“Are you looking to buy another business?” she asked.
“What?”
“Your business meeting,” she said. “Is this another business to add to your portfolio?”
I wasn’t talking about this with her or anyone. “I’m not sure,” I said. “I need to get ready, but I expect to be back within a couple of hours.”
“We’ll be ready.”
“Order room service or go to the hotel restaurant if you’d like. Charge it to the room.”
“You don’t have to do that,” she said.
“Please, let me do it. You guys agreed to come along with me. I appreciate the company. It gets a little lonely.”
She smiled and stepped forward. “We’re happy to be along.” She gave me a quick kiss. “Have a good meeting and I’ll see you when you get back.”
I stared at her for several seconds. This was not what I did. I didn’t have a cup of coffee in the morning while in my pajamas with a woman. I didn’t get a kiss goodbye in the morning.
I shook it off and went into my room to shower and get ready, but I couldn’t shake the feeling of having someone’s arms around me. Not in a physical sense, but just the feeling of being held and appreciated. It was unfamiliar but good.
She kissed me and it wasn’t sexual. It was a kiss that said hello and goodbye. It was the kind of kiss that I saw couples sharing. I never experienced it. When I kissed a woman or vice versa, it was for one reason only—sex. The kiss was a precursor to sex. I wasn’t aroused but I was looking forward to being with her as soon as I got this meeting out of the way.
I dressed for success in one of my better suits before leaving the hotel. Her door was closed, and I didn’t want to disturb her or risk waking up Jace. The kid was going to have a busy day and needed his rest. The hired car drove me to the building. I didn’t immediately get out. I looked up at the building and told myself I was going to do this. I had to do it.
“I’ll be an hour at most,” I told the driver.
“I’ll be here.”
I climbed out and went inside. It was a Saturday morning, but money didn’t sleep. The people streaming into the office building were there to make money or make their clients more money. I found the right office on the map and stepped into the elevator. My palms were actually sweaty, which pissed me off. I did not want to be nervous or anxious.
I was a successful man. Far more successful than him. I could do this. I stepped off the elevator and looked around. A pretty receptionist was sitting behind a tall desk with a headset on. I confidently stepped forward and announced I had an appointment.
“Please have a seat,” she said with a smile. “There’s coffee and pastries.”
“Thanks,” I said and walked into the open seating area.
The smell of fresh, rich coffee filled the room. Most of the offices were dark, but business was still hopping. There was a young woman, his assistant I assumed, sitting at a desk outside of the grand office with ornate doors. It was all about appearances. He wanted to be a king. He wasn’t an aristocrat, but he could pretend. The assistant yawned and quickly covered her mouth.
I was glad my people got weekends off. It was just another thing I learned not to do. I worked my people hard, but seven days a week was cruel. I walked around the area and looked at the various framed pictures on the walls. There were photos of the company owner with dignitaries, Hollywood types, and other rich people.
Another wall was dedicated to just him. I crossed the lobby to see a large photo of him sitting behind his desk looking like the powerful man he was. There was a short bio under the picture that outlined his rise to the top of the business world. Reading the little blurb about him and his life made it seem like he was hatched. There was no mention of family. Nothing. It was all about him.
I sat down and waited. I wasn’t surprised by the pretentiousness of the office and the shrine to him and his success. I felt my lip curling and had to remind myself to keep it cool. I had no doubt in my mind he was making me wait on purpose. It was a power move. He wanted to show he was in charge. It was the oldest trick in the book.
I waited five minutes and was about to let my frustration be known when his assistant popped her head up from her desk. “You can go in now,” she said with a smile.
“Thank you.”
I walked to the doors and put my hand on the door handle. I took a deep breath and pushed the door open. I was immediately assailed with the smell of heavy cologne and cigar smoke. It turned my empty stomach.
I stepped inside and closed the door behind me. I looked around the office that was the size of a studio apartment. Again, it was all about appearances. There was a full seating area with leather couches and a couple of chairs. A thick, fuzzy bearskin rug was between the couches that faced each other. More framed pictures of him with the rich and famous covered the walls.
An ugly piece of artwork hung on the wall to my right. I was sure it cost a small fortune, but it was uglier than sin. I never understood art. It was all for show, the uglier the more attractive to the wealthy elite. My gaze moved to the man behind the big desk. His head was down as he furiously scribbled across what looked to be a contract of some sort.
His once dark hair was more salt than pepper. His hands looked wrinkled and arthritic. He put on some weight since the last I saw him. His broad shoulders sagged and had the look of an old man. I stood in front of the desk and waited for him to acknowledge me. He had to be about the rudest man alive. I would never treat a client so poorly.
“Give me just a minute,” he mumbled. “God damn incompetent people can’t get one thing right. I have to look over every single one of these contracts with a fine-tooth comb. I guess it isn’t their money they’re losing. They don’t give a shit.”
I slowly shook my head. Never would I behave so unprofessionally. “Take your time,” I said.
He didn’t flinch. He just kept scribbling. There was no recognition. “Have a seat,” he growled.
I didn’t sit down. I wanted to be standing when he looked at me. I wanted to have the upper hand. He dropped the pen and leaned back. He looked at me. His face was wrinkled and pale. He didn’t look healthy. That year-round tan he used to have from spending his weekends playing golf was gone. He aged fifty years, it looked like. Time had not been kind to him.
I waited for him to say something. “I really hope you aren’t here to waste my time,” he said with irritation.
I wasn’t sure what I was expecting him to say, but I wasn’t surprised to feel his anger. This reunion was never going to be sweet or loving, but I supposed I had a little tiny bit of hope that it would at least be cordial.
“Hello, Dad, nice to see you too,” I said before taking my seat. He was an old, worn-out man. I had nothing more to prove. We both knew I could run circles around him. No need to rub it in.
Chapter 59
Saige
We stepped off the elevator and slowly moved toward the massive lobby. I insisted Jace let me hold his hand while we navigated the crowded area. It was a lot to take in. We were from New York City and had been around the busy city life, but this was different. This was like taking a walk in a foreign country.