Above everything she was doing for Winters & Company, she had this growing relationship with Bret that she didn’t know what to make of. For the first time she chose not to overthink the situation and to just enjoy this fresh, exciting part of her life.
“I don’t have time for a social life anymore,” she once commented to Alex while the two of them were sharing a hurried breakfast at home.
“Are you complaining?” Alex asked with a teasing grin.
Tasha giggled. “Nah.”
They both laughed.
Bret had been traveling back and forth between Solvang and New York for the few past weeks. He had two major reasons to keep coming back to town: his flourishing hotels and Tasha.
One bright and breezy afternoon, Tasha had just left her favorite spa, feeling rejuvenated, when her phone rang.
It was Amy Quinn from MileRun. Her heart raced. Despite her busy schedule, she was still hoping to close this other deal.
“Hi, Miss Winters,” the woman greeted from the other end of the line. “It’s Amy Quinn. I’m the Executive Assistant of Mr. Crawford, the President of MileRun…”
Tasha’s heart skipped a beat. It was like a repeat of the Walton Enterprises deal! She couldn’t believe she wasn’t being called by just one of the smaller departments of these global businesses.
“Yes, good afternoon, Miss Quinn,” she said in a pleasant voice.
“I’m calling to ask if you’re available tonight? I’m sorry it’s late notice, but Mr Crawford and I are in town for a few days only.”
“Sure!” Tasha immediately responded despite her earlier resolve to declare the whole day as her relaxation time.
“Great,” Amy said. “Can we meet around six at Bellissimo?”
She was referring to the only Italian restaurant in town, known for its classy interiors and award-winning chef and dining experience.
“Definitely,” Tasha said. “I’ll see you there.”
As Tasha made her way home, something caught her attention from across the street: a good-looking man in a casual jacket and khaki shorts who looked very, very familiar.
It can’t be, she thought with anxiety. She froze on the spot, staring at the man as he entered a café. The height and build seemed to be the same, except that he appeared to be more muscular now. His dark brown wavy hair was longer, reaching below his ears. He was now clean shaven, no beard or goatie or anything. He looked more handsome than ever, but his lips were drawn in a straight line. He seemed more serious and mature, but it was really him. Her Carter.
Without thinking, she crossed the street to catch up with the man now inside the café. Once her hand touched the handle of the door, she hesitated. What will I say to him? What if he pretends not to know me?
Fear, anger, and worry flooded her mind and heart. The emotions were so overwhelming that she was suddenly in doubt of her ability to face him after all these years.
Why did you leave me without saying goodbye? It was the biggest question in her mind that she wanted to ask. If she left now, she might never have another opportunity to talk to him and find out once and for all what had happened. She would never be able to move on.
Taking a deep breath, she pushed the door open and stepped inside. The café was full of people. She scanned the place for a sign of Carter.
Near the back of the room, she spotted him. His back was on her. He was deep in conversation with a hot young woman with long blonde hair. She couldn’t hear them, but she could see that they were having fun. They seemed to be close and friendly.
Intense pain seemed to sear Tasha’s heart. She could feel her eyes watering.
The woman he was with leaned closer and placed a hand above his.
It was too much for Tasha. She turned around and ran.
* * *
She had not been prepared to see the man she’d been about to marry a long time ago, the same man she had loved with all her heart but had suddenly disappeared without a word.
A few months after celebrating their anniversary in Solvang, she’d heard he had left the suburbs of Los Angeles where they used to live. He had not informed anybody except their landlady.
Tasha had tried to contact him and find him to no avail. She had tried to reach his parents who lived in another city. They had apparently left too. The family had vanished. He was an only child. They also didn’t have any close relatives or friends, so she didn’t know then who else to turn to. It had been so difficult to move on without knowing why he’d left in the first place.
She had cried buckets of tears for years. Finally, she’d decided to let go. She had to release herself from the clutches of his memory and the dream that they had both built, or she would never have made a name for herself.
She had always imagined what she would say to him if she ever saw him again. She had forgiven him, yes. But she not forgotten. Seeing him again now…
Why did you hurt me like that, Carter? I trusted you.
Tasha was dressed in a simple mid-calf dress and cream-colored blazer. Her wavy light brown hair cascaded wildly past her shoulders. It was the hairstyle Carter had always loved. Was it the reason she wore it that way now, or just that she didn’t have time to fix it before her meeting?
She had shed tears, but not buckets like before. Her chest had constricted, but at least she’d regained control of herself. It gave her the energy to push on. After all, she had an important matter to attend to that night. It also helped that Alex had been home to comfort her.
In Bellissimo, she had a smooth discussion with Amy Quinn. The woman was about her age, and they hit it off at once. She had plenty of questions, but Tasha seemed to have satisfied her with her answers.
“I’m very much impressed, Tasha,” Amy said. “For a rising web development company, you have certainly achieved a lot already. Your portfolio is fantastic!”
“Thank you,” Tasha replied, beaming.
“I want to seal the deal now,” Amy said. “Let me just send a message to my boss.”
Tasha nodded and waited.
