by Alexa McLean
His statement was meant as a joke but it seemed to slice through my heart like a dagger. I did not want to imagine this man with other women but right now, that was the only thing I could think of. He had probably been with a thousand girls since leaving the town. It wouldn’t surprise me. Reis was handsome and incredibly rich. Most girls would be all over him and if I had to guess, he was all over them too.
“Oh, I’ve been meaning to tell you something.” He interrupted my thoughts.
“What is it?”
“I brought the house next door.”
I nearly choked on my cup of tea. “You did what now?”
“I brought the house next door.” He pointed with his thumb. “You know the one with the ‘for sale’ sign.”
“I know which one you’re talking about but what do you mean you brought it?”
“Cash.” He explained. “It’s how I buy most things. You wouldn’t believe the deal I got on that place.”
“So, you actually just up and bought the place?”
“Yep.”
“Why?”
“Why?” He repeated. “Isn’t it obvious?”
“Actually, no.” I played with my half-eaten pancake, trying to wrap my head around the fact that Reis was now my neighbor. The guy had been gone for years and all of a sudden it was like we were back in our teenage years. It all felt so surreal.
“To be closer to you.” He said while reaching for my hand. “It’s been far too long.”
I honestly did not know what to say.
“So, if you ever need anything, you know where to find me.”
Chapter 8: Reis
TWO WEEKS LATER.
After that first night together, things changed. Brandi kind of disappeared and so did I. Despite coming back to my hometown, I still had business to attend to. With the closing of the fiscal year, I had a lot on my plate. The last thing I needed was the IRS busting down my brand-new door.
“Mr. Gibbs, I have those reports you were looking for.” Sally, my newest assistant walked into my office, high heels clicking against the hardwood floors. I narrowed my gaze in her direction and she immediately got the message. Slowly, she kicked up her foot and took off a red-colored pump. Then came the other and when she dropped onto her feet, she was a good six inches shorter.
“Sorry.” She apologized with a pout of her bottom lip. “I keep forgetting that you don’t want me to wear my heels in the house.”
“Don’t worry about it,” I said with a wave of my hand. “I just don’t want them getting all scuffed up, that’s all.”
“Of course.” She answered with a knowing smile. “You’re absolutely right, sir.” And with that, she placed the report on my desk. While doing so, she bent down much farther than she needed to. The neckline of her shirt dipped down, exposing most of her chest. I didn’t bother to look. Just a passing glance while picking up the folder.
“Thank you, Sally. I’ll be sure to call you if I need anything else.”
“In the meantime, what would you have me do?” She asked as she sat down on the edge of the desk. Her fingers traced along the mahogany in a slow, deliberate manner. I was no fool. This woman was obviously trying to send me some messages. I wasn’t going to fall for it. If I wanted a chance with Brandi than flirting with another woman was certainly not the way to go about it.
“Just take my calls and answer any emails.”
She nodded. Instead of leaving right away, she lingered there. “I was wondering if you wanted to get some dinner later this evening?” She weaved a curl around her finger. “Nothing too fancy. Just something casual so I can get to know you a little better.”
“Unfortunately, I can’t accept your offer. I already have plans for tonight.”
“You do?” She pulled out her phone. “I don’t see anything on your schedule. Should I write it in for you?” She already had her stylus in hand.
Truth be told, Sally was actually one of the best assistants I had hired to date. Sure, maybe she was a little flirty but her number one priority was getting the job done and I appreciated that. I planned to keep her around even if she threatened to talk my ear off.
“That won’t be necessary,” I said.
“Oh?” She cocked her head to the side. “As your assistant, I think it is my duty to handle all your scheduling. That way, I can make your life much, much easier.” She leaned forward until I could smell the mint on her breath. When our noses were close to touching, she flashed a pearly white smile. “All I want to do is help you, Mr. Gibbs, is that too much for me to ask?”
“Oh no. it’s not.” I grabbed my fountain pen and balanced it on my fingers. “Let’s just say that tonight is booked with... private matters.”
Her eyes twinkled with curiosity. I could tell that she was on the cusp of asking me for details but instead of giving her the answers she wanted, I got up and turned my back on her. I stared out the window and looked upon Brandi’s house just across the street. I wanted that girl more than anything else in this world but, at the same time, I had the sinking feeling that Brandi would never be willing to have a romantic relationship with me.
“I see,” Sally said at last. “Well, in that case, I will leave you be. Good luck with your expense reports, Mr. Gibbs.”
I nodded my head in her direction before looking out the window one more time. Maybe I was just scared. I wasn’t a man accustomed to hearing the word ‘no.’ When I wanted something, I always found a way of getting it. Brandi would be no different. Or, at least, that’s what I kept telling myself. And yet, two weeks had gone by and I hadn’t even attempted to contact her. Just the thought of her rejecting me – of her shoving me into the friend zone – it wasn’t something I wanted to face.
Wanting to get my mind off of the possible rejection, I returned to my desk and started to crunch some numbers. Of course, I had an accountant that handled most of my finances but I liked to go over the numbers myself just to make sure he wasn’t screwing me over in any way. Trust me, I’ve lost a couple of million over a few mistyped zeros. I wasn’t going to let it happen again.
