** Over 2 years later **
I march into my office and toss the paperwork for today’s proposal on my desk.
How could they even think that this was a good presentation? We have been partners with them for a while now. Maybe they are getting lazy.
I sigh and run my hand through my hair.
It isn’t even 10am yet, and I’m already fuming.
I yank my chair out from my desk and take a deep breath, trying to let my frustrations go. However, as soon as my eyes land back on the paperwork strung across my desk, my shoulders stiffen, and my irritation is instantly back.
What am I going to do with them now?
As I sit down, my mind rolls through all of our various partners in the glass industry, trying to find the right fit for this enormous project. Our partner for this project must be someone that I can rely on.
My thoughts are interrupted as Ryan dashes into my office. “Connor! Guess What!”
I look up at him and snort, “What? That meeting was a big bust. Yeah. I already know that.”
Ryan shakes his head and stops right in front of my desk. “No. I just got off the phone with your private investigator. He thinks he has found her.”
My heart skips a beat. Could this really be true?
I lean forward. “Tell me this isn’t another botched lead, like the dozen before.”
His smile widens. “Nope. The private investigator is positive that it is her this time.”
My breath hitches. Please, let this be true. I need to find her.
I bolt up out of my chair and around the desk. “Come on, then. I want to know for sure that we have really found her. Where did he say she is?”
Ryan chuckles behind me but doesn’t miss a step as we run through the corridor towards the elevator.
The entire drive to the neighboring town is mostly silent, except for the few times when I ask for the address. The only other sound is of my fingers constantly tapping on the steering wheel.
I breathe a sigh of relief when we finally pull into the shopping mall’s parking lot. As I turn the vehicle off, my stomach flutters with the thought that she may be in there.
My eyes scan the extensive building before I bark, “Let’s go in and find her.”
Ryan nods and is right beside me as we make our way through the parking lot to the mall. When we finally reach the entrance, Ryan says, “The private investigator said that she works at a small clothing store on the second level. I believe the shop is right in the middle of the mall.”
I nod while my eyes immediately scan the area as we slowly walk through the mall entrance and make our way through the building. With each step, my heart pounds harder against my chest.
My waiting could finally be over today. The years of waiting would all be worth it if we can find her.
After several minutes, my feet finally come to a dead stop outside the clothing store, while my eyes continue to scan everywhere inside, searching for her. Even a simple glimpse would make my day.
Images of our one night together dance through my mind. Her angelic voice as she was moaning underneath me and even begging for more. The beautiful and seductive way she would say my name has my heart racing.
All of which vanished the next morning when she couldn’t even remember any of it. Not even my name.
I swallow hard and take a deep breath.
Ryan pats my shoulder. “Do you want me to come in with you? Are you sure you can do this on your own?”
I don’t know if I can, but I still shake my head. “No. I’ll go in by myself.”
He pats my shoulder again. “Okay. I’ll wait right here for you.”
With my eyes still focused on the store, I nod and take a deep breath.
Even though I’m trembling inside, I push my doubts down and confidently stride into the store and glance around. However, I still don’t see her.
I only take a few steps into the store before a sales associate comes up to me and asks, “Is there something I can help you find, sir?” Her bubbly voice irritates me as I turn my focus towards her.
I barely give her a look before I resume searching the store. “A friend of mine thinks I know someone that might work here. She has blonde hair and green eyes.”
“Oh..” The girl’s perkiness slowly fades. “She is over there.”
I look in the direction that she points and my eyes lock on the back of a woman with long, blonde, and wavy hair. My eyebrows furrow as my eyes roam down her body.
I quickly turn back to the sales associate and mutter, “Thanks,” while I walk past her to my intended target.
Once again, my heart thumps louder with each step.
As I get closer, my breath hitches as the lady slowly turns around.
My feet suddenly stop and are frozen in place as my heart aches. The person isn’t her.
She may have green eyes, but they aren’t the sparkling emerald green eyes that are in my dreams every night. The ones that hold so many secrets and can make me putty in her hands.
My shoulders drop as I turn around and head out of the store silently.
You would think that I would be used to this by now, but I’m not. I want her back. I want my sunshine.
Before I even reach Ryan, he asks, “It wasn’t her?”
I slowly shake my head. “No.”
I don’t even slow down and walk right past him. He turns and hustles up right beside me.
With my head hung low, I mumble, “I thought it was going to be her. I thought my search would be over.”
He pats my shoulder and softly replies, “Don’t worry. We won’t stop looking. We will find her no matter where she is at. Even if we have to go to another country, we will find her.”
I sigh and shake my head. “I know, but it is so disappointing. You had me believing that we have finally found her. That she was working in that store. I should have known better. She would have never ended up working as a salesclerk. She is too smart and driven to settle for that.”
I glance beside me. “She is probably in some management position in some company.” Silently, I add, “I just wish I knew where.”
