Now she’d finally got her life back on track there was no stopping her. She just hoped that Finn would be part of that future and he would if she had anything to say about it.
CHAPTER NINE
Finn thoroughly enjoyed being out on deliveries with Willow. They’d been out for most of the day, going from house to house, which had given him time to learn more about her. She was twenty-two, has always wanted a Pug she could call Boo, after the little girl in Monsters Inc. He didn’t ask why, as he felt he was supposed to know the reason when she was telling him her top five bucket list items. Her favorite flowers are sunflowers as they are yellow, which also is her favorite color. They reminded her of her father as they used to grow them in her back yard before he passed and each year they would make a chart to see how long it would take for the sunflowers to overtake her in height.
She was like a different person from the one he’d met yesterday, no not different, just free from all her worries that had been slowly choking the life out of her. During the day she’d been bubbly and full of enthusiasm for this new adventure she was starting out on. He was happy for her, but also a little envious that she’d managed to solve her worries in such a short space of time.
Willow had tried to prise out what was bothering him but as he couldn’t even articulate it to himself, what chance would he have trying to explain it to someone else? She asked him a million questions about himself, which he answered as honestly as he could, hoping she would help him find an answer, but none came. They did have a really great day and he’d take those memories with him on his travels, which he’d neglected to mention to her. He’d told her he often traveled with his sponsors, just not that another trip was imminent.
When Willow stopped outside his apartment building to drop him off, after the last drop of the day had been made, he knew he didn’t want their time together to end. “Want to come up for a coffee?”
She looked torn on what to do. “I’d love to, but I promised my mom I’d be straight back after the last delivery. We were going to go over some marketing ideas I have for the business so we’re ready to expand as soon as I’m able to move back. Maybe another time?”
Although disappointed, he could understand her excitement to get started on her new venture. He’d been the same when he saw the potential of his gaming business. An idea suddenly hit him, one he was excited to test out.
“What about tomorrow? Ten am, same as today? I could be your assistant again?”
She looked happy with his offer. “I’d love that,” she replied. “I can also get your feedback on the marketing ideas my mom and I come up with tonight. You are our perfect demographic.” She grinned at him, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Perfect demographic? Does that mean she is only interested in me as a customer? He was confused at that, he’d thought they were building something more. He got out of the van and waved as she pulled away. He was still going to test his idea and show her they could be something more.
Finn picked a meal from his fridge and threw it in the microwave, pacing the kitchen as he waited for the ‘ping’. He had nervous energy and wasn’t sure if it was from his day with Willow, his impending trip or the new idea he’d just come up with. He was more excited than he’d been about anything in a long time. Probably a mixture of all three.
He took his meal to his office and sat down at the computer desk. His desk and screens layout was designed for his optimum gaming experience and he grinned, with a few changes it would provide for an optimum experience for his new idea.
After several hours he looked up from the screen to see his office in darkness, lest for the glare from his computer screens and the lights from the street outside. He’d got so carried away working on his idea that he’d even forgotten to eat the meal he’d prepared earlier.
With a satisfied smile he sat back and looked at his accomplishment. It had turned out better than he’d expected and he’d had more fun than he’d had in a long time, whilst doing it. He just hoped Willow and Liz thought so too. It would be the first time in a very long time that he’d be putting himself in a vulnerable position, where someone he cared about could knock his confidence. He hoped it would be worth it.
CHAPTER TEN
Willow had sat up with her mom drinking hot chocolate and going over different growth opportunities for the business. They’d incorporated both their ideas on where the business should grow and formed a solid marketing plan that could be implemented as soon as she moved back home. Her mom, so far, had focused on providing individual and family meals for customers, turning down the many catering opportunities she was offered on an almost daily basis. Her current customer base owned or managed a lot of the corporate businesses in the city, many requiring outside catering on a regular basis.
She’d called her boss as soon as she’d regretfully dropped Finn off at his apartment and he’d been most understanding. He’d told her he understood her decision and would let her leave without working her notice period. He’d appreciated all the hard work she’d put in and she would be sadly missed at the company. Although she’d liked working at the company and her co-workers and clients were nice, she knew in her heart it wasn’t what she wanted to be doing, at least in that environment. A huge weight had now been lifted and she’d fly back on Saturday to pack up her apartment - she’d already given notice to her landlord - then fly home the next day.
They were busy preparing the meals for the day when the phone rang and her mom answered it, “Liz Martin Catering. How may I help you?”
Her mom looked over to her with an expression she couldn’t make out as she continued giving ‘uh-huh, of course, I’m sure that could be arranged, for how many?” replies to the person at the other end of the phone. When finally off the phone her mom turned to her with a huge grin on her face, “We have our first catering gig.”
“What? When?” Willow asked in amazement of how everything was coming together so perfectly.
“It was Mark Chambers, you met him yesterday, lives over by Fellway Park. His caterers have let him down and he has an event on Friday for one hundred and fifty people that needs catering. He has the wait staff covered but he needs food and after talking to you yesterday, which he was thoroughly impressed with by the way, he thought of us.”
