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“Is that a compliment, Scotty? I’m flattered and a little put out still that you are considering rearranging these guys and not just sacking them off altogether.”
“I’m loyal, you know, Liam. I don’t like to let people down. Plus, this one guy has a huge—”
He interrupts me before I can finish my little white lie, “Lalalala, don’t tell me.”
My laugh falls freely through the phone. “I’m free Tuesday after work around eight. Come to our house for dinner? We can get milkshakes another time. No guys will be there to fight you either, just Nora, who arguably you might want to be more scared of.”
“Finally, she lets me have a date. Eight is perfect. Ping me your home address. Oh, and I’ll have you know that I can and will be the only guy for you by the end of the evening.”
“So confident Mr Taylor. I guess we will have to see… Bye, lover boy.” I catch myself grinning like a school kid at my phone.
He’s managed to change my mood and I’m not mad about it.
18
Liam
Mondaymorningcomestooslowly, and I’m grateful for the distraction of work again. I cut across London’s rush hour traffic in my black Tesla Roadster, silently careening over lanes to reach my office.
The sky is dark and bruised with clouds promising rainfall as I pull into the underground car park.
I forced myself to be busy on Sunday after I coached my Little League rugby kids, because if I didn’t, I would’ve been over to see Jess in a heartbeat.
For the last ten years, I’ve unintentionally become a serial dater. Sometimes I really think I’ll try and make it work with a woman, but I never feel how I want to feel, so I end things before they turn serious. My work has been my biggest achievement and the most time-consuming part of my life, so when I need to keep my mind off my spiralling love life, I throw myself into work.
I breeze into the office to see Helena sat at her desk waiting with my usual black coffee in hand.
“Good morning, Liam. Here’s your coffee. If you have a minute, we need to catch up on some of your meetings, as some have changed since Friday.” She checks her computer. “Oh, and your mother would like you to call her.” Helena is the type of PA that is dedicated to her job. She’s worked for my father since I was a teenager and we all know who the real brain behind this operation is.
“Thanks, Helena. I saw that Jonah has rearranged in Chicago. Is that the change you were talking about?”
She nods, standing and tucking her grey hair behind her ears as we walk in sync towards my office.
“Let’s get another date in with him asap. I want to get that meeting in before the end of October. I wonder if he’d be okay with me coming to Chicago?” I think out loud. “I’ll call him. Also, can you arrange to have a bunch of white roses delivered to Miss Jessica Scott at the Clover Hotel, please? I’d like the card here so I can write it before they are delivered.”
Her eyebrows shoot to her hairline as her heels immediately stop clicking next to me. “Jessica… as in sweet little Jessica, who you were in love with when you were kids?”
I give her a knowing smile as I turn and push my office door open with my back. “Don’t be so shocked, I do have a heart, Helena,” I joke as I walk towards my office, leaving her to ponder that.
I drop a text to my mum, telling her that I’ll call her tonight. I try to go to my parents a couple of times a month for dinner. I’m curious to see how she will react when I tell her I bumped into Jess again.
Thirty minutes later, Helena arrives with the card for Jessica’s flowers and I think about what to write for way longer than I probably should. I even practice writing it on my notepad next to my desk.
Just in case all those other men forgot to send you flowers.
Your lover boy x
I jump straight into work and take five calls back-to-back until 1 pm. Mostly mergers that needed reviewing with my father, but a couple of calls to discuss staffing needs for the next quarter.
My intercom buzzes loudly, Helena practically squeaks with excitement through it when she speaks, “I have Jessica on line one for you.”
“Thanks, Helena.” I press the button to merge the call to Jess. “Hello, Miss Scott. To what do I owe this pleasure?”
“Mr Taylor, you shouldn’t have sent me flowers at work. You’re ruining my credibility of being an ice queen.” Her tone is playful and makes me smile.
“You’re welcome. Also, I’m sure you are just as formidable as you were before the flowers. Everyone needs a weakness; just so happens I might be yours.”
“So sure of yourself… maybe I’ve got you right where I want you.”
