I guess I’ll get one of our scouts to try and find the owners. That way I’ll be ready when I convince Joaquin to sell me the pub. I can’t blow my first account—they’re trusting me and I intend to deliver.
I worked until it was almost dark and finally decided to call it a night. The only other Purchasing Agent left in the office was Irwin, and he looked to be hard at work as he stared at his computer. I still felt bad about my intrusion into his personal life. He stood up from his desk and walked out of his office, not even looking in my direction. I watched as he walked to the vending machine and swiped his card like a zombie until he had several bags of chips, a can of soda, and a Moon Pie. He gathered his items in his arms and started walking back to his office. It occurred to me, as I watched him dump the items on his desk, that it was probably his dinner. He really was a slave to his job. I felt drawn to him in a strange way. It wasn’t romantic, even though he was a decent looking guy, but it was almost like the hurt resonated off him so much is burrowed into my heart.
“Hey, Irwin. I’m really sorry about earlier.” I walked up to his door and leaned against the frame.
“Huh? Oh, you’re still here.” He looked up at me and smiled. “It really isn’t a big deal.”
“Please tell me that isn’t your dinner.” I motioned to the items laying on his desk.
“This? Yeah, I’ve got a lot of work to take care of.” He nodded and turned back to his computer.
“What was it you told me earlier—don’t let this job come between you and what truly matters?” I tilted my head to the side. “I’m pretty sure eating junk food for dinner is ignoring something that truly matters—like proper nutrition.”
“That was advice for you, not for me. I’ve already burned all my bridges. This job is about all I have left for now.” He chuckled and shook his head.
I hope he doesn’t get the wrong idea here, but he’s clearly hurting, even if he won’t admit it.
“That’s nonsense. You’ve put in enough time for one day. Let’s get some dinner.” I motioned with a wave. “I’m not taking no for an answer. Come on, Irwin. You have to eat something besides junk food.”
“Not tonight. One day you’ll understand.” Irwin shook his head back and forth. “The harder you work, the more work you get. The bosses put me in charge of a really important account, and I’ve got a tight deadline.”
I guess I am taking no for an answer.
“Okay.” I nodded in understanding. “Well at least try to go home before the sun comes up.”
“Maybe.” He smiled and chuckled as he continued to type away on his computer. “See you tomorrow.”
I wondered if that would be me one day, pushing forty with no pictures on my desk, and a diet of junk food just so I could get my work done timely. I liked working at Viking Developments, and I loved the career advancement they had offered in such a short period of time, but I did want more than just a career when I reflected back on my life. The conversation with Irwin made my biological clock tick as I drove back home. I was already twenty-five and I hadn’t really fallen in love. The kiss with Joaquin was explosive and I really liked him, but the relationship seemed destined to fail before it got off the ground. Mixing business with pleasure was never a good idea, and regardless of how great our first date was, I still had to close the deal and buy Hal’s Pub.
Is that my cell phone?
I dug my phone out of my purse when I heard it vibrate and pressed it to my ear. “Hello?”
“Gina! Hello, it’s Angelina.” The blonde meddler’s friendly tone echoed on the other end of the phone.
“Hey—I guess I don’t have to ask how you got my number.” I pressed the brakes as I approached a red light.
You set me up on dates, you show up at my work—yeah, you having my phone number doesn’t come as a surprise at this point.
“I’m having dinner at a wonderful restaurant near your apartment. Why don’t you join me?” She remained cheerful, despite my rather flat response.
“I’m really not in the mood.” I sighed and shook my head, even though she couldn’t see me through the phone.
“Don’t be silly, I want to hear all about your date with Joaquin.” She hesitated for a moment. “It’s my treat. I’m at The Dynasty.”
That’s a really expensive restaurant.
“Fine.” I sighed again. “I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
I passed The Dynasty on my way to and from work every day. I always did want to eat there, even though I envisioned it as the start of a great date instead of a casual meeting with Angelina. I needed to put an end to her meddling once and for all. I certainly didn’t want her showing up at my job the next day because I blew off her dinner invitation. I was glad I had on a nice dress, because The Dynasty’s dress code was strictly enforced. I drove up to the front door, handed my keys to the valet, and walked inside. I saw Angelina towards the back of the restaurant and started walking towards her table with a purpose. I wasn’t going to get caught up in her riddles anymore. It was time for her to stop treating me like a puppet in her sick and twisted game. It worked for Harmony but it didn’t work for me, and I was done being nice about it.
“Thank you for joining me.” Angelina smiled when I approached the table.
“This is going to be a quick discussion.” I sat down quickly and pulled my chair close to the table.
“Nonsense, you really have to try the food here. It’s amazing.” She reached for a gin and tonic in front of her and sipped it. “And the drinks—unbelievable.”
“Can anyone really get a gin and tonic wrong?” I tilted my head and scowled.
“You’d be surprised.” She chuckled and shrugged. “So, tell me all about your date with Joaquin. Was it amazing?”
