I then turned to the lawyer. “Draw up a legal contract for my partnership with her. Have it ready by tomorrow.”
“Yes, Mr. Harris.”
After they left, I walked into the living room and looked out the window.
The grass in my front yard had grown tall, and the cardboard boxes filled with empty bottles were being collected by the garbage collectors.
Then I saw Jiya playing with her son.
She lived two doors to the left of me.
The day she had moved in, I had just been leaving for the restaurant when the moving truck pulled into the cul-de-sac.A new addition to the neighbourhood.She had arrived alone. Her son appeared about a week later.
She was a pretty girl—attractive in a quiet way that made you look twice once you truly noticed her.
I had watched her walking around the neighbourhood, introducing herself to everyone. Then she rang my doorbell.
I never answered. I did not want to know who she was or where she came from. Instead, I disappeared back into the darkness of my house.
Away from everyone.
Away from everything.
Then she appeared at the restaurant.
And she kept appearing.
Now fate had taken a different turn.
Jiya was going to become my business partner. And she had absolutely no idea.
Sitting at my usual table,I watched Jiya enter the restaurant. Something about seeing her walk through the door made me sit a little straighter in my chair. She looked determined, clutching her folder the same way she had the day she proposed the ideato Jack. I kept my gaze fixed on my beer, pretending not to pay attention, even though every movement she made caught my eye.
Jack stepped forward to greet her and introduced her to my lawyer. “Jiya, this is Eric Lambert, the lawyer for the owner. Eric, this is Jiya Flores.”
I watched them shake hands.
Jiya’s grip looked firm. She stood there with her shoulders straight and her chin slightly raised.
Jack disappeared briefly into the kitchen and returned moments later carrying cups of hot beverages.
“Will the owner not be joining us?” she asked, glancing around the restaurant.
Her eyes passed over me.
I lowered my gaze slightly, making sure she did not linger on me long enough to recognize anything.
Eric followed her line of sight and looked in my direction. “No, he won’t be,” Eric said calmly. Then he glanced toward me again and added, “Don’t worry about that guy. He is harmless,” he said dismissively.
I nearly scoffed into my drink.Harmless. If only he knew how ironic that sounded.
Jiya ran her hand through her hair again.
I noticed the small gesture immediately. It was subtle, but it betrayed the tension she was trying so hard to hide. That, more than anything, interested me.
Jack placed the drinks down in front of them. “Here you go, coffee for everyone and a green tea for you, Jiya.” Jack smiled warmly.
“Thanks, Jack.”
