That wasn't the answer he wanted, but he could tell that was all he was going to get. "Here's my card, then. I'll follow up tomorrow."
She gave a vague nod before resuming the conversation he had interrupted.
His job done, Rick headed for the exit, anxious to get out of the crowded gala. However, as he made his way through the room, he caught sight of familiar dark, brown hair. It couldn't be...
He pushed through the crowd, nodding and murmuring at the random people, his eyes on that hair. Sure enough, it was Anne, the girl he'd been trying to find stood less than thirty feet from him. She stood against the wall, surveying the crowd like a dark goddess musing on her silly subjects. And her eyes drifted in his direction. Would she see him? What would she do? Would those chocolate eyes light up like they did eight years ago, accompanied with an excited smile? Or would they grow cold and distant, displeased to find him in her presence once more?
Rick stood frozen in his spot as she turned toward him. He had to see her face. She may have a near perfect mask of calmness, but the first seconds should be unguarded. That would tell him everything he needed to know.
But like an evil villain in a movie, Elliot sidled up to the other side of her, causing her head to swivel away from Rick.
Rick clenched his teeth and struggled not to march over to the couple and rip Elliot from Anne's side. Throwing a grown man across the room in a gala would not help anyone except soothe his jealousy. Why was Anne talking to him? Letting him lean so close to her, whispering lies--for Rick was sure it was all lies. How well did Anne know Elliot? With her head turned, Rick couldn't see her face. Was she aware that the smiling facade and smooth talk hid a very selfish core? Or had Elliot convinced her he was worthy of her attention? And why was the hated man going after his Anne anyway?
A cold pit formed in his stomach. What if she liked him? What if Elliot was the man she still pined for and not Rick? He had no idea when they had met. Elliot was a lawyer--they could have met at law school or college or at some Elliot reunion for all he knew.
Maye he had been a fool this whole time, thinking he might win Anne back. If he was up against the smooth-talking Elliot, he'd never make it. The man had wealth, prestige, AND the approval of her father. He bet even the godmother would choose Elliot over him.
Rick forced a smile on his face and stormed out of the gala, then drove aimlessly in his car for nearly an hour before he finally cooled down. It was still possible that Elliot was a close family member, perhaps a first cousin. And if Rick managed to snag a deal with the senator and get the management position over the Boston office, then he just might impress Anne's father and godmother enough to not interfere and ruin his chance with Anne again.
With that thought in mind, he called the senator's office the next day, eager to hound her office for a meeting. It took three calls, but he finally was granted a short meeting in two days.
When the day came, Rick sat at a prestigious restaurant, a small pile of folders on the table, and resisted drumming his fingers on the tablecloth. The senator was late. Did she plan to stand him up? He wouldn't be surprised, but he'd only end up hounding her once again. He wasn't easily dissuaded when he had a job on the line.
He began to dial her office's number, but spotted the senator a moment later. He quickly hid his phone and rose to greet her.
"Senator Dalrymple," he began but she waved at him to sit.
"You have twenty minutes, but AFTER I get a drink."
Rick waited with a forced smile until the lady finally had a drink in her hand. Then he launched into his speech, pulling out pictures of Robert Martin and his farm, his mother suffering from Alzheimer's, his younger sister faithfully helping both. He explained the arduous process of milking cows when one didn't have the money to buy the fancy equipment or hire a big crew. He then pulled out pictures of all the small milking farms in the state, how each one would be positively affected by Martin's invention, allowing them a chance to survive against the big corporations.
"Four years ago, you ran with the motto of putting the common people first," Rick added. "I may be a part of a big corporation, but we're only big in order to bring the resources these people need. The litigation you've proposed would rob these people the chance to succeed and in a few years, we may not have any family-run businesses at all. But with a few tweaks in the language as I've detailed in this paper," he slid it toward her, "Would allow us to help these people."
He held still, his speech finished, and waited for the verdict. The senator's cold eyes hadn't once lit up, but the sneer on her face had disappeared at least.