“It’s really none of your business, to be honest, and that goes double for the rest of my life. I’ve tried to be nice because you did help my best friend, but this game is over. I’m not playing anymore.” I shook my head back and forth as I stared her down.
“Good evening, miss. Would you care for a drink to start your evening?” The waiter seemed to appear out of thin air at our table.
“She’ll have a nice red wine. Just bring the bottle—the best one you have.” Angelina smiled towards the waiter.
“Absolutely, I’ll be right back.” He nodded and did a quick turn on his heels before darting towards the kitchen.
Waste your money if you want, Angelina. It doesn’t impress me.
“So, about your date with Joaquin.” Angelina tilted her head to the side, completely ignoring my rant.
“Why?” I glared at her and exhaled sharply. “Why can’t you just take no for an answer and go help someone else find their Infinite Fantasy, or whatever you call it?”
“I knew when I first met you that there was something special about you. This is your journey.” Angelina scoffed and tilted her head in the opposite direction. “You went on the date with Joaquin, right?”
“Yes.” I tightened my jaw and nodded.
“Then you felt it.” She nodded and reached for her drink. “You felt that… connection—a need that is almost spiritual.”
Fuck, I didn’t even know how to put that feeling into words, but that’s exactly how I felt.
“So what if I did?” I sighed and shook my head. “It’s too complicated.”
“No, it isn’t. Trust me. I’m guiding you on your journey and Joaquin is just one part of it. That feeling you felt—that’s it. That’s the power of two people who were destined to be together finally finding each other.” She leaned forward and put her hand on mine. “Don’t run from this. You’re so close to seeing I’m right.”
“It was a good date.” I looked down at her hand and sighed again.
The kiss we shared is burned into my soul—there’s no way to deny that.
I stared at Angelina, feeling like I was locked in a battle of wills with the meddling blonde woman. It would have been so much easier to just get up and leave if I hadn’t alre
ady seen the result of her matchmaking with Harmony. That love, even if it was a strange relationship with multiple men, was the realest thing I had ever seen. I didn’t even understand it completely until Joaquin kissed me. I was feeling the connection Angelina mentioned—the need that was almost spiritual. It set me on fire when I felt Joaquin’s lips. My silent stare was interrupted by the waiter who brought over my glass of wine. I wasn’t really in the mood for a drink, but I couldn’t resist an aged red that was probably more expensive than my rent.
“What if I just want to feel that with Joaquin? What if that’s what I truly need—just one guy.” I softened my tone and sipped the wine.
Holy hell, that is like ambrosia in my mouth.
“It’s not.” Angelina shook her head back and forth. “It’s what you need right now, and the two of you would probably be happy for a time, but those missing pieces would eventually start to haunt you.”
“I don’t understand how all of this works. You’ve got a computer algorithm, right? How does that predict destiny—fate? I mean, how does it find the right person with flawless accuracy?” My curiosity finally took over, and I was right back in Angelina’s game, despite my efforts to resist it.
“It depends on what you believe. The concept of soulmates has been around since ancient times. There are mentions of it in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs. They believed souls were split when human beings were created by the gods, and people would wander forever trying to reunite with their other half.” Angelina shrugged and sipped her drink. “Some modern philosophers, like Ralph Waldo Emerson, believed it was just some sort of chemical affinity. He even believed it went further than love—and defined true friendship as well.”
“That still doesn’t explain how the algorithm works.” I narrowed my eyes and shook my head.
“It’s complicated, but just think about the world we live in. There are very few secrets that we keep completely to ourselves. People seek out others like them. It’s just human nature. In the digital age, we share everything. Did you know the poem you wrote in fourth grade is still on a computer server somewhere? The algorithm does.” Angelina smirked and nodded.
“I’m pretty sure that was about hating carrots.” I wrinkled my nose and shook my head. “What does that have to do with finding my supposed soulmate?”
“With enough information, you can build a profile for anyone. Likes, dislikes, even secret kinks you might not even realize exist within you.” Angelina shrugged and sipped her drink. “Things you say—things that are left unsaid. All of it goes into the algorithm.”
“But with Harmony, she had a connection to all three of the guys you hooked her up with. I had never even met Joaquin before I walked into Hal’s Pub.” I leaned back in my chair. “I certainly don’t have anyone from my past that I want to rekindle a relationship with.”
“You say that was your first meeting, but are you sure? What if you passed him on the street a hundred times since you moved to Chicago? Would you have even known?” Angelina raised her eyebrows inquisitively.
“I mean, no—I guess not.” I couldn’t help but admit she was right.
“The algorithm learns things and it evolves in time. After building a number of profiles, one thing has really stuck out to me. People that are meant to be together are naturally drawn to each other.” Angelina nodded and smiled.