Willow remembered the guy, she’d been so excited about joining the business that she’d been telling everyone about it and their plans for expansion. She hadn’t known what he did for a living but he’d asked her lots of questions about what new services they were looking to offer. She remembered her mom had two clients in the building so she’d taken Mark and Finn had taken the client on the higher floor. Wow, her mom’s luck really was rubbing off.
Reality suddenly struck her, “Friday? But that’s tomorrow.”
“Don’t worry, it’s only for a buffet reception so all we need to do is phone up a few local suppliers and I’m sure they’ll deliver the food in the morning for us instead of having to pick it up. So, while you are out doing deliveries I can make a start to the preparation. Maybe after tomorrow you’ll rethink wanting to join me in the business,” she said, laughing.
“Not a chance! I can’t wait to join you, especially after the plans we came up with last night. At this rate I won’t be the only hire you’ll be making.”
“We’ll be making,” her mom reminded her. “You are a partner now Willow so you get a say in everything too.”
“Then we’ll definitely be making more hires.”
By the time Finn arrived they’d organized everything for the following night and were focused on getting that day’s meal boxes ready for delivery. Her mom had taken another five calls about catering jobs, neither knowing how they’d found out about their expansion and in their excitement, forgot to ask.
Finn walked into the kitchen wearing a smug grin and carrying a tablet. “Good morning ladies,” he greeted them. “I come baring gifts,” as he waved his tablet around.
“You look very pleased with yourself,�
� she teased him and he did, much different from when she’d dropped him off yesterday. Seeing him happy made her even happier, if that was at all possible. She walked over to the coffee machine, taking out Finn’s coffee she’d started when she heard him come in. She passed it to him, “I’m not sure you need the caffeine boost.”
“Thanks. I always need a caffeine boost, especially if you’re making it,” he said, with a wink.
“Do you both have ten minutes for me to show you something?” he asked, sitting down at the counter as he started swiping at his tablet, not waiting for a response.
This could be interesting.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Finn hoped his false bravado wouldn’t fail him as he started to worry that maybe he’d been too presumptuous and they wouldn’t like it. He looked up as his finger hovered over the play button, finding two bemused faces looking at him over his shoulder. He turned to face Willow. “After we talked yesterday about your marketing plans for the business, it got me thinking and,” he laughed remembering his excitement for something that had finally fired up last night. Something he’d thought he’d never feel again, especially with a computer involved. “More fired up than I’ve been in a very long time. So thank you for that. I just hope you both don’t mind me doing this.”
He pressed the play button on his tablet and held his breath. Please let them like this.
After the video stopped playing he was hit with silence. He wasn’t sure what to do and didn’t dare turn around to see their expressions. His shoulders slumped with the realization … they didn’t like it. Suddenly he felt Willow’s arms wrap around his shoulders and squeezed him tightly. “That was amazing Finn, you didn’t tell me you could do something like that. I thought gamers just recorded their screen not anything like that.”
“Finn that really was amazing. Thank you so much for doing something like that for us. You’ve definitely got some hidden talents there,” Liz said with a huge grin on her face. “You’ll be getting all your meals for free if you keep that up.”
Last night when he’d got home he’d pulled up the computer program that he used to add the different elements to his game play videos and create the promotional videos for his YouTube channel. He was going to create a promotional video for ‘Liz Martin Catering’ to promote the expansion plans Willow had told him about the day before. He’d gone on their website and pulled the logo and some photos and text and then lost himself for several hours creating a variety of promotional videos they could use to promote the different aspects of their business.
“Oh my god,” Willow squealed in his ear, “it’s got nearly ninety thousand views.”
He hadn’t meant for anyone else to see it, he’d obviously forgotten, in his excitement, to make the video private. “I’m sorry I didn’t mean for anyone to see it.”
Liz face palmed herself, groaning. “That will be why we received all these catering bookings this morning,” she explained. “Wow Finn, where have you been hiding this talent?”
The truth was he hadn’t been hiding it. He’d been using and building on it every time he created a gaming video or wanted to promote a sponsor’s new game. He’d just never thought to apply it to another industry … until now.
“It’s just something I picked up when looking to promote my gaming videos and get publicity for my sponsors. I really enjoy this side of my business so continued to dabble in it instead of outsourcing it to my promotions team,” he said, as the words hit him he groaned at the realization that he did know what he’d rather be doing with his time. It had been right in front of him all this time.
“You could make a killing creating promotional videos for businesses. We outsourced the video creation side of the marketing at my old job, but they were a huge part of the business. Often they were what made the difference between a successful campaign and one that flopped,” Willow told him as she now stood in front of him. “Finn I think you’ve found what you’ve been looking for.”
He looked up at her, nodding. “I think I have too,” he said, smiling back at the person who’d made all this possible.