"You make some good arguments," she began, "I'm not sure the situation is as dire as you put it, but I'll take another look at our research."
Rick fought against sighing in frustration. She wasn't going to approve. "Allow me to drop these folders off at your office, then, so you can peruse both our research and your own."
"I'll take them now, if you don't mind."
"Sure." He tidied up the papers and handed her the folders. "I hope you'll come to a conclusion satisfactory to everyone."
"I intend to, but these things take time." She stood up and Rick followed suit.
"I understand," Rick said as he followed her out of the restaurant and forced himself to give her a hearty handshake. He watched her head down the street, then began to dial Bingley's number. However, halfway through, he changed his mind. He had no good news to share and, if he was put through to Miss Bingley instead, he didn't need to hear her sneer of disappointment. Best to wait until he knew his fate.
He crossed the street, then thumbed through his emails as he walked down the sidewalk. With the meeting over, the next task on his list was to somehow convince Anne to fall for him again. He pulled up Charles' number and tried to deduce a polite way to get her number. It was rather ironic that he had no problem bugging an arrogant senator, yet seemed frozen over calling a friend. Then again, Rick cared about what Charles thought of him. The senator, on the other hand, already despised Rick so no harm in confirming her opinion of him.
If only he had asked for Anne's number when he had first met her. Or talked to her instead of ignoring her. Then he wouldn't be in this stupid position, wandering Boston like a love-sick ghost, hoping to find his lost love--
"Hello, Rick."
He snapped his head up from his phone and stared in shock. "A-anne?" He couldn't believe it. Maybe Brandon was right. Maybe he WAS lucky. How else would he now be standing directly in front of Anne? She didn't look too excited to see him, though, her calm eyes resting on him with ease.
"What-what are you doing here?" He stammered like a stupefied idiot. Why did he ask that? He should have complimented her or somehow made her smile and want to be with him.
"Chocolates," she said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world and waved at the store next to them. He turned to find chocolate wares overflowing the display window. "I had heard they were the best around here," she continued, those chocolate eyes of hers far sweeter than any in that store.
He gulped, trying to find his wits. They all seemed to have been sucked into those calm eyes of hers. He felt nineteen again, clueless and desperate to impress her. "Uh, is it good?" What lame question was that? "The chocolates," he added, in case she failed to understand his brainless question.
She smiled as if amused and he nearly melted. He loved that smile.
"Yes, they are. You should try some. They do samples."
Was that an invitation? A hint to spend more time with him? Funny that it would happen before a chocolate store. He used to joke that he'd work at one just to supply her with a lifetime of chocolate. "You were always the expert on chocolate." At last, something witty. He motioned for her to go before him like a proper gentleman should do, but she stared at him as if confused. Rick took a step back. He had read her wrong--she had only been making small talk, not hinting to spend more time with him. Ugh, he should have known she didn't care. He opened his mouth to make an exit speech, but she abru
ptly walked into the store, leaving him standing outside with an open mouth like an idiot. Not sure what that meant or what to do, he followed her into the store, half expecting her to turn around and glare at him for daring to follow. However, she led him to the sampling area instead.
"What brings you to Boston?" she asked as if trying to make small talk in an awkward situation.
"Work. And Louisa," he added, just in case she'd assume he was heartless for forgetting about the comatose girl. He wanted to include "you" as well, but the word failed to leave his lips.
"Have you been able to see her?" she asked.
"Yes, Charles took me in to see her." The image of her pale face and unmoving body filled his mind and he rubbed a hand over his face as if that could remove the image. "Such a mess." It was hard to think she still wasn't in the clear, that a text with bad news could show up on his phone at any minute.
"Is she really that bad?"
He dropped his hand in surprise. "You haven't seen her?" Her father couldn't be THAT busy to keep her away for nearly a week.
"Not yet. I've been busy with my father--"
Rick grimaced, remembering the last time he'd seen the father. And Anne with Elliot.