I walk out of the conference room with a smile on my face and another successful negotiation under my belt. Dotty walks up beside me and bumps her shoulder into mine. “Hey, we are making progress. I think the company’s rough times are behind us now.” A slight chuckle spills from my mouth as I shake my head. “The rough times are never over. You can only prepare for them and be well equipped for when they finally appear. Only then can the company strive and succeed.” Ugh. I hate sounding like my parents, but here I am. I’m almost a carbon copy of them and the speeches that I used to hate are the same ones I give now. However, I have to admit that between them and what I have learned while working as an assistant at BW Fashion, I’ve picked up a lot of helpful tips and tricks. I must use them correctly to get the company back on track. Dotty rolls her eyes. “Yeah. Yeah.&
I walk into the company Monday morning with a smile on my face. The receptionist in the lobby looks up as I walk through the entrance. She smiles and chimes, “Good morning, Deanna. Did you have a pleasant weekend?” My smile widens as I stop momentarily in front of her desk. “Good morning. Yes, it was very relaxing. How about you?” She nods. “Yes. My husband and I took the kids to the park. They had so much fun that they didn’t want to go home.” A pain tugs at my heart, but I don’t let my smile falter as I nod. “Good. Well, I better get going to my office.” I turn and head towards the elevator, while the receptionist calls out, “I hope you have a good day.” Once I’m on the right floor and out of the elevator, I turn towards the break room instead of my office. A good cup of herbal tea is just what I need to start the day off on the right foot. As I a
I stare at my computer monitor while my thumb slowly rubs the underside of the golden band on my finger. A small smile slowly creeps out as I remember a particular 24 hours a few years back. For someone who is normally very serious and always thinking about how to push our company ahead or how I can get one step in front of my brother, the super son, I still can’t believe that I let Ryan actually talk me into going to Vegas for a night. I never in a million years would have dreamed that I would meet her there and got married. Granted, I was drunk, but I wasn’t that drunk. I should have been the sensible one, but for once in my life, I wanted to walk on the wild side. Man, did I ever. I still don’t know what possessed me to even ask her to marry me. My smile widens as an image of her from that night pops into my head. It may have been a few years ago, but I remember it like it just happened yester
I walk into the house. The smell of dinner instantly fills my nose and puts a smile on my face. My feet follow the delicious aromas while I call out, “I’m home. What smells so good?” Barbara pops her head out of the dining room. “Some of your favorites, including a honey glazed ham. Now go get cleaned up and come back down. The meal is ready, and we are waiting for you.” She doesn’t have to tell me twice. I bolt up the stairs and to my room. I don’t waste any time before I’ve cleaned up and back downstairs in the dining room and sitting at the table. My eyes roam across the table and my mouth waters. Most of the dishes are my favorites. Dotty chuckles beside me and nudges my arm. “Mom is pulling out all the stops. She is going to make sure that you have no desire to move out. Look at this. These are all your favorites.” While I lick my lips, I n
I walk down the hall towards my office. However, instead of walking into my office, I stop at Nathan’s door first. As I stand in the doorway, I softly knock on the doorframe and clear my throat. While sitting behind his desk, Nathan looks up from his computer and a smile instantly forms on his face. “Good morning, Deanna. Do you want another cup of herbal tea this morning?” I stifle a chuckle and shake my head. “No. It appears that someone has been talking to Cliff about a big fish out there. Do you happen to know who that could be?” He swallows hard and flashing me a sheepish grin as he leans back in his chair. “Well, that may have been me. Did he get you to agree to go after it?” I sigh and step into his office. I stop right behind a chair in front of his desk and lean forward with my hands resting on the top of it. “You can say that he has pushed me into a corner. Do you
I grab my phone off my desk and without looking at the caller ID, I answer it. “What! Speak!” I let all my frustrations pour out of me and into my words while I continue to scan the various proposals from the multiple vendors. This is the reason why I usually stick with the same vendors once I settle our relationship. My hand tightens around my phone as Ryan quickly replies, “Wow there, tiger. You don’t need to bite my head off. I have done nothing wrong.” I raise an eyebrow and snort. “Really. You did nothing wrong. I’m sure if I comb through my memory, I’ll find something that you did wrong. Like, leave me here to go through all these proposals by myself, while you are off trying to get the up-and-coming company to agree to a partnership. You know that I’m the one who wanted to go there instead of you. I’m still trying to figure out how it has worked out that you have gone instead of me.”
I grumble under my breath as I walk into my office. I had spent the rest of the day yesterday trying to rearrange my schedule to accommodate Ryan and the CEO. As I walk around my desk towards my chair, Dotty bounces into the room. However, her face is anything but excited. She has a crease along her forehead with her mouth curving downwards in a slight frown. “Hey, didn’t you grab anything to eat this morning? You were running late and ate nothing at the house. Are you sure you don’t want me to go down to the corner and pick you up something?” I sigh and shake my head. “I don’t know if I have time to eat anything even if you got me something.” Just as I finish my sentence, Nathan walks into my office with a cup of tea in one hand and a muffin in the other. “Deanna, I thought maybe you would like another cup of herbal tea to get you started off on the right foot. I also picked up a few muffins this mo
I pace back and forth in the living room. I still can’t believe that I punched the jerk, but I have to admit it felt great. I put all my pain for the last several years into that one punch. However, if it wasn’t for Nathan and Cliff pulling me away from Connor, I would have landed a few more, too. Regardless, this doesn’t explain why he is here and why now. I run my hand through my hair as I turn to pace back in the other direction. Dotty slides to the edge of the couch. Her concern written all over her face, but it is also woven through her words. “Deanna. Sit down, please. You will not solve anything by pacing back and forth. Now, come on.” I shake my head as my eyes sting. “No. I’m too upset to sit right now.” She sighs as a slight frown forms on her face. “Okay. But we are going to talk while you continue to work out your anger.” I wave my h