Our discussion was interrupted by our waiter again and it was time to order our food. Once the order was placed, Angelina continued explaining her theory about soulmates and the natural connection that was shared. I wasn’t entirely convinced, but I could see the passion in her eyes as she talked about it. She might have been a meddler, but she genuinely believed every word she said. She also told me about other success stories from her time in New York running Club Infinite Fantasy. It was hard not to feel a little intrigued, and I felt my resistance to what she was offering slowly fading as she talked about all the happiness people found at the end of their journey towards their Infinite Fantasy.
“I can’t deny that it’s fascinating…” I sighed and let my words drift off.
“It’s more than fascinating.” She nodded with a smile firmly planted on her lip. h“Now that you’ve had your date with Joaquin, you’re ready for the next part of your journey. It’s time for your sexual liberation.”
“Right, losing my virginity to two men. See, that’s where this becomes a little hard to believe. I don’t fantasize about that sort of thing. My fantasies have always involved losing my virginity to someone I cared about. I’ve never imagined myself having sex with multiple guys at once—it doesn’t even interest me.” I shook my head back and forth.
“It can be intimating, but your Infinite Fantasy intertwines with theirs. That’s how it works. They’re on a journey too, looking for something they don’t truly understand. That feeling you felt when you were with Joaquin? Imagine it being even stronger—imagine it tapping into a part of your soul that exposes your vulnerabilities on a primal level. That’s what the next step in your journey is going to do.” Angelina chuckled and sipped her drink. “It won’t just be a one time thing, though. Once they have a taste, they’ll never be able to let you go, because they’ll feel it too.”
“And what about Joaquin? How is he going to feel if he finds out I refused his advances and then climbed into bed with two strangers?” I furrowed my brow and scoffed. “That doesn’t sound like the start to a very good relationship.”
“It will make sense, and Joaquin will understand when the time comes. He just needs time to process what he felt when he was with you. This is all new for him as well. He’s never really been in love. He thought he was once, but those feelings will be nothing compared to what he will feel for you.” Angelina leaned back from the table when the waiter walked over with our food.
The food was as magnificent as the wine, and I let Angelina’s words tumble around in my head as we ate. Perhaps it was the wine, or the buzz from my new job still lingering inside me, but I found my curiosity growing. Angelina had a lot of success stories, including one I knew was absolutely true. Maybe it was time to let go of my inhibitions and just trust her. There was no denying what I felt when Joaquin kissed me. If I could feel that way about others and find a relationship that withstood all of the hardships life threw at it, I would be a fool to run from it—even if it wasn’t with just one man. When our food was done and our plates were carried away, I reached for my wine and felt my hand tingling.
“This stuff hit me harder than I expected.” I blinked as I lifted the glass. “I don’t think I can drive home.”
“It’s stronger than the stuff you buy at the store, that’s for sure.” Angelina chuckled and nodded. “Why don’t we share an Uber?”
“Yeah, that’s probably a good idea.” I nodded and sipped the wine.
The wine lowered my inhibitions and caused me to ask a few more questions about the two men Angelina thought I was destined to lose my virginity to. She wasn’t very forthcoming with the details, but promised they were perfect matches for me. Not only that, but they scored slightly higher than Joaquin. She revealed something else too—something that I wasn’t expecting. Joaquin and the two men who were supposed to take my virginity weren’t the only three matches. There was another one too, one that would be critical to the completion of my journey. I pressed for more details, but she didn’t believe I was ready to hear them yet. By the time we left the restaurant, I was really feeling the wine coursing through my veins.
“So, these guys that are supposed to take my virginity.” I looked over at Angelina as we walked towards the Uber. “Will I get to meet them beforehand?”
“No.” Angelina shook her head back and forth. “It’s important that you don’t.”
“What if I don’t like them?” I paused when we got to the car.
“You will, but more importantly, they’re really going to like you.” She smiled and opened the back door so I could climb inside.
“At least give me something here. Somethi
ng…” I looked at the driver and then leaned close to her ear so I could whisper. “Something that doesn’t make me just feel like a slut having sex with two random guys.”
“That’s the part you don’t understand, Gina.” Angelina patted my knee. “In order for you to let go of your repressed sexuality, that’s exactly what you need to feel like.”
Fuck… That—that made me tingle.
Chapter Eight
Olsen
Friday morning
“How’s the new girl working out?” I looked up at Mark, the manager of the purchasing department, as he walked in for our weekly results meeting.
“Gina?” Mark shrugged and sat down across from me. “She seems pretty driven and she’s already made friends with Irwin, so that’s something, I guess.”
“Really?” Erik raised his eyebrows in surprise. “She actually got that grumpy bastard to say more than two words to her?”
“Yeah, I was surprised too. I mean, don’t get me wrong, Irwin is a great employee and deserves to be a Senior Purchasing Agent, but he usually keeps to himself.” Mark shrugged again and connected his tablet to our overhead projector.
“He’s given a lot to this company.” I leaned back and turned towards the screen. “He can be as grumpy as he wants as far as I’m concerned. He’s closed more accounts on his own than anyone else, so if he prefers to work alone, that’s his prerogative.”
Club Endless Fantasy: Reverse Harem Romance (Haremworld Book 8) Page 6