"--but Charles has kept me updated with texts," she continued.
"Yeah, same here. I hope she pulls through." He ran a hand over his face again. "I really do." It would kill him if the worst happened and Charles would be devastated.
"Yeah, me, too," she murmured, her head down, hands clasped. She looked weary; the toll of Louisa's fate must be worse for her than he thought. Hoping to cheer her up, he motioned to the display of chocolate samples.
"Which did you like best?"
"Oh," her worried expression cleared and she eyed the chocolates for a moment, but he wasn't surprised when she pointed to the cherry chocolates. "This one."
He couldn't resist smiling. "Yeah, you always did."
Her eyes jerked to him as if surprised he referenced the past. But no sneer accompanied the surprised eyes, but more of a pleased smile. So, she didn't resent the past. Maybe he had a chance, after all. He took a step toward her. "Anne--"
"Anne!" A deep voice cut in and Will, like a recurring villain, appeared by Anne's side. It took every ounce of control for Rick to resist shoving the guy away. Instead, he straightened to his full height, glad he was taller than Elliot. It was barely an inch, but it was still taller. Hopefully Anne noticed the height difference, too.
"Ah, Rick," Elliot said, casting a bored stare at him, "Good to see you again."
"Likewise," Rick forced through clenched teeth.
Anne glanced between the two. "You know each other?"
"Work," Rick stated but Will displayed a charming smile as though he was her gallant knight to the rescue.
"We met a few days ago when he needed my help to meet our dear cousin, Senator Dalrymple."
"She's your cousin?" That would explain how Elliot obtained a meeting with her so easily.
"Actually, she's my mother's cousin," Anne stated. Rick relaxed. Elliot wasn't direct family with the Senator. And he was probably using Anne's family to get to the senator.
"Why do you need to meet her?" Anne asked.
"It's for a delicate matter," Will cut in before Rick could respond, then turned to Rick. "I see you're acquainted with my Anne." Will leveled a glare. Rick knew that stance. It was the same stance HE wanted to be doing. The stance that told other males to back off from his girl. Rick glanced at Anne, hoping her eyes were on him, not on Elliot. But no, her attention was definitely all on Elliot. He had already lost the battle.
The old anger boiled within him. "I'm afraid I must go," Rick announced. He wasn't going to stick around and be rejected again. Besides, if he stayed any longer, he feared he'd punch Elliot so hard, he'd end up in the hospital with Louisa. "Have a good day." He turned to storm out, but the sweetest voice called out.
"Wait!"
He turned, elated to find Anne with a hand out as if about to pull him back to her side. Maybe she would beg him to stay?
"My family is going to a symphony tomorrow night at the Symphony Hall. It should be really good."
He stared at her. A symphony? What did that have to do with winning her heart?
"You should come. The acoustics in the old Symphony Hall are fantastic." She smiled up at him, a hopeful, inviting smile as if desperate he'd come. She could have asked him to catch a star with that look and he'd have said yes.
"I, uh," he shot a look at Will. Would he be there, too? And didn't she say her family was going? Did he really want to face her family and Will all at once? Though she may have asked for a star, reality crashed in on him. "I'll think about it." He said instead, then quickly left before either demanded a more solid answer.
Less than ten seconds, though, he regretted it all and wanted to storm back in. He was being a wuss, cowering at the thought of facing her family. If he wanted Anne, he'd have to deal with them eventually. But he couldn't help remembering the fiasco of last time. Eight years may have passed, but the rejection still stung. And he wasn't sure how well he'd handle a second one.
Besides, Will had acted as if Anne was his girl. Why, then, was she inviting him to the symphony if she was dating the arrogant Elliot? Was she just being nice? Anne did have a kind heart, always thinking of others. Maybe he had read her wrong again and her invitation was solely based on pity.
He wouldn't go, then. He didn't need her family seeing him being pitied by the girl that had rejected him. He'd just move on. Face the fact that he had lost Anne and get on with his life.