By the end of the day, however, I was sick and tired of staring at my computer screen. I snatched up my phone and pulled up Brandi’s name on my contact list. I hovered my finger over the call button but I never managed to press it. Clearly, she had been avoiding me for the past two weeks. She only wanted me when she needed me for something and I just didn’t play that game. So, instead, I called my secretary back into my office.
She appeared a moment later, her lipstick brighter than ever. “Yes?” She said in an angelic voice. “How may I help you, Mr. Gibbs.”
“My private matters have fallen through so my evening is free. Are you still willing to grab dinner with me?”
“Absolutely.” She answered in an almost giddy manner.
“Great.”
BUT IT WASN’T GREAT at all. Dinner was awful. Sally was a pretty good assistant but she was absolutely horrible as a dinner date. She wouldn’t stop talking and try as I might, I couldn’t get a word in edgewise. She just kept blabbing and blabbing and blabbing. I thought I was going to lose my insanity that night.
Underneath the table, I fiddled with my phone. “We need to talk.” I texted at Brandi, praying that she would accept my invitation.
Thinking Sally was a good substitute for Brandi was a huge mistake.
“When?” She texted back. “I’m a little busy.”
“As soon as possible,” I answered, completely ignoring Sally as she went on about her kitten and how it was finally eating solid food. “Tonight, if you can.”
“Can’t. Swamped with the diner.”
“Tomorrow then.”
“We’ll see.” Her text didn’t look very promising.
“Are you even listening to me?” Sally said with a pout.
“Waiter, can I get another glass of wine, please?” The young man nodded. I was definitely going to need a good helping of alcohol if I planned to survive the night with this chatter
box.
Sally took a sip of her martini and quickly got back to describing her cat’s life in excruciating detail.
“I’m sorry but I should be heading home. There’s still a bit more work that I want to get done.” It was a lame excuse but it was the only one I could come up with in a moment’s notice.
She frowned. “But we haven’t even gotten dessert yet.”
“Get whatever you’d like,” I said, dropping a few bills on the table. “And call yourself a cab.” Before she could protest with me, I was already out the door.
Chapter 9: Brandi
THE DINER WAS RELATIVELY active at dinner time. A few of the booths were occupied by families while the counter consisted of regulars who tended to order the same thing night after night.
I wiped down an empty part of the counter just as someone walked through the door. It was Simon. He was a local truck driver who brought most of the supplies into town. His line of work had made it difficult for him to find a wife and so most of the time, he spent his weekends at the diner.
“What can I get you?” I asked.
“The usual.”
“Coming right up.” I wrote down his order in a notepad I kept tucked away in my apron. “Should be out for you in just a minute.”
“Can I get a cup of joe while I wait?” He asked while reaching for a nearby newspaper.
“Definitely.” I grabbed the canister from the counter and poured him a steaming cup of coffee. “Three sugars and a splash of whole milk, correct.”
“Yup.” He folded the newspaper causing it to crinkle rather loudly. “How’s this place faring anyhow?”
“We’re hanging in there,” I answered but my voice didn’t carry much confidence.
“That’s good to hear. It would be a shame if I had to go over to Keith’s. I was never much of a fan of that atmosphere over there.”
“Neither are we.”
He laughed. “And, truth be told, you guys have the better food, no doubt about it.”
I smiled at the compliment. “Thank you, Simon.” With that, I excused myself and stowed away into my new office. It felt strange to know that I was the new owner and that my father would never step another foot into the place.
The leather chair groaned as I sat down. I swear it was on the verge of collapse but somehow it maintained its integrity as I eased forward. I had been avoiding this task for the better part of two weeks but it needed to be done. It was obvious that the diner wasn’t making end’s meet. The number of bills piled on my father’s desk was in itself overwhelming. Most of them were stamped with angry red lettering stating that the amount was past due.
I ran my fingers through my hair and took a deep breath. It didn’t help.
“Where do I start?” I whispered to myself.
I stared at the mess for a while before I finally picked up the closest envelope and started from there. It was the only thing I could do. From that point on I kept crunching number after number until I couldn’t see straight.
The diner was in threat of bankruptcy and I really had no idea what to do in order to keep it afloat. I wanted to keep my father’s legacy alive but he had dug it into such a hole that there seemed to be no way out.
Desperate, I rebalanced the checkbook but the balance was still in the negatives. I couldn’t fix something when it was this heavily damaged. I was on the verge of tears when the main cook, Manny, knocked on the door. Without waiting for me to let him in, he waltzed into the office with a plate of food in his hand.
It smelled divine. “I figured that you were probably hungry.” He said as he placed the food on a pile of papers. Hopefully, they weren’t important ones and even if they were, did it matter? At the rate we were operating in, the diner wouldn’t survive for much longer. If I kept the doors open, the bank would foreclose the property sooner rather than later and then, I would lose everything. “Is everything alright?” He asked.
