Aidan:Hurry up. Everyone needs to be here.
My eyes read each word, feeling the impending doom.
Great.
Just fucking great.
Each minute slows down like an agonizing high as I carefully wet the toilet paper in the sink outside the stall to fix my face. With my face mostly intact, I rush to get back to him. With shoulders back and eyeliner slightly back to its original state, nobody would know what just happened a few minutes ago.
If they did, they would’ve thought I took a Prozac with how easily I am springing back into action and gliding into the crook of Aidan’s arm.
The Whitmores and Mr. Carlson are mid-conversation and it’s about five minutes of listening to the men drone on and on about environmental impact when Mr. Carlson cuts to the chase.
“We’re thinking of the big picture here. If Vanguard Petroleum aligns with Whitmore Reserves, it signals to the industry that we share your values. I need to know you’re serious about the long-term narrative. This isn’t about capital. We’re not here because we need your money. This partnership would be about synergy and sustained traction in future markets. So, before we move forward, I need to be confident this isn’t just a short-term boost. We’re talking about shared vision.”
He is going for the jugular, straight to the point and I arrived at the perfect moment of tension. Both Aidan and Mr. Whitmore’s faces look pained.
The answer to his concerns is at the tip of my tongue. Nobody else is saying a word in this awkward gap of silence.
“Mr. Carlson, I noticed recently your stock has gone down. Are we sure this isn’t about money?” I say without thinking. An impulsive statement.
“That’s true, the stock has gone down, but only because we’re investing in other things at the moment. We’re shifting priorities, trying to optimize where our oil sources are coming from.”
“Why would that affect stock?”
Mr. Carlson shrugs slightly, still smiling. “Because the market doesn’t always reward long-term thinking. Investors want immediate returns, not five-year plans.”
“I think Whitmore Reserves only thinks about the future. We are highly sought after and the top company when it comes to investments and oil rigs. You would be lucky to be partnering with us,” I say and look over at Mr. Whitmore, who is smiling.
“Like my lovely daughter in-law said, Whitmore Reserves values a partnership with you because we want to be more sustainable. We are trying to grow into that. We need your insights and youneed our alliance, so we can be the number one resource for oil rigs in the world.”
Daughter-in-law? You barely ever look my way.I bite back my knee-jerk reaction to give his dad the side-eye.
My attention is exclusively on Mr. Carlson. His body language says it all: arms open, engaged and a slight smirk. This is going well for them.
Aidan chimes in. “Yes, Charlotte and I have discussed this thoroughly and a partnership like Whitmore Reserves and Vanguard would make us a monopoly in the industry. Unstoppable. Don’t you think?”
He is smiling wide as he swings his arm around me.
“I’ve been telling everyone how we should write up a proposal for you for years.”
Aidan’s parents say nothing as they let him talk and spin this lie.
“We will discuss more on Monday, but I am very open to that type of partnership,” Mr. Carlson says.
He extends his hand to me first, then to Mr. Whitmore, before exiting our inner circle. As soon as his back is turned from us, Aidan’s father pats me on the back. His version of an “attagirl.”
“If you could excuse me, I’d like to have some one-on-one time with my date,” Aidan interjects.
I don’t even think before today Mr. Whitmore acknowledged my existence. Today, I was inducted into the family crest.
They are all smiling at me as we exit the circle.
Aidan swoops me away with his hand on my lower back, whispering, “Who was that girl?”
A jolt of excitement courses through my body. He spins me away from his family and onto the dance floor. I’m smiling ear to ear. A real turning point for us after the other night. Maybe if Aidan is satisfied by this weekend, we can go back to normal. Before Memorial Day weekend, where it all got just a little out of control.
Aidan grazes the small of my back, whispering, “You impressed him.” He presses his lips to my forehead.