Amy’s phone rang after a while. Her face became all serious as she listened attentively and murmured “uh-huh” every now and then. Finally, she said, “Yes, sir.”
She put the phone down and gave Tasha a wide smile. “We’re in luck. My boss is on his way. His other meeting got cancelled so he said he’s going to join us and sign the contract.”
Tasha wanted to jump with joy. But instead, she returned the smile. “That’s amazing,” she told Amy. I have struck gold two times in one month. And now I’m about to meet another billionaire. To hell with Carter and my stupid heart!
While Tasha and Amy were exchanging stories about their work experiences, Amy’s eyes suddenly shifted upward. Her face turned serious as she signaled that her boss has arrived.
“Hello, sir,” she greeted to someone behind Tasha. “I’d like you to meet the founder and head web developer of Winters & Company, Miss Tasha Winters.”
Tasha turned around with a big smile and froze in shock. She had not known who to expect because Mr. Crawford had always been a very private person. His name wasn’t even published as the major stockholder of MileRun. Furthermore, she couldn’t find any picture of him on the Internet. According to Amy, he was a workaholic who preferred to stay behind the scenes and always demanded full privacy.
In front of her stood an all too familiar fine-looking gentleman in dark blue jeans and a polo shirt underneath a casual jacket. He was a bit taller than she was and still had that air of mystery about him. His brown eyes flickered with confusion for a moment. His face, however, remained stern.
“Hello, Tasha,” he said in a grim tone. “It’s nice to see you again.”
* * *
Twisting and turning in her bed, Tasha couldn’t push away the vision of Mr. Crawford. Carter Crawford. Her Carter. Apparently, he’d changed his last name and had probably hidden all traces of his past life too.
Carter had signed the contract and left in a hurry before she
even had the chance to talk to him further. She couldn’t very well have an outburst in front of Amy and all those people in the restaurant.
At least he’d acknowledged that he’d known her before that meeting. It’s nice to see you again. Those were his words, but he obviously did not mean the message.
How could she sleep that night? It was impossible.
After a few more minutes, she decided to just go out and wallow in her misery, confusion, and anguish. What better way to make herself forget and fall asleep faster than downing a few bottles of good craft beer at The Good Life!
Soon she found herself slumped at the bar, chatting up the bored bartender. Solvang was also known for the best breweries, so it wasn’t a surprise that many tourists were also there for late night enjoyment.
“Hey,” somebody said in a deep, seductive voice.
She looked up to find a strange old man grinning at her. He looked sleazy and drunk. She was tipsy but still in her right mind. “What do you want?” she demanded.
“A taste of you,” the man said without any hesitation. He reeked of alcohol. He probably wouldn’t even make it out of the bar awake.
“Go away,” Tasha said. “I want to be alone.”
He snaked his hand up the back of her thigh. It was a good thing she’d changed into jeans and a sweater before going out.
She slapped his hand away, but in a careless manner.
He chuckled. “I like a woman who fights,” he slurred.
Tasha looked at the bartender for help. But he only shrugged and walked away. He obviously did not want to get involved.
She pushed the old man away. “Don’t touch me.”
Suddenly, she saw a middle-aged bald guy come up. “Is this man bothering you?” He asked in sort of a growling voice. He was wearing a plain black shirt that clearly showed off his beefy torso and strong biceps.
Before Tasha could answer, her unknown hero pushed the other man threateningly. The dirty old man threw his hands up in the air to surrender. Then chuckling and snorting, he stumbled off to the other direction.
“Thanks,” Tasha muttered. “Do I know you?”
“No,” the bald guy answered briskly before disappearing back into the crowd.
Maybe it was one of Bret’s bodyguards? He sure fit the role. Well, at least the incident had jolted her to her senses. She needed to get home now. But in her present condition, it was risky.
She dialed Alex’s number on her cellphone. Her best friend wasn’t picking up. She was probably sound asleep.
Sighing, Tasha realized how stupid it had been to go for a drink and drown her sorrows over something that shouldn’t be affecting her anymore. She hated the power that Carter still had over her.
She was still figuring out how to get home when a familiar face came to her vision. Millie.
“Miss Winters,” Millie said once she was within earshot. “Mr. Walton wants to see you.”
“Now?” Tasha thought she was dreaming even as she followed Millie into the limousine waiting outside The Good Life.
“Well, we were all surprised when he arrived at the hotel an hour ago. Then he asked me to fetch you.”
“How did you know where to find me?”
“We have our sources,” was all Millie revealed.
Tasha didn’t think much of it. After all, it was a billionaire who had demanded it.
But she was grateful nevertheless. Bret is back. He always seemed to be appearing in her life when she needed rescuing the most. She should be more appreciative of this blessing.
As soon as Tasha saw Bret waiting outside of the elevator, she rushed into his penthouse and into his arms. Throwing her hands around his neck, her lips met his in a desperate and ravenous kiss. It was partially from guilt, a little of thankfulness, and largely because of the alcohol in her system.
She aggressively clawed at his back as she thrust her tongue into his mouth. Their tongues coiled and bent around one another in carnal union.
