AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The only question is, does Harvey want to be part of my future?
By the time evening comes, Damon and I follow the line-up for the environmental fair from many high school finalists around the world. My feet are in so much pain, even the two glasses of champagne don’t help me forget it.
It's past nine in the evening when Damon and I are finally seated at a luxurious restaurant in a private corner with crystal chandeliers dangling all over the place.
“Thanks for letting me come with you. I learned a lot today.”
The glass of wine touches his lips before he speaks. “Tomorrow morning, I’ll need you to go through the file Iemailed you earlier and type up a brief report. We also have a meeting in the afternoon.”
“Okay.”
I’m eating steak with asparagus and baby potatoes. We eat in silence, unable to avoid eye contact. At least eating gives me a good reason to swallow.
“You’re a good speaker.” I break the ice. This all feels so different to me. The private plane. The business suits. The wine. The fancy restaurant.
“Years of practice.”
“Do you believe? Do you believe we can make a difference for the planet?”
He seems to reflect on my question for a few seconds before he responds. “I do. We’re not perfect, but we can certainly come up with innovative ways.”
“It’s a tough balance to achieve.” I glance around the restaurant. “Especially in the world you live in.”
He leans forward. “I waited until I was twenty-five to buy the company. I got a lot more money than a man that age knows how to deal with from my grandfather’s estate. I invested, bought shares, got lucky... and so on. When I created this firm, it was with the sole purpose of having enough money that I can’t be easily bought. That doesn’t mean they don’t try.”
I admire his success, and at such a young age.
“And people don’t complain about the firm owning a private plane?” I already know they do; I read up on it online before my interview, and the only reason some comments were lenient is because the CEO’s hot.
“Sure.” He shrugs. “It makes the news. I brush it off and explain its business motive.”
After our plates are cleared, the waiter comes back and asks if we’d like dessert. Damon declines without asking me—which doesn’t surprise me. He pays, and we take a walk to a nearby beach.
His idea, not mine. Though I have to take full responsibility. I shouldn’t be walking on a beach, barefoot, heels in hand, this late in the evening with my boss.
Despite the ache in my feet, the water in front of us is so quiet and serene, I can’t look away.
Nature in its barest form.
But it’s more than that.
It’s being here withhimthat makes me feel everything tenfold. It’s his presence and his smell, his hair and his eyes. It’s as if someone injected something into my arm, something that allows me to be vulnerable to this man at the expense of hurting the one back home.
I haven’t known Damon long and yet, here we are, a force of nature in front of us with its calming abilities, and I’m dying to take his clothes off. I’m dying to own a piece of him.
As we walk, I stare at his profile.
I wonder if he’s ever fully trusted anyone. And a small thought pops into my mind, shedding light on the truth: I want to earn his trust.
But worst of all, there’s a tiny voice inside my head thinking over what it’d be like if Harv and I were able to walk like this, side by side, ever again. I want to believe it’d make us happy together, yet I’m not sure it would. And the thought is enough to spread panic across my veins, knowing Harv and I might be at a point of no return.
I gather my wits before we continue walking in silence until we reach a bench.
“Favorite ice cream flavor?” he asks randomly, and I’m so taken aback I don’t even respond. He waits and waits until I finally smarten up.
“Chocolate mint.”
He nods and leaves me alone. I sit down while he takes long strides toward what I now see is an ice cream truck. Why one is open this late is beyond me. It’s nighttime and a little chilly.
