do you mean by that?Isn’t this why we’re together?”
“Is it?”