“Right you two, you need to get going with these deliveries. You can chat in the van,” said Liz, pushing them towards the food crates that were piled against the wall.
He couldn’t wait to discuss the possibilities with Willow as they made their deliveries.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Over the next two days Finn helped Willow with her deliveries while they discussed their exciting new directions in life. Finn had shared with her the different promotional techniques he’d used in the past for his videos, using YouTube and other video and social media platforms. It made her more excited about creating and implement marketing campaigns for the catering business.
Finn had told her he was going to send out feelers to see if anyone would be interested in hiring him to create promotional videos for their business. She’d helped him come up with a marketing campaign for his new business and they’d found a natural rhythm working together. She’d loved working with him and sensed he’d felt the same. They started making plans on how they could help each other out, which Willow was extremely excited about.
Tonight was their first catering event and after they’d got back to the house, Finn had left almost immediately to allow her and her mom to focus on the final preparations for the event.
When she and her mom had arrived at the venue, they’d set everything up in the kitchen and were ready to start plating the food, for the hired serving staff to give out. Her mom was getting frustrated with her broken arm, unable to do everything she normally could to help, but somehow she managed.
Once they’d finished all the preparation, Willow snuck along the corridor from the kitchen towards the room the event was taking place in. She wanted to report back to her mom how their food was going down. It was some kind of gun show, or no it was a shooting game they were promoting. Oh Finn would love this.
She listened to what the announcer was saying so she could report back to Finn. They were going on a three month worldwide trip to promote the game, leaving next week. She was glad Finn wasn’t involved, she’d hate to lose him for three months. She looked around the room only to see Finn standing at the corner of the platform, shaking hands with the man who’d organized this event.
It suddenly hit her like a ton of bricks, this was Finn’s sponsor. He’d lied to her. He was part of this tour and he was leaving, without telling her and they’d spent two days making all these future plans - together. She felt the tears starting to trickle down her face. Why had she put so much of her faith into him?
Wiping away any trace of her tears she made her way back to the kitchen. The sooner they were packed up the better. She also wanted to avoid bumping into Finn. Her mom had already started packing things away so she joined her, in silence. They’d almost finished packing things up when she received a text from Finn.
‘Can’t wait to see you, got some exciting news to share.’
Yeah I know what it is and I don’t want to hear it.
She shoved her phone back in her back pocket, without replying. What was there still to say? He’d made his mind up without discussing it with her, at least now she knew where she stood with him … nowhere.
“Honey, are you okay,” asked her mom, her eyebrow raised in concern.
“Yeah, I’m just tired. It’s been a long day and I can’t wait to get into a hot tub and relax my aching bones,” and my aching heart.
“If you want to take the van home, I can get a lift once everything is finished here. Most of our stuff is already packed up and you’re up early tomorrow for your flight.”
Her mom came over and pulled her into a hug, well as much as her broken arm would allow. She pulled back slightly, “Are you having second thoughts about moving here?” she asked.
“Oh no, definitely not. Mom, I can’t wait to start working with you for real.”
“And I’m sure having Finn here won’t be such a hardship either,” her
mom teased.
“I don’t think Finn is going to be around much,” she admitted. She could feel her tears starting again and needed to get away so her mom wouldn’t start asking any awkward questions.
“Why, what’s happened? Willow, are you sure you’re okay?”
“Nothing’s happened. I’ll be fine, I just need to get home and pack a few things for tomorrow. Is it okay if I leave now? I could really do with an early night.”
“Of course, you head out and if I don’t see you in the morning then I’ll see you on Sunday when you get back. Do you want me to say anything to Finn when I see him about tomorrow?”
“No, I’ve said everything I want to say to him. Night mom.”
She couldn’t stop the tears from falling and hoped there wouldn’t be much traffic on the way home. She just wanted to get away to clear her head. Maybe being in Boston would help.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Finn walked into the kitchen of the venue, excited about the news he wanted to share with Willow. He’d text her but she hadn’t replied, she must be too busy. However, when he got to the kitchen it was only Liz that he could see.
“Hey Liz, great food tonight. I heard quite a few people commenting on it and asking who the caterer was. Where’s Willow, I was hoping to talk to her.”
“Oh hi Finn, that’s great news. I gave Mark a pile of business cards to pass out in the hope people would be asking that,” she said, chuckling. “Willow left early as she still has to pack a few things for her flight tomorrow. Do you know if anything is bothering her, she didn’t seem herself when she came back from the event.”
She’d seen the event? Not knowing how his announcement to his sponsors, that he wasn’t going on the tour and was pulling out of some the responsibilities, was going to go, he’d not told Willow that he’d be here. Luckily his sponsor was extremely understanding and already had a standin ready to take his place on the tour. He wasn’t sure whether he was relieved or upset he’d been replaced so easily, but decided to go with relieved. It was time to step aside and let someone else take his place in the gaming world.
Love By Delivery (The Harringtons Book 2) Page 3