First Meeting #2

My eyes go wide when I discover who it is.

Haven looks at me warily and seems to be silently asking for forgiveness, but all it does is make me angrier.

I feel he’s been playing me this entire time and my blood runs hot.

It’s clear he knew who I was and didn’t have the decency to introduce himself.

I press my lips together hard to keep from saying what I think of him in front of his father, but when we’re alone he won’t get off so easily.

“Can’t it wait until tomorrow?”

He’s trying to buy time, but I won’t allow it. My anger won’t last that long and by tomorrow it will have subsided.

“No.” I stand up. “I’ve waited long enough. I want to see the factory right now. I’ll also take the account books back to the inn once I’ve finished the tour.”

“The account books don’t leave this building,” Mr. Odell says, flustered.

“All right.” I concede because it seems reasonable, even though being near Haven is uncomfortable for me right now. “Then I’ll come back tomorrow to review them.”

“Let’s go.”

Haven gestures toward the door and I walk out of the office practically fuming.

When he brushes my arm with his hand, I pull away as if burned.

I’ve been an idiot for not finding out who he was sooner.

Was I so blinded by what he made me feel that my brain shut down?

I ran into him in the woods on the way to the river!

Haven was supposed to be there. How could I not see it was the same man?

But what I hate most is that he didn’t tell me.

That he pretended he wasn’t the person I was looking for and kept up the charade every time we saw each other after that.

I even thought he was jealous of himself, for God’s sake!

I’m ridiculous. And I feel used, but above all, I’m ashamed of the power I’ve allowed him to have over me.

I even thought he truly liked me. Stupid.

“It’s not what you think, morena,” he says when we’re alone in a long corridor.

“Don’t ever call me that again,” I say through clenched teeth. “To you I’m Miss Hardwick, and you’d better remember it from now on.”

“Debra…” He reaches out toward me, but I pull away before he can touch me.

My name on his lips affects me more than I’ll ever admit. Damn me for allowing it.

“I’ve changed my mind,” I say, turning toward the exit. “I’ll come back tomorrow for the tour. Right now I couldn’t be objective.”

“Please.” This time he grabs my arm and stops me. “It’s not what you think.”

“Are you trying to tell me you didn’t know who I was?” I try not to raise my voice, but it’s proving difficult. “Because let me remind you that I told you about my plan to win over Mr. Odell’s son. Who is none other than you. Oh, that must have been really entertaining for you!”

He pulls me into another office. His, I assume. And despite my anger, I can’t help admiring it. It’s very him—it suits him perfectly. He locks the door and I narrow my eyes. If he thinks that’ll keep me from leaving, he’s very much mistaken.

“I knew who you were, of course,” he finally admits, after watching me for several long minutes. “But that’s not why I approached you. I swear.”

“Right, sure.” I laugh without humor. “I don’t believe you, Haven. Since I got here, your father has been giving me the runaround because he clearly doesn’t want to sell the company. And you expect me to believe you approached me after seeing me with Carson just because you’re attracted to me?”

I pronounce every word with fury because I’d rather he think I’m angry. The truth is far more humiliating: I’m hurt, embarrassed. I don’t want to give him more ammunition against me. It’s enough that I fell at his feet so easily.

“I’m not going to justify myself.” He crosses his arms over his chest. “When I saw you having dinner with Carson, I figured you worked for Mr. Hardwick—”

“And you decided it would be fun to make a fool of me,” I cut him off.

“That’s not how it was, Debra.” He takes a step toward me and I take one back. “I saw you and I wanted you. It was pure instinct. Nothing like it has ever happened to me with anyone—it wasn’t something I planned.”

“And I’m supposed to believe that,” I clarify, crossing my arms now, “just because you say so.”

“I think I proved it to you quite thoroughly, and on multiple occasions.”

His voice softens and I’m starting to think he didn’t lock the door to keep me in, but to keep everyone else out. I take another step back.

“Don’t you dare,” I warn him, raising a hand to stop him if my words fail to.

“I swear that what’s happening between us has nothing to do with the company,” he insists as he takes another step toward me. His chest meets my open palm and I feel it burn at the contact. “I’ve been tempted to tell you who I was on more than one occasion.”

“Then why didn’t you?” I reproach him.

“Because I was afraid you’d react exactly like you’re reacting now.”

“Oh, great, so now it’s going to be my fault.” I pull away from him, even more furious, and turn my back. I need to calm down or I’ll end up hitting him.

“Nobody’s to blame for anything, morena.”

“I’ve already told you not to call me that.” I spin to face him and find him just inches away. When I try to put distance between us, he holds me by the waist. “Let go of me, Haven.”

“I love the way my name sounds on your lips,” he whispers in a husky voice. “Since I met you, you have no idea how many times I’ve wanted to hear it.”

He tries to kiss me, but I manage to pull away in time.

I can’t afford to fall for his game again.

I practically run to the door and turn the key to open it, but at the last moment he places his hand against it and stops me from leaving.

I feel his body against mine, my heart pounding from the contact.

“You have to believe me, Debra.” I hear the plea in his voice. “I didn’t want you to find out like this—I hoped to be the one to tell you. Forgive me.”

“Too late,” I say, before opening the door and walking out.

I don’t even bother saying goodbye to Mandy—I don’t think I could say anything pleasant to her and she’s not to blame for my state of mind.

I need time to think about what happened.

About the repercussions of my slip-up on the negotiation.

I need time to decide whether or not to believe Haven.

Because despite the pain his deception has caused me, I still hold out hope that he was sincere in his apology.

Cool head, clear mind, Debra, I tell myself. I can’t let this affect me now that I’ve got Mr. Odell’s attention.

My phone rings at that very moment and I take a deep breath to relax before answering. It’s my father, probably calling for a status report, and I don’t want him to notice how upset I am.

“Hi, Dad,” I greet him.

“Hello, sweetheart. How’s everything going? I haven’t heard from you in days.”

“I’ve been busy trying to get Mr. Odell to see me. He’s turning out to be a very tough nut to crack. But I’ve actually just come out of the first meeting.”

“The first?” He’s surprised.

“He’s been jerking me around for days.” I get annoyed just thinking about it. “But I think things will go better now.”

“If you need help…”

“No need. I’ve got this.”

“I know you do.”

“Listen, Dad, I’m in the middle of the street.” I look for an excuse to cut the call before he senses something is off. “I’ll call you in a few days if the negotiations drag on.”

“All right. Go get them, sweetheart. I trust you.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

I let out a breath when I hang up. I think I pulled it off. I don’t want my father worrying about me, much less about whether I’ll remain professional. I need to focus on getting the contract and leaving before everything gets worse.