“Fine.” I lied.
“Are you sure?” He insisted. “If you need any help, Brandi, you should know that everyone here is more than happy to pitch in. Your father was nothing but good to us and its about time we returned the favor.”
“I appreciate it, Manny, but right now, there’s nothing you can do.”
“Well, in any case, I hope you enjoy your dinner.”
I looked down to find a very green salad. “Is this just... lettuce?”
“And some bacon.” He pointed out.
So that was what had smelled so good when he first walked through the door. “Dressing?”
“No. Dressing is pretty high in calories and I didn’t want to give you anything too unhealthy. After all, I don’t want you to ruin your figure.”
I could tell that he meant well but it just didn’t sit well with me. I pointed at the door and he left with an apologetic look on his face.
“Brandi –”
“Out,” I said, interrupting whatever he was about to say.
Knowing better than to upset his new boss, he walked out of the office, letting the door shut behind him.
I sighed. Why was it that every single guy in town had to be such a pig? So, what if I gained a few pounds? Would it really matter all that much? Was that all they worried about?
It made me sick to my stomach to know that most men only looked at me as a sexual object. Without an appetite, I pushed aside the salad and went back to work. Only, this time, I couldn’t focus. The numbers kept blurring together.
Before I could give up completely, there was a knock on the door. I was ready to throw something at Manny if he dared to step into my office again. “Just leave me alone, Manny. There’s no point in trying to apologize. The damage has been done.”
“It’s not Manny.” Came a familiar voice. A second later, Reis walked in and cocked an eyebrow in question. “Trouble with the cook. I hope he didn’t give you food poisoning or anything like that.’
“Food poisoning?” I furrowed my brows together. “What are you talking about?”
“Never mind.” He sat down in the chair positioned in front of the desk. “I know you said you were busy tonight but I figured I would drop by and lend you a hand.”
“You?” I shook my head. “What are you supposed to do? You’re a wealthy businessman, not a busboy.”
“Doesn’t mean I can’t roll up my sleeves and get to work. There’s nothing wrong with building up a sweat. In fact, it’ll probably be good for me.”
“I’m sorry but I can’t ask you to do that.” My tone was clipped. “I can handle things myself.”
“From the looks of it...” He paused to look around the room. “You’re having a pretty hard time keeping up with your father’s clutter.”
“It’s been two weeks. Give me a break, would you?”
“Alright, alright.” Reis held up his hands in innocence. “I didn’t come here to insult you.”
“Well, you’re doing a pretty terrible job.” I shot.
“Jeez, did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed or something?”
“No,” I said through gritted teeth. “I’m sorry but some of us actually have important things we need to deal with. We can’t just hire people to do it for us.”
“I’m going to pretend that you didn’t just say that because I can tell you’re on edge about something and that you’re just trying to deal me a low blow.” He leaned back in his chair and folded his hands together. “And just for your information, I handle a lot of things on my own because I don’t trust people to do it for me.”
“Because you’re perfect?”
“Someone really did wake up on the wrong side of the bed.” He got up and rounded the desk.
I quickly minimized what I was doing on the computer. The last thing I wanted was for Reis to find out that I was in a financial crisis. How humiliating would that be? This guy was a billionaire and I was on the verge of sinking.
His hands came into contact with my shoulders. I jumped but then eased into his touch as he started to massage my tense muscle
s. I will say that I certainly needed a bit of pampering. I closed my eyes and tried to put my troubles behind me.
“You’re stressing yourself out and I do not like it.” He whispered right into my ear. “A girl like you shouldn’t have to struggle. All you have to do is trust me.” His words were slow and deliberate and yet, I could barely focus. His warm breath skimmed the side of my neck.
“I can handle this myself.” I insisted. “Maybe I didn’t go to a fancy college to get a degree in accounting but I think I can handle my father’s diner. I’ve been working here all my life. I can practically walk through the place with my eyes closed.”
“I don’t doubt your abilities.” He said. “I just think it would be easier if you shared some of the burdens.” Gently, he cupped my cheek. “I can see how tired you are and it worries me.” He leaned down to kiss my nose. “I’ve noticed that you stay up quite late.”
“You’ve been spying on me?”
“I don’t consider it spying. I’ve just been checking up on you from time to time to make sure you’re okay just like I used to do when we were kids.” He took both my hands and laced our fingers together. “When I was a teenager, I promised I would always keep you safe and I intend to keep that promise even now, no matter what it takes.”
“Is that why you moved back home?”
“It’s one of the reasons.” The intensity in his eyes had me shivering.
“And the others?” I wanted to distance myself from Reis because I knew, deep down, that pursuing a relationship with this man would do something but crash and burn. And I had experienced enough heartbreak for a while. I didn’t need to add to that injury.
“Now is not the time.” Was all he said before reaching into his jacket and pulling out an envelope. He dropped it onto my desk.
“What is this?” I asked.
“It’s from the private eye. He finally got back to me.”
Quickly, I broke the seal.
“You can read it if you want but what he told me was that your father and Keith had been meeting on a pretty consistent basis.”