Page 10 of Billionaire's Desire
“I will text you once I am back on land.”
There is a long silence on the other end. “What do you mean?”
I knew that there was no way that conversation was going to end well, but I braced myself and tried explaining the situation to her as calmly and as gently as possible. Mia let out exasperated sighs the entire time I was talking.
I want her to understand where I am coming from, but I also know that I am asking way too much from her.
“Look, Max,” I can tell that she is trying really hard to keep calm as she speaks, “I have tried and tried for us to work. I have needs, needs that are not being met. We are both too caught up in work at the moment.”
“What does that mean, Mia?”
“That means that, maybe we can try again when we are in the same city.”
I let out a breath. I was expecting this conversation to go exactly as it is unfolding.
“Does that mean what I think it means, Mia?”
“Unfortunately, yes.” She waits a beat before adding, “Goodbye, Max!” Then she hangs up.
I expect to feel something. Hurt, anger, confusion. But instead, I am filled with frustration and exasperation, a kind of frustration that only my bottle of Merlot could cure.
I reach for the remaining bottle of Merlot when I come face to face with the last person I expected to lay my eyes on.
It is her.
She is beautiful and unexpected.
It is the gorgeous, yet rude Uber driver from this morning.
Every time she lays her eyes on me, my breath hitches. I have no idea why my proximity to her brings out such a side from me, but I find myself saying all the wrong things.
I just cannot shut up.
What follows is one of the second most awkward conversations I have ever had and before I can apologize, or get to talk to her and figure out everything, she huffs and storms out of my sight.
Why did I even offer to buy the bottle from her? Why didn’t I just let her have the bottle then have my assistant scouring the city for another bottle just for me? Why is this the second time in less than twenty-four hours that I am finding myself in the middle of a confrontational screaming match with this woman? This city is definitely big enough.
And I can tell by how great that interaction went, that she was having a long day as well.
So instead of reaching out to her or running to catch up with her, I just let her go.
It is better that way, for both of us, I believe.
What a fucking disaster of a day!
As I drive home at the end of the frustrating day, a random thought infiltrates my brain.
Maybe Finn was right after all. Maybe I am better off taking a few weeks off. I will still be working, but I cannot compare that to the day-to-day working of in-person meetings.
Maybe this trip is the break I need.
Thoughts of calling my assistant and asking her to find a bottle of Merlot for me slowly dissipate and like most days, my mind drifts to worries revolving around my brother.
I just hope that Finn will be fine without me around.
I need to reschedule some meetings. I don’t think he is ready to attempt all of them. I want to take as much weight from his shoulders as I can. I am also going to ask my assistant to get a hold of his calendar and his assistant. I will pay them extra just to deal with as much of the paperwork without having to directly involve him.
I hope that I will score this deal because this would be amazing for our company.