Chapter 21
Rick paced the short length of his hotel room, unable to bear the empty time that stretched before him. Normally, he'd find a lead and take off somewhere, but he knew he needed to stick around until the senator deigned to give him a response. He could visit the hospital, but he didn't want to give the impression that he was a love-sick puppy waiting for Louisa to wake up. Besides, he might run into Anne. And Will and that smug look on his face. He still couldn't believe Anne would pick that selfish, fake guy over him.
His phone rang, startling him out of his thoughts. When he saw Brandon's face on the screen, Rick grinned.
"Brandon! Been a long time. Where are you?"
"Was in New York, then swung up to Connecticut to see Harv and he told me about the accident. I'm really sorry to hear about it. Do you know how the girl is doing?"
"I believe her status hasn't changed but Harv should have told you that. James has been at the hospital since they arrived in Boston and I'm sure he's keeping Harv up to date."
"Yeah, well, I needed the excuse to call."
Rick laughed. "You never need an excuse."
"Yeah, okay, I had another reason. Wanted to know how involved you were with the girl but it doesn't sound like you're that heartbroken. Harv mentioned she was sweet on you."
"Of course he'd mention that. She did have an obvious like for me, but it was one-sided, I'm afraid."
"He also mentioned Anne was with the group."
Rick froze. "Harv figured it out?" Now he'd never hear the end of it.
"No, I don't think he put two and two together yet. I was thinking of swinging up to Boston, though. Want to grab dinner together?"
Rick grimaced. He had a hunch that Brandon wanted to check up on him. "I'm fine, Brandon. She hardly recognized me."
"Yeah, but I need you as an excuse to get away from Harv's hounding. He apparently wants to set me up with Anne."
Rick nearly dropped the phone. "He what?!"
"He was really impressed by her. Been singing her praises since I got here. James found out she's single and, well, you know Harv. He's on the hunt."
Rick glared at the white walls around him. Even though Harv was one of his best friends, if he stood in front of him right now, he'd punch him. Of all the nerve, to push Brandon onto his girl--
Except she wasn't his girl. She was Will's. Or close to it, at least. Rick kicked the carpet, the old a
nger boiling inside. Why hadn't he done something when she was with the Musgroves? He could have stolen her away from Will then.
"You still there?" Brandon asked.
"Yeah, sorry." It came out angry. He took a deep breath, then continued in a calmer tone. "I'll do dinner. Tell me where and when and I'll be there."
* * *
Rick twiddled with his fork, unable to sit still. The clicks and muffled conversations of the restaurant around him seemed to be closing in on him.
"All right," Brandon said, leaning on the table. "Spit it out."
Rick grimaced, then put the fork down. "It's nothing--"
"You haven't once bragged about your latest find in Rhode Island."
Rick ducked his head. "You heard about that already?"
"I had a meeting with Knightly two days after yours. He praised your work and we know he only does that when he's really pleased. I think someone is going to get another raise, maybe even a promotion. And yet, all he can do is glare at his fork."
Rick chuckled. "Sorry, got a lot on my mind, I guess."
"Yeah, I can see. Spit it out."
"It's dumb stuff. How was your trip to the other side of the country?"
"I already told you about that trip."
Rick flushed. "You did?"
"Yep, so spit whatever is on your mind so I can have your attention again."
Rick glared at his fork.
"It's dumb."
"It's about Anne, isn't it?"
Rick sighed. "I've just been a huge idiot. A week--a whole week--and I didn't do anything. She was surrounded by people who would have been on MY side if I had bothered to go after her. But I was too stupid and angry. I wanted revenge. I wanted to show her how little her rejection affected me, that I had gotten over her long time ago. And I really thought I was over her, but you were right. I had only buried my feelings. They came roaring back the second I saw her. She gets into my head and I can't get her out. And now she's dating some loser! Someone her family will love and approve! It's not fair!"
"But you're still in Boston."
Persuading Her: A Modern Persuasion Retelling (Pemberley Estates Book 2) Page 15