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HUNTER
I don’t like waiting.For the last half hour, I’ve paced around the reception hall at the Legendary waiting for Mr. Franklin to return. The room still hasn’t been reset from last night’s event. I should no longer care if this is a failure of Frankie Junior or poor scheduling by the staff.
As of thirty minutes ago this is no longer my concern. This morning I called Mr. Franklin to withdraw my formal offer. I was shocked to learn he was in Mesa, and he insisted on meeting in person, which we did.
I came clean. I told him about my undercover assignment. The dream I have of restoring the Legendary but that I must withdraw my offer at this time because I have to regroup my approach. I didn’t mention Catherine’s name but before I could let Franklin accept my offer, I had to withdraw it. I need to talk to Catherine – discuss a path forward that could amend the hurt I’ve put her through.
I twist away from the middle of the dance floor when I hear the sound of footsteps approaching. Mr. Franklin enters with a smile on his face, and he steps to the side of the doorway and waves an arm back. My heartbeat races as I capture the image of a surprised Catherine dressed in a two-piece power business suit. Hair pulled up, crisp white top, she is the epitome of a boss lady. She’s a vision from every dream I’ve ever had.
“Sorry to keep you waiting Hunter. I believe you are familiar with my appointment from this morning, Catherine.” His half smirk tells me he knows more about our relationship than I suspected.
Catherine paces to within six feet of me. “Hunter? What are you doing here?” She glances over her shoulder, seeking an answer from a retreating Mr. Franklin.
“I’ll leave the two of you to chat. I believe you have a lot of catching up to do. Catherine, you still owe me brunch. I’ll be in the office.” He waves in our direction and disappears.
My unsteady feet stride forward, my eyes still not convinced that this isn’t a mirage. “I was going to ask you the same thing.”
She tosses a hand behind her toward the now closed door, “I had a meeting with…”
“So, you were his eleven o’clock appointment?” I whisper and try to put the pieces together. “Did he try to convince you to come back to the Legendary?” I’m not sure why I phrase it this way. My strategic approach allowed for me to look at things from the owner’s perspective, what options they would explore. This option I had considered as a possibility early on but had discounted it. Catherine has outgrown being just an employee for a place like this.
She shakes her head. “It was the opposite. I called the meeting looking to return, take over from Frankie.”
It makes sense – push Frankie out the door and go about fixing the damage he’s done. “Congratulations. No way Mr. Franklin could refuse you. You’re just what this place needs.”
“Needs?” She scoffs and steps close to me. That unique twinkle in her eye captures my attention. “It always comes down to need somehow. My need, someone else’s need, someone else assuming they know what I need.”
“Only you know for sure what you need Catherine. And if you set up the appointment, I can only assume it’s because you knew what you wanted.” She avoids my gaze, her eyes lowering to my chest.
“That’s the thing about needs, they change.” She raises her chin, her gaze floating over my shoulder. “When I left Mesa, I felt I knew what I needed. And I was right. Indiana delivered exactly what I required. A place of safety, warmth, challenges, and an environment where no one knew who I was. I was no longer the little girl that every adult remembered riding a bike down Market Street. I was able to forge my own path and find my own way. And I did.”
I nod, familiar with the need to strike out on your own. To find your own way without everyone associating you with the long shadow of family or your childhood mistakes.
“I knew what I wanted, went after it, and was damn successful doing it.”
I can’t help but laugh, causing her brows to furrow.
“Did I say something funny?”
“No.” I shake my head and brighten my smile. “It’s just good to see you acknowledging how wonderful you are. Everyone around you knows it but you rarely allow yourself to admit it. It’s a wonderful look on you. You should wear it more often.” Pride swells in my chest because even with all of her success, she remains humble and fails to see how truly special she is.
The corner of her eyes crinkle in happiness. “Thank you. That means a lot.” She bites on her lower lip before continuing. “But it’s time. Times change. Needs evolve and grow. I thought I knew what I wanted - to come back to the Legendary.”
“Thought?” I take a tentative step forward.
“I couldn’t go through with it Hunter. Everything fell into place in the last twelve hours as if the entire world was pushing me toward this, delivering to me what it thought I needed. Much like Palmer did repeatedly. But in my heart, I couldn’t do it. Not if it meant stepping on your dream. What you have been working so hard for. What you need.”
It’s my turn to snicker. “What I need?” I walk up to Catherine, extending both hands hip-height toward her. She doesn’t hesitate, slipping her hands into mine with a crooked smile. “All I need is you.” I say the words I should have yesterday. The words I should have said the moment she pressed her lips to mine. “I withdrew my offer because I realized it’s not what I want. Not the way I’m moving forward with it. Not without you.” She bats her eyes, processing my words, and I attempt to clarify.
“I withdrew my offer because I didn’t want Mr. Franklin to accept before I could speak to you. As much as I feel a connection to the Legendary, having spent months invested, you’ve spent years. My goal coming to Mesa was about understanding how to stand on my own, start to build my business empire. It was never going to stop with just the Legendary. The Legendary was going to be the start. It wouldn’t feel right to start my journey by denying you your dream. Your connection with the Legendary is even greater. Your history with Mr. Franklin, with this town, undeniable. The fact that you are even considering returning tells me I was right to pull back. We both want the same thing. For the Legendary to succeed and for you to be the one to do that.”
“What are you trying to say, Hunter?”
“What I’m trying to say is will you be my partner, Catherine? Let’s start over, put together a package that will have us both working together to rebuild the Legendary. That will connect us for real. No more fake arrangements, no more sneaking around. You. Me. Together.”
“As business partners?” A hint of disappointment hides in the corner of her question.
“As life partners Catherine. I won’t attempt to speak for what you want but I do know what I want. When I first got to Mesa, I thought I needed to show my family that I’m independent. That I didn’t need anything or anyone. That I could close this deal and prove I’m a success. But I’ve learned that’s not true.
The time we’ve spent together has opened my eyes to my true needs. You are incredible Catherine. You’ve gotten me to feel things I’ve never felt before. To see the world in a different way. I don’t want a fake romance with you Catherine. I want the real deal. The holding hands along Market Street, watching the sunset at Osprey Mountain, ordering strange deli sandwiches at Johnson’s and dancing in silly TikTok with Adrienne. I want you by my side as we build an empire, one business at a time. I want to restore the Legendary, together.
The bottom line, Catherine. I want you, all of you.”
This isn’t a pitch, I’m not working from notes, every word is heartfelt and flowing freely straight from my soul to my mouth. I pause, hoping my close delivers the response I so desire.
I wait. And I wait.
The longer I wait the more my nerves shake. Catherine hasn’t moved a muscle, hasn’t uttered a word. Her face is frozen, and I can’t tell whether it’s due to shock or if she’s processing everything I’ve laid in front of her.
I can’t read her face. I don’t dare interpret her body language. All I can do is hold my breath and pray.