In her mind, she was seeing Carter and all the times she’d made out with him. The fury, uncertainty, and frustration in her chest were so engulfing that she was driven to release them through the passionate moment.
Meanwhile, Bret seemed totally turned on by her fierceness and hunger. He gave her head a push downward and she willingly gave him the most erotic blow job she’d ever done on anybody. He groaned with intense pleasure, the sound of which egged her on to keep at it until he came in her mouth.
Satisfied and exhausted, she fell back on the sofa. He was breathless too from the immense fervor of the sexual encounter. He leaned on the nearby wall, naked, while she drank in his beautiful sight.
She fell asleep and did not wake up until the sun was shining brightly.
When her eyes opened, the first thing she saw was Bret’s eyes full of lust. “It’s payback time,” he whispered in a teasing voice. He then made her climax several times in a row with his skillful foreplay and extensive experience in sex.
* * *
Tasha didn’t know whether to feel relieved or disappointed upon hearing of Carter’s departure. She only saw him once more at the official launch party of the MileRun store in Solvang. But of course, he had ignored her the whole time.
She tried once again to convince herself that it did not matter. She had Bret now, even if their relationship seemed to be purely physical. At least there was hope for something deeper in the future. Besides, Bret was taking good care of her. He was certainly giving her plenty of opportunities to grow her business and make it big.
Weeks dragged on. The more Tasha thought of Carter, the more she missed him. The bad part was, whenever she missed him, she turned to Bret for more sex. At least it worked for him too. He had never mentioned anything about taking their relationship a notch higher. The problem was that it wasn’t a good solution for her. She always ended up feeling guilty, lonely and miserable.
As she sat alone in the small office they had provided for her inside MileRun, she stared at her computer screen blankly. Why was she even bothering?
Every time she stepped into that store, she remembered Carter and the fun times they had together. She remembered how much he had made her feel loved. It still hurt so badly that he’d just thrown away everything. And for what? To accomplish his dreams on his own?
For the nth time, she puzzled over his possible reasons for deciding to pursue his ambitions without her. Had he fallen out of love without her knowing it? Or perhaps he’d thought she would just be a nuisance or a hindrance to his dreams.
There was only one way to find out. However, he didn’t seem to need the closure that she so desperately wanted. It was hard to get him alone, much less to force him to talk.
The store was closed already. It was getting late, but she needed to finish something first. For the next two hours, she forced herself to focus and work. After all, she didn’t want Carter of all people to regret hiring her services. And more than doing this for Carter, she was doing it for her own future.
The job at hand took three long hours. When she was done, her eyes hurt so much she decided to close and rest them for a while.
The smell of coffee roused her. The moment she opened her eyes, she was instantly blinded by the sunlight seeping through the windows. She shielded her eyes until they adjusted to the brightness. That was when she noticed a man gazing at her.
Leaning on the doorway of her small office with arms crossed on his chest, he looked fresh and handsome. This time, the usually solemn expression on his face was gone, replaced by concern.
Tasha blinked. She wasn’t dreaming. Carter was really there with her. Shit. She had fallen asleep for hours!
“Good morning, Miss Winters,” he greeted nonchalantly.
“Good morning, Mr. Crawford,” she answered in an equally formal tone. Her voice came out croaking awkwardly. She quickly cleared her throat and gathered her things.
“I’m sorry I fell asleep here,” she quickly said. “I didn’t realize I’d slept that long. I was
working on something last night and–”
“It’s alright,” he cut her off. “I appreciate your hard work. But you may want to look in the mirror now.”
She wanted to protest, but she saw a playful glint in his eye and caught the side of his lips turning up slightly. Was he smiling or even joking around with her?! Or maybe he was laughing at her! The nerve of this guy!
Her immediate reaction was to glare at his back once he turned to walk away, sipping the cup of coffee in his hand.
She grabbed her bag and hurried out without giving him a glance. She even slammed the door behind her to make a point, despite the fact that he was technically a huge client and a billionaire now too.
As Alex took an artsy embroidered dress off the rack, she said to Tasha, “You know, for someone who keeps ignoring you or pretending you didn’t have an intimate connection in the past, I’m surprised he’s spending so much time here in Solvang.”
Tasha shrugged. “It makes sense, I guess, since there are plenty of outdoor activities and sports here to engage in.”
“Maybe…” Alex said with a doubtful look on her face.
Finally, after weeks of working hard with her virtual teams on her two latest projects, Tasha had found time to enjoy herself.
“You know, let’s just go shopping!” Tasha declared, checking out a display of hand-painted trendy bags. She grabbed one that she liked and stashed it into the basket she was holding, which was already filled with other items she intended to buy.
“My, you are stressed!” Alex said with a laugh upon seeing her friend’s shopping basket.
“Absolutely.”
They both purchased a lot from the fashion boutique-slash-art gallery that they had always loved.
Tasha felt good to be rewarding herself and having some “me” time for a change.
Heading to a nearby coffee shop, she almost didn’t spot the familiar bald guy who seemed to be lurking in the corner, watching her. He was definitely creepy.
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