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“You really should think about the meditation retreat, Sasha. I think it would do you good to clear your mind and get a fresh start.”
I agree to think on it. It does sound like a good idea, though I’m not so sure about not talking for such a long period of time. I’m also not sure whether Lauren will agree to give me the time off.
As I’m walking home my phone buzzes again. It’s Travis with round two of trying to get me over to his place.
Just one drink? I miss you.
Without a second thought, I block Travis’ number and a feeling of relief comes over me. Should have done that months ago…
And I decide right then that I will definitely be going on that meditation retreat. No matter what it takes. I need a reset.
Chapter 6
Spencer
“One more set, Spencer.” I’m training with Dirk this morning and he’s fucking killing me. My shoulders are on fire and I’m pretty sure I’m not even going to be able to pick up my water bottle by the end of this session.
My mind wanders to what the day holds for me. I’ve been working 18-hour days for over a month now with no end in sight. I’m not sleeping well because I keep dreaming about this one big deal I’ve been working on. Thank God for my chef Marcy because if it weren’t for her, I’d be eating takeout at every meal. I’ve got to get some balance in my life.
I’ve not been on any more dates since Sasha set me up with Camilla. With so much to do at the office, I really don’t think I could find the time even if she found the perfect woman for me. Not that she’s come anywhere close yet. She has sent me a few new candidates to look at in the last couple of weeks, but I wasn’t feeling any of them.
I finish the hellacious workout, grab a shower and head to the office. When I get there, I can immediately tell something is wrong by the look on Laney’s face.
“What’s up, Laney? You look like someone just killed your dog.”
“This is the last thing I want to tell you today but…,” she starts. “I just heard from Jack over at The Phoenix Group. They’re pulling the plug on the deal.”
“What?!” I roar. “How can that possibly be? We were so close to finishing up. I’ve been working on this fucking thing formonths,and now out of the blue they’ve just decided not to move forward?”
“Apparently it’s something that couldn’t be avoided. He said he’d be giving you a call later today to explain more,” she says hesitantly. She glances over at me to see how I’m taking it. She’s been with me for 5 years now and knows how angry I get about these things.
Dammit, all those hours just wasted. This industry is incredible to be in when things are going well but when shit like this happens, I wish I had taken a different path. Something simpler without all the roller coaster highs and lows. Maybe a mailman in a small town, walking from house to house, delivering the mail and chatting with people along the way. The only worry I’d have is biting dogs…
But, I know myself better than that. I live for these big deals and relish in the victory when they go the way I want them to. I’ll just have to pick myself up again and get back on the horse.
Josh and I are at my favorite bar, Bitter and Twisted, and we’ve just ordered our second round of bourbons. His wife was sweet enough to let him out tonight to meet me to commiserate on mycrappy day. He’s been listening to me spew my work woes for the last hour and I think I’m finally able to move on to another topic. The bourbon has definitely helped as I’m beginning to loosen up and relax. Josh is a good friend to help a brother in need.
“So, any luck with Adore yet?” he asks, in an attempt to change the subject.
“Not yet. The one date I had was a disaster. Sasha has sent over a few more options for me to look at but no one worth a date yet,” I respond drily.
“I’ve gotta say you aresuperpicky, man.”
I laugh shaking my head. ”I know what I want. It does make it hard sometimes but I’m not willing to settle.”
“Definitely not telling you to settle. Maybe just ease up a little with the requirements, though? Give Sasha a chance. If she thinks a woman would be a good fit for you, maybe don’t immediately say no.” He gives me an amused look and raises a brow.
“I hear you. I just don’t want to head down that path again of connecting with someone and realizing a year into it that she’s really more into my money than anything else. I never realized having a little cash would be such a damn curse.”
Josh laughs. “What you’ve got is a bit more than a ‘little cash’, Spence.”
Just then a tall brunette catches my eye. Hold on a minute… Could it be? No, can’t be. Oh, but it is. It’s Sasha. She sees me just a few seconds after I notice her and gives me a little wave and a smile. She says something to the group of women she’s standing with and then starts to make her way toward Josh and me.
“Well, hello, Mr. Sullivan. Fancy seeing you here,” she gives me a big grin and I wonder how many glasses of wine she’s had. She definitely seems “looser” than the past couple of encounters we’ve had.
“Hi, Sasha. Please call me Spencer,” I grin back at her. “This is my buddy, Josh.”
Josh and Sasha say hello and make some small talk about how busy the bar is tonight. Josh glances over at me for a moment while Sasha is reading a text on her phone. He gives me the wide-eyed “damn, this woman is hot” look. Smirking, I study Sasha while she’s not looking.
